Technology from US firm Diebold Nixdorf is checking the age of shoppers at a Stuttgart Airport round-the-clock self-checkout store.

Supermarket Edeka Jaeger is now offering customers in the 24/7 store at Stuttgart Airport the opportunity to authorise the purchase of age-restricted goods such as alcoholic beverages at the self-service checkout using automatic age recognition.

The AI-based Vynamic Smart Vision age verification technology (www.dieboldnixdorf.com/de-de/retail/portfolio/software/self-service/vynamic-self-service/age-verification) from Diebold Nixdorf complements the previously required approval by store attendants. This speeds up transactions at the self-service checkouts and gives employees more time for customer service and other responsibilities.

On average, age verification checks are needed in about a fifth of all transactions in retail stores. This has a negative impact on throughput times and consumer flow in the self-service area, leading to longer waiting times. Vynamic Smart Vision enables customers to prove their age in less than ten seconds without any staff interventions.

As soon as an age-restricted item is scanned at the self-service checkout, the system asks the customer whether automatic age recognition is desired. Once consent has been given, the customer’s face characteristics are analysed using a camera installed on the system and AI algorithms verify their age in real time. If the age of the shopper is above a predefined threshold, the transaction can continue. The employees only need to check those customers who fall below this age limit or who have opted out of automatic age recognition.

“The creation of quick, simple purchasing processes for customers and my employees is key,” said Florian Jaeger, owner of the store at Stuttgart Airport. “This is what makes our store at Stuttgart Airport so attractive for busy travellers. To achieve this, I am always open to explore new innovations. Thanks to AI support, we have already been able to drastically reduce employee interventions for age checks.”

In the first week, over 80% of age-restricted goods purchased at Edeka Jaeger (edeka-jaeger.com) in Stuttgart Airport were automatically approved. The system is GDPR-compliant as the process does not involve facial recognition, nor does it store images or other customer information.

“AI technologies for automated age verification have enormous potential to reduce a typical friction point during the shopping process,” said Matt Redwood, vice president at Diebold Nixdorf. “We are delighted to be working with Edeka Jaeger to ensure that customers can prove their age in seconds directly at the self-service checkout, allowing them to get to their next appointment or flight faster.”

The introduction of AI-based automatic age verification follows the 24/7 self-service concept (www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yqQhG7Fv7A) implemented at Stuttgart Airport last year, where Edeka Jaeger optimised the shopping experience for its customers during and outside peak hours with self-service technology from Diebold Nixdorf.

Ohio-based Diebold Nixdorf (www.dieboldnixdorf.com) automates, digitises and transforms the way people bank and shop. The company has a presence in more than 100 countries with approximately 21,000 employees worldwide.