Convenience retail innovation mesmerizes attendees at Georgia World Congress Center

With labor shortages hobbling business growth, organizations in nearly every industry sector are anxious to find the best self service solutions available. Attendees at this month's NAMA show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta got a first hand view of promising unattended retail technologies.

The trade show floor offered a wealth of innovation such as checkout-free markets, smart glassfront merchandisers, AI-enabled biometric identification and age verification, robotic merchandisers, enhanced connectivity devices and more.

This year's show once again featured the "Imagination Way" interactive gallery that greeted attendees at the entrance to the main show floor, demonstrating how innovations can service unique environments such as transit centers, multi-family/campus housing, senior living/healthcare and lodging and hospitality.

Following are trade show highlights in alphabetical order.

365 Retail Markets Inc.

365 Retail Markets Inc., a provider of micro market and point-of-sale technology, demonstrated its Stockwell 2.0 dual cabinet merchandiser with automatic product recognition and refrigerated and ambient sections.

Available this year, the Stockwell 2.0 marks an upgrade of the previous Stockwell smart store technology, featuring a dedicated refrigerated door, an ambient door, a tap/insert credit card and GMA payment enabled via the company's Pico device.

The company recently acquired Kafoodle, a food technology company based in the U.K. that specializes in kitchen and menu management, nutritional data and allergy compliance. The technology will complement 365's existing offerings.

APi Tech North America

APi Tech North America, the U.S. division of APi Tech in France, presented its pizza oven vending machine equipped with a real deck oven for traditional baking quality. A heating element serves as a grill to bake pizzas when requested. The machine packages the pizzas in a cardboard box to preserve taste and texture.

The machines are being built and operated by Zabot Pizza Robot based in Southfield, Michigan.

Up to 96 pizzas can be stored and kept fresh for 72 hours within a fridge. Once a customer chooses a pizza, the pizza gets pulled from the fridge and placed in one of the two deck ovens to be served in about three minutes.

The pizzas can be delivered with a core temperature higher than 63 degrees Celsius/145 degrees Fahrenheit.

The technology allows the pizzas to be stocked in a cold room according to their age at the time of the inventory; the oldest pizzas are chosen first. The system also takes into account the best before date.

It also automatically bocks the sale of pizzas that have reached their use-by date.

A mobile app allows customers to locate machines and reserve pickup.

Aramark Refreshment Services

Aramark Refreshment Services displayed its JoyRide mobile beverage bar in the Imagination Way. The electric vehicle features four taps offering nitro and cold brew beverages, kombucha, seltzers and more.

JoyRide is the company's exclusive "Craft on Draft" experience.

The vehicle, made by Gallery Carts in Denver, uses multi-use beverage kegerators made with zero plastics.

Automated Retail Technologies LLC

Automated Retail Technologies LLC, based in Sarasota, Florida, presented its Just Baked Smart Bistro offering a variety of freshly baked foods.

The ADA compliant machine can hold 64 servings of breakfast items, entrees, sandwiches and dessert items. The average cook time is 60 seconds.

The Internet connected machine features cloud-based analytics, a 50-inch touchscreen and 24/7 remote service and support.

Power requirements: 208V 30 amps; Plug type: 30 AMP, 260V, 3 wire.

Dimensions: 48 inches wide by 40 inches deep by 78.5 inches tall.

Retail prices range from $4.99 to $8.99 with the average check over $9.

AVS Companies

AVS Companies, an Elk Grove Village, Illinois-based vending equipment distributor, presented its Cool Blu Flex combination machines, offering a refrigerated/refrigerated version and an ambient/refrigerated version.

The machines are provided by the company's Premium Product Group LLC division and can hold a capacity of 720 cans and bottles.

The machines feature 51 feet of internal cubic space and have dual locking doors, slide-in/slide-out refrigeration systems, a standard health lock and are Pico/Savant/Cooler café ready.

Axis Designs & Architectural Millwork Inc.

Axis Designs & Architectural Millwork Inc. presented its micro market fixtures.

The company uses computer aided design to develop concepts for serving areas, aiding operators in contract negotiations with floor plans, 3D renderings and material boards.

The Aurora, Illinois-based company analyzes traffic flow and provides both back-of-house and front-of-house serving equipment and furniture.

Botast LLC

Botast LLC presented its burger machine that serves as an automated fast food store.

The Internet-connected machine allows users to order and pay for hot food heated from a frozen state in one minute.

The machine includes a cashless reader and supports mobile payment, and comes with a 19-inch touchscreen, a 32-inch advertising screen and a pickup chute.

The system guarantees food safety through the tracking of food ingredients and the process of cold-chain distribution.

Product offerings include Angus burger, spicy chicken burger, double Angus thick cheeseburger, double beef burger with sausage, French fries, pineapple pie and more.

Brand Experience Lab

Brand Experience Lab presented its smart kiosk powered by Maxerience which combines AI and camera vision technology in the Imagination Way.

Customers open the door by scanning a QR code or swiping a credit card. The facial recognition includes age, gender and expression analysis. The customer is charged when they close the door.

The kiosk can support payment by mobile app, mobile wallet, credit card tap, swipe, chip or QR code and offers a back-end dashboard that allows real-time monitoring. The system is capable of recognizing more than 30,000 items with 99.7% accuracy.

Cantaloupe Inc.

Cantaloupe Inc., a digital payments and software services company that provides end-to-end technology solutions to power self-service commerce, introduced its Smart Store concepts and Cantaloupe Go management platform, marking its first use of artificial intelligence and smart lock features.

The Go Mini, Go MiniX, Go Plus100, Go Plus200, Go Plus300 and Go Max make up the Cantaloupe Go line-up of self-checkout kiosks. Each kiosk model varies in cost, features and payment acceptance capabilities.

The Smart Store line provides a complete point-of-sale solution for customers wanting to extend self-service solutions into semi-public or public settings.

The Cooler Café uses a payment terminal to link up to three connected coolers for buying food and beverage products. Using smart lock technology, the Cooler Café remains locked until payment is processed, and operators can monitor cooler temperature in real-time.

The Smart Café uses dynamic vision and AI technology to charge the consumer for products they select out of the cooler. Consumers simply present their payment, grab the item and walk away.

The Smart Market, a completely locked micro market, allows consumers to log into a user account or unlock the market with a credit/debit card. Once the consumer has made their selections, they complete their purchase at the kiosk.

The company also presented its recently introduced Seed Pick Easy, a tablet-based warehouse picking system.

The cloud-based plug-and-play solution integrates with an operator's vending management software to generate digital pick lists to help pickers pre-kit faster.

Seed Pick Easy requires only a Wi-Fi connection and an operator's product information to integrate with their current management software. It integrates with Cantaloupe's Seed and Cantaloupe Go (formerly Three Square Market) platforms.

Castles Technology Co. Ltd.

Castles Technology Co. Ltd., a provider of credit card payment terminals, presented a prototype "coin pulse" device to allow a cashless purchase in a vending machine coin mechanism. The company demonstrated the technology on a claw vending machine.

The "coin pulse" connects via a USB and taps into the coin mech wiring in the machine, mimicking a coin drop.

The company plans to introduce the technology in the third quarter of this year.

Costa Coffee

Costa Coffee, which is owned by The Coca-Cola Co., presented its Costa Smart Café in the Imagination Way.

The ADA-compliant machine offers a turnkey solution to offer more than 200 barista quality drink combinations, featuring a data connection with automated stock reordering, preventive maintenance and sales reporting.

The location must supply 2% fresh milk, access to water and drain, a minimum of three square feet of floor space, electrical access and one daily cleaning.

Costa Coffee provides all beans, cups and consumables, marketing, 24/7 phone support, maintenance service and all cleaning products.

The Coca-Cola Co. is providing the machine in the U.S.

Digital Media Vending International Inc.

Digital Media Vending International Inc. presented a prototype machine with a hopper for vending wine and liquor bottles to allow customers in a retail store to select and retrieve a bottle and then check out with a cashier.

The machine uses biometric identification and age verification.

Additional cabinets — modules — can be added to a location to expand variety and volume.

The modules do not come with payment equipment, but self-service kiosks can be added, as well as refrigeration and coupon acceptance.

Fastcorp LLC

Fastcorp LLC, a provider of robotic vending technology, presented its DIVI (Dream It Vend It) machine for age restricted products that uses IDScan.net's age and identity verification technology.

Age restricted products include alcoholic beverages, CBD and cannabis products, tobacco, vaping products and scratch tickets.

The machine has a 43-inch touchscreen and can hold up to 450 individually packaged cannabis products.

Fastcorp's Vend Block technology allows the machine to block vending up to four times a day, seven days a week to ensure control of regulated products.

The machine features a security camera, a standard keypad option, and can accept credit card, Apple Pay and Google Wallet payments.

Hyosung Innovue

Hyosung Innovue presented its TangoCafe self-serve beverage café with a robotic barista offering 23 different hot and cold drinks.

The café offers mobile ordering, mobile inventory management in real time and mobile menu settings by time and location, including promotions. The system automatically monitors inventory levels of all products and ingredients, alerting the manager when levels are low.

Customers can wash reusable cups with the accompanying tumbler washer, then order using the same cup.

The exhibit also featured the Cash Depot ATM that offers bitcoin.

Imbera

Imbera presented its VR27 ambient smart cooler and a prototype dual temperature vertical cooler freezer, the VRFD22.

The ambient smart cabinet uses low energy interior LED illumination that provides optimal display visibility and a motor that facilitates air circulation, a manual lock and a health lock.

The vertical cooler and freezer features an electronic controller that assures optimal refrigeration and intelligent control for defrost cycle, compressor and other components. The condenser offers long term refrigeration reliability and safeguarding against system leaks.

An app for the vertical cooler and freezer allows operators to lock and unlock on location via Bluetooth.

Instant Retail Systems

Instant Retail Systems presented its checkout-free store in the Imagination Way.

The fully unattended store allows multiple guests to simultaneously shop from shelves, cabinets, coolers, freezers, hangers and coffeemakers. The system's AI cameras track customers as they shop while shelf scanners track the inventory. Items removed are automatically added to their virtual shopping cart in real time.

Customers can adjust their orders on a self-serve kiosk in the market.

The software allows online monitoring, real-time inventory management and a customized promotions engine.

Invenda Group

Invenda Group exhibited several products as part of the company's automated retail ecosystem.

The company introduced a machine in partnership with AMS that features remotely control inventory, pricing, ads promotions and machine health information.

The machine features a 49-inch touchscreen and connects to Invenda Cloud, the central management system for all automated retail devices including vending machines, smart fridges and kiosks.

The machine is accessible to wheelchair users and uses the environmentally safe R290 refrigerant.

The company also introduced a smart fridge featuring a smart lock, cloud connectivity, QR code payment, debit and credit card payment as well as the Invenda Wallet which allows users to browse, select and pay for products from their smartphone.

The company also introduced a smart fridge controller kit with a digital screen for advertising and providing nutrition information.

Invenda Group recently teamed with Adyen, a financial technology platform, to incorporate a more efficient and cost-effective digital payments process.

J.M. Smucker Co.

The J.M. Smucker Co. presented its Select Brew countertop, single-cup coffee dispenser designed to maximize sanitation.

The technology allows the unit to sanitize in 90 seconds or less without removing anything but the drip tray.

There is no open-air exposure or cross contamination of product when replacing product.

The machine is equipped with a touchscreen and available with Café Bustelo and Folgers branding.

LFC Systems

LFC Systems, manufacturer of a dedicated hot dog machine, presented a prototype for its HD4000, a closed front machine with a menu and order touchscreen and a window that allows the customer to view the cooking process.

The ADA-compliant machine accepts cash, credit cards and mobile payments.

The machine has an automatic oven self-cleaning process that runs between cooking cycles.

It can hold 140 hot dogs (6 inches long and between 5/8 and 1.25 inches in diameter), 120 buns and 240 condiment packets.

MyCantine

MyCantine, a Montreal-based company, presented its autonomous fridge that uses RFID or computer vision technology.

The mobile app allows users to view menus and nutrition information. To access the products, the user scans their payment card on the machine or uses their mobile phone to open the door.

The machine's technology identifies what items are removed from the machine and automatically charges the user's payment card.

The technology also allows for real-time inventory management and real-time sales reporting.

The machine has a capacity of up to 150 meals or beverages and requires 25 square feet of space, a power outlet and Wi-Fi.

Nayax Ltd.

Nayax Ltd., a commerce enablement and payments platform designed to help merchants scale their business, presented its Nova Market which features a self-checkout POS, multiple payment options, remote management and reconciliation of funds.

The platform integrates with various vending management systems and allows Nova Market funds to be reconciled with a vending business.

The platform also integrates with the company's Monyx Wallet consumer engagement and loyalty programs. It also leverages digital receipts with interactive designs, including images, videos and games, and enables social media advertising.

The company also displayed its EV Meter, an EV charging technology that offers a charging management platform, universal charging stations and a built-in open payment solution.

OptConnect

OptConnect, a wireless services management provider, demonstrated its pairing with?Cradlepoint?hardware to support LTE and 5G cellular networks. The solution enables wireless IoT connectivity and enterprise-grade security to push and pull data to and from the cloud, data centers and users.

Cradlepoint enables IT teams to integrate routers with SaaS analytics platforms and manage connectivity and security through a single platform.

PayRange Inc.

PayRange Inc., a provider of a mobile payment app and hardware for automated retail, presented its in-app age verification solution, immi, and its accompanying hardware component, BluCheck.

The solution enables age and identity verification when used with the PayRange app, including purchase quantity limits, which is a regulatory requirement intended to prevent over consumption and social selling.

A consumer can launch the immi age verification process from within the PayRange app to make a purchase of an age-restricted item once a BluCheck device is installed and activated on a machine.

The immi technology utilizes multi-factor authentication to verify age and identity.

The user scans the front and back of a government issued ID, from which the technology authenticates the ID and verifies the age. The user then takes a selfie and the FaceMatch AI matches them to their photo ID.

An encrypted reusable digital ID allows verified consumers to make repeat age-restricted purchases without repeating the process.

Presso

Presso presented its self-serve garment care kiosk in the Imagination Way.

The Presso kiosk allows customers to steam clean as many as two garments at a time. The machine uses tumble-free cleaning technology to clean 100% silk, polyester, cotton, wool, linen, rayon and more.

The machine features garment hangers and clips, glass bi-fold doors, steam, liquid tanks, spray nozzles, sleeve tubes, a 10-inch touch interface and locker casting wheels.

The Sandy Springs, Georgia-based company recommends against using natural leather due to the moisture in the steam.

Push Beverages

Push Beverages introduced Tribe Tea brand beverages in 16-ounce bottles and Chu Chi brand juices in 16.9-ounce cans.

Tribe Tea includes real brewed tea sweetened drinks with pure cane sugar, no preservatives or coloring or high-fructose corn syrup. Offerings include tea-peach, tea-peach raspberry, tea-lemon, tea-sugar-free lemon, tea-green with ginseng and honey, tea-sugar-free green with ginseng and honey, tea-sweet and tea-unsweetened.

Chu Chi juices contain 30% juice and include watermelon juice, pineapple juice, passion fruity juice, mango juice and 100% coconut water.

Sandstar

Sandstar, a manufacturer of AI enabled kiosks, presented its portable Brew Buddy beer and snack machine and its Plus 21 smart kiosk for selling age restricted products in the Imagination Way.

The Brew Buddy combines four self-pour taps with a glassfront, temperature-controlled snack merchandiser.

The touchscreen enabled self-pour taps integrate with AI enabled age verification for beer purchases. The taps come with a drain and can charge by the ounce for beer, coffee, tea and nitro brew.

The Brew Buddy can accept QR code payment.

The AI enabled Plus 21 glassfront merchandiser enables the sale of age controlled products.

The user scans a QR code to activate the age verification process. An AI camera scans the user's face to determine their age, then deletes the scan. The user then selects payment method to open the door and select products. When the door closes, a receipt is emailed to the user's phone.

There is no need to download an app.

Sanitronics International B.V.

Sanitronics International B.V. demonstrated its self-cleaning toilet in the Imagination Way. The system uses two toilet bowls that alternate for cleaning after each use, allowing one toilet to be cleaned in a separate compartment while the clean toilet is available for use.

The system uses high pressure water to clean the toilets as well as the floor. The system cleans the entire toilet, inside and out. Every new user receives a clean and dry toilet seat.

A stand-alone version is available for public environments while mobile units are available for events.

The Rotterdam, Netherlands-based company has installed the toilets throughout Europe.

TCN

TCN, a China based vending machine manufacturer, presented various glassfront models, several of which feature touchscreens, an elevator delivery mechanism and a Nayax payment device with a dashboard that provides real time transaction tracking.

Models include combination temperature-controlled snack and beverage machines, as well as a refrigerated locker vending machine for fresh food.

The Bakery Box, a Chicago cake vending machine, used a TCN glassfront with an elevator delivery mechanism to provide mini cakes and macarons.

Trinity Axis

Trinity Axis presented its Trio vending machines and management app.

The Trio Compact features an RFID scanner, a multi-touch 21.5-inch display, sales reporting, route planning, mobile management, product optimization, e-receipts and advertising.

The Trio revision kit enables an older vending machine to be upgraded with these modern features.

The Trio kiosk offers the same features as the Trio Compact but also has a barcode scanner, a camera and a product search database.

The Trio Daily is an app for monitoring inventory levels, cost of goods and routes with real-time notifications. The app is available for iPhone and Android phones.

All models feature secure payment processing with end-to-end and point-to-point encryption.

U-Select-It Corp.

U-Select-It Corp. presented its Scan & Go Market to provide expanded product variety and capacity.

The dual glassfront machine can hold 528 snack items (210 snack and pastry items and 318 candy items) and 240 20-ounce bottles.

The combination machine features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, LED lighting, the company's iVend sensor system, a door switch, a delivery assist, a braille keypad, leg covers, PayRange mobile payment acceptance and a credit card reader.

Options include UVend technology, motor pairing, a gum and mint tray, an audio interface, a push tray, custom coil and tray configurations, custom graphics, a changeable LED backlit POS and a kick panel.

VE Solutions

VE Solutions, formerly Vendors Exchange International Inc., presented its V3 kiosk, featuring a bill validator and accepting credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments.

The interface simplifies the process for customers to navigate through their transaction and finalize their purchase.

The kiosk integrates with company's FMS remote management to enable a micro market to automate processes and reports, customize dashboards through the portal, reduce route visits with item level sales tracking, customize alerts, track temperatures and manage devices remotely.

Ventus Wireless LLC

Ventus Wireless LLC, a provider of 4G LTE connectivity, presented its VRB842 device that provides secure 4G LTE connectivity with remote power reboot in one device. The unit's ability to remotely reboot two separate devices independently supports IoT/M2M connected devices in distributed or remote locations.

The reboot functionality is enabled by an embedded 4G LTE router that provides reliable network connectivity. The reboot is accessed via the Ventus Genesis web-based monitoring platform and can reboot any device in a network from a single portal.

The VRB842, unlike other reboot devices, does not require additional Internet connectivity and provides LAN network support via two Ethernet ports and embedded 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi.

Wine Connoisseur

Wine Connoisseur presented its Wine Connoisseur Sommelier System, a countertop, single-serve wine dispenser that serves wine on demand at the correct temperature.

A white ring glows when the system is ready to pour. The user places their glass on the drip tray and places a single-serve sachet into a chamber at the top of the machine.

The user activates the pour by pressing a button. When the dispense completes, the wine door opens, and a chime sounds. The user then removes and discards the empty sachet, and the wine is ready to taste.

A cleaning cycle is required when powering the system on or off. When the cleaning cycle completes, the wine door automatically opens. The system includes a water reservoir that the user replaces after every use.

The system eliminates the chilling process by serving the wine at the correct temperature in less than two minutes, chilling and aerating the wine.

The sachets have a two-year shelf life and are recyclable.

WTI Wireless

WTI Wireless introduced its 5400 Series 5G cellular router, its most recent plug-and-play wireless solution.

The company provides machine-to-machine wireless connectivity to offer real-time data and analysis for applications such as vending machines, kiosks, ATMs, digital signage and facility management. In addition to hardware or network troubleshooting, WTI Wireless solutions make data connections reliable and manageable.

Besides routers, products include remote power switches and accessories such as router power chargers, Wi-Fi antennas and antenna extension cables.

Zippin

Zippin, a provider of AI-enabled checkout-free technology, presented its smart store solution in the Imagination Way in partnership with Mars Wrigley and The Central Group.

Guests are able to enter the store by scanning a QR code or tapping a credit card. The AI software automatically identifies the items using overhead cameras and sensors and adds them to the guest's virtual shopping cart.

The guest can place the items in their pocket, bag or purse, or simply carry them out. The purchases are automatically charged, and a receipt is available online once they exit the store.

Zippin has installed its checkout-free technology worldwide including professional sports stadiums, airports, corporate campuses and retailers.

Photos by Networld Media Group.