Self-checkouts (SCOs) worldwide

2025: The Russian robotic cash desk with payment for face recognition and protection of goods from theft is presented

Moscow has developed innovative self-service cash desks with a payment function for face biometrics and a built-in theft prevention system. The new equipment was demonstrated at the "Store of the Future" in Skolkovo as part of the "Made in Moscow" project. This was announced by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development of Moscow on August 12, 2025. Read more here.

2024

The Russian market for self-service cash desks grew by 48% over the year and reached ₽11,7 billion

The Russian market for self-service systems in 2024 grew by 48% in physical terms and by 60% in monetary terms, reaching ₽11,7 billion. The volume of supplies amounted to 67.9 thousand devices against 45.9 thousand in 2023, as follows from a study by GuideMarket, published in June 2025.

According to analysts, in two years the market for self-service systems has grown almost three times in terms of the number of devices and more than three times in monetary terms. In 2022, the volume of supplies amounted to 23.5 thousand units per ₽3,7 billion, and in 2023 the indicators increased by 95% in units and by 98% in monetary terms.

The largest market share - 66.3% - falls on self-service cash desks in retail trade. In second place are kiosks in restaurants with a share of 12%, in third place are terminals in the service sector with 11.7%. Kiosks in the entertainment industry occupy 5.4%, self-service systems at gas stations - 4.6%.

The key growth drivers are automation of trade and services, import substitution, the development of digital competencies among consumers and technological progress. After leaving the Russian market of large foreign suppliers Diebold Nixdorf and NCR, domestic manufacturers occupied the vacant niches.

The main market players are the Chinese SED Initta and the Russian companies Atol, Saga, CSI, Possenter, X5 Tech, Touchplat, Engy, ICL Retail and Sfour. Since 2023, Atol has been producing self-service cash desks of its own design. Saga Technologies JSC produces more than 700 models of various self-service devices.

X5 Tech has developed self-service checkouts and software for X5 Group retail chains. More than 17 thousand devices of their own design operate in 6 thousand stores of retail chains of the group. X5 Group notes an increase in store capacity after installing self-service checkouts.

The technological development of the market is determined by artificial intelligence, machine learning, contactless payments and mobile technologies. The share of contactless transactions reached 65% in 2024. VkusVill, Magnit stores and gas stations are actively introducing NFC and QR codes.^[1]

The cost of self-service cash desks in the world for the year reached $5.48 billion

At the end of 2024, the global market for self-service cash desks reached $5.48 billion. More than 40% of this amount was provided by the North American region. Industry trends are addressed in the Fortune Business Insights survey published in late April 2025.

Analysts take into account solutions and services that allow customers to independently scan, package and pay for goods without the need for a cashier. These systems, including hardware components such as barcode scanners and payment terminals integrated with specialized software, are widely used in various industries, including retail, hospitality, etc.

Self-service terminals save people from long queues and the need to contact cashiers. Such systems reduce store payroll costs (since fewer cashiers are required) and allow up to 3-5 automatic devices to be placed on the spot of one traditional cash register. When using self-service platforms, human errors of the outlet's employees in handling money are excluded. In addition, the time of employees is freed up: in the absence of visitors, they are engaged in other duties. By analyzing the list of goods selected by the buyer, the system can offer current promotions and discounts. In general, the integration of these devices increases customer satisfaction and optimizes in-store operations.

One of the drivers of the market in question is the introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning. AI-enabled systems can accurately identify products, solve operational problems in real time, and improve transaction security. Such devices can detect products that have not been scanned, or detect suspicious activity, helping retailers minimize losses. Computer vision technology accelerates and simplifies self-service operations. Unlike traditional barcode reading, AI systems use image recognition algorithms to identify goods based on their appearance.

Among the restraining factors, analysts cite security issues. There is a possibility of theft due to imperfection of control systems. In addition, stores incur significant initial costs when implementing self-service checkouts. In this case, additional training of personnel is required to work with new equipment.

The authors of the study segment the market into retail, hospitality, etc. The lion's share of revenue is provided by the first of these sectors - 75.2% in 2024. From a geographical point of view, North America leads, which accounted for $2.31 billion, or approximately 42.2%. The dominance of the region is due to the developed retail infrastructure and the early introduction of automation technologies. Globally, significant players are named:

• NCR Voyix;
• Diebold Nixdorf;
• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions;
• Fujitsu;
• ITAB Group;
• StrongPoint ASA;
• Glory;
• Pan-Oston;
• Qingdao CCL Technology;
• Qingdao Wintec System;
• ECR Software;
• Erply;
• Shopsense Retail Technologies;
• Retail7;
• Encore;
• ConnectPOS;
• AdamPos.

In 2025, the cost of self-service cash desks worldwide is expected to reach $6.3 billion. Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR in the market under consideration will be 15.5%. As a result, by 2032, costs could increase to $17.28 billion.^[2]

2023: Theft, vandalism and drunkards. How shops work without cashiers in South Korea

On July 18, 2023, it became known that the work of automated stores in South Korea, which do not have cashiers, is fraught with numerous difficulties. Read more here.

2015

According to the research agency RBR, the number of cash self-service terminals in the world in 2015 increased 2.4 times compared to 2008, and by 2020 the number of installed terminals will reach 335 thousand. The largest number of SCO implementations is expected in Western Europe, as well as Turkey^[3].

The main point of growth is the desire of large retailers to reduce costs as much as possible amid a slowdown in the growth of retail sales revenue.

Among the global trends from a technological point of view, there is an increase in the number of devices with support for NFC technology, which allows you to make payments for goods and services in a contactless way, including using various mobile devices.

In 2010, mobile applications were also introduced for the first time, allowing the use of mobile phones as portable scanners, this technology is also being increasingly used in global practice.

2012

According to the British research company RBR, according to the results of sales of cash self-checkouts (self-checkouts or SCO) for 2012, NCR Corporation retains leadership with a share of 70%, which is twice as much as all other SCO vendors combined.

The RBR report, from sales in 2012, shows last year was another record year for SCO deliveries globally. At the same time, the SCO market is formed by a fairly narrow circle of vendors with a high level of expertise in retail technologies.

NCR Corporation is once again recognized as the world's largest supplier of cash self-service systems for retail (self-checkouts) according to a new study published by the London-based strategic research and consulting company RBR.

According to RBR, NCR's share of SCO's global supply for 2012 was 70%, up 6% from a year earlier. Whereas the share of SCO supplies of the closest competitor was only 13.5%. Thus, the study showed that the SCO deliveries of NCR Corporation in 2012 more than doubled the number of self-checkouts delivered by all other competitors combined.

At the same time, the total supply of cash self-service devices in 2012 increased to almost 27,000. RBR predicts the figure will be nearly 60,000 in 2018.

SCO Market Features Across Countries and Regions

The study covered retail retailers in 53 countries. The report notes that North America remains the largest market for SCO technology, with about 11,000 units installed in 2012, accounting for 41% of the global market. Asia Pacific posted the largest percentage of growth, up to 9% year-over-year, and the development of cash self-service technologies continues to accelerate in this market.

The latest pilot projects in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, as well as in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, show the steady potential of cash self-service technologies to conquer more and more markets around the world, the study said. In the near future, the first projects are expected in Venezuela and on. To Ukraine

RBR predicts that the total number of self-checkout devices installed worldwide will rise from 170,000 in 2012 to 320,000 in 2018.