Checkout-free technology provider Zippin has launched the first of its new “Walk-up” style concession stands, where checkout-free technology is deployed into an existing concession stand using existing appliances, kitchen, and counter space.
Debuting at a recent Taylor Swift concert, the “Kingdom Grill” is the first checkout-free stand at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Unlike other Zippin stands, which are either full retrofits of existing concession areas or the pop-up style “drink lane” configuration, the walk-up version seen in photos from Kansas City shows a more bare-bones deployment of entry and exit gating outside a fairly traditional concession stand.
According to Zippin, the walk-up store is designed to be a much less expensive endeavor for teams and venues, giving them a chance to test the checkout-free technology at a lower-cost entry point. According to a LinkedIn post, the store is a collaboration between Zippin and Aramark Sports + Entertainment.
During our reporting and research on the topic of checkout-free stores in stadiums we did hear from team and venue representatives that the sometimes-high cost of deploying checkout-free stands was keeping some from trying the technology. In addition to the simplified design that uses existing construction and restaurant equipment, the new Zippin model also has a streamlined fixture that combines lighting with the cameras the company uses to determine what items customers are selecting.
“Zippin Walk-up uses Zippin Camera, a highly optimized camera design for computer vision, that also cuts down on the cost of mounting and time for installation by a factor of 5,” the company said in a statement. In an additional photo (see below) of the stand at Arrowhead you can see the new fixture in front of the stand’s facade. In the bigger, more permanent stands, the placement and configuration of the multiple cameras used can contribute to a higher cost of deployment.
With the separate announcement of three new Zippin stores being installed at Gillette Stadium our unofficial count for market leader Zippin is now 66 stadium-specific stores, with 32 of those in NFL stadiums. In the stadium-specific checkout-free market, Zippin is ahead of Amazon (42 stores) and AiFi (10 stores), but we expect those totals for all the providers to change soon as more deployments we have heard about become official.
