The Self-Service Innovation Summit announced the winners of its fifth annual Automation & Self-Service Awards on Dec. 10, recognizing the most innovative solutions in kiosks, vending, artificial intelligence and more.
One purpose of the Self-Service Innovation Summit is to recognize products and technology innovation contributing to the dynamic industry. Hence, a key event at the summit is the Automation & Self-Service Awards, formerly known as the Self-Service Innovation Awards.
Now in its fifth year, the Self-Service Innovation Summit explored cutting-edge technologies that empower businesses to meet consumer expectations for products and services anytime and anywhere. The Self-Service Innovation Summit considers a wide range of self-service solutions, including kiosks, vending and mobile applications, applicable across various settings such as airports, arenas, banks, healthcare facilities and retail environments. Attendees held discussions on innovations like AI-assisted self-service tech, self-checkout systems and automated merchandising, among others.
The winners of this year’s Automation and Self-Service Awards were honored during an awards presentation on Dec. 10, when the summit recognized the most innovative solutions for kiosks, vending and the use of artificial intelligence.
The nominations were submitted between August and October. A panel of judges reviewed the nominations and selected winners in seven categories: Best Use of AI, Vending, Kiosk, Robotics, Responsible Automation and Influencer of the Year.
Here are the winners:
Best use of AI
SoundHound AI’s Employee Assist
Employee Assist is a category-defining voice AI technology that allows restaurant employees from both the front and back of the house to ask a custom-trained voice assistant critical questions — and get instant responses — completely hands-free.
Easily accessible via a headset or tablet, this groundbreaking product uses SoundHound’s voice AI with generative AI capabilities to learn and understand instruction manuals, ingredient and allergen information, and more. It then relays this knowledge directly to employees via their headsets as well as on a visual screen as part of a fluid two-way conversation, with the system able to answer any questions (and follow-up questions). It’s like having an expert in the ear of every employee.
Ishai Reinfeld, director of sales operations and customer success at SoundHound AI, accepted the award on behalf of SoundHound AI.
“I’m deeply honored to accept this award for Best Use of AI at the Self Service Innovation Summit. Thank you to the organizers and judges for this incredible recognition at sounding AI,” Reinfeld said.
“Our mission is to voice enable the world through conversational intelligence and fully assist the product being recognized tonight is a testament to that vision, by enabling users to interact with vast amounts of data through voice. Employee assist transforms the way teams work, making information more accessible and empowering faster and smarter decisions.
“This award belongs to the dedicated team at sound on AI who have been working tirelessly to bring innovative solutions like employee assist to life. Their passion and commitment inspire me every day. Looking ahead, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI and voice technology. Thank you again for this honor, and I look forward to seeing how we can all continue to shape the future of self service innovation together.”
Influencer of the Year
David Phelps
David Phelps, head of the display division at Samsung Electronics America, is a pioneer in self-service technology. With over 17 years of experience, Phelps has dedicated his career to developing display solutions that enhance the customer experience. As part of Samsung Display’s leadership team, he is responsible for growing the company’s market share in industries like retail. Phelps has partnered with major retailers to integrate self-service technology into their stores, improving efficiency for employees and creating more positive experiences for customers.
Phelps has been instrumental in Samsung’s use of AI in its display products. For example, he helped develop “Sam the Sommelier,” a digital human that assists customers in selecting wine at Chevron’s ExtraMile stores. Phelps also fostered a partnership between Samsung, SoundHound, and White Castle to introduce interactive menu boards in drive-thru lanes. The solution uses voice AI to provide customers with a seamless ordering experience and improves operational efficiency for White Castle.
Phelps sent a video acceptance for his award:
“Thank you automation and self service awards and the Self Service Innovation Summit for this recognition, I am honored to be named influencer of the year. This award represents hard work, creativity and collaboration of many talented individuals pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in customer experience. The future of self service and automation holds incredible potential, and here at Samsung, we’re excited to continue shaping the way people interact with technology. Thank you again for this recognition. I look forward to what’s ahead.”
Best kiosk solution
Common-Use Self-Service Bag Drop at TPA
Tampa International Airport is the first U.S. airport to install a fully functional Common Use Self-Service Bag Drop at the remote car rental center and economy parking facility. The kiosk gives passengers the convenience of dropping off their luggage immediately upon returning their car and boarding the tram to the main terminal. This reduces queuing at terminal check-in areas, with travelers proceeding directly to the security checkpoint.
James Houghton and David Goldon from Materna and TIA were present to accept the award.
“First of all, just want to say thank you to Materna for helping us making our ideas actually come to fruition, and to our executive team at Tampa International for allowing us to create and believing in our vision for the airport of the future,” Goldon said.
“Once this is complete, along with our baggage handling system, we’re going to be able to drop off bags any place across the campus and officially get them to those airplanes on time. This is a significant step in Tampa’s curb to gate vision following allowing our customers to traverse the campus with little to no interaction, if they choose.”
Best vending solution
BluTap Self-Pour Technology
PayRange is revolutionizing the unattended pour bar market with groundbreaking self-pour technology, BluTap. BluTap unlocks fully autonomous pour bar experiences with age verification and payment capabilities, all accessible via the user’s smartphone. Designed with both businesses and customers in mind, users can seamlessly verify their age one time using PayRange’s age verification services, ensuring that every sale is a responsible and compliant transaction. BluTap’s built-in over-consumption controls ensure venues and operators can responsibly sell unattended adult beverages. Today, the BluTap is equipped on leading beverage equipment manufacturers’ tap equipment and in market in a leading global brand of hotels.
“On behalf of PayRange, I want to first just thank the panel of judges. There is amazing innovation and a lot of great ideas here tonight, we feel very honored and humbled for the for the award,” Stephanie Cordisco, executive vice president of PayRange, said in her acceptance comments.
“I also want to thank the Self Service Innovation Summit for spotlighting groundbreaking technology that is truly transforming the self service retail industry at Pay Range.”
“Our mission is to enable seamless commerce between people and things. Over a decade ago, we launched a mobile payment app that connects consumers to laundry machines, vending machines, amusement billiard tables, and now, as you can see, self poor bars, our Blu Tap technology is our vision that represents combining mobile payment and age and identity verification to unlock truly compliant and responsible self service,” Cordisco said.
Responsible Innovation Award
Kadeya Bottling Plant in a Box
Kadeya is revolutionizing workplace hydration through its patented beverage kiosk technology, designed to significantly reduce plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions. These kiosks, which function like vending machines, wash, sanitize, inspect, and refill stainless steel bottles, eliminating 99.9% of plastic waste and reducing GHG emissions by 75% compared to traditional single-use beverage packaging. Targeted at industrial worksites where hydration is critical for safety and productivity, Kadeya operates on a Hydration-as-a-Service model that lowers logistics costs and safety risks while providing a superior user experience.
Kadeya’s innovative approach addresses the $15 billion U.S. hydration opportunity in industrial workplaces and has global scalability potential, aiming to replace single-use beverage packaging with a sustainable, reusable solution. The system also features digital tools that monitor hydration levels, empowering employers to proactively manage worker safety and compliance with OSHA standards. Kadeya’s “infinite bottle” technology, combined with its unique digital insights, represents a comprehensive and accessible solution for reducing environmental impact while enhancing employee well-being.
Best use of robotics
Rays Concept Development BV Hot Wheels Vending Machine
The award for best use of robotics goes to the Hot Wheels Vending Machine, a technically advanced retail solution. A large-scale themed experience, it features a central wheel that houses a robotic arm. This arm efficiently retrieves Hot Wheels cars from a fully integrated rack and delivers them to a spiraling track.
The machine’s innovative design optimizes storage capacity and allows for the seamless movement of cars. Customers interact with the machine using QR codes, enhancing the overall shopping experience. A robust back-end system ensures efficient stock management, enabling the machine to hold up to 160 different car models.
About Networld Media Group
Founded in 2000, Networld Media Group is a leading media communications company specializing in digital media, events and associations in the technology, restaurant, banking, and retail industries. It’s media brands include ATMmarketplace.com, DigitalSignageToday.com, FastCasual.com, KioskMarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, RetailCustomerExperience.com and RewardsThatMatter.com. Events under the Networld umbrella include the Fast Casual Executive Summit, the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit and the Self-Service Innovation Summit.
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