Co-op Live partners with Boxbar Tech and AiFi for Europe’s first fully frictionless, autonomous market & self-serve bar integration

The AI-powered autonomous market marks the world’s first Boxbar Tech and AiFi integration to bring frictionless food and drink service to the UK’s largest arena.

Co-op Live, the UK’s largest live entertainment arena, has launched a groundbreaking autonomous market powered by AiFi’s spatial-intelligence platform and our very own world-leading self-serve bar technology, marking the first installation of its kind.

This is the first time a frictionless marketplace and automated, self-serve bar technology has been integrated anywhere outside the US and only the second time globally.

The newly redesigned market, built in partnership with Oak View Group (OVG), has been engineered to maximise speed, throughput and convenience during peak event times. Located in Vertu Place on Level 00 inside Co-op Live, the autonomous market features four entry gates and a fully frictionless checkout experience.

How It Works

1. TAP: Fans tap their card or mobile device to enter

2. GRAB: Then pick up their favourite hot food, snacks and draught drinks

3. GO: And simply walk out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQKegktZWNM

No queues, no tills, no waiting. AiFi’s AI-powered, camera-based technology tracks products taken and customers are automatically charged to the card used to enter the market.

The seamless combination of AiFi’s AI-powered, camera-based technology and Boxbar Tech’s automated self-serve draught system allows the venue to offer fresh lager, IPA, cider and Guinness at a speed that far surpasses that of traditional bars.

The Space

When we were approached by Co-op Live and OVG, they presented us with a compact, high-traffic area. An area that did not have the footprint to house a traditional bar or multi-pour MDU setups, but with a desire to provide fans a high quality draught product.

Boxbar’s space-efficient design and direct cellar integration capabilities allowed us to make the most of every inch available, delivering a multi-product eight points of sale bar with the ability to serve 16 drinks simultaneously.

The Benefits

✅ Faster Transactions

Fans can enter, grab their food and drinks, and leave without queuing or using tills. Whilst auto-pouring speeds up service, making every visit quick and seamless.

✅ Higher Basket Values

With faster service, minimal friction and the ability to purchase food and drink in one visit, customers are more likely to grab multiple products, naturally increasing basket sizes.

✅ Better Fan Experience

Customers stay in control throughout the experience, moving freely and getting everything they need in a single trip. Quick visits make the experience enjoyable and allow fans to get back straight back to the action.

✅ Consistent Quality

Every drink is poured to order, ensuring premium quality and eliminating the over-pouring or quality drop associated with pre-pouring solutions.

✅ More Sustainable

Boxbar reduces the reliance on packaged drinks in frictionless store: cutting waste, improving efficiency and supporting sustainability goals.

✅ Smoother Operations

By removing bottlenecks caused by decanting packaged drinks, the market is optimised to sell more during peak times.

✅ Lower Staffing Costs & Shrinkage

Significantly fewer staff are needed compared with traditional bars or MDU setups whilst AiFi’s AI-powered, camera tracking reduces theft, often associated with self-checkout arena kiosks.

“Co-op Live was designed to lead the way in how a modern arena can operate, and this new autonomous market is a powerful example of that ambition in action” commented Michalis Fragkiadakis, SVP of Hospitality Strategy at OVG International. “By integrating AiFi and Boxbar Tech’s technologies, we’re delivering a food and beverage experience that is faster, smarter and far more seamless for fans.”

By embracing cutting-edge technology and reimagining traditional retail and beverage service, Co-op Live is setting a new standard for convenience, efficiency and quality for every customer. We are extremely proud to be a partner on that mission.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can integrate our automated, self-serve bar solutions with a variety of frictionless market solutions, both via camera and RFID based tracking, get in touch today.