Automated draft beer dispenser: how does it work?

First, you should know that there are different types of automated draft beer dispensers, but they all have something in common. Here we will explain how the original works, the very first automated draft beer dispenser in Brazil, myTapp. To explain it better, let's start with the components an automated draft beer dispenser has.

Smart tap

The self-pour tap is no secret: it is the same one you would install on a regular draft beer dispenser with a beer line. However, the myTapp system comes in and automates these taps.

What is the difference for the customer? They arrive at your venue, go to the cashier to do a quick sign-up, choose a card that can be prepaid or postpaid, and with the card in hand the customer goes to the tap and chooses which beer they want.

Each tap will have a different beer. The customer then taps the card on the reader and the screen above the tap shows the beer's information and the credit they have available. The dispenser is released, the customer pours their own beer and can stop at any moment. When the customer finishes pouring, the tap locks and is ready for the next customer.

Control panel

The automated draft beer dispenser also allows us to manage inventory. How so? The system consists of a processing module with a computer board that communicates with a sensor and a valve. The valve allows the beer to be released, and the sensor counts how many ml of beer are flowing when the tap is opened. The system sends the information to the screen in front of the customer, and they can see all the information we mentioned earlier.

For the manager or bar owner, the information is stored and they can analyze the reports later. This is very important because bar owners usually have no measurement of the keg level, meaning they have no idea how much beer is still inside a keg or when that keg was opened.

The myTapp self-pour beer system came to put an end to this problem. The control panel can show exactly how many liters are still in the keg. In addition, the control panel offers several other features to make your day-to-day easier!

RFID card reader

The card the customer taps on the reader is an RFID card. When placed on the reader, the customer identified by the card is linked to the system and the tap is unlocked. The RFID card can be loaded with credits, which are deducted as the beer comes out of the tap. Or, the customer can choose to add up everything they consume and pay later, before leaving.

Screen

The screen is usually located above the tap and shows the amount of beer the customer has poured from the tap. It also shows the price of the beer being consumed and specifications about the beer. This screen is 10 inches, ideal for the customer to find all the information they need.

Customer experience

All the components of the system work together to provide the best possible experience for the customer. Say the customer just wants to try a beer or two. They can pour as little or as much as they want.

The customer also has an app where they can find the nearest venues that use myTapp, top up with a credit card, view their entire consumption statement and, soon, release the taps! All in just a few clicks, with full control in the palm of their hands, bringing efficiency and speeding up service in your venue.

More advantages? We have them!

• Customers don't have to wait;
• Customers always have a fresh drink within reach;
• Fun experience: customers like to pour their own;
• A perfect solution for smoking areas, since you don't need to send your staff out there;
• Easy to integrate with other self-service concepts, where customers also grab their own food, for example;
• Fewer employees handle cash because payment is approved through the card;

Advantages of an automated draft beer dispenser for the bar owner

Having an automated draft beer dispenser in your venue will give you many benefits. Three of the biggest are: less waste, better choice for the consumer and lower labor costs (customers pour their own).

When you work with automatic taps in a self-pour beer system, your beer turnover goes up and your profits go up with it.

An automated draft beer dispenser has many more components and features; here we have written about some of the main ones.

So, if you are thinking about installing an automated draft beer dispenser in your venue and would like more information, download our free eBook: How self-pour can help your business.

Want to learn more about myTapp and how we can bring technology to your venue? Request a contact!

I want it!