Hy -Vee, Inc. Selects IBM Self Checkout

Hy -Vee, Inc. Selects IBM Self Checkout

IBM announced today that Hy-Vee, Inc. is the first U.S. retailer to deploy the next generation of IBM self checkout systems, which feature a new ergonomic hardware design to help make it even easier and faster for shoppers to check themselves out. Hy-Vee is one of the top 20 supermarket chains in the U.S., with 224 stores in seven Midwestern states.

Hy-Vee, which recently completed a successful pilot with IBM’s current self checkout system, installed IBM’s first next-generation conveyor-based models in their store in West Des Moines, IA this month and opened the store to customers this week. They plan to install these new models in five more stores in 2006. Hy-Vee selected the IBM self checkout solution after a comprehensive evaluation of self checkout alternatives.

“We’re quite excited about IBM’s new hardware design, with its intuitive flow and above-counter placement of devices, making it even easier for our shoppers to use self checkout,” said Don Miller, Assistant Vice President, Equipment Purchasing at Hy-Vee. “Customer service is paramount for us, and we’ve had very high acceptance of self checkout. We expect that more people will try it when they see the layout and design of the new IBM systems.” Miller also said Hy-Vee valued IBM’s belted conveyor solution, which maximizes utilization with its ability to handle both express and full-size orders easily. “Now we’re able to offer the self checkout option to all our customers, every time they shop. IBM’s belted design makes it much easier for our shoppers to process both large and small orders.”

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