At the end of last year, Hungarian family business Kende Gastro launched a cashierless café in Budapest. The founder called the first smart café a success and noted that with AI-based technology, any operating shop can be transformed into a cashierless store.
Gábor Kende told MTI that Kende Gastro Zrt. signed an exclusive partnership agreement in March with U.S. startup AiFi for the rollout of fully automated stores in Hungary. The technology was first developed by Amazon in 2018, and since then, several startups have pursued similar systems. Kende Gastro evaluated many companies before selecting AiFi.
The technology has gained significant popularity recently. For example, QuickPickGo, the first smart supermarket at BudaPart, uses a similar system that allows cashless and cashierless shopping through a mobile app.
In stores equipped with this technology, there is no need for cashiers. Cameras track purchases and identify items taken from shelves, and the shops can operate 24/7. The system places items into a virtual cart and automatically charges the amount to the bank card stored in the app.
At the end of last year, Kende Gastro opened its first cashierless bistro at Agora Budapest office building. It serves as a showroom for the technology rather than a profit-focused outlet, providing a venue for potential partners to directly experience the system in action.
The development of the system and unit cost around HUF 60 million, transforming an empty rental space into a high-tech bistro café. Kende noted that they plan to introduce the technology in three ways: implementing solutions for the “significant number” of partners who have already requested proposals; building a franchise network; and opening more of their own stores.
The CEO explained that a standardized 20-square-meter container store, fully equipped and turnkey, costs about HUF 40 million. Companies are offered professional consulting on site selection, installation, and setup of the intelligent camera system. Beyond that, ongoing IT support, as well as analytical reports on sales, customers, and shopping patterns, are provided.