A big chunk of theatres’ revenues are based on concession sales, aka snack sales. This revenue is far more than what they earn from selling tickets.
In this technology-based era, theatres can boost their snack sales even more using automation. It boosts efficiency and convenience, reduces crowds, and offers personalization.
If you’re curious about how theatres are implementing automation for snack sales, let’s dive in!
1. Automated Checkout Systems and Contactless Payments
Nowadays, most theatres are embracing AI-powered smart stores with automated checkout systems. A reliable company’s automated checkout solution equips the store with strategically placed high-resolution cameras, sensor-infused shelves, and sophisticated AI algorithms.
Customers can enter the store using access modes like QR codes, credit cards, or debit cards, grab snacks, walk out, and return to their seats.
The system automatically bills every customer accurately, offering unprecedented convenience. Customers don’t have to wait in long queues for a cashier to bill them or manually check out themselves.
Customers leave the store premises within minutes, and there’s no stagnant crowd. Potential customers are more likely to visit these stores, boosting snack sales. This is because they won’t be stuck in the store, missing a crucial part of the climax.
Thus, theatres won’t need checkout staff for concession counters, saving overhead costs. They can distribute employees in other crucial areas, such as hygiene and restocking, making the snack counters more appealing. They can keep counters open 24/7 without night shifters, boosting sales.
2. AI-Powered Inventory Management
Automation has also improved how businesses track and manage their inventory. For instance, AI-powered inventory management systems can forecast which snacks are most popular based on past sales data.
They can even suggest which snack will sell most during particular seasons, specific days of the week, or even specific hours.
Thus, theatres can stock the right products based on these data. They can even place the most popular items on the front shelves to make them sell faster.
If certain products always underperform, the system can identify them as well. Store managers can offer special discounts on products that sell less and free precious inventory faster without any wastage. Once the old stocks sell out, they can avoid acquiring low-demand items.
Such data-driven approaches will prevent overstocks of unpopular snacks, early stockouts of popular snacks, especially during peak hours, and food wastage. This is especially important as America throws away around 60 million tons of food annually.
3. Robotic Snack Dispensing
Certain theatres have also introduced robotic snack dispensers. These can directly dispense hot and fresh food like popcorn or coffee, refreshing items like soda or sparkling water, or desserts like ice cream from the machine.
Such systems don’t require employee intervention. In some cases, theatre visitors can handle them directly by choosing the exact snacks required. They take all the prepared food from the counter and leave.
In other cases, a robot server visits the exact seats, and the customers can grab their food from the tray.
This kind of automation is great if there are high customer volumes, as the system efficiently accelerates service. Traditional concession counters can only speed up by hiring more employees.
The automated system also ensures that snack quantity and quality are always consistent for a given size/price. In traditional setups, workers may prepare certain foods differently, changing their tastes and making mistakes regarding the quantity.
4. Mobile Ordering System
Mobile ordering systems are quite common in the bigger theatre chains. These are often integrated into the theatre’s app or website.
Here, customers choose snacks before reaching the venue. The system assigns a counter for their order, and they pick it up after reaching the theatres. Customers can also order during the show and get in-seat delivery.
This convenience makes going to the movies a truly relaxing experience. Customers don’t have to wait in line for their snacks and can just grab things and leave, which encourages them to visit and order snacks more often.
Certain apps and sites track customers’ most common choices and offer special discounts or points against every purchase. These points can later be used for a free or discounted popular snack.
Conclusion
Automation is the key to more profits from concession sales and greater popularity. So, embrace these automation options in your theatre and let the revenues roll in!
