Cashierless and contactless unattended retail technology has fostered retail formats such as 'smart stores,' blurring distinctions between traditional venues such as supermarkets, convenience stores, QSRs and fuel stations.

Jerry Langfitt presents the 19-inch Diebold Nixdorf Easy express.

Oct. 12, 2022 | by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

As the 2022 Q4 holiday shopping season takes hold, consumers are finding retail offerings more convenient than ever, thanks to the proliferation of self-order-and-pay technology.

Retailers have expanded digital and physical touchpoints to make shopping faster and easier as technology providers introduce more tools to enhance the customer journey.

Cashierless and contactless technology has enabled new retail formats such as "smart stores" and blurred some of the distinctions between traditional venues such as supermarkets, convenience stores, QSRs and fuel stations.

Meanwhile, the electric vehicle revolution has started to reconfigure the retail landscape with EV charging stations, sowing the seeds of a more electrified retail ecosystem. A federal initiative will invest $7.5 billion to deploy an EV charging station every 50 miles along interstate highways over the next five years.

The EV charging stations, part of a movement still in its infancy, bring the potential for more unattended retail outlets to further expand customer shopping options.

As technology providers embrace the opportunities of an evolving retail landscape, retail services providers are looking beyond their traditional trade shows for innovative technology offerings.

As the traditional vending industry has embraced micro markets over the past decade, for example, progressive operators in this venue recognize the unattended convenience store as the next step in convenience retail.

During the recent NACS show in Las Vegas, representatives of Aramark, Compass Group/Canteen, Five Star Food Service Inc., Continental Services Inc. and Coca-Cola Beverages Florida perused the trade show floor for new opportunities.

Following are highlights of convenience retail equipment and technology introductions listed in alphabetical order.

365 Retail Markets presented its PicoCooler and StockWell 2.0 self-service technology.

PicoCooler is a self-serve cooler technology with an interactive touchscreen, connectivity and payment versatility, with a built-in camera for security.

The Pico platform provides point-of-sale solutions for operators offering self-checkout kiosks for micro markets, vending and office coffee service.

Amenities include near field communication payment, a chip insert, a webcam for loss prevention and a barcode scanner.

Connectivity options include cellular, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

As part of the Pico platform, the StockWell 2.0 cooler is a half ambient, half cooled unit that uses artificial intelligence to identify products for the operator to offer a location.

Amazon has offered its Just Walk Out technology which allows retailers to offer cashierless checkout using cameras and sensor-enabled shelving.

Customers enter the store by scanning a QR code in their Amazon app, then use Amazon One to scan their palm or insert a debit or credit card linked to their Amazon account.

Once inside the store, the camera recognizes all products shoppers remove or put back on the shelves. Anything a guest takes off the shelf is added to their virtual cart, while anything they put back on the shelf comes out of the virtual cart.

When the guest leaves the store, the card is charged. To receive a receipt, they go to a kiosk and enter their email address.

Armor Safe Technologies presented its Cachesystem 7300 cash management solution.

The machine features a 96-tube vending capacity and locking inner cassette door.

Each safe has a bill recognition system to ensure first time bill acceptance and counterfeit detection. Counted funds are secured in cassettes for easy transport and deposit.

Every transaction is recorded and tracked through each user's PIN number, providing an audit trail.

The system integrates with application service providers to allow real-time access to analytics and transaction data remotely or from the back office.

Features also include a thermal printer, Ethernet/wireless interface, locking or non-locking 1,200-note or 2,200-note cassettes, single or bulk note CPI SC Advance bill validators and a liquid resistant keypad.

Bitstop presented its bitcoin ATM that enables consumers to purchase bitcoin with cash. Users must register using a mobile device and open a bitcoin wallet to receive bitcoin. A government issued ID is also required to register.

Bitstop charges users 13.5% on any fiat exchanged for bitcoin at the machine.

The Bitstop bitcoin price is an average of global bitcoin rates and is quoted in real time.

The user can enter any amount they wish to use and will see how much bitcoin they will receive.

Bitstop provides an interactive map of its bitcoin ATM locations. A user can enter their address and get directions texted to them.

The Blink EV charging network uses proprietary, cloud-based software that operates, maintains and tracks the EV charging stations connected to the network and the associated charging data.

The company's recently introduced Vision IQ 200 combines EV fast charging with ads on one or two 30-inch LCD screens, offering revenue sharing for both charging and advertising. The Vision IQ 200 has one or two 80-amp Level 2 chargers delivering up to 19.2 kW charge speeds, in addition to 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Blink has also introduced software solutions such as a fleet management portal that offers fleet managers a dashboard to track EV charging and load management, charger status and the status of drivers and vehicles.

The company has established partnerships for adoption across numerous location types, including parking facilities, multifamily residences, workplace locations, health care/medical facilities, schools, airports, auto dealers, hotels, mixed-use municipal locations, recreation areas, religious institutions, restaurants, retailers, stadiums, supermarkets and transportation hubs.

Brink's Complete Enterprise cash management solution provides a configurable, fully managed cash automation system integrating all components of a cash ecosystem, including solution design, reconciliation, analytics and forecasting, device management, accelerated cash access, optimized cash logistics and single-source support.

The device management solution includes self-checkout integration, remote monitoring and a Brink's recycler for both notes and coins.

The accelerated cash access provides next-day provisional credit for registered cash via Brink's Capital.

The cash logistics include an automated change order placement and delivery and the Brink's 24seven app.

Cash Depot's Bank In A Box provides a full service smart safe, ATM and reconciliation package in a single application. The machine enables cash deposits, cash change orders, direct end of day credit, reconciliation reporting and more.

The machine allows consumers to make cash payments of bills and loans as well as purchases of a variety of cryptocurrencies.

Merchants are able to use the machine to make store deposits and make changes and cash advances for registers.

Banks can use the machine to expand consumer banking access by sending account holders to the ATMs to make deposits.

The machines can be used to initiate money transfers. They can also be used to move the process of adding prepaid card funds from the cash register to the ATM.

Crane Payment Innovations' Paypod point-of-sale cash automation solution for self-checkout integrates with self-checkout software and eliminates the need for cashiers by communicating with the POS system to accept note and coin payments and dispense change.

In attended lane applications, employees can enter the order and support customers while customers complete the payment with the Paypod.

The Paypod features a lockable enclosure door, lockable banknote recycler cash box and a dual locking feature on the coin recycler.

Coin Cloud, a cryptocurrency machine operator and operating system provider, has introduced its generic software for non-Coin-Cloud equipment.

Coin Cloud software integrates with any cryptocurrency wallet and offers 24/7/365 live customer support.

Coin Cloud ATMs accept more than 40 cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Cardano, SushiSwap, Tether, USDCoin, Celsius and 1inch. There is also a private client desk over-the-counter service for higher-level transactions.

Coin Cloud is a registered money services business with FinCEN and complies with state and local laws in addition to federal laws.

The Coin Cloud mobile wallet is compatible with iOS and Android and is available for free download in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Diebold Nixdorf Inc. presented its Easy express, which can be used as a self-checkout, attended checkout or information device.

The Easy express can be wall-mounted, desk-mounted or a hybrid variant. It features a 15- or 19-inch projective capacitive touchscreen and an additional 8-, 12- or 15-inch rear display for the hybrid variant. It is compatible with standard payment terminals, including signature pad, contactless and NFC authentication.

Interactive features include an LCD multi-touchscreen, a 2D scanner, a thermal printer, a basket shelf and a security scale.

The company also presented its Vynamic Retail Platform that offers a cloud native software platform that orchestrates customer journeys while supporting adaptions to store setups. The open APIs and modular microservices enable the retailer to execute cross channel journeys.

Elo Touch Solutions presented its Wallaby Pro solution, available in wall, counter or floor models.

The 22-, 24- or 27-inch touchscreens can be single- or double-sided.

A custom branded backer board can be added to the back of the stand or ceiling pole. Customizations also include wrapping for the backer board and adding a logo to the front.

The self-service stands provide concealed housing for a power strip, power bricks, a compute device, cables and access to components.

Accessories include a printer, an ADA keypad, an assist button, EMVs, barcode scanners, status lights, cameras, RFID, fingerprint scanners and more.

The Everest Ice & Water machine offers two revenue streams to a location: ice and water.

The company's patented dispensing system, VersaVend, is designed to prevent ice jams due to multiple moving parts for moving the ice.

The Everest models have only one moving part, resulting in no jams.

The machine's internal drum holds 550 pounds of ready-to-go ice. The 2HP motor powers barrel rotation, providing constant movement of the ice. The system's gearbox transfers the motor's power to the barrel, and the patented ice dispensing design allows for 10 pounds of ice with every drum rotation.

The five stage water filtration system from Everpure ensures consistent taste using a 10-micron sediment pre-filter to remove suspended solids, two 0.5-micron block carbon filters that remove chlorine, taste, odor and chemicals, a scale reduction filter to protect the ice maker from hard water, and UV sterilization that ensures safe, clean water.

Evoca Group introduced its Emblem fresh bean-to-cup coffee machine for offices, offering 15 selections, part of the company's Designer series.

The machine comes in three sizes and features an 18.5-inch touchscreen and customizable LEDs with color matching interface in 30 colors.

Cup sizes range from three to 16 ounces.

The machine includes three bean hoppers (4.2-pound, 3.4-pound and 2-pound) and three soluble canisters (1.2-pound, 3.7-pound and 3.7-pound).

Accessories include a cup dispenser, a condiment dispenser, wood base cabinets, a chute kit for coffee waste, a printer and an ADA compliant keypad.

Vending options include a coin mechanism and coin kit, a bill acceptor and bill box and a credit card reader.

EVunited, an EV charging and solar provider, introduced its EV charging solutions for commercial property owners, including retail, workplace, multi-family, fleet, higher education, hospitality and more.

Services include site assessments, installation and project management.

The company's Level 2 chargers use 240-volt electrical circuits, which allow the user to charge a vehicle in a few hours.

The chargers provide up to 30 miles of range per hour.

The charging solutions provide speeds from 50 KW to 350 KW.

The company's solar EV charging offers solar panels, storage, canopies and more.

FreeWire presented its Boost Charger EV charging platform that is compatible with all EV models and allows custom branding, advertising and multiple payment options. Boost Charger plugs into existing utility service and frees locations from the costs of providing charging using power directly from the electric grid.

The 24-inch touchscreen guides the customer through the pay, plug and go process and features a built-in help center.

Each Boost Charger provides simultaneous charging from both charger cables.

The asset management platform enables remote access and customization at all times, and allows operators to run reports, change screen messaging and customize the LED status indicator light colors.

Fresh Blends presented its robotic, self-serve smoothie machine, featuring a 20-inch touchscreen self-service menu.

The company's technology produces a blended drink in under 60 seconds and serves up to 45 drinks per hour.

The customer chooses a blend on the touchscreen, then selects a size, places their cup in the dispense chamber and watches the machine dispense the product. The interactive touchscreen displays a time clock as the machine prepares the drink and advises the customer when it's time to take their cup.

The system uses raw ingredients with all natural recipes. The menu includes smoothies, shakes, frappes, refreshers and cold brew coffee.

Fujitsu Frontech North America Inc. presented the U-Scan Bolt, its smallest footprint self-service kiosk, available with pedestal and counter mounting options.

Featuring a touchscreen, scanner and printer, the U-Scan Bolt connects retailers to customers by facilitating self-service touchpoints throughout a retail environment.

The U-Scan Bolt is compatible with all Fujitsu S3 solutions, including the QSS, Self-Checkout, SmartCash, Verso, TaskForce, Integro and PalmSecure.

Glory Global Solutions Ltd. presented the Acrelec S22 kiosk which offers scan, order and pay all in one transaction.

Features include a 22-inch capacitive touchscreen available in landscape or portrait mode, an audio system, a 2D image scanner and a thermal printer.

Options include a handheld scanner, a small bag rack, a Glory CI-hybrid cash management module, a convenience shelf, a smartwatch connection and a security camera control.

Kiosk Prepaid presented a multi-function kiosk that can serve as an ATM with multiple denomination capabilities, as well as a bill payment kiosk, gift card kiosk, wire transfer service, check cashing service, debit card dispensing, phone air time sales and bitcoin sales.

The kiosk offers a prepaid reloadable Visa card that allows any venue to offer cashless purchasing and can digitize and accept checks into a customer bank account.

The kiosk is capable of accepting up to 2,000 notes and offers up to four dispensers with a 2,500-note capacity each.

Kisan America Inc. presented its cash handling solutions for retail, banking, cash in transit and casinos.

The Kisan technology uses multi-wavelength optical sensors to count banknotes with full color image processing.

Infrared reflection and transmission allow an image to be analyzed to detect counterfeit bills, while ultraviolet sensors enable ultraviolet reflection and transmission to detect both counterfeit and washed bills.

The cash handling units count five notes per second while note storage capacity varies depending on the unit.

KRS presented its integrated enterprise software, including its Epiphany Data Neurocenter, which connects to the Mashgin self-checkout solution and other core business systems, sensors and third-party data sources.

The software uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide management insights from the connected data sets.

The Mashgin touchless self-checkout solution, one of seven core business systems connected to the Epiphany Data Neurocenter, uses deep learning to allow guests to checkout faster than manual cashiers.

Epiphany collects data from all connected business sources and places it in a repository at AWS, such as point-of-sale, CRM, payroll, accounting, social media, IOT sensors, etc.

Data scientists then curate it into a data lake where customers can access Amazon's analytical tools to create reporting dashboards of key performance indicators.

Meile Manufacturing introduced its Cavalier skill game and a ticket redemption terminal.

The Cavalier skill game features include a 32-inch vertical monitor display, a solid steel security vault, a self-cutting thermal printer, a cupholder, a wireless phone charger, a knockout for door key switch, a 600-watt power supply and the ability to anchor to a wall.

The ticket redemption terminal ensures players tickets will be paid immediately.

The ticket redemption features steel construction with a UL-291 security rating, an electronic lock vault access, four 2,000-note cassettes, a Pyramid self-cutting printer, a 3D barcode scanner, an age verification system, an OptConnect wireless cellular modem, a cash management system and a router for hooking multiple machines.

MTL Cool, a refrigerator manufacturer, presented its grab-and-go open air coolers for micro markets and retailers that come in multiple sizes.

The coolers feature a digital controller, a digital thermometer and automatic defrost. The units also have individually-lit LED shelving and price strips and an LED "edge lit" header.

The coolers come in multiple widths and can be 24 inches or 36 inches deep.

The company customizes its products for consumer goods manufacturers in addition to retailers and micro market operators. The company offers in-house design, engineering, production and logistics along with delivery and installation service.

Nayax Ltd. presented its Level 2 EV charging station equipped with a built-in card reader that accepts all payment methods, including debit and credit cards, digital wallets, QR codes, prepaid cards, near field communication and more. The Bee Meter VPOS Touch is designed for hotels, shopping centers, parking lots, workplaces, municipalities and more.

The station offers 24/7 monitoring, offering real-time event notifications and remote software updates.

The station is Open Charge Point Protocol supported and can be managed by Hive or any other management platform.

It operates in 15 languages with voice interaction capability.

PayRange Inc. presented its age verification technology, called 'immi,' featuring multi-factor authentication that cross checks proof of identity and proof of age with payment validation. The technology anonymously checks consumer purchasing history.

Then network calculates a "responsible purchase permission" score to permit or refuse the sale.

The system's built-in wallet allows verified customers to purchase age restricted products using a range of digital payment methods.

For delivery orders, immi ensures the customer awaiting the order is the person they say they are.

For online orders for pickup at stores, with advance ID checks and verification in advance, the customer can collect purchases by scanning a QR code.

The system does not store personal information. Purchaser information is converted to an anonymous code or "token." While the registered ID will generate the same code, it cannot be traced to the source data and the "token" is always anonymous.

The solution integrates with websites, apps and kiosks.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. presented its 55-inch wide outdoor display for a Loop EV charging station.

Samsung has developed a range of electric vehicle charging stations that combine the company's display and signage solutions with EV charging technology,

Loop provides Level 2 and fast charging solutions for commercial, public and residential locations. The company's digital out-of-home display EV charging station offers a dual revenue stream including advertising revenue in addition to EV charging.

SMSB presented its Maxerience image recognition-based category management software that improves the efficiency and accuracy of category management by creating editable digital planograms.

Shelf images captured on the Maxerience mobile app and/or digitized PDF files are sent to the cloud where products are identified to the SKU level.

Multiple shelf images are stitched together to create digital planograms that managers can edit and make available to sales reps in the field. The digital planograms can be exported in file formats for category managers.

SMSB also offers a smart cooler that can be accessed by scanning a QR code.

Spot.ai presented its video surveillance system that uses an artificial intelligence enabled camera.

Users can add any IP camera or receive cameras from Spot AI. Features include:

Standard AI presented its Vision OS, a vision-based platform to allow checkout-free shopping. The OS is designed as an interconnected network of AI components through data collected via in-ceiling cameras utilizing computer vision and does not use facial recognition.

The solution manages SKU catalogs of more than 20,000 products and routinely maps 5,000 active SKUs.

The checkout app builds a virtual cart as the shopper selects items and enables payment settlement via the app as they leave the store.

The camera enabled computer vision app delivers the following insights:

Touch Dynamic presented its Edge Ultra Kiosk and its Pavilion Kiosk.

The Edge Ultra comes in four modes: floor mount portrait mode, floor mount landscape mode, counter mount in portrait mode and counter mount in landscape mode.

Optional peripherals include a scanner pin pad mount, Wi-Fi, a magstripe reader and a webcam, an Epson M30 IO printer and an Epson T88VI printer.

The printers are recessed in the base to eliminate possible spillage to the cutter and/or the print head.

The kiosk is powered by a single internal power source covering the terminal, printer and rear display. Screen size options include 21.5 inches, 18.5 inches, 17 inches and 15 inches, offered in both landscape and portrait modes.

The Pavilion Kiosk is available in floor, counter or ceiling mount options. It features a 27-inch projected capacitive touchscreen, a printer, a scanner, a pin pad, a proximity sensor and an Intel Whiskey Lake processor along with being fanless and silent.

Trion introduced its Zip Track, a merchandising pusher that forwards product offerings on shelves. The device allows an operator to add new facings easily to fit all shelf depths, from shallow front-end coolers to store gondolas to deep rear-load coolers.

The design features dual spring capacity that optimizes spring tensions to ensure all items are consistently pushed to the shelf front.

The device enables adjustable width to accommodate different size products. The operator can use the actual product to set the lane width, and can slide the product from front to back and "zip" tracks together in final position.

A locking option on the pusher allows two-handed stocking.

Verifone presented its K250 self-order-and-pay kiosk for restaurants. The company's and self-order kiosk and its order app integrates with point-of-sale units.

The kiosk features a 22-inch, projected, capacitive, multi-touchscreen as well as a camera, a printer chute, an ADA input device and a Verifone P4000 payment device with a barcode reader.

The kiosk also features customized graphics and suggests add-on items.

Vendors Exchange International Inc. presented its convenience retail equipment offerings.

The VE kiosk features a display with video screen to deter theft, along with temperature sensors that can be added to freezers or coolers and monitored via email alerts.

The VE kiosk also includes item lockout for unsafe temperatures and a shopping cart that allows customers to purchase multiple items in one transaction.

The Savant secure cooler and micro market solution offers controlled access, a built-in scanner, an auxiliary checkout and integration to Minus Forty commercial refrigeration coolers.

As a global technology leader and innovative services provider, Diebold Nixdorf delivers the solutions that enable financial institutions and retailers to improve efficiencies, protect assets and better serve consumers.

Elliot Maras is the editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times. He brings three decades covering unattended retail and commercial foodservice.

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