From ATMs & self-checkouts to gas stations & stamp machines – Self-Service Payment Systems.

Have you ever paid a utility bill at a kiosk or used the self-serve line at the grocery store to save time? When was the last time you used a vending machine for a quick snack? Well, in this cloudy economy, one thing is sure; the self-service “buy-and-pay” economy—including transactions at kiosks (including self-checkout) and vending machines—is expected to continue ringing up sales. Sales were $548 million in 2007, up 19% over 2006 sales, and a 17% compound annual growth rate will drive sales to approximately $1.2 trillion by 2012.

A new report from Packaged Facts, The Self-Service “Buy-and-Pay” Market: Kiosk, Vending and Foodservice Trends in the U.S., forecasts that self-checkout kiosks will increase their share of transaction volume from 30% to 35%, while vending’s share will remain in the low single digits despite a significant improvement in annual growth—from 3% in 2007 to 8% by 2012—as the vending industry moves closer and closer to the higher-tech kiosk model.

A number of positive factors including technological advancements, payment developments, retail trends and consumer attitudes are driving healthy growth worldwide. The convenience of paying by debit and credit cards at kiosks is a primary factor in market expansion, as well as user-friendly payment system interfaces.

“The advantages retailers gain from self-checkouts mirror the advantages of other kiosks and self-service systems, with one of the most cost effective being the savings on labor,” comments Tatjana Meerman, Publisher of Packaged Facts. “While upfront costs are high – a retailer may pay up to $100,000 for a four-lane system with a cashier’s station – the expense can be quickly earned back. This setup uses one attendant for four machines as opposed to four cashiers for four registers, a labor savings of 75%.”

For more information at http://www.packagedfacts.com