A unique collaboration between 4Service and tech company Izy has resulted in mAIfood, a smart, efficient, and sustainable solution for tomorrow's canteens. The digital checkout system is already in use, and the newest location is BI Foodcourt.
At BI in Nydalen, Oslo, it's approaching lunch, and Foodcourt is popular among the students. Here they sell both hot dishes, salads, baguettes, and other kiosk items. Two new devices attract curious students. The checkout solution mAIfood is designed to serve hungry and busy students who don't want to spend unnecessary time in the canteen queue.
"We are constantly working to improve the customer journey, and I am focused on as few taps as possible for guests who want to buy food and drinks," says Øivind Westerby, success manager at 4Service, which operates BI Foodcourt.
Testing of Izy mAIfood is a collaboration project with 4Service, now part of Compass Group. While Izy develops smart digital solutions, 4Service knows most of what there is to know about operating canteens and kiosks in commercial buildings. Together they find solutions for efficient and sustainable canteen operations.
"I like new technology, and mAIfood is an exciting AI solution with a self-service machine that scans the products for you," says Øivind Westerby.
Øivind Westerby, success manager at 4Service, here visiting Foodcourt at BI in Oslo where two devices have been set up.
Now in the time after the launch of mAIfood at BI Foodcourt, Izy is working closely with 4Service, which has provided useful input. The feedback is used for improvements to meet canteen operators' needs.
"It can take some time to scan images, but once that's in place, the device is easy to use," says Øivind from 4Service. He has a background as a chef and has worked with sales to the canteen and restaurant industry for many years, the last three years at 4Service. He sees the needs from several angles.
"Different canteens have different challenges and need different solutions. With mAIfood, we can work on the customer journey," says Øivind.
"mAIfood solves problems for both customers who want their lunch quickly. It frees up time for canteen staff and simplifies canteen operations," says Saurav Pandey from Izy. He is a senior backend developer and has spent much of his time on mAIfood and prediction.
"mAIfood is a point of sales, a checkout that can register the items you buy. The device is semi-automated and doesn't require staffing. The effort is put into machine learning of products where weight and appearance are registered," he explains.
Instead of pulling one product at a time through the checkout to read a barcode, the customer can take all products and place them on the mAIfood device plate. Everything is registered in an instant and ready for payment.
"In the backend, employees have full overview of which products are trained and what is pending. Their customers can also go to the menu or scan the QR code on the product. If needed, a receipt can be printed," says Saurav.
mAIfood can be delivered with a dual screen. This means both the customer and staff can see the screen during use, which can be good for control and overview.
Until now, mAIfood has been tested in the commercial building complex Økern Portal. There, mAIfood has been in operation since November, and it has seen a lot of salads, drinks, and kiosk items. With BI Foodcourt come new and useful experiences.
"It's good to try out mAIfood at a small eatery and see how it works at different locations. There are also differences in users. Økern Portal houses many companies with adult workers, while BI has young students who may be more eager to try new technology," says Øivind.
What challenges do you see so far?
"A lot is aimed at food and drinks sold pre-packaged in kiosks and can be easily picked up, but many canteens have buffets, and Izy and we are working on this," says Øivind.
"In the next round, more discount management may be relevant," he says.
Saurav Pandey, technical product owner at Izy AS
"With mAIfood, there are as few clicks as possible for purchasing food and drinks in canteens and kiosks – simple, fast, and sustainable!" says Saurav Pandey from Izy.
mAIfood can be used as a checkout system, but in combination with prediction, canteen operators can really streamline canteen operations.
"All input in mAIfood can be used for prediction, which in turn makes operating canteens and kiosks easier and more profitable," says Saurav and explains:
mAIfood registers everything that is ordered, in stock, purchased, and at what time. Combined with historical data, information about building use, holidays, exam days, etc., the canteen operator can plan both purchases and staffing several weeks in advance, which really streamlines operations. Prediction also makes it easier to operate more sustainably. You order more accurately and get less food waste = more profitable canteen and less CO2 emissions.
"With mAIfood, as a canteen operator you will also get a quick overview of the most popular products, which can vary between canteens and kiosks and from one location to another," says Saurav from Izy. And the more data, the better mAIfood!
FACT BOX
Izy mAIfood is simply explained an advanced digital checkout solution that doesn't require staffing, a "grab and go machine." The checkout system is also called POS and combines AI and smart payment solutions. Izy has developed mAIfood specifically for use in canteens and kiosks.
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