German book retailer Thalia is installing self-checkout technology from Ohio-based Diebold Nixdorf across stores in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

By mid-2024, a total of 500 modular DN Easy Express systems will be installed in Germany and more than 100 in Austria and Switzerland.

These will expand checkout options for Thalia customers and allow employees to spend more time serving shoppers. In addition, Diebold Nixdorf will leverage its technician network to provide on-site troubleshooting and support services for Thalia in all three countries.

Consumer research in Germany shows physical bookstores are an important sales channel for gift shopping or finding a book for personal reading. However, because of the popularity of these stores, customers often have to wait in long checkout queues, especially during peak times such as weekends, holidays and back-to-school shopping season. Using self-service technology from Diebold Nixdorf should allow Thalia to reduce customer wait times.

Another objective of introducing the self-service systems is to allow Thalia employees to spend less time on operations such as cashiering and focus more on providing reading advice and other personal services, which is the traditional strength of the physical bookstore. Thalia also designed furniture to integrate self-checkouts to blend in seamlessly with the store design. Customers can pay for purchases by card or with mobile devices such as a smartphone or smartwatch.

“Diebold Nixdorf’s self-checkout systems have been very well accepted by our customers and employees,” said Stephanie Spurzem, head of sales support at Thalia. “This shows us that the self-service option is an ideal addition to our overall offering and that we have taken the right path by introducing them.”

Wolfgang Jonasson, vice president at Diebold Nixdorf, added: “Our self-service systems allow Thalia’s employees to focus on their core competencies, which benefits shoppers and retailers alike. Self-service in brick-and-mortar bookstores is reinforcing Thalia’s role as an industry pioneer by implementing innovative digital options and seamlessly integrated shopping experiences.”

Nearly half of the new self-service systems have already been installed, and the remaining are planned to be implemented by mid-2024. Thalia has been relying on technology from Diebold Nixdorf for many years and has approximately 1000 stationary Beetle PoS systems from the manufacturer in use.

Thalia is the market-leading omnichannel bookseller in the Dach region with around 6000 employees. Customers can shop in a network of around 380 bookstores in Germany and Austria, online stores and its own app. In Switzerland, Thalia holds half the shares in the more than 50 bookstores of Orell Füssli Thalia.

Diebold Nixdorf has a presence in more than 100 countries with approximately 21,000 employees worldwide.