Unattended: The Payments Technology Shifting the Future of Commerce

Consumers want more and better self-service.

Self-service has become an essential retail feature, but good self-service is more elusive. Companies have made significant strides in recent years to increase the availability of self-service kiosks and other unattended payment options. Still, customers seek higher service and satisfaction as self-service channels evolve. Eighty-one percent of surveyed consumers said they want more self-service options at the businesses they frequent. Quantity alone is not enough, either: 36% said they want smarter unattended payment options. How businesses can fulfill that demand remains unclear, but consumers are interested in going further down the unattended path.

Innovation relies on unattended solutions.

The unattended market is already big, with the sector accounting for more than $31 billion in the United States alone. However, new use cases and innovations will propel this market to $129 billion globally by 2030. In addition to the sectors where unattended solutions already exist, new areas such as electric vehicle charging stations and smart cities are expanding rapidly. Many of these new projects call for unattended or self-service payment solutions.

Self-service kiosks are one example of strong demand for unattended payments.

Eighty-four percent of shoppers in the U.S. now say they like using self-service kiosks, with a staggering 66% preferring them over staffed checkouts. Moreover, while the unattended payments preference is particularly high among Generation Z (84%) and millennial (76%) consumers, the method’s convenience has also won over a majority of Gen Xers and nearly half of baby boomers.

Harnessing the Power of Technology

Technologies both old and new are realizing new potential in unattended payments. RFID, once used only to track items, is now part of the unattended experience. Even biometrics is no longer the next frontier: You can now pay using your palm.

Businesses are repurposing traditional technology for unattended payments.

Is the future of payments in the palm of your hand?

Amazon’s ambitious biometric project, Amazon One, is another step in the unattended payments race. The biometric solution has exceeded 3 million uses at the more than 400 locations where it is deployed, including Amazon Go stores and 200 Whole Foods markets in the U.S. The tech giant aims to offer Amazon One in all 500-plus Whole Foods stores by year’s end. Going contactless is in such high demand that the company has already inked deals to install its unattended payments technology at a host of partner establishments, including airport stores and concert venues.

Where Unattended Payments Are — and Where They’re Headed

Once relegated only to gas stations and vending machines, unattended payments are now making inroads into all areas where checkout lines discourage customers and where consumers want to be more in control.

QR code payments are on the menu.

Beginning with implementation during the pandemic to eliminate physical menus, some restaurants continue to explore the full potential of QR codes to improve dining experiences. At On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, customers can now pay conveniently and instantly at the table by scanning a QR code when they order. There is no need to download apps or create an account. Simply scan, pay and go.

Fast food’s new speedometer is unattended payments.

Shake Shack is not just serving burgers: It is serving convenience. By embracing self-service ordering kiosks, the eatery not only has heightened the consumer experience but also has seen sales skyrocket — doubling year over year in the 250 locations armed with the latest unattended ordering and payments technology.

Unattended payments turn kiosks into micromarkets.

Fully automated and unattended payments are not just for stores. Cantaloupe, a leader in self-service commerce, is expanding its partnership with GlobalConnect in unstaffed vending solutions. Called Bistro to Go!, Cantaloupe’s micromarket kiosks make it simpler to operate everything from break-room vending to hotel pantries.

Hotel check-in just became semi-unattended.

Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs, a 93-room hotel in Colorado, recently added three self-service kiosks to provide guests with a fast and convenient check-in experience. The kiosks help guests in the process and guide them to their rooms with minimal intervention from the hotel staff.

The Importance of Being a Part of the Unattended Evolution

Businesses clinging to traditional payment methods risk more than just falling behind — they miss out on efficiency gains and neglect the evolution of commerce. As unattended payments improve consumers’ shopping experiences, businesses should keep these points in mind:

• Recognize that traditional checkout methods are no longer the default go-to. The rise of unattended technologies, from self-service kiosks to biometric innovations, is a transition that businesses must embrace to unlock heightened efficiency, enhanced customer satisfaction and increased revenue potential.
• Provide top-notch service, not just quantity. It is not enough simply to provide more unattended solutions. With only 15% of consumers highly satisfied with the self-service tools offered them, merchants must exceed customers’ expectations in doing so.
• Semi-unattended solutions may help in the transition. Not all businesses are ready for unattended payments, and merchants may also prefer to maintain personnel to provide white-glove customer service.
• Forge partnerships with experts rather than navigate the adoption of unattended payments alone. Collaborating with proven unattended innovators and other seasoned experts can shepherd your business through technology adoption, regulatory compliance and the complexities of building customer trust.

Unattended payments offerings are set to become the cornerstone of global commerce within a short time. Business leaders therefore find themselves at a crucial juncture: Harness these payments innovations or risk being left behind.