ShelfX, provider of revolutionary at-shelf buying and inventory management solutions, is proud to announce that it has been recognized as the winner of the NAMA 2013 Innovation Awards in the vending machines/micro markets/kiosks category for its cutting-edge vending fridge, a refrigerated vending solution with RFID-enabled access and payment.
Following this win, ShelfX is also announcing the release of a facial recognition add-on that allows its smart shelves to instantly identify buyers’ faces as they approach merchandise. What does this mean to shoppers? The ShelfX Vending Fridge is now even more convenient than before, offering consumers a faster, more intuitive experience in any vending environment, according to the company.
Pushing retail technology to the next ground-breaking level, the Vending Fridge can be equipped with a small camera and easily integrated with highly-accurate facial recognition software. Like the typical application, the first time a customer approaches the Vending Fridge, they use their NFC Xcard to open the fridge and access products. In doing so, the attached (and soon embedded) camera will snap a picture of their face. The shopper can then proceed to select products as the ShelfX Vending Fridge records what is taken and charges accordingly. The next time the customer comes back, the shopper merely needs to approach the fridge and ShelfX system will automatically identify their account, provide access, track purchases and charge their account.
No lines, no cashiers, no product scanning; and now with a first-time-ever facial recognition integration in the retail space, no more NFC cards or phones. It’s just the shopper purchasing fresh meals or merchandise in the easiest, most hassle-free way possible.
“Facial recognition has been used in countless industries like security and transportation for many years now, so why not take it into the retail space and enhance the buying experience by eliminating every possible obstacle in the buying process,” said Ran Margalit, CEO at ShelfX, in a prepared statement. “It’s a simple, reliable and best-of-all, hassle-free add-on to our at-shelf-buying locations.”
With a commitment to modernize the shopping experience and offer retailers productivity-boosting solutions, ShelfX is on the verge of releasing an open API which will enable more intelligent software and hardware integrations. With this new API, progressive retailers or third-party solution providers will be able to develop cutting-edge applications such as the facial recognition add-on, customizing any ShelfX solution to meet the needs of their business.
ShelfX will demonstrate its at-shelf buying and inventory management solutions at the NAMA One Show on Booth 1451 in Las Vegas, Nev. ShelfX Vending Fridge and other solutions and the facial recognition add-on are expected to be available beginning of June 2013.
