The first self-checkout machines were designed and patented in the 1990's, but grew to prominence in the early 2000's.

Who first introduced self-checkout?

As of 2013, there were 191,000 self-checkout units deployed across the globe, and by 2025, it is predicted that 1.2 million units will be installed worldwide. The machines were originally invented by David R. Humble, with NCR Corporation having the largest market share.

When did self serve in supermarkets start?

The world's first self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, opened in Memphis Tennessee. Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly, claimed to be the first to give shoppers “better value through high volume and low profit margin food retailing”.