Since the COVID-19 pandemic, smart vending machines and unmanned stores have gained traction. One of the pioneers in the industry is SandStar, whose pure computer vision technology can recognize 30,000 SKUs.
Founded in 2016, the company offers smart kiosks, intelligent vending machines and visual recognition-based unmanned stores. It serves businesses worldwide.
AI-Powered Kiosks
Kiosks with AI technology are gaining momentum within the restaurant industry, providing a number of significant benefits that cut costs, boost efficiency, and reduce errors. For instance, AI can automate many back-of-house (BOH) tasks, such as taking reservations or entering orders into the point of sale (POS), freeing up employees to focus on customer service and other high-value work. Additionally, AI can help improve food preparation, inventory management, and even demand forecasting – all of which can significantly decrease costs and increase profitability.
Enhanced personalized consumer engagement is another key benefit of kiosks with AI. By leveraging ML and AI, kiosks can create dynamic user profiles that understand their preferences based on past interactions and purchases. These profiles can then be synced across all devices, allowing users to receive recommendations and experiences that resonate with them regardless of their location or device.
Beyond enhancing customer experience, AI-powered kiosks gather useful data about client preferences, order patterns, and busy periods that can be used to optimize menu items, pricing plans, and staffing. For example, if customers frequently purchase a certain type of product, the kiosk may suggest complementary items, such as a snack or beverage, to encourage upselling. This tactic can boost average order values and drive sales growth.
AI-Powered Vending Machines
When it comes to a future-ready vending experience, AI is the key. With facial and voice recognition technology, consumers can interact with vending machines in new ways that increase engagement and convenience.
Vending machines powered by AI can also track customer behavior and recommend specific products based on their purchase history. This allows businesses to tailor products and offer enticing discounts and loyalty rewards to individuals. For example, a customer who frequently buys coffee might be offered a coupon for a free cup at their preferred location.
AI-powered vending machines can also monitor the status of the machine and detect problems to reduce downtime and improve performance. This remote monitoring can help businesses avoid costly service calls and maximize revenue potential by ensuring that their vending machines are always in good working condition.
Additionally, a smart kiosk can use predictive analytics to determine when it’s time to replenish certain products. This can be a huge cost saver, especially for large retailers with a lot of vending machines. One of our clients reported that before implementing smart vending machines, they spent $80 per day on average for replenishment. Once they switched over to a smart kiosk, that cost was cut by 40%.
AI-powered vending machines can also accept various types of payment, including cashless payments and mobile wallets. This allows customers to pay faster and more conveniently, increasing sales and overall customer satisfaction. Additionally, AI-enabled vending machines can utilize energy-efficient components and biodegradable packaging to minimize impact on the environment.
AI-Powered Unmanned Stores
A recent retail trend is transforming traditional stores into automated convenience spaces that offer consumers a hassle-free shopping experience. AI-powered unmanned stores utilize advanced technologies such as sensor technology and computer vision to track and analyze customer behavior. They provide a 24/7 shopping experience, minimal staff requirements, and the flexibility of cashless transactions. These smart retail solutions are reshaping consumer shopping habits and providing a glimpse into the future of automation in the retail industry.
For example, Re-Up’s AI-powered unmanned store features a virtual kitchen that uses robotics and machine learning to prepare food with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The store’s sensors monitor and analyze customer movements to understand their needs, preferences and buying patterns. This data is used to optimize inventory, product displays and all facets of store management.
However, these smart automated stores still face obstacles that will make or break their success. One of the most challenging aspects is ensuring that the AI system recognizes and tracks each item. A key to achieving this is an efficient, real-time bandwidth. Computer vision models must be able to receive and process the live stream of data in seconds.
Other challenges include the need to ensure security and loss prevention. Fortunately, AI-powered security systems can help overcome these obstacles by monitoring suspicious behaviors and identifying potential threats in real time. These systems can then alert customers or the store owners and take the appropriate measures to minimize risks and losses.
AI-Powered Analytics
AI is a powerful tool for analytics, which provides insight into data changes, relationships, and future predictions. It also helps in detecting anomalies, automates repetitive tasks, and improves customer service. It has already been used in several industries, including retail, banking, and healthcare. In the financial industry, it’s used to detect fraud and improve the investment experience. In retail, it’s used to optimize customer services and boost sales forecasts. It’s also been used in marketing to personalize campaigns and improve ROI.
The first step in AI analytics is collecting and cleaning datasets from trusted sources. This is followed by data analysis, where statistical models are used to identify trends and patterns. These insights can then be used to make strategic business decisions, such as optimizing inventory and determining the best vendors to work with. In addition, they can help with other functions, such as predicting consumer behavior and market trends.
For analytics consumers, AI-enhanced analytics allows them to type in their requirements using natural language and receive results instantly. This eliminates the need to search through charts and dashboards to find answers. It can also help speed up the initial analytics setup process by automating tasks and allowing developers to provide custom configurations through natural language. It can even help them save time and money by reducing the need for manual coding and debugging.