Back in 2018, the popularity of self-serve beer and wine taps began to soar, with new restaurants opening up that were built completely around the idea. And although though the pandemic understandably put a stop to the trend, it has since picked up again, with many companies that make pour-your-own technology reporting large increases in sales.
Technology for self-serve beer is innovative! The newest, hippest, and most practical method of pouring beverages has customers gushing. Customers adore it, and business owners agree. Self-serve taps systems have a clear appeal as patrons start to return to restaurants and staffing shortages continue at an all-time high. But not everyone can use them.
Let’s examine the overall operation of the systems to see if they are worth the hype and will be a great addition to restaurants in the long term.
Psychology Behind Self-Serve Beer Taps
The psychological aspect behind the wide popularity of self-serve beer taps is the ease of use for customers and the reduction of bartenders’ work. Your bartenders can focus on other work when you have deployed these automated self-serve beer taps at your bar or restaurant.
Furthermore, a better and holistic customer approach is also the main thought behind integrating self-serve beer taps in bars or restaurants. These self-serve taps give authority and control to the customers, who can make the drinks of their choice without having to wait longer.
Parts of a Self-Serve Beer Tap System
Visitors arrive, register with a host, and then hand over their identification and credit or debit card. An RFID (radio frequency identification) card or wristband is given to each visitor, granting them access to the “beer wall.” In addition to beer, many of these tap systems also serve other drinks, including wine, seltzer, kombucha, and even shots of liquor.
Customers must scan their RFID cards at the taps to pour as much or as little of any beverage on the wall. Pours are priced per ounce. State-by-state laws governing this technology vary, but typically customers are shut off after 32 ounces of beer, or the equivalent of two drinks.
Self-pouring is not permitted at this time in New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, Montana, Vermont, or West Virginia. Operators can manually calibrate the tap mechanism to disable RFID cards after a predetermined number of ounces have been poured.
A staff member can re-up the RFID card if it is judged safe for the guest to continue drinking if a guest requests more beverages after being cut off. Approximately 64 ounces is the typical cap set by operators.
Many self-serve machines, like the products offered by Pourtek, have a computerized display above the taps that shows data about the beverage’s name, type, brewer, description, ABV, IBU, and price per ounce. The bulk of the platforms also includes back-end software, which enables users to access consumer information and generate reports.
Pros Of Self-Serve Beer Taps
Enhanced Convenience
Self-pour taps systems increase speed and convenience while eliminating the dependency on human labor, much like pumping your gas at a gas station. And at this particular time, when restaurants are having trouble filling bartending positions, this may be one of the most visible benefits.
Better Monetization and Customer Experience
Every sample or tasting is profitable since clients pay by the ounce. Additionally, the ease of serving yourself whatever you want, whenever you want, can attract consumers to sample more expensive goods. Additionally, buying additional drinks becomes more alluring when consumers don’t have to wait for a server to take their order or line up to gain a bartender’s attention. They can get a fresh beer in a matter of minutes.
Valuable Data Compilation
The majority of self-pour systems enable employees to compile useful client information. Operators, for instance, can find out what their female and male clientele consume, how much they spend, when they visit, and the average age of their patrons.
The top-selling beverages, as well as information on the weekly, monthly, and yearly sales, provide further insights. You can use this to decide what kinds and how many drinks to stock. You can run promotions using that data as well.
Lesser Product Waste
A classic tavern might have bartenders who offer free drinks. Drinks could be overpoured or spilled. Additionally, a bar owner may be wasting between 18 and 25 percent of each peg.
Product waste is a major problem of the manual serving process. Therefore, the automated mechanism of the self-serve beer taps has reduced product wastage to a great extent. Every single ounce is monitored and carefully draw-out when using this mechanism. Thus, there is no chance of accidental wastage either. Resultantly, you will save costs by degrading the product wastage.
Dynamic Customer Experience
When new client enters the bar, they will either buy a beer card that has money already loaded on it or open a tab that will be tracked by a beer card and paid for later. At the activation station or the EPOS, staff can quickly create either option.
The customer then chooses a measure, inserts their card into the RFID reader at the self-serve tap of their choice, and pours their beer. The consumer may also place a food or beverage order from the touchscreen menu if it is enabled.
Customers with unpaid balances on their cards might be permitted to take them home and use them another day, depending on the venue’s policies. Even when they run out of money, they can load up their card using a smartphone app.
Get The Best Self-Serve Beer Taps
Self-serve beer taps have become the latest and most noticeable trend. They have automated the operations within restaurants and bars. Furthermore, they have decreased costs and increased revenues. Therefore, it is a must-have arrangement to ensure the highest levels of customer service. Without any further delay, equip your bar or restaurant by using the self-serve beer taps of Pourtek.