# Mashgin FAQ Hub — full corpus

19 answers. Generated 2026-09-20.

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# Self-Checkout for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Age-Restricted Items

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/age-restricted-self-checkout
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> Most self-checkouts block alcohol and nicotine or need an override. See how AI checkout handles age verification with an attendant ID check, step by step.

## Is there a way to do self-checkout for alcohol?

Most traditional self-checkout solutions do not support alcohol purchases. Customers purchasing alcohol will need to wait in a typically longer line for a traditional cashier-based checkout. However, 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:

1. The customer places items on the tray, and Mashgin identifies any age-restricted product.
2. The kiosk lights up red and pauses the transaction.
3. An attendant verifies age by scanning or inspecting the customer's ID.
4. 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: 2026-09-19

> Survey results from convenience stores, campuses, stadiums, and ski resorts on whether shoppers prefer AI checkout, and what queue length costs in 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** | 80% prefer Mashgin over traditional checkout |
| **Mashgin higher education data** | 90% of students prefer Mashgin |
| **Mashgin June 2025 survey, 553 NCAA fans** | 83% had a positive experience with Mashgin |
| **Independent survey by Adelaide Oval (stadium, Australia)** | 71% of Mashgin users preferred it to any other checkout |
| **Mashgin Ski ROI Study, guest survey** | 85% would choose Mashgin over traditional checkout |

## Does Mashgin harm customer experience?

No. Measured customer experience improves. In Mashgin's 2026 exit survey of 136 shoppers across 6 convenience stores:

|   | 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 with the right kind. 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 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, half of shoppers said they would leave without buying when 4 people are waiting in line (see line length data).

---

# Does AI Checkout Increase Theft?

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/ai-checkout-theft-and-shrink
Section: Economics & ROI
Updated: 2026-09-20

> 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, total loss from all causes was 1.3%, below the 1.62% industry average reported by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in 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, airport stores, and university dining 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.

---

# 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: 2026-09-19

> 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 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 speeds up a normal checkout enough to eliminate 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 | No checkout step, but shoppers still tap in at the gate |

**Where autonomous stores run into trouble**

- **High upfront cost.** Bloomberg reported 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 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 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.

---

# 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: 2026-09-19

> Barcode self-checkout makes shoppers scan every item. See how AI checkout compares on speed, hot food, age-restricted sales, and cost per lane.

## 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 and labor efficiency (see Mashgin pricing and ROI).

|   | 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 |

## 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.

AI-based checkout is the biggest change in the category. 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, 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. The real change is happening 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 transaction count grew from 3 million in March 2022 to 40 million in March 2025, and it processed more than 440 million transactions in 2024.

## 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, 80% 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: 2026-09-19

> Published transaction times from live sites, throughput study results by staffing setup, and how to size a deployment by rush minutes instead of hours.

## What is the best technology to increase checkout speed?

Mashgin is the fastest checkout technology in use today. 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 cafeteria** | 11.3 seconds (median) |
| **UT Austin, DKR Stadium** | 12.5 seconds (median) |
| **BMO Stadium (LAFC)** | 12.5 seconds (median) |
| **John Deere cafe** | 13 seconds (average) |
| **Honda Center** | 16.5 seconds (median) |
| **Empower Field 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 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. One cashier can also oversee several kiosks at once, so one person can deliver the checkout throughput of 2–4 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'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 eliminate lines.

---

# Best Self-Checkout System for Convenience Stores

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/convenience-store-self-checkout
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> Used in 3,700+ c-stores with support for fuel, nicotine, EBT, and hot food. See throughput results, shopper preference data, and POS integrations.

Mashgin is the most widely used AI checkout in convenience retail. As of October 2025 it ran in more than 3,700 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, 85% preferred Mashgin over traditional checkout, and the most valuable shoppers liked it even more:

| 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 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 at stores using Mashgin, vs. 87% at stores without it.
- **Store cleanliness:** 77% of shoppers rated Mashgin stores clean or very clean, vs. 58% at stores without Mashgin, because staff had more time to stock and clean.

---

# Best Cashierless Checkout for Corporate and Healthcare Cafeterias

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/corporate-cafeteria-checkout
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> 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 leading AI checkout for corporate and healthcare cafeterias, used in 150+ cafeterias including Ford, Verizon, Mastercard, Cleveland Clinic, Baylor Scott & White, and St. Joseph's/Candler. 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).

| 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 (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 Hospital** | Participation and revenue more than doubled (110% sales increase) |
| **John Deere (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, 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 does Mashgin improve the customer experience?

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/how-does-mashgin-improve-the-customer-experience
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> Mashgin doesn't just speed up checkout — it removes the checkout moment as customers know it entirely.

Mashgin doesn't just speed up checkout — it removes the checkout moment as customers know it entirely. There's no scanning, no barcodes, no waiting for a cashier to ring up each item one by one. Customers simply set their items on the counter, and multiple 3D cameras identify everything in under half a second. What used to be a source of friction and frustration becomes something closer to invisible. The brand calls this "automagic checkout" — the technology disappears, and what's left just feels effortless.

That speed compounds directly into shorter lines. Because Mashgin transactions run as much as 400% faster than a typical cashier, the bottleneck that usually forms during rushes — the ski lodge lunch crowd, the stadium concession line during halftime, the campus dining hall between classes — simply doesn't build up the same way. Customers spend less time waiting and more time actually enjoying wherever they are, which matters most precisely when volume is highest and patience is thinnest.

The result is a checkout experience customers actually notice in a good way, not because it's flashy, but because nothing gets in the way. Fewer lines mean happier customers, and happier customers mean more of them are willing to make a purchase in the first place rather than walking away from a long line. It's a rare case where the operational win (faster throughput, lower labor cost) and the customer experience win move in exactly the same direction — speed isn't just an efficiency metric here, it's the whole experience.

---

# How Mashgin Recognizes Items: Accuracy, Fresh Food, and New Products

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/how-mashgin-recognizes-items
Section: Computer Vision
Updated: 2026-09-19

> 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, as long as the item is in the pricebook and has been trained. 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'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.

## 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 a large library of 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 said the team helped "get almost 1,000 items in the system before we opened."

---

# 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: 2026-09-19

> Compare the top AI and computer vision checkout vendors, the seven questions to ask each one, and how countertop, walk-out, and cart systems differ.

## 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+ monthly shoppers. 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.

| 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, UT Austin, BMO Stadium, and Honda Center |
| **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, Cleveland Clinic, Palisades Tahoe, Honda Center, Empower Field, 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 is the category leader; 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.

For how these compare, see Mashgin vs. Just Walk Out and Mashgin vs. other visual checkout.

## 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, 150+ venues |
| **Ski resorts** | 40% increase in F&B revenue | Mashgin Ski ROI Study, 30+ resorts |
| **Corporate and healthcare cafeterias** | Average employee participation up more than 50% | Mashgin 2026 Business Dining ROI Study, 150+ cafeterias |
| **Arena grab-and-go** | Paid for itself within six months on labor savings alone | Honda Center 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. Its technology passed one billion total transactions in 2025. Mashgin has since passed 1.7 billion transactions and 44 million monthly shoppers 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: 2026-09-19

> 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 including UC Berkeley, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Penn State, George Washington University, and the University of Miami. 90% of students prefer 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 (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** | 26% year-over-year revenue increase |
| **San José State University (Spartan Eats)** | 18% more sales |
| **UT Austin, DKR Stadium** | 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.

---

# Getting Started with Mashgin: Installation, Timeline, and Support

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-implementation-and-support
Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin
Updated: 2026-09-19

> What it takes to go live: site requirements, setup measured in hours, staff training, and 24/7 support with a 2–3 minute average response time.

## 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+ monthly shoppers. It combines multiple 3D cameras to recognize items with 99.9% accuracy in 0.5 seconds or less. To see how it would work in your business,[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 sets up each kiosk on-site and trains your staff.

Site requirements are simple: power outlets, an ethernet network connection, and a countertop footprint of about 50" x 30" per kiosk. Because Mashgin already recognizes common products, you only add items unique to your location, and each new item takes about 60 seconds.

## 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%. Staff press a button on any Mashgin device to request help, and a support specialist calls back within minutes. Mashgin also offers Mashgin University, a library of short training videos for new staff.

---

# Mashgin POS Integrations and Payment Options

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-integrations-and-payments
Section: Getting Started With & Using Mashgin
Updated: 2026-09-19

> 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 |
| **Fuel and retail** | Verifone Vista, PDI, Invenco, Ignite Fuel Controller, Xpedient |
| **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.

---

# Mashgin Pricing and ROI: Cost, Payback, and Savings

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/mashgin-pricing-and-roi
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> 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 kiosks start at $1,000 per month per kiosk, including hardware, with volume discounts based on the total number of kiosks.

## 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

## 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'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 that used to take two to three. In busy periods where you'd normally add register staff, you 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, 6 stores |
| 50% reduction in staff at a grab-and-go location | Honda Center case study |
| About 50% of front-of-house labor reallocated on average | Mashgin Ski ROI Study, 30+ resorts |
| Cleveland Clinic serves about 5,000 people a day with 3 or fewer cashiers | Mashgin 2026 Business Dining ROI Study |
| 1 employee typically oversees 3–4 kiosks | Mashgin Sports and Business Dining ROI Studies |

## How much does Mashgin increase sales?

Most locations see a 20% to 50% increase in transaction volume. Places with extreme lines can more than double sales.

| Customer | Result |
|---|---|
| **Honda Center (arena)** | October 2021 sales at a grab-and-go location exceeded that location's entire 2019 season |
| **UT Austin, DKR Stadium** | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced with Mashgin. The stadium has since expanded to more than 100 kiosks |
| **St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital** | 110% increase in sales |
| **Northern Arizona University** | 69% more fall semester revenue ($426,899 to $721,593, Sept–Dec 2024 vs. 2025) |
| **Palisades Tahoe (ski resort)** | Up to 40% more sales on peak days |
| **Empower Field at Mile High** | 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game |
| **BMO Stadium (LAFC)** | 20–25% sales increase in a stadium A/B test |
| **John Deere cafe (Aramark)** | 20% more sales |
| **VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena** | 20% sales increase |
| **San José State University (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, 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: 2026-09-19

> 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 instead of single flat images. It has the largest deployment base, with 5,000+ locations, 1.7 billion+ transactions, and 44 million+ monthly shoppers. 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 accuracy gaps matter a lot at checkout. Here's the math for an average cart of 3 items:

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 serves more than 44 million shoppers a month 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 |

Most operators deploying visual checkout target at least 200 transactions per machine per day, where VisioLab's per-transaction fees outweigh Mashgin's fixed price on either plan.

---

# How to Reduce Labor Costs and Increase Store Profitability

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/reduce-labor-costs-increase-profit
Section: Economics & ROI
Updated: 2026-09-19

> Cutting staff lengthens lines and drives shoppers away. See when they abandon a queue, and how to raise throughput per employee instead of cutting it.

## 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 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 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).
- **Staffing:** Honda Center 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).
- **Better use of staff time:** Staff move from registers to stocking, cleaning, and food prep. As Jay Smith, 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: 2026-09-19

> 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, and Mashgin is built for that. 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). Resorts using Mashgin include Palisades Tahoe, Vail, Mammoth Mountain, Aspen Snowmass, Big Bear, and Winter Park.

**Palisades Tahoe 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.

---

# Best AI Checkout for Stadiums and Arenas

URL: https://faq.mashgin.com/faq/stadium-concessions-checkout
Section: Customer Impact
Updated: 2026-09-19

> 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, trusted by 65% of professional sports stadiums 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). 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. **\[VERIFY: add the award year.\]**

## Is Mashgin a good fit for sports stadiums?

Yes. Stadium concessions have an extreme peak-demand problem, and Mashgin is built for it. Mashgin's 2026 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.

Mashgin changes that equation. 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).

Fans want this. In Mashgin's June 2025 survey of 553 NCAA fans, 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, UT Austin** | 125% more revenue per point of sale replaced, 12.5-second median transactions. The stadium has expanded to more than 100 kiosks |
| **Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos)** | 17 kiosks, 4x faster transactions (18 seconds), 34% more revenue, about 250 more orders per game |
| **BMO Stadium (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 (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 that DKR Stadium locations saw year-over-year sales increases of up to 125%, with median transaction times falling from 35 seconds to 10 seconds.