# Mashgin FAQ Hub — full corpus 26 answers. Generated 2026-10-20. --- # Self-Checkout for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Age-Restricted Items URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/age-restricted-self-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-15 > Most self-checkouts block alcohol and nicotine or need an override. See how AI checkout handles age verification with an attendant ID check. ## Is there a way to do self-checkout for alcohol? Yes. Many traditional self-checkouts restrict alcohol or require a staff override. With Mashgin, customers ring up alcohol themselves and a cashier confirms their ID. Stadiums, arenas, and convenience stores use Mashgin this way for beer, wine, and seltzers. ## Is there a way to do self-checkout for nicotine? Yes, with staff verification. No widely adopted system sells nicotine fully autonomously. Mashgin's AI checkout supports nicotine and tobacco sales with an attendant ID check, and its Power Counter is designed for convenience stores that sell age-restricted products. ## Can Mashgin handle age verification for alcohol and tobacco? Yes. Mashgin handles age-restricted transactions, including alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, and lottery tickets: - The customer places items on the tray, and Mashgin identifies any age-restricted product. - The kiosk lights up red and pauses the transaction. - An attendant verifies age by scanning or inspecting the customer's ID. - The customer completes payment. Venues that check IDs at the entrance can configure Mashgin to allow alcohol purchases without a second check. --- # Do Customers Like AI Checkout? Customer Experience and Sales Impact URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ai-checkout-customer-experience Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-15 > Survey results from convenience stores, campuses, stadiums, and ski resorts on whether shoppers prefer AI checkout, and how to add it without losing sales. ## Do customers actually like using AI checkout? Yes. Surveys across convenience stores, campuses, stadiums, and ski resorts consistently show most shoppers prefer Mashgin's AI checkout, mainly because it's faster and they don't have to scan items themselves. | Survey | Finding | | - | - | | [Mashgin 2026 survey, 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report) | 85% prefer Mashgin over traditional checkout | | Mashgin June 2025 survey, 553 NCAA fans | 83% had a positive experience with Mashgin | | [Independent survey of \~1,000 AFL fans at Adelaide Oval (Australia, 2024)](https://www.prweb.com/releases/71-of-fans-at-adelaide-oval-prefer-mashgins-ai-solution-to-traditional-checkout-302042865.html) | 71% prefer Mashgin over traditional cashier checkout | | Mashgin [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study), guest survey | 85% would choose Mashgin over traditional checkout | ## Does Mashgin harm customer experience? No. Where it has been measured, customer experience ratings went up. In Mashgin's 2026 [exit survey of 136 shoppers across 6 convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-customer-satisfaction-report): | | Stores with high Mashgin use | Stores without Mashgin or with low use | | - | - | - | | Rated experience good or better | 97% | 87% | | Rated experience poor | 3% | 13% | | Rated store clean or very clean | 77% | 58% | Mashgin's Power Counter keeps the face-to-face checkout customers are used to while cutting ring-up time to about 0.5 seconds. Freed-up staff time also goes into cleaning, stocking, and hot food. ## Will I lose customers if I implement AI checkout? Not if the system takes work away from shoppers rather than adding it. Traditional scan-it-yourself checkout can push away shoppers who don't want to do the cashier's job. Mashgin keeps a cashier present and removes manual scanning, and [73% of convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) say a fast, easy checkout makes them more likely to return. Nearly all stores that adopt Mashgin also keep at least one traditional register for shoppers who prefer it. ## How can I implement self-checkout without losing sales? Pick a system that removes work for shoppers instead of adding it, and that handles every transaction type. Traditional self-checkouts often can't handle age-restricted items, prepaid fuel, or made-to-order food, so many shoppers avoid them. AI checkout like Mashgin identifies everything automatically and keeps staff nearby to help, which shortens lines. That matters because in [Mashgin's shopper survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores), half of shoppers said they would leave without buying when 4 people are waiting in line. --- # Does AI Checkout Increase Theft? URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ai-checkout-theft-and-shrink Section: Economics & ROI Updated: 2026-10-15 > An audit of 1,167 stadium transactions found 1.3% total loss, below the NRF industry average. See how misuse happens and what keeps shrink low. ## Does AI checkout increase theft? No. In Mashgin's [audit of 1,167 transactions at major sports stadiums](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-shrink-study), total loss from all causes was 1.3%, below the 1.62% industry average reported by the [National Retail Federation (NRF) in 2020](https://nrf.com/research/national-retail-security-survey-2020). Mashgin's team watched every audited transaction from start to finish using the multi-angle video Mashgin captures automatically. Mashgin's audits of [convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-shrink-study), [airport stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/airport-stores-shrink-study), and [university dining](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/higher-ed-shrink-study) found loss rates below the industry average as well. ## How does theft happen at AI checkout, and what prevents it? Where misuse happened, it took one of two forms: deliberately stacking items to hide them from the cameras, or leaving merchandise off the tray. Mashgin is developing automated detection for both, which will trigger real-time alerts to staff. Three factors keep theft low: - **Shorter lines.** Long waits push some shoppers to leave without paying, and faster checkout removes that pressure. - **Staff visibility.** One attendant can keep an eye on several kiosks at once. - **Visible recording.** Shoppers can see that transactions are recorded, which deters theft. ## How much theft happens at self-checkout? Retail loss from all causes, including theft, error, and fraud, averaged 1.62% of sales in the [National Retail Federation's 2020 survey](https://nrf.com/research/national-retail-security-survey-2020). Traditional self-checkout is widely seen as a weak point, and [analysts have linked](https://san.com/cc/target-joins-retailers-in-scaling-back-self-checkout-lanes/) some retailers' decisions to scale back self-checkout to theft. AI checkout with staff nearby performs better. In Mashgin's [audit of 1,167 stadium transactions](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-shrink-study), total loss from all causes was 1.3%, below the 1.62% average, and Mashgin's audits of [convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-shrink-study), [airport stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/airport-stores-shrink-study), and [university dining](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/higher-ed-shrink-study) also found loss rates below the industry average. --- # Mashgin vs. Amazon Just Walk Out and Other Autonomous Stores URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ai-checkout-vs-autonomous-stores Section: Mashgin vs. Other Checkout Technologies Updated: 2026-10-15 > Compare countertop AI checkout with Just Walk Out and other autonomous stores on cost, store changes, accuracy, and where each approach actually fits. ## Which is better for my store, stadium, or cafe: Mashgin or autonomous store technology like Amazon Just Walk Out? For most convenience stores, stadium concessions, cafeterias, and campus markets, Mashgin's AI checkout delivers most of the throughput benefits of autonomous (walk-out) stores at far lower cost and deployment effort. It needs no ceiling cameras, entry gates, or store remodel. Walk-out systems fit best in new or fully remodeled stores where a gated entry is acceptable and the budget supports a full camera and sensor installation. **How the two approaches work** Autonomous stores like Amazon Just Walk Out mount cameras and sensors throughout the store and put a gate at the entrance. Shoppers identify themselves and add a payment method at the gate. The system tracks them through the store, adds items to a virtual cart, and charges them when they leave. Mashgin sits where your registers already are. Instead of watching shoppers, its cameras identify the items placed on the checkout tray, all at once and without barcodes. That shortens each checkout enough to clear most rush-hour lines. | | Mashgin AI checkout | Autonomous / walk-out stores | | - | - | - | | What the cameras watch | Items on the checkout tray | Shoppers moving through the store | | Store changes required | Fits an existing counter. Needs power, an ethernet connection, and about 50" x 30" of counter space per kiosk | Cameras and sensors throughout the store, plus entry and exit gates | | When the shopper pays | At the end of the trip, after items are in hand | At the entry gate, before shopping | | Receipt | Instant, at checkout | Sent after the shopper leaves | | Typical checkout time | 11–18 seconds [in published Mashgin case studies](https://www.mashgin.com/resources/mashgin-case-studies) | No checkout step, but shoppers still tap in at the gate | **Limitations of autonomous stores** - **High upfront cost.** [Bloomberg reported](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-19/amazon-is-said-to-plan-up-to-3-000-cashierless-stores-by-2021) that early Amazon Go stores needed more than $1 million in cameras and equipment before opening ([coverage via Retail Dive](https://www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-reportedly-mulling-3k-amazon-go-stores-by-2021/532806/)). Remodeling, servers, and network upgrades add more. - **The line moves to the front door.** Walk-out stores still have a transaction moment; it just happens at the entry gate. During rushes that creates a line *outside* the store, before shoppers have anything in hand, which is when they're most likely to walk away. - **Shopper hesitation.** Some shoppers are uncomfortable being tracked throughout a store and avoid gated entrances. - **Accuracy edge cases.** Shoppers can block each other from the cameras, and small items picked up by the handful (candy, protein bars) are hard to count. Errors add up to shrink. In dense rushes like halftime, operators may have to limit how many people are inside. - **Human review.** [The Information reported](https://businessinsider.nl/amazons-just-walk-out-technology-relies-on-hundreds-of-workers-in-india-watching-you-shop/) that in 2022 about 700 of every 1,000 Just Walk Out sales had to be reviewed by Amazon's team in India, against an internal goal of 50 per 1,000. Amazon disputed the figures. Its spokesperson said human associates validate only a small minority of shopping visits, but Amazon did not give a specific number. - **Changing strategy.** In 2024, [Amazon said it was replacing Just Walk Out with smart carts](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2024/04/03/amazon-replaces-just-walk-out-technology-with-smart-carts-in-grocery-stores/) in more than half of its 40 Amazon Fresh grocery stores, while keeping the technology at more than 130 third-party locations such as airports, college stores, and cafes. ## How does Mashgin compare with walk-out checkout companies like Zippin, AiFi, and Trigo? Walk-out systems track shoppers through the store with ceiling cameras, sensors, and entry gates, so they cost more to install and fit best in new or fully remodeled stores. The category has struggled to scale. Grabango, which piloted walk-out technology with 7-Eleven, Circle K, and Chevron, [shut down in October 2024](https://www.cstoredive.com/news/grabango-ceases-operations/729553/) after failing to raise more funding, and Amazon moved more than half of its Amazon Fresh stores from Just Walk Out to smart carts in 2024. Mashgin takes a narrower approach: it removes the slowest step at checkout, identifying items, without remodeling the store or adding gates. Once the devices arrive, a site can be customer-ready in less than an hour, and Mashgin now runs in more than 5,000 locations. --- # AI Checkout vs. Traditional Self-Checkout (NCR, Toshiba, and Others) URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ai-checkout-vs-traditional-self-checkout Section: Other FAQs Updated: 2026-10-15 > Barcode self-checkout makes shoppers scan every item. See how AI checkout compares on speed, hot food, age-restricted items, cost, and shopper use. ## Is Mashgin worth the extra cost compared to traditional self-checkout machines like NCR? For high-volume stores, yes. Traditional self-checkout makes shoppers scan every item themselves and often can't handle age-restricted items, hot food, or lottery without staff. Mashgin rings up everything on the tray at once, supports nearly every transaction type, and keeps a cashier in the loop. It costs more per unit, but operators typically recover the cost within months through [higher sales](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) and [labor efficiency](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs). [Mashgin's research on convenience store lines](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) found that long lines cost a typical store $65 to $100 in lost profit per day (roughly $200 to $300 in lost revenue), money that faster checkout lets stores recapture. | | Traditional barcode self-checkout | Mashgin AI checkout | | - | - | - | | How items are identified | Shopper scans each barcode | Cameras identify every item on the tray at once | | Items without barcodes (hot food, produce, fountain drinks) | Manual lookup or code entry | Recognized visually | | Alcohol and tobacco | Usually restricted or requires staff approval | Supported. The kiosk pauses for an attendant ID check | | Who does the work | The shopper | The AI, with a cashier nearby to assist | | Checkout time | Depends on cart size and scanning skill | 11–18 seconds [in Mashgin case studies](https://www.mashgin.com/resources/mashgin-case-studies) | ## What is the best self-checkout technology? Most traditional self-checkout systems work the same way: a barcode scanner plus manual lookup for everything else. Choosing among them mostly comes down to price and how well they integrate with your existing systems. The main recent change in the category is AI-based checkout, which identifies items with cameras instead of barcodes. Mashgin invented and patented multi-camera 3D computer vision for item recognition. It runs in 5,000+ locations, including convenience stores, [65% of professional sports stadiums](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/sports-entertainment-venues), hospitals, universities, and airports. ## Why hasn't self-checkout technology improved? Grocery self-checkout has changed little in years because it's still built around scanning barcodes one at a time. Most of the change has come in convenience stores, stadiums, cafeterias, and micro markets, where computer vision checkout lets shoppers place all their items on a tray, pay, and go. Mashgin invented this approach and has the largest installed base. Its monthly transactions grew from 3 million in March 2022 to 40 million in March 2025, and it has processed more than 1.7 billion total transactions. It now has more than 44 million unique monthly active users (based on Mashgin’s internal product usage data). ## Do customers actually use self-checkout? Many do, but opinions are split. Some shoppers like the independence. Others see traditional self-checkout as shifting the cashier's work onto them, and it can be clumsy for non-barcoded items. AI checkout removes the scanning step, which changes shopper sentiment. In Mashgin's [2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report), 85% preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. Mashgin also supports almost every in-store transaction type: cash, alcohol, nicotine, EBT, fuel, and hot food. --- # How to Increase Checkout Speed and Throughput URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/checkout-speed-and-throughput Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-15 > Published transaction times from live sites, how to raise cashier throughput, and how many transactions one kiosk handles compared with a cashier. ## What is the best technology to increase checkout speed? Identifying items is the slowest step at most checkouts, and Mashgin removes it. Its AI rings up everything on the tray in 0.5 seconds or less, so the slowest part of checkout becomes the shopper getting out a card. Published transaction times at live Mashgin sites range from 11 to 18 seconds, compared with 60–90 seconds for manual checkout. | Location | Transaction time with Mashgin | | - | - | | [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic) cafeteria | 11.3 seconds (median) | | [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) | 12.5 seconds (median) | | [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin) (LAFC) | 12.5 seconds (median) | | [John Deere](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin) cafe | 13 seconds (average) | | [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) | 16.5 seconds (median) | | [Empower Field](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin) at Mile High | 18 seconds | | Manual checkout, industry benchmark | 60–90 seconds | ## How can I increase cashier throughput in my store? Give each cashier more checkout points instead of adding cashiers. With Mashgin, one cashier supervises several kiosks while shoppers check themselves out, and the cashier steps in for ID checks and questions. Mashgin's [convenience store throughput study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs) measured transactions during 15-minute rush periods across 6 stores: | Setup | Transactions per 15 minutes | | - | - | | 1 cashier, 1 standard register | 12 | | 2 cashiers, 2 standard registers | 22 | | 1 cashier, 1 register + 1 Mashgin | 30 | | 1 cashier, 1 register + 2 Mashgins | 43 | | 1 register + 2 Mashgins (2-cashier store consolidated to 1 cashier) | 47 | Adding one Mashgin to a single-cashier store increased throughput by 150%, and that store outperformed stores with two cashiers. ## How fast is Mashgin compared to a cashier? Mashgin makes individual transactions about 4x faster than a cashier on a traditional register, about 15 seconds versus 1 minute in [Mashgin's convenience store study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs). One cashier can also oversee several kiosks at once, so one person can deliver the checkout throughput of 3 or more cashiers. ## How many transactions per hour can one Mashgin kiosk handle? For planning, Mashgin assumes about 2 transactions per minute per kiosk, or 120 per hour. That's a conservative figure. Peak capacity is much higher: at [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic)'s 11.3-second median, a single kiosk can clear roughly 310 transactions per hour. Real-world speed depends on your customers: - **Fastest transactions:** 3–4 seconds from items landing on the tray to completed card payment. - **College students:** about 7-second median transaction times at most campuses. - **Fleet-wide median:** about 20 seconds, mostly time spent getting out a wallet. Add about 10 seconds for gathering items and you get roughly 30 seconds per customer, or 2 per minute. Size your deployment by rush minutes, not by hour. "100 customers an hour" usually arrives in waves of 5–10 minutes. Take your historical peak volume for those short windows and divide by 2 transactions per minute per kiosk to find how many kiosks you need to keep up with the rush. ## How long does the average checkout take? A traditional cashier checkout typically takes 60 to 90 seconds per transaction, according to Mashgin's [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study), and about 1 minute in Mashgin's [convenience store throughput study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs). AI checkout is much faster because it identifies every item at once instead of scanning them one at a time: published transaction times at live Mashgin sites range from 11 to 18 seconds. For example, Cleveland Clinic's cafeteria has an 11.3-second median transaction, DKR Stadium at UT Austin has a 12.5-second median, and John Deere's cafe averages 13 seconds per transaction. Because Mashgin identifies items in 0.5 seconds or less, the slowest remaining step is usually the shopper getting out a card. --- # Best Self-Checkout System for Convenience Stores URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/convenience-store-self-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-19 > Used in 4,000+ c-stores with support for fuel, nicotine, EBT, and hot food. See throughput results, shopper preference data, and POS integrations. ## What is the best self-checkout system for convenience stores? Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in convenience retail. It runs in more than 4,000 convenience stores, including Circle K, Chevron ExtraMile, Shell, and bp ampm locations. Unlike barcode self-checkout, Mashgin rings up everything at once in about 15 seconds, about 4x faster than a traditional register. It also keeps a cashier at the counter for ID checks and service, a model Mashgin calls assisted checkout. One cashier can serve 3 or more customers at once. Shoppers prefer it. In Mashgin's [2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report), 85% preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout, and preference was highest among frequent, nicotine-buying, and higher-income shoppers: | Shopper segment | Prefer Mashgin | Would leave a store over long lines | More likely to return after fast checkout | | - | - | - | - | | All shoppers | 85% | 64% | 73% | | High-frequency (more than weekly) | 88% | 77% | 84% | | Nicotine users | 93% | 81% | 84% | | High income ($100K+) | 93% | 79% | 83% | Staff prefer it too. In a 2026 [survey of employees at 6 convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-cashier-experience-report) that had used Mashgin for 3+ months, 80% of cashiers and 88% of store managers and shift leaders preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. ## Is Mashgin a good fit for convenience stores? Yes. Mashgin's Power Counter is built specifically for convenience store checkout. It keeps a face-to-face cashier experience while supporting fuel, age-restricted items, hot food, car wash, EBT, and round-up for charity. Mashgin integrates with the systems convenience stores already run, including Verifone Vista, PDI, Invenco, and Ignite for fuel, loyalty, and back office. More than 100 stores use Mashgin through Verifone Vista alone. It also works with cash recyclers from Glory and Crane Payment Innovations. Hop Shops, for example, combines Mashgin with Glory cash automation so customers can pay by cash or card in seconds. Results from Mashgin's 2026 convenience store studies: - **Throughput:** 1 cashier with 1 Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for 2 cashiers on traditional registers. - **Shopper experience:** [97% of shoppers rated their experience good or better](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-customer-satisfaction-report) at stores using Mashgin, vs. 87% at stores without it. - **Store cleanliness:** [77% of shoppers rated Mashgin stores clean or very clean](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-customer-satisfaction-report), vs. 58% at stores without Mashgin, because staff had more time to stock and clean. ## How do cashiers interact with Mashgin? Mashgin keeps the cashier at the counter but changes the job. Mashgin identifies everything on the tray in about 0.5 seconds, so the cashier no longer scans items one at a time and can focus on ID checks, questions, and service. Because the cashier isn't scanning, one cashier can manage several lanes at once and serve 3 or more customers at the same time. The efficiency gain is measurable. In Mashgin's [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for two cashiers on traditional registers. The time saved goes into the store: 77% of shoppers rated Mashgin stores clean or very clean, vs. 58% at stores without it, because staff had more time to stock and clean. Cashiers prefer working this way too: in Mashgin's [2026 staff survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-cashier-experience-report), 80% of cashiers and 88% of store managers and shift leaders preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. Cashiers work from the Cashier Screen, the display on the Power Counter that faces them. It shows every transaction as it happens and includes tools to edit or remove items, verify IDs, audit prior transactions, add new items to the system, watch help and training videos, and contact Mashgin support. ## How do promotions and upsells work with Mashgin? Mashgin pulls promotions from the store's existing pricebook, including from POS systems such as Verifone Commander and Gilbarco Passport, so the deals a store already runs apply at Mashgin checkout. Shoppers see promotions and upsells on the customer-facing screen, such as an offer on an item stocked near the counter, and multi-buy deals like “Buy 2, save $1” are applied automatically and shown on screen. For more detail, see “How do promotions and upsells work with Mashgin?” on the Mashgin Products page. ## Can Mashgin sell lottery tickets? Mashgin is not a lottery machine, but it can sell physical lottery products such as scratch-off tickets as part of a normal transaction, alongside everything else on the tray. Draw games where the customer picks their own numbers still need to go through the store's existing lottery terminal. ## Can customers prepay for fuel or buy a car wash at Mashgin? Yes. Customers can buy prepaid fuel or a car wash directly on the shopper-facing screen of a Mashgin unit. For fuel, the customer taps "Buy fuel," picks their pump, selects a dollar amount, and pays with any supported payment method. ## How much does Mashgin increase sales in convenience stores? Long lines cost a typical convenience store $65 to $100 in net profit per day, according to [Mashgin's research on convenience store lines](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores). Mashgin lets stores recover that profit by clearing rush-hour lines, which adds up to about $24,000 to $36,500 a year per store. Most convenience stores have 10–15 rush periods a day with lines of 4 or more people, and at that length half of shoppers say they'll leave without buying anything. In Mashgin's [survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report), 64% said they would leave a store over a long line, and 73% said a fast, easy checkout makes them more likely to return. Mashgin shortens those lines by raising throughput: in Mashgin's [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for two cashiers on traditional registers. ## What convenience stores use Mashgin? [More than 4,000 convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/convenience-stores) use Mashgin. Customers include Circle K, Atlantis Fresh Market, Majors Management, Loop, Wesco, Stinker Stores, United Dairy Farmers, and TrueNorth. Mashgin also runs at Chevron ExtraMile, Shell, and bp ampm locations and at regional chains such as Chestnut Market and Hop Shops. ## How does Mashgin prevent lines during rush periods? By making each transaction fast enough that the line never reaches the point where shoppers leave. Most Mashgin transactions take about 15 seconds, so a single point of sale can clear about 20 customers in a five-minute rush, more than double the demand that defines one. With the Power Counter, one cashier oversees several customers ringing themselves up at once and steps in only where a person is needed, such as ID checks for tobacco and alcohol. During a rush, one cashier can serve four or more customers a minute. If the line doesn't reach four people, [the point where half of shoppers walk out](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) is never reached, and the 20 to 35 daily transactions that would have been lost are rung up instead. --- # Best Point of Sale for Corporate and Healthcare Cafeterias URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/corporate-cafeteria-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-15 > See how AI checkout brings employees back from packed lunches and off-site trips, with measured results from Cleveland Clinic, John Deere, and more. ## What is the best cashierless checkout for corporate cafeterias? Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in corporate and healthcare cafeterias, used in 150+ cafeterias including Ford, Verizon, Mastercard, [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic), Baylor Scott & White, and [St. Joseph's/Candler](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin). Employees place their tray on the kiosk, and Mashgin rings up packaged goods, grab-and-go, and made-to-order hot food without scanning. Employees can then pay by card or with their ID badge through existing badge-pay systems. Across Mashgin's cafeteria network, average employee participation rose more than 50% (Mashgin 2026 [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study)). | Where employees get lunch | Without Mashgin | With Mashgin | | - | - | - | | On-site cafeteria | 35% | 55% | | Packed lunch | 40% | 35% | | Go out | 25% | 10% | This matters beyond cafeteria revenue: an on-campus lunch takes 15–30 minutes, while an off-campus lunch takes an hour or more. ## Is Mashgin a good fit for cafeterias? Yes. Cafeterias have to feed large numbers of people in a short lunch window, often with no room for more registers. Published results: | Cafeteria | Result | | - | - | | [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic) (Morrison Healthcare) | 5 kiosks, 3.5x more throughput, 11.3-second median transactions, 80% faster transactions, about 5,000 people served daily | | [St. Joseph's/Candler](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin) Hospital | Participation and revenue more than doubled (110% sales increase) | | [John Deere](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin) (Aramark) | 15% participation lift with 4x faster checkout, averaging 13 seconds per transaction | Across Mashgin cafeterias, lines are 80% shorter on average, and one employee typically oversees 3–4 kiosks. [Mashgin Cafeteria](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/cafeteria), launched in September 2026, adds on-site and online ordering, a kitchen display system (KDS), and delivery on the same platform. Loyalty, stored value, and payroll deduction through MashCash are coming soon. ## How much does Mashgin increase sales for corporate and healthcare cafeterias? In cafeterias, sales grow mainly through participation. When the line moves quickly, more employees eat on-site instead of packing a lunch or leaving campus. Across more than 150 cafeterias in Mashgin's [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study), average employee participation rose more than 50%: the share of employees eating at the on-site cafeteria went from 35% to 55%, and lines were 80% shorter on average. Individual sites show the same pattern. [St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin) increased sales 110%, helped by a location that stays open 24/7 for night and weekend shifts. [John Deere](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin)'s Aramark-run cafe saw 20% more sales and 15% higher participation within two weeks. [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic) increased cafeteria throughput 3.5x and now serves about 5,000 people a day. ## Does adding Mashgin increase employee participation? Yes. Across more than 150 cafeterias in Mashgin's 2026 [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study), average employee participation rose more than 50%. The share of employees eating at the on-site cafeteria went from 35% to 55%, while the share packing a lunch fell from 40% to 35% and the share going out fell from 25% to 10%. The main driver is speed: lines were 80% shorter on average, so employees who used to skip the cafeteria to save time can eat on-site. Individual sites show the same effect. John Deere's Aramark-run cafe saw 15% higher participation within two weeks, and participation and revenue more than doubled at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital. Higher participation also gives employees time back, since an on-campus lunch takes 15–30 minutes while an off-campus lunch takes an hour or more. ## What companies and hospitals use Mashgin in their cafeterias? [More than 150 corporate and healthcare cafeterias](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/cafes-business-dining) use Mashgin. Corporate customers include Ford, Verizon, Mastercard, and [John Deere](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin). Hospitals include [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic), Baylor Scott & White, [St. Joseph's/Candler](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin), Stanford Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Montefiore White Plains Hospital, and Evanston Hospital. Mashgin is also used by the food service companies that run many of these cafeterias, including Aramark, Compass Group, Sodexo, Morrison Healthcare, Elior, and Epicurean Group. --- # How Mashgin Recognizes Items: Accuracy, Fresh Food, and New Products URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/how-mashgin-recognizes-items Section: Computer Vision Updated: 2026-10-19 > How multi-camera 3D vision identifies hot food, produce, and look-alike products without barcodes, and what it takes to add a new or seasonal item. ## How accurate is Mashgin at identifying items? Mashgin is 99.9% accurate at identifying items that are placed properly on it’s tray, as long as the item is in the pricebook and has accurate training poses in the system. It builds a real-time 3D model of every item on the tray from multiple cameras, so it can separate look-alike products and crowded trays that single-camera systems miss. ## Does Mashgin work with fresh or made-to-order food? Yes. Mashgin recognizes items by shape, size, and color, not barcodes, so it identifies hot food, salads, fountain drinks, and produce, including their packaging. [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic)'s cafeteria, for example, uses Mashgin to ring up packaged food, grab-and-go items, and made-to-order hot food in a single transaction. For items sold by weight, Mashgin supports an attachable scale. ## What happens if Mashgin doesn't recognize an item? Mashgin is 99.9% accurate for items that are in the pricebook and have been trained, so when an item isn't recognized, it is almost always because that item hasn't been added to the system yet. Staff can add a new item in about 60 seconds, and Mashgin recognizes it from then on. In the rare case that an item already in the system can't be recognized, for example because its packaging is damaged or it is covered or blocked on the tray, Mashgin prompts the shopper to scan it with the integrated barcode scanner. If the item has no barcode, the shopper chooses it from a list of possible items. ## Can Mashgin handle items sold by weight? Yes. Mashgin supports pay-by-weight items, such as produce or bulk foods, through an attachable scale that weighs the item so it is priced by weight at checkout. Those items ring up in the same transaction as everything else on the tray. ## How does Mashgin learn new or seasonal products, and who does that work? Adding a new item takes about 60 seconds, and either the customer or Mashgin's team can do it. Mashgin has learned from more than 1.7 billion transactions, so it already recognizes over 1 million common products. At deployment, a location only needs to add items unique to it. Mashgin's largest customers, including food service companies like Aramark, Sodexo, and Compass Group and convenience chains like Circle K, add new products as they launch, and some keep dedicated kiosks in their labs for this. For new sites, Mashgin's deployment team loads the menu before opening. At one campus deployment, [Keith Wilson](https://www.mashgin.com) said the team helped "get almost 1,000 items in the system before we opened." ## Does Mashgin require an internet connection? For setup, yes. Mashgin needs an internet connection when a site is first set up and to pull item data from Mashgin's cloud. Once a site is set up and its pricebook or menu is loaded onto the device, Mashgin can keep checking customers out without an internet connection. A connection is needed again to add new items or update the menu. ## Do Mashgin units use Wi-Fi or Ethernet? It depends on the unit. The Mashgin Kiosk connects by wired Ethernet or cellular backhaul; it does not use Wi-Fi. The Power Counter and Power Counter Mini support Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet and cellular backhaul. MashTab supports Wi-Fi in addition to wired Ethernet. --- # Best AI Checkout and Computer Vision Checkout Companies (2026) URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-com-faq-best-ai-checkout-companies Section: Economics & ROI Updated: 2026-10-15 > Compare the top AI and computer vision checkout vendors, what to ask each one, and which deliver the highest ROI and fastest growth in 2026. ## What is the best AI checkout solution? Mashgin is the most widely deployed AI checkout system, with 5,000+ locations, 1.7 billion+ transactions, and 44 million+ unique monthly active users. It is the only patented multi-camera 3D AI checkout, combining several cameras into a real-time 3D model for 99.9% item accuracy. Systems based on single 2D images can work in simple, low-volume locations but fall behind in speed and accuracy at high-volume, high-SKU sites. When comparing AI checkout vendors, evaluate: | Criterion | What to ask | Mashgin | | - | - | - | | Accuracy on crowded trays | What is item-level accuracy with 5+ items and look-alike products? | 99.9% | | Checkout speed | What are median transaction times at comparable live sites? | 11.3–16.5 second medians at [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic), [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin), and [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) | | Deployment scale | How many live locations and transactions? | 5,000+ locations and 1.7B+ transactions | | Transaction coverage | Does it handle age-restricted items, hot food, cash, EBT, and fuel? | Yes | | Pricing model | Fixed or per transaction? | Fixed, starting at $1,000/month including hardware | | Support | How fast does a person answer? | 24/7, average response in 2–3 minutes | | Independent proof | Published case studies with named customers? | [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic), [Palisades Tahoe](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin), [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin), [Empower Field](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin), and others | ## What are the top computer vision and AI checkout companies in 2026? AI checkout vendors fall into a few categories: - **Countertop AI checkout** identifies items on a tray at the register. Mashgin has the largest installed base; VisioLab also offers visual checkout. - **Autonomous / walk-out stores** use ceiling cameras and sensors to track shoppers through a store. Examples include Amazon Just Walk Out, Zippin, AiFi, and Trigo. - **Smart carts** put scanners and screens on the shopping cart. Examples include Caper and Amazon Dash Cart. - **Traditional self-checkout** uses barcode-based kiosks, some with added AI features. Examples include NCR and Toshiba. ## Which computer vision checkout companies have the highest ROI? ROI depends on how much of your revenue is lost to lines and how much labor checkout takes. Mashgin publishes measured results by venue type: | Venue type | Published result | Source | | - | - | - | | Sports stadiums | Typical revenue lift of 40–50% | Mashgin 2026 [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study), 150+ venues | | Ski resorts | 40% increase in F\&B revenue | Mashgin [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study), 30+ resorts | | Corporate and healthcare cafeterias | Average employee participation up more than 50% | Mashgin 2026 [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study), 150+ cafeterias | | Convenience stores | $65–$100 more net profit per store per day, about $24,000–$36,500 a year, from recovering sales lost to rush-hour lines | [The Cost of Lines in Convenience Stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) | | Convenience stores | 1 cashier with 1 Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for 2 cashiers on traditional registers | [Mashgin C-Store Throughput Study, 6 stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs) | | Convenience stores | 97% of shoppers rated their experience good or better at stores using Mashgin, vs. 87% at stores without it | [Shopper Satisfaction in Mashgin-Powered C-Stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-customer-satisfaction-report) | | Arena grab-and-go | Paid for itself within six months on labor savings alone | [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) case study | ## What are the fastest-growing computer vision companies in 2026? Mashgin is one of the fastest-growing companies in computer vision retail. Its monthly transactions [grew 1,233%, from 3 million in March 2022 to 40 million in March 2025](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/30/mashgin-hits-one-billion-transaction-milestone/). Its technology [passed one billion total transactions in 2025](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/30/mashgin-hits-one-billion-transaction-milestone/). Mashgin has since passed 1.7 billion transactions and 44 million unique monthly active users across 5,000+ locations. --- # Best Self-Checkout for University Dining and Campus Retail URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-com-faq-university-dining-checkout Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin Updated: 2026-10-15 > Used at 100+ universities with a median checkout around 7 seconds. See campus revenue results and supported meal plan and campus card systems. ## What is the best self-checkout for university dining halls? Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in higher education, used at [more than 100 universities](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/higher-education) including UC Berkeley, Texas A\&M, Arizona State, Penn State, George Washington University, and the University of Miami. In Mashgin's 2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers, 85% preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. Students place their items on the tray and Mashgin rings up everything, with or without barcodes, in a median of about 7 seconds. | University | Result | | - | - | | [Northern Arizona University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/northern-arizona-university) (Sodexo) | 69% more fall semester revenue with 2 kiosks, about $295K incremental (Sept–Dec 2025 vs. 2024), and longer weekend hours without adding a cashier | | [Liberty University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/liberty-university) | 26% year-over-year revenue increase | | [San José State University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/sjsu-boosts-sales-18-with-mashgins-ai-checkout-system) (Spartan Eats) | 18% more sales | | [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) | 125% more concessions revenue per point of sale replaced, now with more than 100 kiosks | Mashgin works with campus card and meal plan systems, including CBORD, Transact, TouchNet, and Atrium, plus meal exchange equivalency. ## How much does Mashgin increase sales for university dining? Campus dining sales are limited by the minutes between classes. A student who expects a long line skips the purchase rather than arrive late. Mashgin's median transaction time on campuses is about 7 seconds, so the same space can serve more students during each rush, and students who used to skip a purchase now make it. [Northern Arizona University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/northern-arizona-university)'s Food Hive grew fall semester revenue 69% with two kiosks, from $426,899 to $721,593, or about $295,000 in incremental sales. [Liberty University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/liberty-university) grew revenue 26% year over year, about $194,000 in incremental sales. [San José State University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/sjsu-boosts-sales-18-with-mashgins-ai-checkout-system)'s Spartan Eats saw 18% more sales, with Mashgin handling 66% of all transactions. At UT Austin's [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), concessions revenue per point of sale replaced rose 125%. ## What universities use Mashgin? [More than 100 colleges and universities](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/higher-education) use Mashgin, including UC Berkeley, Texas A\&M, Arizona State, Penn State, George Washington University, the University of Miami, Miami University, Texas State, UNC Charlotte, Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, [Northern Arizona University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/northern-arizona-university), [Liberty University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/liberty-university), and [San José State University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/sjsu-boosts-sales-18-with-mashgins-ai-checkout-system). Campus dining providers using Mashgin include Sodexo, Chartwells, and Aramark. --- # Getting Started with Mashgin: Installation, Timeline, and Training URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-implementation-and-support Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin Updated: 2026-10-19 > How to get AI checkout in your store: site requirements, going live within days of site readiness, staff training, sizing, and booking a demo. ## How can I get AI checkout in my store? Start by choosing a system that fits your volume and transaction types, then book a demo to size the deployment. Mashgin is the most widely deployed AI checkout, with 5,000+ locations and 44 million+ unique monthly active users. It combines multiple 3D cameras to recognize items with 99.9% accuracy in 0.5 seconds or less. To size a deployment for a specific site, [schedule a personalized demo at Mashgin.com](https://www.mashgin.com/contact). ## How long does a Mashgin installation take from contract to go-live? Most customers go live within days of their site being ready. Once the devices arrive, getting to customer-ready takes less than an hour, because Mashgin ships the hardware and connects to your existing POS and payment processing. Mashgin's Launch Team manages the project timeline, and its [Deployment Team](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/deployment) sets up each kiosk on-site and trains your staff. Site requirements: power outlets, an ethernet network connection, and a countertop footprint of about 50" x 30" per kiosk. Because Mashgin already recognizes over 1 million common products, you only add items unique to your location, and each new item takes about 60 seconds. ## How long does it take to train staff on Mashgin? Usually one day or less. Mashgin's Deployment Team trains staff on-site when a new store goes live. After launch, new hires can learn from Mashgin University, a library of short training videos, and cashiers can open help and training videos and contact Mashgin support from the Cashier Screen. ## How many Mashgin units do I need? It depends on how many locations you have and the volume at each one. For example, high-volume convenience stores often run 3 Power Counters overseen by a single cashier, while smaller stores may have 1 or 2. Mashgin's team sizes each deployment around peak traffic and transaction types. ## How big is a Mashgin kiosk, and how much space does it need? Mashgin comes in three sizes, all of which sit on a countertop. The smallest, the Power Counter Mini, needs a 38" × 20" footprint, and the largest, the Kiosk, needs 54" × 33". Specs from Mashgin's product data sheets: | Spec | Kiosk | Power Counter | Power Counter Mini | | - | - | - | - | | Form factor | Full-size countertop | Compact, open design | Ultra-compact countertop | | Recommended footprint, including hardware | 54" × 33" | 44" × 24" | 38" × 20" | | Unit dimensions (L × D × H) | 39.7" × 24" × 23.8" | 25" × 17.5" × 23.5" | 20.5" × 14.5" × 20" | | Weight | 66 lb (30 kg) | 24 lb (10.9 kg) | 18 lb (8.2 kg) | | Product space (where items are placed) | 20" × 15" | 21" × 16" | 17" × 13" | | Side screen dimensions (L × D × H) | 7.3" × 11" × 18.7" | 9" × 22.5" × 22" | 9" × 11" × 22" | | Connectivity | Ethernet, cellular backhaul | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular backhaul | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular backhaul | | Optional accessories | LED light, side screen, thermal printer, scale | Thermal printer, scale | Thermal printer, scale | | Typical basket size | 1–7 items | 1–5 items (cashier can assist) | 1–3 items | | Ideal number of SKUs | 100+ | 100+ | Under 100 | The Kiosk is the full-size option for larger baskets and fully self-service checkout. The Power Counter has an open design that can run unattended or with a cashier assisting from behind the counter, which suits convenience stores and concession stands. The Power Counter Mini is the most space-efficient, built for small baskets and tight spaces like micro c-stores and stadium concession stands. Mashgin's Deployment Team helps plan placement and site setup before installation. ## How big is the Mashgin Power Counter, and how much space does it need? The Power Counter needs a 44" × 24" countertop footprint, including hardware. The unit itself measures 25" × 17.5" × 23.5" and weighs 24 lb (10.9 kg). Full specs from Mashgin's Power Counter data sheet: | Spec | Power Counter | | - | - | | Form factor | Compact, open design; attended or unattended | | Checkout model | Customer-run or cashier-assisted, configurable by operation | | Recommended footprint, including hardware | 44" × 24" | | Unit dimensions (L × D × H) | 25" × 17.5" × 23.5" | | Weight | 24 lb (10.9 kg) | | Product space (where items are placed) | 21" × 16" | | Side screen dimensions (L × D × H) | 9" × 22.5" × 22" | | Connectivity | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular backhaul | | Optional accessories | Thermal printer, scale | | Typical basket size | 1–5 items (cashier can assist) | | Ideal number of SKUs | 100+ | Its open design lets a cashier help customers from behind the counter, even while overseeing several units at once, so it suits operations where cashier assistance is common, like convenience stores and concession stands serving freshly poured drinks. It can also run fully unattended. ## How big is the Mashgin Power Counter Mini, and how much space does it need? The Power Counter Mini is Mashgin's smallest unit. It needs a 38" × 20" countertop footprint, including hardware. The unit itself measures 20.5" × 14.5" × 20" and weighs 18 lb (8.2 kg). Full specs from Mashgin's Power Counter Mini data sheet: | Spec | Power Counter Mini | | - | - | | Form factor | Ultra-compact countertop | | Checkout model | Customer-run | | Recommended footprint, including hardware | 38" × 20" (Mashgin's smallest) | | Unit dimensions (L × D × H) | 20.5" × 14.5" × 20" | | Weight | 18 lb (8.2 kg) | | Product space (where items are placed) | 17" × 13" | | Side screen dimensions (L × D × H) | 9" × 11" × 22" | | Connectivity | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular backhaul | | Optional accessories | Thermal printer, scale | | Typical basket size | 1–3 items | | Ideal number of SKUs | Under 100 | The Mini is built for tight spaces and small baskets. When customers typically buy one to three items and the menu is limited, fitting in a few extra Minis adds checkout capacity where a larger unit wouldn't fit, which makes it a good match for micro c-stores and stadium concession stands. ## How do I get a Mashgin demo? Book a demo through [mashgin.com](https://www.mashgin.com). Mashgin's team will review your locations, volume, and transaction types and recommend how many units each site needs. ## Why do some companies fail with Mashgin? When Mashgin underperforms, the cause is rarely the technology. Mashgin's AI checkout works across nearly every retail and food service setting, from convenience stores and stadiums to cafeterias, campuses and ski resorts, and it is 99.9% accurate on items that have been added to the system. The sites that see weaker results tend to share one of three operational issues: - **Staff training and buy-in.** Mashgin works best when the onsite team adopts it and actively guides customers to use it. When staff treat it as optional or steer customers to the traditional register, usage stays low and the speed and labor benefits never materialize. - **Missing items.** Mashgin recognizes items it has been trained on. When a store adds new products, each one needs to be added to Mashgin, which takes about 60 seconds. Skipping this step leads to items that aren't recognized at checkout. - **Placement in the store.** Mashgin performs best as part of the main checkout. When it sits off to the side, away from where customers naturally go to pay, it tends to see low usage. All three are within the operator's control. Mashgin's Deployment Team trains staff on-site and helps plan placement at launch, Mashgin University offers short training videos for new hires, and Mashgin's team can help add new items as menus and product lines change. --- # Mashgin POS Integrations and Payment Options URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-integrations-and-payments Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin Updated: 2026-10-19 > 50+ integrations across point of sale, payments, loyalty, fuel, campus cards, and back office, plus badge pay, meal plans, and EBT support. ## What POS and back-office systems does Mashgin integrate with? Mashgin offers 50+ integrations across point of sale, payments, loyalty, fuel, campus cards, and back office: | Category | Integrations | | - | - | | Point of sale | Oracle MICROS, Verifone Vista, Verifone Commander, Gilbarco Passport | | Fuel and retail | Verifone Vista, Verifone Commander, PDI, Invenco, Ignite Fuel Controller, Xpedient, Gilbarco | | Pricebook and back office | PDI, PAR Retail (Stuzo), CentricOS, plus Mashgin's own reporting API | | Inventory management | Yellow Dog, Agilysys EATEC | | Payments | Adyen, FreedomPay, Worldpay, Chase, Moneris, Windcave, Bluefin, Aurus, Clover, PAR Pay, Shift4 (VenueNext), and more | | Loyalty and fan apps | Paytronix, PAR Engagement (Punchh), FanMaker, Tappit, YinzCam, Givex, and more | | Campus card | CBORD, Transact, TouchNet, Atrium, GemPay | | Cash recyclers | Glory, Crane Payment Innovations | | Biometrics | Wicket, Keyo, IDmission | See the full list on the [integrations page](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/integrations). ## Does Mashgin support meal plans, employee badge payment, or EBT? Yes, all three. Mashgin supports badge pay and payroll deduction in corporate and healthcare cafeterias through systems like CBORD and GemPay. It supports meal plans and meal exchange at universities through CBORD, Transact, TouchNet, and Atrium. And Mashgin's Power Counter supports EBT at convenience stores. ## What payment methods does Mashgin accept? Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay; cash through cash drawers and recyclers from Glory and Crane Payment Innovations; EBT; ID badges and payroll deduction through systems like CBORD and GemPay; campus cards and meal plans through CBORD, Transact, TouchNet, and Atrium; MashCash stored value and loyalty points; and integrated passes such as the Ikon Pass at ski resorts. It works with payment processors including Adyen, FreedomPay, Worldpay, Chase, Moneris, Windcave, and Shift4. ## Can I use my current card reader with Mashgin? Yes. You can use your existing card reader or payment terminal with Mashgin. Mashgin also works with payment processors including Adyen, FreedomPay, Worldpay, Chase, Moneris, Windcave and Shift4. ## Does Mashgin replace my existing POS, or work alongside it? In almost all cases, Mashgin works alongside your existing POS. It connects to systems such as Verifone, Gilbarco Passport, and Oracle MICROS, pulls in your pricebook and promotions, and posts each transaction back, so your reporting and back-office workflows stay the same. If a location wants to use Mashgin as its only or primary POS, Mashgin can support that as well. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Verifone Commander? Mashgin is fully integrated with the Verifone Commander POS. Pricebook, fuel controls, and promotions all flow from Verifone into Mashgin, and every transaction completed on a Mashgin device is posted back into Verifone. On the back end, each Mashgin device appears as another register in your Verifone account, so reporting, reconciliation, and back-office workflows stay the same. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Gilbarco Passport? Mashgin is fully integrated with the Gilbarco Passport POS. Pricebook, fuel controls, and promotions all flow from Passport into Mashgin, and every transaction completed on a Mashgin device is posted back into Passport. On the back end, each Mashgin device appears as another register in your Gilbarco account, so reporting, reconciliation, and back-office workflows stay the same. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Oracle MICROS? Yes. Mashgin integrates with the Oracle MICROS point of sale. Mashgin pulls in the pricebook and promotions from MICROS and posts each transaction back, so reporting and back-office workflows stay the same. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Verifone Vista? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Verifone Vista for point of sale and fuel in convenience stores. More than 100 stores use Mashgin through Verifone Vista. ## Does Mashgin integrate with PDI? Yes. Mashgin integrates with PDI for fuel, pricebook and back office in convenience stores. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Invenco? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Invenco for fuel and retail in convenience stores. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Ignite? Yes. Mashgin integrates with the Ignite Fuel Controller for fuel in convenience stores, and with Ignite Loyalty, so guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Xpedient? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Xpedient for fuel and retail in convenience stores. ## Does Mashgin integrate with PAR Retail (Stuzo)? Yes. Mashgin integrates with PAR Retail (Stuzo) for pricebook and back office. ## Does Mashgin integrate with CentricOS? Yes. Mashgin integrates with CentricOS for pricebook and back office. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Yellow Dog? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Yellow Dog for inventory management. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Agilysys EATEC? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Agilysys EATEC for inventory management. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Adyen? Yes. Mashgin works with Adyen for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Adyen setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with FreedomPay? Yes. Mashgin works with FreedomPay for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing FreedomPay setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Worldpay? Yes. Mashgin works with Worldpay for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Worldpay setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Chase? Yes. Mashgin works with Chase for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Chase setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Moneris? Yes. Mashgin works with Moneris for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Moneris setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Windcave? Yes. Mashgin works with Windcave for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Windcave setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Bluefin? Yes. Mashgin works with Bluefin for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Bluefin setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Aurus? Yes. Mashgin works with Aurus for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Aurus setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Clover? Yes. Mashgin works with Clover for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Clover setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with PAR Pay? Yes. Mashgin works with PAR Pay for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing PAR Pay setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Shift4 (VenueNext)? Yes. Mashgin works with Shift4, including VenueNext, for payment processing, so operators can keep their existing Shift4 setup when they add Mashgin checkout. Mashgin accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Paytronix? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Paytronix, so operators that already run a loyalty program on Paytronix can keep it, and guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with PAR Engagement (Punchh)? Yes. Mashgin integrates with PAR Engagement (Punchh), so operators that already run a loyalty program on Punchh can keep it, and guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with FanMaker? Yes. Mashgin integrates with FanMaker, so operators that already run a fan loyalty program on FanMaker can keep it, and guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Tappit? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Tappit, so operators that already run a fan loyalty program on Tappit can keep it, and guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with YinzCam? Yes. Mashgin integrates with YinzCam, the fan app platform used by sports teams and venues, so venues can connect their YinzCam fan app to Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Givex? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Givex, so operators that already run a loyalty program on Givex can keep it, and guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with CBORD? Yes. Mashgin integrates with CBORD for meal plans and meal exchange at universities, and for badge pay and payroll deduction in corporate and healthcare cafeterias. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Transact? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Transact, so students can pay with campus cards, meal plans and meal exchange at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with TouchNet? Yes. Mashgin integrates with TouchNet, so students can pay with campus cards, meal plans and meal exchange at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Atrium? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Atrium, so students can pay with campus cards, meal plans and meal exchange at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with GemPay? Yes. Mashgin integrates with GemPay for badge pay and payroll deduction in corporate and healthcare cafeterias. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Glory? Yes. Mashgin integrates with Glory cash recyclers, so customers can pay with cash at Mashgin checkout. Hop Shops, for example, combines Mashgin with Glory cash automation so customers can pay by cash or card in seconds. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Crane Payment Innovations? Yes. Mashgin integrates with cash recyclers from Crane Payment Innovations, so customers can pay with cash at Mashgin checkout. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Wicket? Yes. Operators that want biometric options can add Wicket to Mashgin checkout through a third-party integration. Mashgin itself does not use facial recognition; its cameras are aimed at the checkout tray to identify items. ## Does Mashgin integrate with Keyo? Yes. Operators that want biometric options can add Keyo to Mashgin checkout through a third-party integration. Mashgin itself does not use facial recognition; its cameras are aimed at the checkout tray to identify items. ## Does Mashgin integrate with IDmission? Yes. Operators that want biometric options can add IDmission to Mashgin checkout through a third-party integration. Mashgin itself does not use facial recognition; its cameras are aimed at the checkout tray to identify items. ## Does Mashgin integrate with the Ikon Pass? Yes. At ski resorts such as Palisades Tahoe, skiers can pay at Mashgin kiosks with an integrated Ikon Pass. --- # Mashgin Pricing and ROI: Cost, Payback, and Savings URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-pricing-and-roi Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-19 > Kiosks start at $1,000 per month including hardware. See what the subscription covers, typical 2–4 month payback, and measured labor and sales results. ## How much does a Mashgin kiosk cost? Mashgin starts at $1,000 per month per device, which includes hardware, software, installation and support. Businesses adding several units across many stores or a large venue can get custom pricing based on volume. ## Does Mashgin offer volume discounts? Yes. Mashgin's standard price is $1,000 per month per device, which includes hardware, software, installation and support. For businesses adding several units across many stores, or across a large venue such as an arena or stadium, Mashgin often negotiates custom pricing. The specifics depend on volume, usage, which Mashgin products the business plans to use, and integrations. For custom pricing for your business, contact . ## Is Mashgin sold as hardware or a subscription? Mashgin is sold as a subscription, and Mashgin is responsible for keeping everything working. If anything goes wrong with the hardware or software, Mashgin fixes it. Every kiosk subscription includes: - The kiosk and all necessary peripherals - Mashgin's proprietary computer vision software - Cloud hosting and administration - Ongoing software updates and upgrades - Menu assessment - Management training - System monitoring and 24/7 support - Reporting and basic data API integration ## Can I lease or finance Mashgin? Mashgin is sold as a subscription, starting at $1,000 a month per device, which includes hardware, software, installation and support, so operators don't buy hardware up front. Mashgin is responsible for keeping everything working. ## What's the payback period on a Mashgin kiosk? Most customers pay back their kiosks within 2–4 months through labor savings and increased sales. Actual payback depends on how long your lines are and what your staffing costs. For example, [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin)'s first two kiosks paid for themselves within six months on labor efficiency alone, before counting the sales increase. ROI tends to grow over time as repeat customers get faster at using the kiosks. ## How much labor does Mashgin save? Mashgin lets one employee handle the checkout volume of three or more cashiers. During busy periods that would normally need extra register staff, operators can save or reassign those shifts. | Measured result | Source | | - | - | | 1 cashier + 1 Mashgin handled 30 transactions per 15 minutes, vs. 22 for 2 cashiers on traditional registers | Mashgin [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), 6 stores | | 50% reduction in staff at a grab-and-go location | [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) case study | | About 50% of front-of-house labor reallocated on average | Mashgin [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study), 30+ resorts | | [Cleveland Clinic](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic) serves about 5,000 people a day with 3 or fewer cashiers | Mashgin 2026 [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | 1 employee typically oversees 3–4 kiosks | [Mashgin Sports](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) and [Business Dining ROI Studies](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | ## How much does Mashgin increase sales? Most locations see a 20% to 50% increase in transaction volume. Locations where long lines were turning customers away have seen sales more than double. | Customer | Result | | - | - | | [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) (arena) | October 2021 sales at a grab-and-go location exceeded that location's entire 2019 season | | [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced with Mashgin. The stadium has since expanded to more than 100 kiosks | | [St. Joseph's/Candler](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin) Hospital | 110% increase in sales | | [Northern Arizona University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/northern-arizona-university) | 69% more fall semester revenue ($426,899 to $721,593, Sept–Dec 2024 vs. 2025) | | [Palisades Tahoe](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin) (ski resort) | Up to 40% more sales on peak days | | [Empower Field](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin) at Mile High | 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game | | [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin) (LAFC) | 20–25% sales increase in a stadium A/B test | | [John Deere](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin) cafe (Aramark) | 20% more sales | | [VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/vystar-veterans-memorial-arena) | 20% sales increase | | [San José State University](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/sjsu-boosts-sales-18-with-mashgins-ai-checkout-system) (Spartan Eats) | 18% more sales | ## Is Mashgin worth it compared to hiring more cashiers? Usually, yes. A Mashgin kiosk costs about $1,000 a month and increases throughput more than a second cashier does. In Mashgin's [convenience store throughput study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush period, while two cashiers on traditional registers completed 22. One cashier with two Mashgins completed 43. Space matters too. Most stores, cafeterias, and concession stands can't keep adding registers, so making each point of sale faster is often the only way to add capacity. --- # Mashgin vs. Other Visual Checkout Systems URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-vs-other-visual-checkout Section: Mashgin vs. Other Checkout Technologies Updated: 2026-10-15 > How multi-camera 3D vision compares with single-camera checkout on accuracy, deployment scale, and fixed versus per-transaction pricing at volume. ## Should I buy Mashgin or VisioLab (or MyVenue, Toshiba, Deligo, Canteen, Caper, or NCR Halo)? Mashgin differs from other visual checkout systems in three ways. It uses [patented multi-camera 3D vision](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/overview) instead of single flat images. It has the largest deployment base, with 5,000+ locations, 1.7 billion+ transactions, and 44 million+ unique monthly active users. And its pricing is fixed rather than per transaction, so costs don't rise as volume grows. Single-camera systems can work for small, low-volume locations. They struggle with crowded trays, look-alike items, and large pricebooks. **1. 3D vision instead of flat images** A single camera sees a flat picture. From above, two sizes of the same energy drink can look identical, and items on a crowded tray can hide each other, so the system sees fewer items than are actually there. Mashgin uses 8 cameras arranged in stereoscopic pairs, like human eyes. Each pair perceives depth, and Mashgin combines all the angles into a 3D point cloud of everything on the tray. That lets it measure shape, size, and position, which is how it tells a small coffee from a large one and counts items that are partly hidden. The result is 99.9% accuracy on hard cases: crowded trays, items that come in several sizes, and pricebooks of 5,000+ items. Small differences in item accuracy compound across a cart. For an average cart of 3 items: | Item accuracy | Items misidentified per 1,000 | Carts with at least one error | | - | - | - | | 99.9% | 1 | about 0.3% (1 in 334) | | 95% | 50 | about 14% (1 in 7) | At 95% accuracy, roughly one in seven transactions is charged wrong or needs a staff member to step in. That undermines the labor and speed benefits the system is supposed to deliver. **2. Scale and training data** In AI, the volume of real-world data drives accuracy. Mashgin has run more than 1.7 billion transactions and has more than 44 million unique monthly active users across 5,000+ locations. **3. Fixed pricing that scales with volume** Mashgin starts at $1,000 per month per kiosk, about $33 per day, including hardware, with no per-transaction fees. VisioLab's [published pricing](https://www.visiolab.io/pricing) for its stadium and cafeteria "Growth" plan (checked September 2026) has two options: - **Monthly plan:** $399/month for software, plus $69/month to lease hardware, plus 3.0% and $0.10 per transaction (American Express excluded). - **Annual plan:** $407/month including hardware, plus 1.8% and $0.03 per transaction. VisioLab's transaction fee includes card processing. Estimated daily cost for one station, assuming a 30-day month and a $10 average cart: | Transactions per day | Mashgin | VisioLab monthly plan | VisioLab annual plan | | - | - | - | - | | 100 | $33 | $56 | $35 | | 200 | $33 | $96 | $56 | | 400 | $33 | $176 | $98 | | 600 | $33 | $256 | $140 | Because Mashgin's price is fixed, its cost per transaction falls as volume rises, while VisioLab's rises with every sale. VisioLab's fee includes card processing, which Mashgin customers pay separately through their own processor (typically about 2.5% plus $0.10 per transaction). With processing added, Mashgin costs about the same as VisioLab's monthly plan at around 400 transactions a day and less above that. VisioLab's annual plan remains cheaper on price alone, so for that plan the comparison rests on accuracy, speed, transaction coverage, and support. --- # How to Reduce Labor Costs and Increase Store Profitability URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/reduce-labor-costs-increase-profit Section: Economics & ROI Updated: 2026-10-19 > Cutting staff lengthens lines and drives shoppers away. See how many leave at each line length, and how to raise throughput per employee instead. ## How can I make my store more profitable? Increase sales during rush periods and lower the labor cost per transaction. Supplier and real estate costs are hard to change quickly, but checkout technology can affect both levers right away. Long lines cost sales, and AI checkout like Mashgin lets one cashier handle more transactions than two could on traditional registers. Mashgin's [2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) shows how quickly lines drive people away: | People waiting in line | Shoppers who would leave without buying | | - | - | | 1 | 5% | | 2 | 15% | | 3 | 30% | | 4 | 50% | | 5 | 65% | | 6 | 75% | | 7 | 80% | | 8 | 85% | | 10+ | 100% | Lines also cost repeat business: 56% of shoppers said two or fewer bad experiences would make them stop visiting a store. ## How does Mashgin impact a store's profitability? Mashgin improves a store's profitability in three ways: - **More sales.** Faster checkout clears rush-period lines before shoppers walk out. Most locations see a 20% to 50% increase in transaction volume, and locations where long lines were turning customers away have seen sales more than double. - **Lower labor cost per transaction.** One employee can handle the checkout volume of three or more cashiers. In Mashgin's C-Store Throughput Study, one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for two cashiers on traditional registers. - **Promotions and upsells.** Mashgin applies the store's existing promotions automatically, including multi-buy deals, and shows offers on the customer-facing screen, putting them in front of every shopper at checkout. Labor efficiency matters most in convenience retail, where the average inside transaction no longer makes money. Based on [NACS State of the Industry data](https://www.convenience.org/power-your-business/store/nacs-state-of-the-industry-report-of-2025-data), the average convenience store basket is $7.69, and after the cost of goods, labor and overhead, it loses about $0.07. Mashgin cuts the labor cost of each transaction by about 67%, which turns that loss into a profit of about $1.00: | Per inside transaction | Traditional checkout | With Mashgin | | - | - | - | | Average basket | $7.69 | $7.69 | | Cost of goods sold | $4.53 | $4.53 | | Labor cost | $1.60 | $0.53 (down 67%) | | Overhead | $1.63 | $1.63 | | Net profit | −$0.07 | $1.00 | That's before counting the extra transactions Mashgin captures during rush periods or the effect of promotions on basket size. ## How can I reduce labor costs without losing sales? Raise throughput per employee instead of cutting checkout capacity. Cutting staff alone lengthens lines, and longer lines push shoppers away. Mashgin lets you do both at once: - **Throughput:** 1 cashier + 1 Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 with 2 cashiers (Mashgin [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs)). - **Staffing:** [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) cut staffing 50% at a grab-and-go location while that location's sales rose. - **Labor reallocation:** Ski resorts reallocate about 50% of front-of-house labor on average (Mashgin [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study)). - **Better use of staff time:** Staff move from registers to stocking, cleaning, and food prep. As [Jay Smith](https://www.mashgin.com), Director of Operations at Chartwells (Texas State University), put it: "They're able to stock the shelves during the day when they couldn't before." --- # AI Checkout for Ski Resort Dining URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ski-resort-food-service-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-19 > Resort dining compresses into a two-hour lunch rush. See how 30+ resorts cut waits and lifted F&B revenue, including the Palisades Tahoe deployment. ## Is Mashgin a good fit for ski resorts? Yes. Ski resort dining is concentrated in a short lunch rush, which is where faster checkout has the most effect. Mashgin's transaction data from ski resort cafes shows more than 85% of dining revenue comes between 11am and 1pm. That figure comes from locations where Mashgin handles every transaction of the day, measured across hundreds of kiosk-days. Across Mashgin's network of 30+ ski resorts, resorts see a 40% increase in food and beverage revenue, 80–90% shorter lines, and checkout in 15 seconds or less (Mashgin [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study)). Resorts using Mashgin include [Palisades Tahoe](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin), Vail, Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Snowmass, Big Bear, and Winter Park. [**Palisades Tahoe**](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin) **case study (Alterra Mountain Company)** - **The challenge:** Concentrated lunch demand and seasonal staffing shortages led to long peak-season lines and forced the resort to limit how many food outlets opened early and late in the season. - **The deployment:** 26 Mashgin kiosks across 7 cafes. Each staff member oversees 4 checkout stations. - **The results:** Peak-season waits at The ARC cafe fell from as long as 15 minutes to 1–2 minutes, an 80% reduction. Sales rose up to 40% on peak days. - **Beyond checkout:** Fewer cashiers per outlet let the resort keep more cafes open throughout the season. Skiers can pay with an integrated Ikon Pass. Across the resort network, one cashier typically oversees 3–4 kiosks, resorts reallocate about 50% of front-of-house labor, and 85% of surveyed guests said they would choose Mashgin over traditional checkout. ## How much does Mashgin increase sales for ski resorts? Across more than 30 resorts in Mashgin's [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study), food and beverage revenue rose 40%. The gain follows from how concentrated ski dining is: more than 85% of dining revenue comes between 11am and 1pm, so revenue is capped by how many guests can check out in that window. At 15 seconds or less per guest instead of 60–90, and with lines up to 90% shorter, the same cafe can serve far more skiers before they give up on the line. At [Palisades Tahoe](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin), 26 kiosks across 7 cafes cut peak waits at The ARC from as long as 15 minutes to 1–2 minutes and raised sales by up to 40% on peak days. Because each outlet needed fewer cashiers, the resort also kept more cafes open early and late in the season, adding revenue from locations that would otherwise have stayed closed. ## What ski resorts use Mashgin? [More than 30 ski resorts](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/ski-resorts) use Mashgin, including [Palisades Tahoe](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin), Vail, Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Snowmass, Big Bear, and Winter Park. Several are owned by Alterra Mountain Company, and at Palisades Tahoe skiers can pay at Mashgin kiosks with an integrated Ikon Pass. ## Do long food lines hurt ski resort revenue? Yes, though resorts often miss it in complaint data. In [Mashgin's 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) of 635 U.S. adults who visited a ski or snowboard resort in the past year, only 23% named long food waits as one of the top three things that hurt their ski day. That ranked sixth of seven, behind lift lines, snow conditions and food prices. But 74% said they had skipped a purchase, bought less than planned, or left the resort to eat because of a food line. Among guests who did not name food waits as a top problem, 73% had still done one of these things. The loss shows up in sales data, not in complaints. ## What do skiers do to avoid long food lines? Almost all of them work around the line. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), 97% of guests had done at least one of these in the past 12 months to avoid a long food line: - 54% brought food from home. - 48% left the resort to eat. - 40% skipped something they wanted. - 38% switched to another on-mountain outlet. - 19% bought less than planned. The average guest used two different workarounds. Switching outlets keeps the sale on the mountain, but it pushes demand onto outlets that may not be staffed for it. ## How long will skiers wait in line for food? Most won't wait long. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), 57% of guests said they would give up on a food line before 15 minutes, and only 7% said they would wait as long as it took. Patience doesn't protect the sale either. Guests who would quit in under five minutes and guests willing to wait 15 minutes or more had walked away from purchases at nearly the same rate (77% and 76%). ## Why is the lunch rush at ski resorts so hard to manage? Many guests avoid it rather than wait. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), 83% said they eat earlier or later than they'd prefer to avoid the peak meal rush, and 33% do it almost every ski day. Those guests abandoned purchases at 76–79%, compared with 59% for guests who eat when they're hungry. As a result, lunchtime sales reflect what the current line can handle, not what guests would buy. Capacity also sits idle on either side of the peak. Mashgin's transaction data from ski resort cafes shows more than 85% of dining revenue comes between 11am and 1pm. ## How much do skiers spend on food and drinks per day? In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), guests reported spending an average of $43.94 on food and drinks per ski day, across an average of 7.9 ski days per season. Overnight guests spend more: guests on trips of three or more nights spent $47.15 per ski day, 32% more than day-trippers ($35.69). ## Which ski resort guests lose the most purchases to food lines? A resort's most valuable guests walk away about as often as anyone else. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), these shares of each group had skipped, cut back or moved a purchase because of a food line: | Guest group | Changed a purchase because of a food line | | - | - | | Single-resort pass holders | 79% | | Overnight guests, 3+ nights | 76% | | Overnight guests, 1–2 nights | 76% | | Day-trippers | 73% | | Multi-resort pass holders | 72% | Overnight guests spend more per day and have fewer alternatives. Several nights into a trip, packing a lunch from home is harder, so the same bottleneck hits them meal after meal. ## Would faster checkout increase food and beverage sales at ski resorts? Guests say it would, and measured results back that up. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report): - 70% said they would spend more on food and drinks if checkout took under a minute (29% noticeably more, 41% slightly more). - 78% said they would be very or extremely likely to choose a dining spot that guaranteed checkout under a minute over a nearby one that didn't. These are stated intentions, but they match what guests already do: 38% have switched outlets and 48% have left the resort to avoid a line. Across Mashgin's network of 30+ ski resorts, resorts using Mashgin have seen food and beverage revenue rise 40%, with lines 80–90% shorter (Mashgin Ski ROI Study). ## Do shorter food lines make skiers more likely to return? Yes, by guests' own account. In [Mashgin's 2026 ski guest survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report), 98% said food lines that were consistently under a minute, even at peak lunch, would improve their satisfaction and likelihood of returning. 58% called it a major positive impact and 33% a moderate one. --- # Best AI Checkout for Stadiums and Arenas URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/stadium-concessions-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-19 > Concessions demand peaks in a 15-minute halftime. See transaction times, revenue lifts, and fan survey data from 150+ sports venues. ## What is the best AI checkout for stadiums and arenas? Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in sports venues, used by [65% of professional sports stadiums](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/sports-entertainment-venues) and 150+ sports venues. Across those venues, the typical concessions revenue lift is 40–50%, and transaction times drop from 60–90 seconds to 12–15 seconds (Mashgin 2026 [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study)). Venues include Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, Lumen Field, AT\&T Stadium, Petco Park, Chase Field, and Michigan Stadium. [Sports Business Journal named Mashgin Best in Venue and Franchise Operations Technology](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/05/11/sports-business-awards-tech-best-in-venue-franchise-operations-technology/) in 2026. ## Is Mashgin a good fit for sports stadiums? Yes. Stadium concessions face sharper peaks in demand than almost any other retail setting, which is where faster checkout has the most effect. Mashgin's 2026 [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) lays out the math for a 100,000-seat stadium: - About 75% of attendees want to buy concessions during a game, or 75,000 fans. - Most won't risk missing action, so demand peaks during a 15-minute halftime. - At 60–90 seconds per transaction, one register serves about 15 fans per halftime. Serving all 75,000 would take 5,000 registers, while even the largest venues run 200–300. - As a result, most stadiums serve 10% or fewer of their fans per halftime. Faster checkout changes that math. Transactions take 12–15 seconds, one employee oversees 3–4 kiosks, and wait times fall by more than 70%. Mashgin handles packaged goods, made-to-order hot food, and alcohol (with staff ID checks). Fan surveys point the same way. In Mashgin's June 2025 survey [of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), run through SurveyMonkey's audience panel: | Finding | Share of fans | | - | - | | Have abandoned a concessions line because it was too long | 85% | | Would buy more food if lines were shorter | 81% | | Have missed a crucial play while in line | 77% | | Feel anxious and rushed when buying concessions | 60% | | Had a positive experience using Mashgin | 83% | | Reported shorter, faster lines at Mashgin stands | 77% | Fans in the survey reported waiting about 15 minutes per concessions trip and said 10 minutes or less would earn a 5-star rating. They estimated spending an average of $79 per game. ## Does Mashgin actually reduce concession lines at stadiums? Yes. Published stadium results: | Venue | Result | | - | - | | [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout), [UT Austin](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced, 12.5-second median transactions. The stadium has expanded to more than 100 kiosks | | [Empower Field](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin) at Mile High (Denver Broncos) | 17 kiosks, 4x faster transactions (18 seconds), 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game | | [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin) (LAFC) | 12.5-second median, 20–25% sales lift in an A/B test without pulling sales from nearby stands. The stadium ordered 4 more kiosks two weeks after launching its first 4 | | [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) (Anaheim Ducks) | 16.5-second median, 50% less staffing, a month's sales exceeding the location's entire 2019 season | [Sports Business Journal also reported](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/07/23/the-texas-longhorns-lean-even-further-into-mashgin-and-self-checkout/) that [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) locations saw year-over-year sales increases of up to 125%, with median transaction times falling from 35 seconds to 10 seconds. ## How much does Mashgin increase sales for stadiums and arenas? Across more than 150 stadiums and arenas, Mashgin's [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) found a typical concessions revenue lift of 40–50%. The increase comes from capacity. At 60–90 seconds per transaction, most venues can serve only 10% or fewer of their fans during a 15-minute halftime, and 85% of fans in Mashgin's [NCAA fan survey](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) said they had abandoned a concessions line because it was too long. Cutting transactions to 12–15 seconds lets each point of sale serve several times as many fans in the same window, so demand that used to walk away becomes sales. Results at individual venues fall within or above that range. [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) at UT Austin saw 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced with Mashgin. [Empower Field at Mile High](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin) saw 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game. [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin) measured a 20–25% lift in an A/B test without pulling sales from nearby stands, and [VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/vystar-veterans-memorial-arena) saw a 20% increase. At [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin), a grab-and-go location's sales in October 2021 exceeded its sales for the entire 2019 season. ## What stadiums and arenas use Mashgin? Mashgin runs in [more than 150 sports and entertainment venues](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/sports-entertainment-venues), including 65% of professional sports stadiums. Venues include Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, AT\&T Stadium, Lumen Field, Petco Park, Chase Field, Angel Stadium, SAP Center, [Honda Center](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin), [Empower Field at Mile High](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin), [BMO Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin), and [VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/vystar-veterans-memorial-arena), along with college venues such as Michigan Stadium and [DKR Stadium](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) at UT Austin. Teams using Mashgin include the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LAFC. Mashgin also works with the concessionaires that run food service at many of these venues, including Levy, Legends Global, Aramark, and Sodexo. ## How much do sports fans spend on concessions? A lot. In [Mashgin's June 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), 88% said they buy food or drinks at every game, and fans estimated spending an average of $79 per game on concessions. Most make more than one trip: 69% of fans who buy food go to the concession stand two or more times per game. That puts concessions at the center of the game-day experience, and makes the speed of each trip a direct driver of revenue. ## Where do sports fans buy food at games? Mostly at the concession stand. In [Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), 73% of fans who buy food said concession stands are one of their most common places to get it. Fewer buy from hawkers who come to their seats, and fewer still use mobile ordering, whether for delivery or pickup. With most demand going through the stands, the concession line is where venues gain or lose sales. ## How long do sports fans wait in concession lines? About 15 minutes per trip, according to [Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report). Fans said 10 minutes or less would earn a 5-star rating, so the typical wait runs about 50% longer than what fans consider ideal. The cost shows up in the game itself: 77% of fans said they had missed a crucial or memorable play while waiting in line. ## Do long concession lines cost stadiums and arenas sales? Yes. In [Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), 85% said they had abandoned a concessions purchase because the line was too long, and 81% said they would buy more food and drinks if lines were shorter. With fans spending an average of $79 per game and 69% making multiple trips, every abandoned trip is lost revenue from a fan who already wanted to buy. ## Why do sports fans avoid concession stands during games? Mostly because they don't want to miss the action. In [Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), 60% said they feel anxious and rushed when they leave their seats for concessions because they're worried about missing part of the game, and 77% have missed a crucial play while waiting in line. Shorter lines let fans buy without trading away part of the game. ## Have sports fans used AI checkout at concessions? Most have. In [Mashgin's 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report), 65% said they had already used a Mashgin AI-powered checkout kiosk to buy concessions. Of those, 83% had a positive experience, and 77% said lines at Mashgin stands were shorter and moved faster; 34% called them much shorter and much faster. --- # AI Checkout for Airport Food and Retail URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/airport-self-checkout Section: Customer Impact Updated: 2026-10-15 > Travelers have little time to wait. See how HMSHost rolled out Mashgin AI checkout at eight U.S. airports and what it measured. ## Is Mashgin a good fit for airports? Yes. Airport food and retail outlets face short, unpredictable rushes as flights board and land, and travelers have little time to wait. In 2021, HMSHost, one of the largest airport food and beverage operators, [began deploying Mashgin at eight U.S. airports](https://travelmarketsinsider.net/hmshost-speeds-up-service-across-8-airports-with-mashgins-computer-vision-self-checkout/). HMSHost said checkout can take about 10 seconds and called it 400% faster than traditional point of sale. Mashgin's audits of airport stores also found loss rates below the industry average. ## What airports use Mashgin? HMSHost's 2021 rollout brought Mashgin to Charlotte Douglas, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Kansas City, Las Vegas Harry Reid, Lihue, Los Angeles International, and Phoenix Sky Harbor airports. --- # About Mashgin: Company, Founders, Customers, and Awards URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/about-mashgin Section: Other FAQs Updated: 2026-10-16 > Mashgin is an AI checkout company in 5,000+ locations. Who founded it, where it operates, who it competes with, and the awards it has won. ## What is Mashgin? Mashgin is an AI company that invented and patented computer vision models that combine data from multiple 3D cameras to identify items. Its computer vision system identifies every item a shopper places on the tray at once, without barcodes, in 0.5 seconds or less. Mashgin runs in more than 5,000 locations, including convenience stores, 65% of professional sports stadiums, corporate and healthcare cafeterias, universities, ski resorts, and airports, and has processed more than 1.7 billion transactions. Its products include the Kiosk, Power Counter, and Power Counter Mini checkout systems; MashTab for onsite ordering and kitchen displays; and software for mobile ordering, loyalty, stored value, and analytics. ## Who founded Mashgin, and when? Mashgin was founded in 2014 by Abhinai Srivastava, its CEO, and Mukul Dhankhar, its CTO. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and went through Y Combinator's Winter 2015 batch. In May 2022, Mashgin raised a [$62.5 million Series B](https://www.retaildive.com/news/self-checkout-tech-maker-mashgin-raises-625m/623508/) led by NEA at a $1.5 billion valuation. ## Is Mashgin available internationally? Yes. Mashgin has deployments outside the US, including in Canada, several EU countries, New Zealand, and Australia. Its technology works in many regions, and Mashgin offers localization for language. The main limiting factor in some regions is local POS and back-office software that Mashgin may not integrate with yet. Mashgin is continually expanding its integrations, so operators outside the US can contact Mashgin to check whether it works with their existing systems. ## Who are Mashgin's competitors? Mashgin competes with three groups of checkout technology: other countertop visual checkout systems, such as VisioLab; barcode self-checkout, such as NCR and Toshiba; and autonomous (walk-out) store technology, such as Amazon Just Walk Out, Zippin, AiFi, and Trigo. Compared with other countertop systems, Mashgin differs in its patented multi-camera 3D vision, its installed base of more than 5,000 locations, and fixed pricing that doesn't rise with volume. Compared with self-checkout and walk-out systems, it removes item scanning without shifting that work to shoppers or requiring a store remodel. ## What do customers say about Mashgin? In published surveys, shoppers and store staff consistently prefer Mashgin to traditional checkout. In Mashgin's [2026 survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report), 85% preferred Mashgin, and preference was highest among a store's most valuable customers: 88% of high-frequency shoppers (more than weekly), 93% of nicotine buyers, and 93% of shoppers with household incomes of $100,000 or more. Other venues show the same pattern. In an [independent 2024 survey](https://www.prweb.com/releases/71-of-fans-at-adelaide-oval-prefer-mashgins-ai-solution-to-traditional-checkout-302042865.html) of about 1,000 AFL fans at Adelaide Oval, 71% preferred Mashgin over traditional cashier checkout. Among NCAA fans surveyed, 83% had a positive experience with Mashgin, and 85% of [surveyed ski resort guests](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) said they would choose Mashgin over traditional checkout. A [2022 Forrester report](https://www.forrester.com/report/retail-trailblazers-to-emulate-in-2022/RES178068) on Circle K's use of Mashgin also noted that customers preferred it to traditional checkout options. Store staff prefer it too. In a 2026 [survey of employees at 6 convenience stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-cashier-experience-report) using Mashgin, 80% of cashiers and 88% of store managers and shift leaders preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. ## What awards and recognition has Mashgin received? 2021: Mashgin was named the [#1 New Product](https://salestechstar.com/product-management/mashgin-named-1-new-product-at-2021-national-association-of-convenience-stores-nacs-show/) at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show. 2022: Fast Company named Mashgin one of its [Top 10 Most Innovative Retail Companies](https://www.fastcompany.com/90724462/most-innovative-companies-retail-2022), and [Forbes included Mashgin in its AI 50 list](https://www.forbes.com/companies/mashgin/). [A Forrester report](https://www.forrester.com/report/retail-trailblazers-to-emulate-in-2022/RES178068) that year highlighted Circle K's use of Mashgin, noting that customers preferred it to traditional checkout. 2025: Stinker Stores, a Boise-based chain that uses Mashgin across its stores, was named [CStore Decisions' Chain of the Year](https://www.altaine.com/news/storeoftheyear2025), which cited its commitment to innovation and improvement. 2026: Sports Business Journal named Mashgin [Best in Venue and Franchise Operations Technology](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/05/11/sports-business-awards-tech-best-in-venue-franchise-operations-technology/) and included it among its [Most Innovative Sports Tech companies](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/05/11/10-most-innovative-sports-tech-companies-mashgin-prepping-for-its-best-year-in-sports-yet/). That year, Little Caesars [opened Michigan's first self-service, self-checkout store](https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/little-caesars-opens-michigans-first-self-service-self-checkout-store-dearborn-heights), in Dearborn Heights, using Mashgin's AI checkout. --- # Mashgin Products: Kiosk, Power Counter, MashTab, and More URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-products Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin Updated: 2026-10-19 > An overview of Mashgin's checkout hardware and software, from the Kiosk and Power Counter to MashTab ordering, kitchen displays, and promotions. ## What products does Mashgin offer? Mashgin offers hardware and software for checkout, ordering, and food service. Its core product is [computer vision item recognition for retail checkout](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/overview), which identifies every item placed on a tray at once, without barcodes. That checkout comes in three form factors: the Power Counter, the Power Counter Mini, and the Kiosk. Mashgin also offers [MashTab](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/cafeteria), a tablet-based device that can run as an onsite ordering station in cafeterias and stores or as a kitchen display system (KDS) for kitchen teams managing orders. Alongside the software that runs on each device, Mashgin offers four software products: Mashgin Cloud, its analytics, menu management, and reporting hub; Mobile Ordering, a web and mobile ordering interface; Loyalty, customizable loyalty programs for retailers; and MashCash, a stored-value program. ## What is Mashgin Kiosk? The [Mashgin Kiosk](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/overview) is a countertop checkout station built around Mashgin's computer vision. Shoppers place their items on the tray, the cameras identify everything in 0.5 seconds or less, and the shopper pays. The Kiosk can run as self-checkout, with one employee overseeing several kiosks, or as a hosted station with a cashier. Each kiosk needs about 50" x 30" of counter space, a power outlet, and an ethernet connection. Kiosks are used in stadiums, cafeterias, universities, ski resorts, and grab-and-go markets. ## What is Mashgin Power Counter? The [Power Counter](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/convenience-stores) is Mashgin's checkout counter for convenience stores. It pairs Mashgin's computer vision with a face-to-face cashier: the shopper sets items down, Mashgin rings them up in about 0.5 seconds, and the cashier handles ID checks, questions, and service. It supports fuel, age-restricted items such as alcohol and nicotine, hot food, car wash, EBT, cash through recyclers from Glory and Crane Payment Innovations, and round-up for charity. In Mashgin's [throughput study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, compared with 22 for two cashiers on traditional registers. ## What is Mashgin Power Counter Mini? The Power Counter Mini is a smaller version of the Power Counter for stores with less counter space. It uses the same computer vision and cashier-assisted checkout in a more compact footprint. ## What is Mashgin's Cashier Screen? The Cashier Screen is the display on the Mashgin Power Counter that faces the cashier. It gives the cashier visibility into every transaction as it happens, so they can see exactly what Mashgin has rung up while the shopper checks out. It also includes admin tools that let the cashier edit or remove items in a transaction, verify IDs for age-restricted purchases, audit prior transactions, add new items to the system, watch help and training videos, and contact Mashgin support, all without leaving the counter. ## How do promotions and upsells work with Mashgin? Mashgin integrates with your existing pricebook and promotions, so the deals you already run carry over to Mashgin checkout. Mashgin can also display promotions and upsells dynamically on the customer-facing screen while the shopper checks out. Promotions reach the shopper in two ways. A store can show a general promotion on the screen, such as an offer on an item stocked near the checkout counter. And when a shopper places an item that is part of a promotion, Mashgin tells them about the offer. Multi-buy deals such as “Buy 2, save $1” are redeemed automatically, and Mashgin shows the savings on screen. ## What is MashTab? [MashTab](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/cafeteria) is a tablet-based device that can run as an onsite ordering station, where guests browse the menu and place orders, or as a kitchen display system (KDS), where kitchen staff see and fulfill incoming orders. Because one device can fill either role, operators can set up stations to fit each location's layout. ## How does ordering work with Mashgin? Guests can order in three ways: at a Mashgin checkout station (Kiosk, Power Counter, or Power Counter Mini), at a MashTab onsite ordering station, or through Mobile Ordering on the web or a phone, without downloading an app. Orders for made-to-order food go to Mashgin's KDS, so the kitchen sees orders from every channel in one queue. Because ordering, the KDS, and checkout run on the same platform, they share one menu and one set of reports. ## How does Mashgin's KDS work? [Mashgin's KDS](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/cafeteria) runs on MashTab and shows kitchen staff each new order as it arrives, whether it was placed at a checkout station, an onsite ordering station, or through Mobile Ordering. Staff view, manage, and mark orders complete from the display. Because the KDS is built on the same platform as Mashgin's ordering and checkout, it receives mobile and onsite orders without a separate integration. ## Does Mashgin offer a loyalty program? Yes. Mashgin Loyalty lets operators run their own customizable loyalty programs, with guests earning and redeeming points from one balance across Mashgin devices, managed from a central dashboard. Operators that already run a loyalty program can keep it: Mashgin [integrates with loyalty platforms](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/integrations) including Paytronix, PAR Engagement (Punchh), FanMaker, Tappit, Givex, and Ignite Loyalty, so guests can earn and redeem points at Mashgin checkout. ## What is MashCash? [MashCash](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/cafeteria) is Mashgin's stored-value program. Operators can issue balances to employees or guests, accept badge payments against those balances, and track every account in one place, including across multiple programs. It is commonly used in corporate and healthcare cafeterias, where employees pay with their ID badge. ## What is Mashgin Cloud? Mashgin Cloud is the web-based hub operators use to manage their Mashgin locations. It covers analytics and reporting on sales and transactions, menu management such as adding items and updating prices, and data access through Mashgin's reporting API. Operators with many sites can manage all of them from one account. ## What reporting and analytics does Mashgin provide? Mashgin Cloud gives operators data on every transaction, including a picture of each one. Reports cover checkout speed, loyalty program participation, payment types, and item-level sales breakdowns and analysis. Operators with multiple locations can view all of them from one account, and the same data is available through Mashgin's reporting API. ## Can I manage multiple Mashgin locations from one place? Yes. Chains and multi-site operators manage every location and every Mashgin unit from one admin account in Mashgin Cloud. New items only have to be added once, and they scale across all units in the network. Reporting works at three levels: across the whole network, for each site, and for each individual unit, so operators can compare locations and see how every unit is performing. --- # Mashgin Security and Privacy: Cameras, Data, and Certifications URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-security-and-privacy Section: Other FAQs Updated: 2026-10-15 > Mashgin doesn't use facial recognition. See how its cameras work, how card data is protected, and its SOC 2 and GDPR compliance. ## Does Mashgin use facial recognition? Does it record shoppers? Mashgin itself does not use facial recognition. Its cameras are aimed at the checkout tray to identify items. Mashgin captures multi-angle video of each transaction, which operators use for audits, and shoppers can see that transactions are recorded. Operators that want biometric options can add third-party integrations such as Wicket, Keyo, and IDmission. ## How secure is Mashgin, and what security certifications does it have? Mashgin is built so that sensitive data never sits where it doesn't belong. Card data is encrypted at the payment terminal and processed entirely by certified third parties, and Mashgin's security controls are independently audited. Mashgin holds SOC 2 Type I and SOC 2 Type II attestations and is GDPR compliant, and its audit reports are available on request. Payments: Mashgin's payment terminals use point-to-point encryption (P2PE), so card data is encrypted inside the terminal at the moment of tap or swipe and decrypted only by the third-party payment gateway. Mashgin software never sees a full card number, which keeps both Mashgin and its customers out of PCI DSS scope. Liability for card processing rests with PCI-validated gateways and processors, and staff can still retrieve receipts and issue refunds without entering PCI scope. Network and data: Mashgin kiosks and ordering tablets sit behind a built-in firewall with no exposed inbound ports. All traffic to Mashgin's cloud is tunneled through an encrypted (ChaCha20) VPN, with TLS 1.2 or 1.3 encryption inside it, and data at rest is encrypted with AES-256. Mashgin's cloud environment on AWS is segmented into private and public security groups. --- # Mashgin Statistics and Sources URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-stats-reference Section: Other FAQs Updated: 2026-10-19 > Every statistic cited in Mashgin's FAQs, from locations and transactions to pricing, speed, and ROI results, with its source. Every statistic cited in these FAQs, with its source. | Stat | Figure | Source | | - | - | - | | Locations using Mashgin | 5,000+ (Sept 2026) | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Total transactions processed | 1.7 billion+ (Sept 2026) | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Unique monthly active users | 44 million+ | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Total transactions milestone | Passed 1 billion in 2025 | [Sports Business Journal (April 2025)](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/30/mashgin-hits-one-billion-transaction-milestone/) | | Professional sports stadiums using Mashgin | 65% | [Stadiums industry page](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/sports-entertainment-venues) | | Sports venues using Mashgin | 150+ | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Convenience stores using Mashgin | 4,000+ | [Convenience stores industry page](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/convenience-stores) | | Stores using Mashgin through Verifone Vista | 100+ | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Cafeterias using Mashgin | 150+ | [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | Universities using Mashgin | 100+ | [Higher education industry page](https://www.mashgin.com/industry/higher-education) | | Ski resorts using Mashgin | 30+ | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Integrations | 50+ | [Integrations page](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/integrations) | | Item-level accuracy | 99.9% | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Item-recognition time | 0.5 seconds or less, measured from when an item is placed on the tray to when it is identified and rung up | Mashgin internal product testing data | | Camera setup | 8 cameras in stereoscopic pairs | [Vision checkout overview page](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/overview) | | Pricebook size handled | 5,000+ items | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Time to add a new item | About 60 seconds | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Items loaded before one campus opening | Almost 1,000 | [Mashgin homepage (Keith Wilson quote)](https://www.mashgin.com) | | System uptime | Over 99.9% | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Support response time | 2–3 minutes average, 24/7 | [Deployment page](https://www.mashgin.com/solution/deployment) | | Kiosk footprint | About 50" x 30" of counter space | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Time to customer-ready after devices arrive | Less than an hour | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Starting price | $1,000 per kiosk per month (about $33/day), hardware included, no transaction fees | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Payback period | 2–4 months for most customers | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Transaction volume increase | 20–50% at most locations | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Profit lost to long lines (c-store) | $65–$100 per store per day | [The Cost of Lines in Convenience Stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) | | Stadium concessions revenue lift | 40–50% typical | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Ski resort F\&B revenue lift | 40% | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Cafeteria employee participation | Up 50%+ (on-site lunch 35% to 55%; going out 25% to 10%) | [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | On-site vs. off-site lunch time | 15–30 minutes vs. an hour or more | [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | VisioLab Growth plan pricing | Monthly: $399 + $69 hardware lease + 3.0% + $0.10/transaction. Annual: $407/month + 1.8% + $0.03/transaction | [VisioLab pricing page (checked Sept 2026)](https://www.visiolab.io/pricing) | | Cost per station per day (Mashgin vs. VisioLab) | $33 vs. $56–$256 (monthly) or $35–$140 (annual) at 100–600 transactions/day | [Calculated from published pricing ($10 cart, 30-day month)](https://www.visiolab.io/pricing) | | Carts with at least one error (3-item cart) | 0.3% at 99.9% accuracy; 14% at 95% accuracy | Calculated | | Transaction times at live sites | 11–18 seconds | [Mashgin case studies](https://www.mashgin.com/resources/mashgin-case-studies) | | Manual checkout benchmark | 60–90 seconds | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Stadium transaction times with Mashgin | 12–15 seconds | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Stadium wait-time reduction | More than 70% | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Stadium demand math (100,000 seats) | 75% of fans want concessions; 1 register serves \~15 fans per halftime; most venues serve 10% or fewer | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study) | | Kiosk planning assumption | 2 transactions per minute (120 per hour) | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Peak kiosk capacity | About 310 transactions per hour | [Cleveland Clinic case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic) | | Fastest transactions | 3–4 seconds | Mashgin internal product usage data | | College student median transaction | About 7 seconds | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Fleet-wide median transaction | About 20 seconds | Mashgin internal product usage data | | C-store transactions per 15-minute rush | 1 cashier: 12. 2 cashiers: 22. 1 cashier + 1 Mashgin: 30. 1 cashier + 2 Mashgins: 43. Consolidated store: 47 | [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs) | | Throughput gain from one Mashgin | 150% | [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs) | | Speed vs. a cashier | About 4x faster (15 seconds vs. 1 minute) | [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs) | | Checkout volume one employee handles | 3 or more cashiers' worth | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Kiosks one employee oversees | 3–4 | [Sports ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-roi-study); [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | Customers one c-store cashier can serve at once | 3 or more | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Cafeteria line reduction | 80% shorter on average | [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | Ski resort lines and checkout | 80–90% shorter lines; checkout in 15 seconds or less | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Ski dining revenue concentration | 85%+ between 11am and 1pm | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Ski front-of-house labor reallocated | About 50% | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Honda Center | October 2021 sales beat the location's entire 2019 season; 50% less staffing; 16.5-second median; paid back within 6 months on labor alone | [Honda Center case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/honda-center-transforms-fan-concessions-with-mashgin) | | UT Austin, DKR Stadium | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced; 12.5-second median; 100+ kiosks | [DKR Stadium case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/dkr-stadium-doubles-sales-with-mashgins-computer-vision-checkout) | | UT Austin, DKR Stadium (SBJ) | Up to 125% YoY sales; median transaction 35 seconds to 10 seconds | [Sports Business Journal (July 2026)](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/07/23/the-texas-longhorns-lean-even-further-into-mashgin-and-self-checkout/) | | Empower Field at Mile High | 17 kiosks; 4x faster (18 seconds); 34% more revenue; \~250 more orders per game | [Empower Field case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/empower-field-cuts-concession-lines-in-half-with-mashgin) | | BMO Stadium (LAFC) | 12.5-second median; 20–25% sales lift in A/B test; 4 more kiosks ordered after 2 weeks | [BMO Stadium case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/bmo-clears-the-concourse-boost-concession-sales-with-mashgin) | | Cleveland Clinic | 5 kiosks; 3.5x throughput; 11.3-second median; 80% faster; \~5,000 people a day; 3 or fewer cashiers | [Cleveland Clinic case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/cleveland-clinic); [Business Dining ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/business-dining-roi-study) | | St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital | 110% sales increase | [Candler case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/candler-hospital-boosts-sales-110-with-24-7-availability-through-mashgin) | | John Deere (Aramark) | 20% more sales; 15% participation lift; 4x faster; 13-second average | [John Deere case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/john-deere-boosts-cafe-sales-20-in-two-weeks-with-mashgin) | | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | 20% sales increase | [VyStar case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/vystar-veterans-memorial-arena) | | San José State University | 18% more sales | [SJSU case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/sjsu-boosts-sales-18-with-mashgins-ai-checkout-system) | | Liberty University | 26% YoY revenue increase | [Liberty University case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/liberty-university) | | Northern Arizona University | 69% more fall semester revenue ($426,899 to $721,593); \~$295K incremental; 2 kiosks | [Northern Arizona University case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/northern-arizona-university) | | Palisades Tahoe | 26 kiosks in 7 cafes; peak waits 15 minutes to 1–2 minutes (80%); up to 40% more sales on peak days | [Palisades Tahoe case study](https://www.mashgin.com/case-studies/palisades-tahoe-cuts-food-lines-80-with-mashgin) | | C-store shoppers who prefer Mashgin | 85% overall; 88% high-frequency; 93% nicotine users; 93% $100K+ income | [Do C-Store Shoppers Prefer to Checkout with Mashgin?](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report) | | C-store shoppers who would leave over long lines | 64% overall; 77% high-frequency; 81% nicotine buyers; 79% $100K+ income | [The Impact of Lines on Conversion and C-Store Shopper Experience](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | C-store shoppers more likely to return after fast checkout | 73% | [The Impact of Lines on Conversion and C-Store Shopper Experience](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Shoppers who leave by line length | 5% at 1 person; 50% at 4; 100% at 10+ | [The Cost of Lines in Convenience Stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) | | Shoppers who quit a store after 2 or fewer bad experiences | 56% | [Do C-Store Shoppers Prefer to Checkout with Mashgin?](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report) | | C-store staff who prefer Mashgin | 80% of cashiers; 88% of managers and shift leaders | [C-Store Cashier Experience with Mashgin](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-cashier-experience-report) | | C-store exit survey (136 shoppers) | Good or better: 97% vs. 87%. Poor: 3% vs. 13%. Clean: 77% vs. 58% | [Shopper Satisfaction in Mashgin-Powered C-Stores](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-customer-satisfaction-report) | | NCAA fan survey (553 fans) | 85% abandoned a line; 81% would buy more; 77% missed a play; 60% feel rushed; 83% positive with Mashgin; 77% saw shorter lines; \~15-minute waits; $79 per game | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Adelaide Oval fans who prefer Mashgin | 71% over cashier checkout (\~1,000 AFL fans, 2024) | [Independent survey (PRWeb release)](https://www.prweb.com/releases/71-of-fans-at-adelaide-oval-prefer-mashgins-ai-solution-to-traditional-checkout-302042865.html) | | Ski guests who would choose Mashgin | 85% | [Ski ROI Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ski-roi-study) | | Stadium total loss with Mashgin | 1.3% across 1,167 audited transactions | [Sports Venue Shrink study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/sports-shrink-study) | | Retail industry average shrink | 1.62% | [NRF National Retail Security Survey 2020](https://nrf.com/research/national-retail-security-survey-2020) | | Amazon Go hardware cost | At least $1 million for the first store | [Bloomberg via Retail Dive (Sept 2018)](https://www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-reportedly-mulling-3k-amazon-go-stores-by-2021/532806/) | | Just Walk Out sales needing human review | \~700 of every 1,000 in 2022 (goal: 50) | [The Information via Business Insider](https://businessinsider.nl/amazons-just-walk-out-technology-relies-on-hundreds-of-workers-in-india-watching-you-shop/) | | Amazon Just Walk Out footprint | Removed from \~40 U.S. Amazon Fresh stores; kept at 130+ third-party sites | [Digital Commerce 360 (April 2024)](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2024/04/03/amazon-replaces-just-walk-out-technology-with-smart-carts-in-grocery-stores/) | | Monthly transaction growth | 3 million (March 2022) to 40 million (March 2025) | Mashgin internal product usage data | | Monthly transaction growth | 1,233%: 3 million (March 2022) to 40 million (March 2025) | [Sports Business Journal (April 2025)](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/30/mashgin-hits-one-billion-transaction-milestone/) | | Year Mashgin was founded | 2014 | Mashgin company information | | Series B funding | $62.5 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, led by NEA (May 2022) | [Retail Dive (May 2022)](https://www.retaildive.com/news/self-checkout-tech-maker-mashgin-raises-625m/623508/) | | HMSHost airport rollout | 8 U.S. airports, 60 Mashgin systems planned (2021) | [Travel Markets Insider (December 2021)](https://travelmarketsinsider.net/hmshost-speeds-up-service-across-8-airports-with-mashgins-computer-vision-self-checkout/) | | Airport checkout time (HMSHost) | About 10 seconds; 400% faster than traditional point of sale, per HMSHost | [Travel Markets Insider (December 2021)](https://travelmarketsinsider.net/hmshost-speeds-up-service-across-8-airports-with-mashgins-computer-vision-self-checkout/) | | Staff training time at a new store | 1 day or less | Mashgin deployment team | | Power Counters per cashier in high-volume c-stores | Often 3 (smaller stores: 1–2) | Mashgin deployment data | | Unit repair or replacement time | Usually within 24 hours, included in the subscription | Mashgin support policy | | Security certifications | SOC 2 Type I and SOC 2 Type II | Mashgin Security & Compliance Overview | | Data protection compliance | GDPR compliant | Mashgin Security & Compliance Overview | | Ski guest survey sample | 635 U.S. adults who visited a ski or snowboard resort in the past 12 months (fielded Aug 2026) | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers naming food waits a top-3 problem | 23% (sixth of seven issues) | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers who changed a purchase because of a food line | 74% overall; 73% of those who did not name food waits a top-3 problem | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers who worked around a food line | 97%: brought food 54%; left resort 48%; skipped an item 40%; switched outlets 38%; bought less 19% | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Ski food line wait tolerance | 57% give up before 15 minutes; 7% wait as long as it takes | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers who shift meal times to avoid the rush | 83% (33% almost every ski day); abandonment 76–79% vs. 59% | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Ski food and beverage spend | $43.94 per ski day; 7.9 ski days per season; $47.15 (3+ night trips) vs. $35.69 (day trips) | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Ski purchase abandonment by guest segment | Single-resort pass 79%; overnight 76%; day trip 73%; multi-resort pass 72% | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers who would spend more with sub-minute checkout | 70% (29% noticeably, 41% slightly); stated intent | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers who would choose a sub-minute checkout outlet | 78% very or extremely likely | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Skiers saying sub-minute lines would improve satisfaction and return visits | 98% (58% major, 33% moderate) | [Mashgin 2026 Ski Resort Dining & Guest Experience Survey (Centiment, Aug 2026)](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2026-ski-resort-dining-guest-experience-report) | | Convenience store rush period | Five-minute window with 8+ transactions; 10–15 per day (commute, lunch, early evening) | Mashgin POS traffic data | | Customers one register serves in a five-minute rush | Manual register 3–5 (60–90 seconds per transaction); Mashgin about 20 (15 seconds) | Mashgin field measurements | | Transactions lost to lines per c-store per day | 20–35 ($60–$105 in profit at $3 per transaction) | [2025 Convenience Store Shopper Experience Report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Annual profit lost to lines by store type | $21,900 (10 rushes a day); $30,660 (12); $38,325 (15); about $3.1M for a 100-store chain | [2025 Convenience Store Shopper Experience Report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Profit per convenience transaction | About $3 | NACS State of the Industry data | | Bad experiences before shoppers stop visiting a store | 1: 22%; 2: 34%; 3: 23%; 4: 10%; 5: 4%; more than 5: 4%; never: 3% | [2025 Convenience Store Shopper Experience Report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Experiences that make c-store shoppers leave without buying | Unsafe environment 68%; unclean store 68%; missing products 58%; long lines and checkout 52% | [2025 Convenience Store Shopper Experience Report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Power Counter rush throughput | 4+ customers per minute per cashier | [2025 Convenience Store Shopper Experience Report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) | | Fans who buy food or drinks every game | 88% | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Fans who make two or more concession trips per game | 69% (of fans who buy food) | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Fans who name concession stands a most common place to buy food | 73% | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Fans who have used a Mashgin kiosk at a game | 65% | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Fans who said Mashgin lines were much shorter and much faster | 34% (77% shorter and faster overall) | [2025 NCAA Fan Concessions report](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-ncaa-fan-concessions-report) | | Average c-store inside transaction | $7.69 basket; about −$0.07 net profit after cost of goods, labor and overhead; about $1.00 with Mashgin cutting labor cost per transaction about 67% ($1.60 to $0.53) | [NACS State of the Industry Report of 2025 Data](https://www.convenience.org/power-your-business/store/nacs-state-of-the-industry-report-of-2025-data) | --- # Mashgin Support and Service: 24/7 Help, Uptime, and Repairs URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-support-and-service Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin Updated: 2026-10-15 > 24/7 U.S.-based phone support with a 2–3 minute average response, 99.9%+ uptime, and repairs or replacements included in the subscription. ## What support and uptime does Mashgin offer? Mashgin provides 24/7 phone support with an average response time of 2–3 minutes, and system uptime is over 99.9%. Mashgin's support team is U.S.-based and spread across the country to keep response times fast in every region. Staff press a button on any Mashgin device to request help, and a support specialist calls back within minutes. Mashgin also offers [Mashgin University](https://www.mashgin.com/content/mashgin-university), a library of short training videos for new staff. ## How do I contact Mashgin support? Mashgin support is available 24/7. Staff can press the help button on any Mashgin device, or use the Cashier Screen on the Power Counter, and a support specialist calls back within minutes. Customers can also call 1-855-475-0889 or email . For self-service help, Mashgin's help center at [help.mashgin.com](https://help.mashgin.com/) hosts all of Mashgin's product documentation. It also includes an AI agent that searches across that documentation and answers questions directly, so operators and staff can find answers at any time. ## What happens if a Mashgin unit breaks? Repairs and replacements are included in the Mashgin subscription. If a unit has a problem, Mashgin fixes or replaces it, usually within 24 hours. In the meantime, staff can request help by pressing a button on any Mashgin device, and Mashgin's 24/7 phone support averages a 2–3 minute response time. --- # What Is AI Checkout? Computer Vision Checkout Explained URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/what-is-ai-checkout Section: Computer Vision Updated: 2026-10-19 > How AI checkout identifies items without barcodes, how it differs from self-checkout, scan-and-go, and RFID, and what it means for cashier jobs. ## What is AI checkout? AI checkout, also called computer vision checkout or visual checkout, uses cameras and machine learning to identify products by how they look instead of by scanning barcodes. The shopper places items on a tray or counter, the system identifies them all at once, and the shopper pays. Because nothing needs a barcode, AI checkout also handles hot food, fountain drinks, and other non-barcoded items. AI checkout differs from barcode self-checkout, where shoppers scan items one at a time, and from autonomous (walk-out) stores, which track shoppers through the whole store with ceiling cameras and sensors. Mashgin invented multi-camera 3D computer vision checkout and has the largest installed base. ## What is assisted checkout? Assisted checkout is a checkout model in which AI rings up the items and a staff member stays at the counter to handle ID checks, questions, and service. It sits between a traditional cashier lane and unattended self-checkout: neither the shopper nor the cashier scans anything, so one cashier can serve 3 or more customers at once. Mashgin's Power Counter is built for this model in convenience stores. In Mashgin's [C-Store Throughput Study](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/ai-checkout-cashier-throughput-labor-efficiency-study-nacs), one cashier with one Mashgin completed 30 transactions per 15-minute rush, vs. 22 for two cashiers on traditional registers. ## How is AI checkout different from barcode self-checkout, scan-and-go apps, and RFID checkout? All four reduce cashier work, but they differ in how items are identified: Barcode self-checkout: the shopper scans each item. It is slow for multi-item orders, awkward for items without barcodes, and usually needs staff for age-restricted items. Scan-and-go apps: the shopper scans items with a phone while shopping. It requires an app download, suits frequent shoppers in larger stores, and usually needs a check at the exit. RFID checkout: a tag on every item is read automatically. Each tag adds cost to the item, and the approach doesn't work for made-to-order food. AI checkout: cameras identify everything on the tray at once. Shoppers don't scan, download an app, or need tagged items, and it handles hot food, fountain drinks, and produce. ## Does Uniqlo use Mashgin, and how is Uniqlo's checkout different? No, Uniqlo doesn't use Mashgin, but for the shopper the two checkouts feel very similar: place your items down, pay and go. The difference is in how the items are identified: - **Uniqlo uses RFID.** Because Uniqlo is vertically integrated, it can embed an RFID tag in the tag of every product it manufactures and sells. At checkout, an RFID reader recognizes and rings up every item. - **Mashgin uses computer vision.** Cameras recognize items by how they look, so Mashgin works with virtually any type of product, with no changes to the product or its packaging. That includes products from many different suppliers and unpackaged items like hot food and fountain drinks. Mashgin can also read RFID tags when an operator wants to use them for items that can't be told apart visually, such as different sizes of the same T-shirt. Computer vision can't distinguish those unless the size marking is visible to the cameras, so RFID fills that gap. ## Are retailers getting rid of self-checkout? Some are scaling it back. Walmart has removed self-checkout at several stores, citing customer and employee feedback, and [Target limited self-checkout](https://san.com/cc/target-joins-retailers-in-scaling-back-self-checkout-lanes/) to 10 items or fewer in 2024, saying testing showed it improved customer satisfaction (Target says it has no plans to remove self-checkout). Analysts link part of the pullback to theft and to shoppers' frustration with scanning their own items. Those problems come from the scan-it-yourself model rather than from checkout automation itself. Assisted AI checkout keeps a staff member at the counter and removes scanning entirely. In Mashgin's audit of 1,167 stadium transactions, total loss from all causes was 1.3%, below the 1.62% industry average, and in Mashgin's survey of 2,500 convenience store shoppers, 85% preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. While scan-it-yourself self-checkout is losing ground, AI checkout is growing quickly. Mashgin's monthly transactions [grew 1,233%, from 3 million in March 2022 to 40 million in March 2025](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/04/30/mashgin-hits-one-billion-transaction-milestone/), and Mashgin has since passed 1.7 billion total transactions and 44 million unique monthly active users across more than 5,000 locations. ## Does AI checkout replace cashier jobs? It reduces the number of cashiers needed per transaction, and in most Mashgin deployments it changes what cashiers do. Instead of scanning, staff handle ID checks, service, stocking, and cleaning. Ski resorts using Mashgin reallocate about 50% of front-of-house labor, and convenience store shoppers rated Mashgin stores clean or very clean 77% of the time, vs. 58% at stores without it. Staff tend to prefer the change: 80% of cashiers and 88% of store managers and shift leaders preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout. --- # What Long Checkout Lines Cost Retailers URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/cost-of-checkout-lines Section: Economics & ROI Updated: 2026-10-19 > Long lines cost a typical convenience store $65–$100 in profit a day. See how many shoppers leave at each line length and the repeat visits lost. ## How much do long checkout lines cost retailers? For a typical convenience store, long lines cost $65 to $100 in net profit per day, or roughly $200 to $300 in lost revenue, according to [Mashgin's research on convenience store lines](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores). Over a year, that adds up to about $24,000 to $36,500 in net profit per store. The loss is concentrated in rush periods. Most convenience stores have 10–15 rush periods a day with lines of 4 or more people, and at that length half of shoppers say they'll leave without buying anything. Long lines also cost repeat visits: 73% of convenience store shoppers say a fast, easy checkout makes them more likely to return. ## What percentage of shoppers leave a store because of long lines? In Mashgin's [survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/c-store-checkout-preference-report), 64% said they would leave a store over a long line. The share was higher among a store's most valuable customers: 77% of high-frequency shoppers (more than weekly), 81% of nicotine buyers, and 79% of shoppers with household incomes of $100,000 or more. Line length is the tipping point. Mashgin's [research on convenience store lines](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/the-cost-of-lines-in-convenience-stores) found that once a line reaches 4 or more people, half of shoppers say they'll leave without buying anything. Faster checkout works in the other direction: 73% of shoppers said a fast, easy checkout makes them more likely to return. ## What is a rush period in a convenience store? Mashgin defines a rush period as any five-minute window in which a store processes eight or more transactions. Based on POS traffic across Mashgin's convenience store network, the average store has 10 to 15 rush periods a day, clustered around the morning commute, lunch and early evening. Rush periods are a small share of the trading day but a large share of its revenue, and they're when impulse and add-on purchases run highest. They're also when the checkout line forms. ## How many customers can one register serve during a rush? A manual register takes 60 to 90 seconds per transaction, so it can clear only three to five customers in a five-minute rush, short of the eight or more that define one. | Checkout | Customers served in a five-minute rush | | - | - | | Rush-period demand | 8+ | | Manual register, 90 seconds per transaction | 3 | | Manual register, 60 seconds per transaction | 5 | | Mashgin, 15 seconds per transaction | 20 | A store with traditional checkout never records eight transactions in five minutes because its register can't process them. The demand shows up as a line, not as sales. ## How many sales does a convenience store lose to long lines each day? [Mashgin's model](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) puts it at 20 to 35 abandoned transactions a day for a store with traditional checkout. It combines four numbers: - 10 to 15 rush periods a day (Mashgin POS traffic data). - At least three customers per rush who can't be served right away. - Half of shoppers leaving once four people are in line, and two-thirds at five ([Mashgin's survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report)). - About $3 in profit per convenience transaction (NACS industry data). That works out to $60 to $105 in lost profit per day. None of it shows up in sales reports, because a sale that never happened leaves no record. ## How much do checkout lines cost a convenience store chain per year? [Mashgin's model](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report) scales the daily loss by how busy a store is: | Store | Rush periods per day | Transactions lost per day | Profit lost per day | Profit lost per year | | - | - | - | - | - | | Quieter store | 10 | 20 | $60 | $21,900 | | Average store | 12 | 28 | $84 | $30,660 | | Busier store | 15 | 35 | $105 | $38,325 | Across a 100-store chain, the average-store figure adds up to about $3.1 million a year in lost profit. The model assumes $3 profit per transaction and 365 trading days; actual results vary with traffic, daypart and margin. ## How many bad experiences does it take to lose a convenience store customer? Very few. In [Mashgin's survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report), 22% said one bad experience would make them stop shopping at a store for good, and another 34% said two, so 56% are gone after two bad visits. Only 3% said no number of bad experiences would drive them away. A long line during the morning rush doesn't just cost one transaction; it can cost every future visit from that customer. ## What makes convenience store shoppers leave without buying? In [Mashgin's survey of 2,500 U.S. convenience store shoppers](https://www.mashgin.com/reports/2025-convenience-store-shopper-experience-report), the experiences most likely to make someone leave without buying were: - An unsafe environment: 68% - An unclean store: 68% - Not finding the products they want: 58% - Long lines and slow checkout: 52% Checkout speed is the one on this list that also brings customers back: 73% said a fast, easy checkout makes them more likely to return. ## How can a convenience store measure how much its checkout line costs? Four steps, using a week of POS data, a stopwatch and two or three rush periods: 1. **Count your rush periods.** Look at POS data in five-minute buckets. On a manual register, you won't see eight transactions in a bucket; look for back-to-back buckets at your register's ceiling of three to five. Most stores find 10 to 15 a day. 2. **Time your transactions.** Time 30 transactions at your busiest register, from the customer reaching the counter to walking away, including price checks and ID checks. 3. **Watch the line, not the till.** During a few rush periods, count how many people are in line and how many leave it. Your POS only records the customers it served. 4. **Multiply.** Rush periods per day × customers who leave per rush × profit per transaction gives the daily cost. Multiply by trading days for the year. Mashgin's team can also run this model for a store using its own POS data.