How scan and pay checkout works
Scan and pay is a type of self checkout where the shopper is the cashier. They scan each product with their own phone while they shop, pay in the app, and leave without standing in the billing queue. Nothing changes on the shelf: the same barcodes, the same prices, the same offers.
The shopper’s journey
- Enter. Scan the QR standee at the store entrance. The store opens in the QwikExit app with its own catalogue and offers.
- Scan. Point the camera at a product’s barcode. It goes into a digital bag with its price. The catalogue is kept on the phone, so scanning still works on a weak signal.
- Pay. Open the bag, check the bill and pay by UPI, card or wallet. A digital GST invoice is saved in the app.
- Exit. The app shows a signed exit pass. A guard scans it, checks the bag against the item count and price band, and the shopper walks out.
What happens on the store side
- At the exit, the guard uses the QwikExit Store app on any smartphone. Each pass is signed, expires within minutes and cannot be reused, so a screenshot of an old pass does not work.
- Risk checks. Every cart gets a risk score. Unusual carts are flagged for a full check, and random full checks keep everyone honest. A person always makes the decision.
- In head office, the Retailer Console shows sales, baskets and exit checks for every store as they happen.
- Money settles into the store’s own Razorpay account.
How it differs from a normal checkout
| Billing counter | Scan and pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Who scans | Cashier | Shopper, on their own phone |
| Where you wait | In the billing queue | Only at a quick exit check |
| Hardware | POS terminal and scanner per counter | None, guards use a smartphone |
| Payment | At the counter | In the app, by UPI, card or wallet |
| Invoice | Printed | Digital GST invoice in the app |
Where it does not fit yet
Loose and weighed items such as fruit, vegetables and loose staples need a weighing scale, so they stay at the regular counter. Pharmacies with prescriptions and jewellery stores are not a fit today.
For the bigger picture in India, read how scan and pay works in Indian retail.
Try it in one of your stores. A 30 day pilot runs as an express lane next to your existing counters, and we measure the difference against a similar store.
See how the pilot works or write to hello@qwikexit.com.
Common questions
What is scan and pay checkout?
Scan and pay is a form of self checkout where shoppers scan each product with their own phone, pay in an app and leave through an express exit, without waiting at a billing counter.
How does the store know the shopper has paid?
After payment the app shows a signed exit pass that expires within minutes. A guard scans it with the QwikExit Store app, which confirms the payment and shows the item count and price band to check against the bag.
Does scan and pay work without internet?
Scanning works on a weak signal because the catalogue is stored on the phone. A connection is needed to pay.
How are returns handled?
The same way as today. The shopper brings the item and the digital GST invoice from the app, and the store handles it under its own return policy.