They require less memorization. In most instances, you no longer need to enter a certain key sequence to perform an action, such as no sale > 99 > sign-on and instead just navigate through the onscreen menu until you reach the screen where you touch the correct area on the screen to perform the same action. Like the self-scan terminals, there is a produce look up menu built in that allows you to search by pictures if you don't know or can't find the PLU. There have been plenty of issues surrounding the touchscreens, at least in my area, and it's resulted in a very slow conversion process where some stores in my area have had them for at least a couple of years now whereas others don't have them and there's no clear timetable as to when they will get them, either.
My personal opinion is based on my observations is that the touchscreens don't seem to lead to faster check-out times. But, that might have more to do with the workforce than the technology itself, although no question the technology itself isn't flawless.
Interesting.. I imagine that would be easier for some of those random veggies you don't get too often and can't remember the number..but I can see how something supposed to be easier is more of a pain trying to implement
Typing in PLU codes can be somewhat of a bigger pain on the touchscreens though because the touchscreens don't consistently register inputs. Typing in "4011" for example tends to sometimes result in one of the four presses not being registered, for some reason, whereas with the keyboards, that problem is pretty much nonexistent. The touchscreens on the registers seems to be less responsive/not as sensitive as the self scan terminals that customers use. Ring tender scores tend to be better (especially among longtime cashiers) with the keyboards vs. the touchscreens, but that's merely based on my observations and not necessarily true at all stores.
