Tap. Grab. Go. Here’s how a smart store works.
No coils, no codes, no jammed chips at row E4. A tap opens the whole shop, AI cameras watch what leaves the shelves, and the charge lands automatically when the door closes. Here’s the shopper’s side — and yours.
For the person standing in front of it
Tap to unlock
Any contactless card or phone. A small hold is placed — like at a gas pump — and the glass door releases.
Shop the shelves
Open the door and browse like it's your own fridge. Pick things up, read labels, put them back.
Close the door
Cameras and shelf sensors recognize exactly which items left the cabinet during your visit.
Charged automatically
The final total replaces the hold within seconds. Receipts and support are one QR scan away, right on the door.
For the building hosting it
Hosting a Tidewater smart store is deliberately boring. After a fifteen-minute site walk and one simple agreement, everything that follows is our job:
Site walk & fit check. We confirm foot traffic, placement spot, and outlet access — and tell you honestly if the location isn't a fit.
Assortment plan. Drinks, snacks, or both; classic or better-for-you; local BC brands where your people will love them.
Delivery & install. We deliver, level, wire and train the vision system. Open for business the same day.
Stocked & serviced by us. Telemetry-driven restocking, cleaning, and support — with any issue flagged to us remotely before anyone calls you.
Curious about formats? Compare our smart drink coolers, snack stores and combo micro markets, or see what fits your kind of space.
How it works — common questions
Do shoppers need an app?
No. Any contactless credit card, debit card, or phone wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) opens the door and pays. There is nothing to download and no account to create.
What if someone takes an item and puts it back?
The cameras track items leaving and returning to the shelves. If you put something back before closing the door, you simply aren't charged for it.
How accurate is the camera checkout?
Very — each product is trained into the vision system before it goes on shelf, and every transaction is video-verified. If a charge is ever wrong, a QR code on the door reaches us directly and we make it right.
What does the building need to provide?
A standard 110V outlet and roughly the floor space of one or two fridges. The machines carry their own cellular connection, so your building's network is never touched.
How fast can a smart store be installed?
Typically two to four weeks from a signed placement agreement: we confirm the assortment plan, deliver and level the cabinet, train the vision system on site, and it's open the same day.