Device Network Coverage for an Interactive Cafe
- End-to-end development of comprehensive software for specific interactive devices of the café
- Complete integration and data synchronization between all devices
- Automated food order processing, from taking orders to billing
In the era of high technologies, a consumer is getting more dynamic, independent and connected. Iflexion helps a world’s leading automotive company to revolutionize their consumers’ experience.
4
Duration
Months
3000
Efforts
Person-months
Solution
Our team delivered a complex .NET-based software package installed on the café’s hardware and unifying managers, administrators, waiters and visitors in a single digital space, each user group having access to a limited set of functions.
The solution automates the core personnel workflows - order submission and processing - thus accelerating waiters’ work and eliminating human-related errors. Menu orders are made on individual interactive terminals, where guests visually select and configure brand cars, order or request for test drive nearest dealer and also play games, connect with social networks, and watch branded content related to fashion, tourism, design and sports.
Designed for the needs of everyone present at the café, the system can be used by:
- Visitors ordering food and watching the entertaining traffic
- Waiters responsible for taking orders and servicing clients
- Menu managers updating and modifying the menu content
- Admins monitoring the system work
Interactive Dinner Tables and Bar Counters
At this café there is no need waiting for the waiter. Iflexion developed a module that enables café’s visitors to look through the menu, submit orders for food and have a good time browsing social networks, watching videos and playing games while waiting for their orders. These features are available from the touch screens built in the tables.
As the Customer planned to make the bar counter interactive too, we adapted the implemented dinner table module to fit the screen dimensions of the bar counter terminals, retaining the same functionality.
Automated Order Processing
The Customer gave priority to the system’s performance rather than its visual attractiveness. The task was to develop a solution at minimal cost. At short time Iflexion implemented a powerful tool allowing personnel to improve the level of customer service significantly. Thanks to the automated order submitting, processing and billing, waiters can serve customers faster and minimize possible mistakes or misunderstandings. The waiter’s panel displays the entire table map and demonstrates the status of every table (vacant/reserved/order accepted/waiter call etc.)
Menu and System Management
Our team developed a separate module for managing the basic system settings, including user account and security management, server setup, recovery and back-up management etc.
Applying solid experience of CMS development, we implemented a user-friendly content management interface providing for instant change and update of the menu data.
Following the Customer’s request, we shifted the main focus to a powerful engine development and saved efforts for UI design, implementing the proven UX patterns. The overall admin panel development was completed in 40 hours.
Touch Screen LCD Video Wall
The biggest interactive screen in the world shows live user generated content including:
- Instagram feed of images with a special hash tag
- Product configurator allowing visitors to find the most suitable product from those offered by the company
- Video player running a list of branded videos
The functionality of the wall is available for visitors in kiosk mode only. Touching the wall, the café’s visitors can scroll the Instagram feeds, play the branded videos and select and order products according to their individual parameters. If the wall is not active, the Customer’s promotion videos are shown automatically.
Besides the everyday exploitation, the wall is used for the organized shows, such as fashion weeks.
Smart Control Panel
Our team also developed a module for the smart panel located in the middle of the café. Besides gaming and product configuration features, the module interacts with the video wall, providing a distant way of management the wall’s content.
Aimed at personalized UX, we employed technology that analyzes the personality of guests based on their facial expressions, and suggests unique products based on their results. For this purpose, we integrated the solution with a number of 3rd party libraries for the webcam face recognition. Guests can edit the details of the proposed product, locate and contact the nearest dealership.
Bringing All Devices Together
When so many modules were developed, the need of consolidating them into a single system emerged. Leveraging proven expertise of software integration, we developed a module enabling interaction between the system’s modules and ensuring smooth integration of heterogeneous data generated simultaneously by the system users of different devices.
