Make way for smart dispensing in food service
What happens When Dispensing is Smart? Get an overview of what smart dispensing really entails and the impact it can have on businesses in the introduction to our new series.
Smart technology is everywhere today, transforming virtually every walk of life. From how we manufacture and sell to how we shop, consume, and even store things. In the food
and beverage industry, technology has been making strides over the last couple of decades, working behind the scenes.
Smart Dispensing is one such area. So, what is smart dispensing in general and how does it relate to food and beverage industry?
Smart dispensing, as the name suggests, is a smart, automated way of dispensing products in a precise, accurate, and more efficient manner. As a technology, it spans across multiple industries, crossing over to even sensitive and critical areas like medication dispensing. When it comes to food and beverage, smart dispensing makes everyday tasks that are time- and resource-intensive, like mixing custom coffee drink orders, fast and error-free.
The beginning
The food and beverage industry is no stranger to dispensing machines. In fact, the origin of soft drinks, as we know them today, can be traced back to soda fountains, a popular concept in the late 1800s. These soda dispensing machines were initially found in pharmacies and then in soda shops. The rising popularity of these drinks led to bottled beverages and iconic brands were built.
The science of dispensing has obviously come a long way since then, even in traditional dispensing machines, still found in some establishments.
What makes dispensing smart
Smart dispensing goes much beyond its evident function of dispensing beverages. Equipped with digital displays and intelligent connectivity, smart dispensing systems come with advanced features such as remote monitoring, inventory management, automated cleaning mechanisms, safety provisions, among others. Additionally, these closed-loop systems can be integrated with other systems, such as point-of-sale or warehouse to further automate processes.
Core values and beyond
Going back to its core function, smart dispensers ensure consistent quality and taste, helping improve customer satisfaction and brand value – while driving down the time required for service. Adoption of smart dispensing technology can help transform the entire value chain of beverages – from how a drink is developed to how it reaches the consumer.
The technology can have far-reaching impact in multiple areas, be it environmental footprint, efficiency and wellbeing, profitability, or product development. We will delve into the specifics of different area as we move through the series.
More common than you think
It is likely that all of us have enjoyed a beverage from a smart dispensing machine, maybe even without being aware of it. Currently, the technology is most popular in quick-service restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores. Not to forget self-service vending machines that offer a wide variety of drinks including the option to create your own flavours, a feature driven by the smart dispensing technology.
In the next part of our series, let’s explore how this technology can help elevate not just the dispensing experience but the product itself. How can it drive innovation in product development and customisation? Subscribe to our exclusive bi-weekly newsletter to get the story in your inbox.
- March 09, 2023