NCR Patents Simultaneous 2-Sided Printing

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Free-range chicken, organic produce, sustainable fisheries and forests…the environment is certainly taking centre stage in today’s retail industry. Supermarkets, mass merchants and other retail stores are getting greener, as consumer demand for environmental stewardship grows. NCR Corporation recently unveiled a revolutionary technology that supports this growing need to minimize environmental impact, while enhancing the cost reduction and productivity benefits generated by kiosks and other self-service devices.
 
Having introduced the cash register receipt over 100 years ago, NCR has now developed and patented a process for simultaneous two-sided thermal receipt printing. By simultaneously printing on both sides of the receipt, retailers can reduce environmental impact by using up to 50% less paper. To put that in perspective, a 12-lane supermarket could save up to 35 trees per year!

This saving is good news to retailers as well as shoppers, as using less paper can save operational costs as well as trees. Two-sided printing can reduce paper usage by 30-50% on average, depending on receipt length. Reducing paper usage can also cut the shipping and inventory costs associated with paper rolls, which can make a significant impact in an industry known for razor thin margins.
 
Self-service kiosks and self-checkout are becoming more prevalent because businesses worldwide are beginning to see the positive impact these devices have on productivity. Two-sided thermal printing enhances those benefits by reducing the number of receipt roll changes, especially during busy peak times, which increases lane availability and helps shoppers get in and out of the store faster.
 
The use of two-sided thermal printing can also help consumers get what they want when they’re in the store by drawing attention to the receipt. A study published by retail trade magazine Integrated Solutions for Retailers found that more than twice as many shoppers are likely to redeem a coupon printed in color vs. black-and-white.Two-sided thermal receipts allow for several one-colour, one-sided options, including red, blue and black, potentially doubling the average coupon redemption rate of 2-3%. Added promotional flexibility enables retailers to customize messaging by printing terms and conditions, surveys, rebates or other items on the back of the receipt.
 
Customized messaging can also mitigate a retailer’s security concerns. According to the New York-based National Retail Federation, retail return fraud is a rampant problem, accounting for more than $16 billion in 2003. The fact that the receipt is printed on both sides along with the numerous colour and messaging options available can minimize the possibility of fraudulent returns, by making the receipts easier for cashiers to identify and harder for thieves to duplicate.
 
Initial retail pilot installations for NCR’s two-sided printer are yielding positive results, with general availability of the multifunction printer expected in July of this year. Like the growing number of self-service kiosk applications, two-sided thermal printing promises to be a win-win for retailers and consumers alike, by enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.