New technology is paving the way for self-checkout for a single item, coffee, to erase the lines at convenience stores during peak morning hours.
Coffee machines connected to dedicated self-service kiosks could reduce checkout lines at convenience stores during peak morning hours and present a new opportunity for loyalty promotions.
Two international companies—Diebold Nixdorf and WMF Professional Coffee Machines—have developed a coffee self-purchasing system using cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology for convenience stores and coffee shops, a spokesperson for Diebold Nixdorf said.
Consumers select and purchase the coffee they want at the Diebold Nixdorf self-checkout and receive a printed barcode or QR code the WMF coffee machine reads to prepare the desired beverage. By paying in advance for their coffee, consumers don’t have to take the hot beverage to the cashier, so they can more swiftly complete their purchase, the companies said.
“Coffee is very profitable for retailers and drives customer traffic. No longer just a tradition in the morning or after lunch, coffee service can help retailers improve their store concepts and customer experiences. A connected coffee machine also gives retailers more control of the coffee purchasing process and the opportunity to reconnect with the customers when inviting them to join a loyalty program,” said Benedikt Schmidt, director, partner ecosystem retail software, at Hudson, Ohio-based Diebold Nixdorf.
Once the system involving cloud-based technology is set up, digital QR codes can be used with a loyalty solution to offer promotions.
Scanners connected to the coffee machines are a key component of the system. “There are small external scanning devices connected to the coffee machines that identify the digital or paper-based voucher QR code. Customers immediately see their selected coffee type at the display and the coffee machine starts pouring after they’ve confirmed it,” Schmidt told CSP Daily News.
The company’s Vynamic Retail Platform uses open APIs that allows coffee machines from WMF to integrate with the store’s IT infrastructure and POS system.
“By integrating our coffee machines into Diebold Nixdorf's checkout systems, we are offering retailers additional options to make their locations even more attractive by focusing on the customers and their checkout and payment preferences,” said Benjamin Thurner, vice president of digital at WMF Professional Coffee Machines.
At stores without a self-checkout or a self-ordering kiosk, consumers can pay in advance for the coffee at the register and receive a coded voucher to use at the coffee machine.
Diebold Nixdorf provides a variety of technology solutions to convenience retailers, including point-of-sale, self-checkout, data-oriented solutions, and an installation and maintenance solution for EV charger manufacturers and charge-point operators.
WMF, which is short for Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, is part of the French SEB Group. The company is a premium international supplier of professional coffee machines, household products and hotel equipment It owns and operates 350 stores in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries in Europe and Asia, including China.