New payment systems and self-service solutions are prominent features of the times we live in – and nowhere is this more true than in the Asian markets. Digital applications such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are examples of the widespread use and acceptance of such systems. With over 24,000 branches worldwide and 3600 locations in Taiwan, the convenience store chain FamilyMart is an important driver of new business models. The “FamilyMart” smartphone app, for example, offers a complete shopping and service experience – from exclusive promotional offers and bonus point programmes to an intelligent store finder and a cashless payment system. But that’s not all. The recent addition of an innovative self-service concept with integrated ePayment allows the finest coffee specialities to be ordered and paid for via the app. A new development partnership with WMF Professional Coffee Machines, a long-standing coffee machine partner, marked a significant step with regard to these plans for the future. For 12 years, the Asian company has relied on the expertise of the southern German premium manufacturer to help realise its coffee concepts. Around 5000 fully automatic coffee machines reliably serve the FamilyMart stores. The WMF partner FECO Corp is responsible for local sales and service in Taiwan.
At the start of the planning phase for a new “smart” C stores in October 2018, the WMF engineers began to develop an interface for the WMF 5000 S coffee machines. The requirements were clear: coffee lovers had to be able to select their desired beverage anywhere and at any time via the FamilyMart app, so that they could pick up their order in the shortest possible time at the store without any hassle, waiting in a queue, or searching for change. Furthermore, the aim was for promotional discounts and customer loyalty schemes to be incorporated into the machines, while the actual payment process had to be completely digital, without any further input from the customer.
