Why Smart Snack Shelves with Autonomous Checkout Systems Are a Game-Changer for Student Housing

Any student living in a student housing or hostel understands the importance of having vending machines or snack stores. 

Student life is unpredictable, and so are the mealtimes. This is why students need a nearby and convenient option from where they can easily access food items. 

Autonomous checkout systems have proven to be quite useful here since the entire system is cashless and cashierless. 

The number of autonomous checkout systems worldwide has drastically increased from just 350 stores in 2018 to 10,000 stores in 2024. 

So, if you’re thinking of installing smart snack shelves with autonomous checkout in student housing, here are some reasons why you must do it now!

1. The Stores Are Always Open

One of the biggest advantages of having smart snack shelves with autonomous checkout solutions is that the store is always open, whether late at night or early in the morning. 

Students’ appetites work in strange ways. They can feel hungry at any time of the day, especially when they’re pulling all-nighters before exams or presentations. These stores are beneficial because students can access them anytime. 

Moreover, the smart shelves are always stacked with various snacks, so students can choose what they want to eat. 

Traditional stores often close after the evening or run out of stock even when they’re open all night, which becomes a problem for young students.

2. The System is Cashless

Today’s youth hardly carry any cash with them, and that’s a great thing about autonomous stores because they accept all forms of payment. 

Most autonomous checkout systems also accept credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency! 

Since there is no system for accepting cash, students don’t need to carry any bills or change with them, especially when they’re out looking for a snack alone at night. 

Humans do not man the stores and are only run on security cameras, highly efficient sensors, and AI. The system bills students directly to their respective accounts or wallets. 

This also reduces the chances of stolen or lost money, especially among younger students. 

Now, students will be billed directly to their accounts. To complete a purchase, they’ll only have to confirm and pay. They don’t even need to swipe their cards or scan QR codes. 

3. No More Waiting For Too Long

Traditional stores have never-ending queues to pay, especially when a large group of kids wants to buy a small snack or drink during lunchtime. This means less time to relax during break time or time wasted during exam seasons.

The cashless system of autonomous checkout stores solves this issue. It eliminates the need for queuing completely. 

The seamless payment and checkout system ensures students can use their time wisely. Plus, it reduces their chances of getting into contact with any bacteria or communicable diseases due to sharing the same confined environment for too long with each other. 

4. It Offers Personalized Shopping

Autonomous checkout systems are much more than cashless counters. They also provide personalized shopping experiences based on customers’ shopping habits and the items they add to their carts. 

By carefully analyzing what kind of items each student buys at specific times of the week or month, the autonomous stores can provide recommended snacks and items that the student might need later on, as well as recommendations of similar snacks that they might like. 

This form of personalized shopping has revolutionized all kinds of industries, and autonomous checkout solutions have also started implementing this to better understand customer shopping habits.

5. Better Inventory Management

The best thing about implementing smart snack shelves with an autonomous checkout system is that you can check which items are bought most often and by how many students. 

As the store owner or inventory manager, you can optimize your stock by seeing the insights you receive from this dashboard. You can pre-order these items well in advance to prevent running out of stock abruptly at the time of need. 

Similarly, you can see the underperforming items that hardly sell. You can stop or reduce ordering for these items and prevent any wastage of inventory. An efficient inventory management system will also cut down any unnecessary costs.

6. Better Experience Attracts More Students

Autonomous checkout smart shelves streamline all operations, ensure personalized shopping experiences, offer flexible operating hours, and bypass traditional lines and payment methods. This lets students experience peak convenience during their on-the-go snack hunt. 

This makes any student housing much more attractive than others. This boosts the housing’s popularity, increasing business opportunities.

Conclusion

The rise of automated checkout systems will revolutionize the future of checkout stores. With automation and advanced technology, these stores will be a big boon to students and housing owners!