365 Retail Markets, the specialist in unattended retail technology, has launched PicoCoffee, a compact, cashless payment device for automatic tabletop coffee machines that allows consumers to vend beverages and purchase micro market items in the same transaction.
Prior to this innovation, consumers were required to purchase barcoded products separate from coffee, adding friction to the buying experience and lessening the chance consumers would buy both. Now the European & UK micro market operators can now simplify the consumer journey and back-office administration with a single device. Operators focused on office coffee service (OCS) now have a way to expand their services strategically and economically by selling complementary products alongside coffee, such as pastries, fruit, and snack bars.
“Before the introduction of PicoCoffee, consumers had to pay for snacks at a dedicated micro market kiosk and then transition to another payment device to vend and pay for coffee,” said VP of Product Strategy for 365 Retail Markets, Ryan McWhirter.
“We’ve now been able to take our self-checkout experience and integrate coffee purchasing in the most seamless way possible.”
Removing friction from the checkout experience increases the likelihood consumers fulfil their buying potential. Furthermore, snacks positioned within arm’s reach of the coffee machine can lead to impulse buys that dramatically increase revenue. Utilising one self-service checkout solution reduces technology acquisition and management costs for operators offering a view into both coffee and market analytics with consolidated reporting.
Easy integration via a single MDB cable makes PicoCoffee plug and play for operators, making it just as easy to deploy as the single function legacy products now in use. Modifying coffee equipment to mount a payment device is no longer necessary, eliminating a challenge for operators with financed equipment.
As a standalone compact kiosk, PicoCoffee sits next to the tabletop automatic brewer and physically raises the point of sale higher than other, less visible countertop alternatives. This positioning further elevates the consumer experience making it easier to locate and utilise the payment device.
“I think operators will look back at this moment and ask why PicoCoffee didn’t come along sooner” said McWhirter, “We are extending the vision of what an OCS and micro market location can be, and I’m excited to see the industry continue to reinvent itself as a result of this innovation that only 365 Retail Markets can deliver.”
PicoCoffee is available for immediate purchase in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria with more countries coming soon.
