Smart Locks Solve Retail Theft in the Rise of Unattended Retail Stores

The growing integration of AI, retailers’ push to reduce costs, and consumers’ desire for convenience have all fueled the rise of unattended shopping, or ‘self-serve retail.’ This shift is transforming the shopping experience, from self-checkout stations to fully automated stores. Retailers are increasingly adopting these self-serve models to lower labor costs and enhance customer convenience.

However, this trend also presents new challenges, especially in terms of theft prevention. With fewer staff on hand to monitor products, the risk of theft in self-service environments is a major concern. The key question for many retailers is: How can they protect their products while embracing self-service shopping?

Just as self-service shopping is the future of retail, Smart Locks are the future of retail security. Learn how Smart Locks offer versatile solutions that effectively manage security and access control in unattended retail environments.

The Growth of Unattended Retail and the Challenges It Poses

Self-checkout is the most familiar form of unattended retail, introduced primarily to cut labor costs. It was intended for grocery stores who have a high volume of transactions compared to other industries. Since it’s been adopted by other retailers, roughly 84% of consumers prefer it to traditional registers.

Now, self-service options are expanding beyond the checkout counter, like self-service airport markets, self-service order screens, pop-up shops and AI personalization stations. But expansion has its challenges:

• Increased risk of theft: Since self-service options were introduced mainly for grocery stores, it doesn’t account for theft of high-value items other retailers carry or how to secure them.
• Inventory management: Fewer staff mean less oversight, making it harder to track and manage stock.
• Limited security presence: With minimal staff and less physical security, preventing theft and damage is more difficult.
• Access control concerns: Securing high-value or restricted products without hindering customer access becomes more complex.
• Limits human interaction: Customers generally prefer self-service options, with one caveat—when they encounter an issue. Yes, even machines make mistakes. Nothing frustrates shoppers more than being stuck in an automated system during a technical hiccup—an ironic twist in the age of technology.

Traditional security measures, like alarm systems, security cameras, and anti-theft RFID tags, have varying degrees of success in retail. Because of their pitfalls, they’re not always sufficient in unattended or self-serve retail environments. For example, security cameras can deter thieves, but they can’t actively prevent theft. And a simple face mask or hood can render them almost useless. Alarms and tags may alert you to suspicious activity, but they’re often too passive. They’re also so ubiquitous they don’t even elicit a response from other shoppers or loss prevention.

Plus, self-checkout systems and product vending machines are vulnerable to fraud and manipulation. For example, it’s easy for customers to bypass self-checkout scanners, leading to unaccounted-for merchandise leaving the store without proper payment.

How to Integrate Smart Locks into Self-Service Retail

Whether opened with OneKEY for staff access (OneKEY Locks) or with mKEY via a smartphones for customer access (LIVE Locks), Smart Locks provide a customizable, secure solution that strikes the right balance between self-service and in-person assistance when it’s needed most.

In many retail settings, even the most basic products are locked away behind heavy security measures that can feel intimidating to customers. No item, no matter how affordable or ordinary, is exempt from being displayed in a locked case—especially as shoplifting rates continue to climb worldwide.

While customers may want to get in and out quickly, waiting for a store employee to unlock a cabinet can feel like a hassle, especially when looking for such basic everyday items. This can lead to irritated customers and lost sales, especially when staff are busy with other responsibilities.

With LIVE Locks, customers can easily use a secure code on their smartphone to unlock display cabinets and grab products—no need to wait for staff. For example, in a pharmacy setting, a customer can unlock a cabinet containing everyday essentials like over-the-counter medication, laundry detergent, or baby formula, all with the same phone they use for everything else. This streamlines the shopping experience by eliminating long, anxiety-inducing wait times, allowing customers to quickly access what they need while ensuring only those with valid authentication can retrieve the items.

In luxury retail — or “partially unattended” retail — the focus is often on providing an exclusive, high-end experience. That means stores typically operate with minimal staff. Employees act more as luxury concierges than security guards, creating a delicate balance between personalized customer service and theft prevention. This is where Smart Locks shine.

With OneKEY Locks, luxury shoppers can browse without feeling watched or hassled, while products like jewelry or designer handbags stay secure. Along with their sleek, low-visibility appearance, OneKEY Locks allows staff to unlock product displays quickly and securely, all while maintaining an audit trail. For example, an employee can use OneKEY to unlock a jewelry display case, safely handing over an item for inspection, while the system logs who accessed the case and when. This ensures that products stay protected and helps reduce the risk of internal and external theft.

Smart Locks offer lock monitoring capabilities that provide additional security, especially when customers are granted access to display cases using their smartphones. You can monitor the real-time status of your locks, seeing which cases are securely latched and which might need attention. This allows you to quickly verify that everything is locked and secure, minimizing the chances for theft or accidental oversights by staff.

In fully self-service stores, like unmanned airport kiosks or vending stations, keeping stock rooms secure is just as important as protecting the products on display. Since staff are usually only around to restock, it’s important to control who has access to those sensitive inventory areas.

Smart Locks make this simple with customizable access control. Only authorized employees—using a unique PIN or a store-issued handheld device—can unlock storage rooms or secure inventory compartments. For example, staff can use our patented OneKEY or another device to access stockrooms when it’s time to restock. This keeps inventory secure and ensures everything stays locked up until it’s needed.

Plus, with LIVE Locks, you can easily track who last accessed a stockroom. This adds an extra layer of accountability and helps protect against internal theft, so you always know who interacted with the inventory.

Customers get a smooth, self-service shopping experience, while you can rest easy knowing your stockrooms are secure—both from external threats and internal risks.

Embrace the Future of Secure, Self-Service Retail

Smart Locks are perfect for the growing unattended retail environments, fitting seamlessly into any setup—whether upgrading existing fixtures or outfitting new ones. With benefits like enhanced security, Smart Locks ensure only paying customers can access purchased items, reducing theft and boosting your bottom line. Plus, they help streamline operations, minimizing the need for additional staff while offering a frictionless shopping experience for customers.

With Smart Locks the future of unattended retails looks—secure and customer-friendly. Ready to take the next step in securing your self-service store? Contact InVue today to learn more about Smart Locks.