Fujitsu Digitally Transforms Retail Communications with Wearable Solution

Fujitsu is transforming retail communications and creating an unmatched level of staff responsiveness with the introduction of an innovative wearable solution. The Fujitsu U-Scan® self-checkout (SCO) system can now be connected with selected smartwatches¹, providing instant, actionable alerts to retail staff, store-wide.

The Fujitsu solution provides retail staff, from cashiers to managers, with instant access to important messages and updates, cutting response times and helping ensure entire stores can operate smoothly and better serve customers at the point of service (PoS). The software can be configured to push alerts, either automatically or manually to smartwatches, directly from Fujitsu SCO systems.

These instant notifications deliver an all-round improvement to the checkout experience, both for customers and staff. For customers, the Fujitsu system makes it possible to quickly and easily summon help during the checkout process, for example in removing security tags from a high-value item, or in conducting age verification when self-checkout customers are buying alcoholic beverages – and to receive notification via the PoS terminal to confirm help is on its way. These notifications can even be allocated according to staff responsibilities. Retail staff also benefit from being able to more efficiently handle tasks which traditionally involved going elsewhere in the store, from confirming age verification to running price checks.

Rupal Karia, Managing Director for Retail and Hospitality, UK & Ireland at Fujitsu, comments: “The digital transformation of retail communications is long overdue. We’re replacing outdated methods of sharing information with a solution bringing together our smart PoS and SCO technology with easy to use, popular wearables. This new form of in-store communication delivers benefits from the back-office, where we enhance operations oversight and business intelligence, to the front end, where we improve productivity and customer satisfaction.”

Alerts sent to wearables generate a haptic/vibrating notification of prioritised issues. Actions requiring physical input, such as manager overrides, can be handled directly on the device.

The new Fujitsu solution also eliminates the need for antiquated and insecure in-store intercom systems. Leveraging Fujitsu’s wearable alerts systems, staff members can be discreetly notified to handle sensitive tasks, for example alerting a front-end store manager when a PoS needs to be replenished with cash, or providing an alert regarding a possible shoplifter. In addition, the software utilises QR barcodes, which allows employees to access secure management functions within applications, such as Fujitsu PoS.