Checkout-free store technology provider Zippin announced a new low-cost concept design that adds the company’s fast-checkout systems to existing stadium concession stands, eliminating the need for costly renovations.
According to Zippin its new “Zippin Walk-Up” design will put a checkout-free front end on existing concessions stands that also allows venues to use “your existing appliances, kitchen, and counter space, reducing CapEx to virtually zero.” With its starting monthly subscription price (for Zippin services) of $4,000, the “Walk-Up” design could be attractive to stadiums who are interested in testing the checkout-free services, but don’t want to pay the sometimes expensive up-front costs of renovating existing concession areas.
While checkout-free stores from market leader Zippin, along with main competitor Amazon, have been popular of late, several venue representatives we’ve talked to in the past few months have mentioned the upfront costs of checkout-free stands as a reason to hold off on deployment. For larger-space renovated areas and newly built stores (which are often located on formerly empty concourses) the setup involves a non-trivial amount of overhead cameras and on-shelf sensors to make the systems work.
With the Walk-Up concept, Zippin said that venues can simply move existing equipment like coolers and hot trays to the counter area to enable a “grab and go” type setup for checkout-free operation, where customers scan a credit card before entry with payment taking place later. The subscription price is a monthly fee varying by specific deployment, which covers Zippin’s platform and equipment, along with installation, setup, maintenance, and 24/7 support and monitoring, according to Alice Chan, senior vice president of marketing for Zippin. Chan also said that the Walk-Up stores will use cameras only, further reducing the cost of the deployment.
“Checkout-free technology is about offering the best customer experience,” Chan said in an email. “Frictionless shopping can be deployed anywhere, and with Zippin Walk-Up concessionaires are able to apply that in even more existing locations. From drink stands to hot food.” While no such deals have been announced, Chan did say that the Zippin Walk-Up design could be tailored to fit with some of the newer single-brand stands that have become popular in stadiums lately.
Another thing that might make the Walk-Up design a popular choice is that it can keep in place the already-installed menu boards, which are often integrated not just with pricing but with live game action and other messaging. Chan said Zippin stores currently still require a human staffer on hand to check IDs for alcohol purchases. Zippin, she said, also recommends staffing stores with “ambassadors” who can help first-time users of the technology to ensure “a great fan experience.”
The Walk-Up concept follows Zippin’s introduction in 2022 of a drink lane concept, another design that uses less space than a traditional refurbished stand or a larger standalone store. In the market of checkout-free providers, with its 50 announced stadium stores Zippin leads its closest competitor Amazon, which has 31 of its “Just Walk Out” stores in sports stadiums.
