Can smart dispensing elevate products?
Do products get an edge When Dispensing is Smart? Let’s find out how dispensing technology can help beverages stand out in the competitive space of food service.
Consistent product quality. The magic formula to build a loyal fan following of consumers who keep coming back for more. Your product is undeniably the star. Nothing can beat a product that shines on its own merit. But what makes a beverage stand out in the minds of the consumer and what does it have to do with smart dispensing?
It is all the same – just as it should be
Taste. Flavour. Appearance. These are the top asks from consumers when buying a drink.
Not a difficult combination to get right in food service unless it has to be replicated hundreds of times across locations by different people. A customer’s favourite drink needs to taste and look the same, wherever and whenever it is bought. And this is where smart dispensing makes a difference.
Precise dosing of smart dispensing machines ensures recipes are followed exactly leaving no room for human error or variability. The closed-loop systems control food safety with minimum handling requirement and digital monitoring. The ingredients used in these systems come in shelf-stable bag-in-box formats, making it easier for businesses to serve up the same taste every time.
Inside the mind of the customer
Today, it is possible to do just that – know what your consumer is thinking and adapt your offerings accordingly. From regional and seasonal trends to ingredient and volume preferences, there is not much data can’t divulge. Digital capabilities of smart dispensing machines can provide data-based insights, giving manufacturers the power to shape their product portfolio for optimal returns.
These insights can be used to drive innovation in product development, creating new flavours, replacing ingredients, adjusting sugar, tweaking recipes – the list goes on. Take Cherry Sprite, a flavour inspired by the data pulled from Coca-Cola’s Freestyle dispensers.
The power of personalisation
Everyone loves personalised experiences – be it designing custom footwear, personalising your favourite cookie, or getting a drink that tailors to your exact taste. The satisfaction of not being a part of the crowd is driving consumer demand for personalised experiences. And with advancements in dispensing technology, mass customisation is emerging to be a differentiating factor. As manufacturers innovate to separate ingredients further in their product development process, smart dispensing machines can offer a high level of personalisation.
Making it better
The seemingly simple technology has far-reaching effect when it comes to making a product stand out. It not only elevates the product but also customer experience, supporting brand recognition. A personalised beverage that tastes exactly the same irrespective of the location – what is not to like in this recipe.
Having said that, we know that customer satisfaction in food service goes beyond the product. In the next part of the series, we will explore how smart dispensing can optimise operations, and help enhance customer experience at the point of sale. Watch this space or subscribe to our exclusive bi-weekly newsletter to get the story and other insights about the food and beverage industry in your inbox.
- March 31, 2023