The great potential in every image

Valuable images are captured on the fly, when operating an AI-based meal recognition.

The visioncheckout uses them to identify which items are placed below the camera. However, the images contain much more information than just the name of the meal. Interpreting this information correctly, restaurants can for instance optimize their food consumption or automate their quality management. In this article, we will take a closer look at the potential behind each of the visioncheckouts images. Some of it is already part of our customers’ everyday lives. Other features offer exciting fields of research and clearly show that the visioncheckout is a future-oriented technology that is worth investing in rather sooner than later.

What part does the visioncheckout play?

It is obvious that every image of their meals provide caterers with valuable insights from which they can benefit in their day-to-day work. But why is the visioncheckout so important for that?
The visioncheckout automatically takes a picture of each meal without any privacy concerns. The images are stored completely anonymously as they are not linked to personal accounts and all non-food items are reliably filtered out. This means that no conclusions can be drawn in respect to the consumers behavior.

The visioncheckout thus creates transparency in a place where information was previously lost or not used properly. And as a great positive side effect that payment process accelerated.

Discover the potential

But what is the potential that lies in each image the visioncheckout takes?

Visual quality management

Do your meals look as good as they taste? The visual appearance of some dishes may suffer, especially at peak times and due to hectic schedules caused by staff shortages. Our customers can already perform visual quality management via their cloud access. This means that deviations in the looks of the plates are noticed sooner, and adjustments can be made more quickly.

What is currently still carried out by certain staff members will also be automated in the future. Particularly in large operations, or operations with several locations, it is helpful to concentrate only on those dishes that show actual anomalies. This way, no time is wasted, and the results remain at the usual high level.

Consumption forecasts

Knowing when you’re going to run out of food before it is too late – this is possible with the visioncheckout. With the help of the visioncheckout, it is possible to document exactly how many portions of which meals have already been served. This makes it possible to recognize at an early stage when a meal will run out. This avoids hectic and alternative options can be prepared in peace. The next time that meal is offered, this knowledge is helpful as it reflects the popularity of the meal. This means that you can plan more portions ahead of time.

Fighting food waste

The opposite of too few portions can also be prevented by the visioncheckout. Food waste is a major problem in community catering. Businesses must deal with additional costs for the procurement and disposal of uneaten food. But the issue of food waste is especially critical for society.

For every ton of food wasted, 2.5 tons of unnecessary greenhouse gases, including CO2, are emitted. By choosing the right portion sizes and the right number of total meals, less food needs to be thrown away. Currently, about one-third of food in out-of-house catering ends up in the trash. With intelligent monitoring systems, this can be reduced by 30%. With the help of the visioncheckout, sales forecasts will be more accurate and reliable in the future.

Customer loyalty

It is not only caterers who can benefit from the insights provided by the visioncheckout. Potential analyses can also offer direct added value for guests. Whether it is about the personal carbon footprint or the composition of one’s own lunch – if required, the visioncheckout offers insights from which everyone can benefit.

One example: For many people, their own diet is no longer just about eating their fill. Lunch should be as healthy as possible, at best consist of more than 30% protein and an overview of the calories contained would not hurt either. The visioncheckout makes it possible. It derives estimates that, if the customer opts-in, could be imported into their fitness trackers or nutrition apps. After eating, for example, it can then display how many more steps need to be taken to burn off the calories consumed. This strengthens customer loyalty, which in turn increases revenue for the caterer.

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