Metz turns to cashierless checkout to speed up transaction times

Metz Culinary Management is launching self-checkout at airports, healthcare facilities and some of its other high volume locations. 

The foodservice provider is partnering with technology company Mashgin to provide the new technology, which uses 3D cameras and AI to allow guests to check out themselves by placing their items on a scanner. 

Already, the new system has sped up checkout times at operations where it’s been installed. At Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) in Buffalo, N.Y., for example, the new tech has reduced the average transaction time to 18 seconds. 

“With this system in service, ECMC now has two automated lanes open at all times with or without a human cashier on the line,” said Heidi Charland, district manager of healthcare for Metz, in a statement. “We have been able to repurpose staff from checkout duties to other areas as needed without altering staffing levels.”

The foodservice provider plans to bring Mashgin’s self-checkout technology to its higher education partners soon. It is also partnering with Amazon to launch a Just Walk Out C-store concept at Marymount Manhattan College early next year. 

Metz is the latest foodservice provider to turn to cashierless checkout to streamline the checkout process for guests and make up for staffing shortages. Chartwells Higher Ed has already installed the technology at a handful of campuses and has plans to open 100 additional cashless retail concepts on college campuses in the coming years. 

In addition, Sodexo Live! has launched a cashierless grab-and-go concept at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Utah.  

Cashierless checkout is also popping up at major league baseball stadiums across the country.