Ster-Kinekor introduces high-tech self service terminals

From going to the movies with a bunch of mates, to going on a date with that new “special someone”, or just you and a friend wanting to kick back and watch the latest flick isn’t always as easy and as fun as is said and done. Like the lines, everywhere you go! There’s the line to buy the tickets, which for some reason is full of people who are yet to decide what they should watch. Then there’s the snack line, which you stand in for seemingly hours behind several groups of chatty patrons who have all the time in the world to choose what they’d like to chow, but upon arriving at the front of the line have still not even considered their options. These frustrations are the bane of any movie experience and often leave a bad taste in the mouths of the few people who actually do know what they want to watch, when they want to watch it, and what tasty morsels they’d like to snack on whilst enjoying it. To solve this notorious problem from occurring, South Africa’s leading cinema chain, Ster-Kinekor has opened the world’s first self-service ticket and snack terminals in Centurion at the new Forest Hill Mall.

Hold on before you get ahead of yourself and think you will be in charge of pouring your own “bottomless” drink, and eating popcorn until you’re full and then filling it up a few times before even starting the movie. Think a little more technologically. How long does it really take you to go to a movie, get your tickets, waiting in line after line? Ster-Kinekor have come up with a revolutionary, custom designed system to provide an easy and time saving way to reduce the amount of time wasted in long cue’s by subconsciously helping everyone decide what they want in a more speedy fashion by providing them with the power of choice, one touch screen at a time.

With the help of the well-spoken and friendly staff at each terminal there is no need to panic. If you are movie goer who hasn’t quite “kept with the times” or feel that you and the new age of technology just don’t get along, the staff will assist you. With or without the complaints, the inevitably growing demand from audiences continuing to visit cinemas to watch the latest releases is getting greater and greater. However, Ster-Kinekor has decided to make going to the movies feel effortless, amazing and as simple as counting to one, two and three. Step one: you get to the cinema and go to the ticket terminal to purchase your ticket then move on to the snack terminal. Step two: you select what you would like and then receive a printed coded slip. You walk over to the Snack bar, scan your encoded slip and the clerk receives it on a screen and starts preparing your order. Step 3: after throwing some flavours on your popcorn and claiming a straw, you scan your ticket and in you go.

Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres has stated “When we introduced our unique self-service ticket terminals more than eight years ago, we noticed an immediate and significant reduction in queue times for our customers. We are hopeful that the catering terminals will have as great an impact in offering our customers a seamless experience when buying their tickets and snacks, before entering the cinema to sit back and enjoy the latest blockbuster on the big screen”. Ster-Kenikor does not seize to amaze as they provide the very latest in digital projector technology with surround sound speaker quality, eight state-of-the-art cinemas and seats you wish you had in your lounge. The cinema house includes two 3D-ready screens with that “produce a larger-than-life format”. A statement with which I heartily agree.

There is a certain type of expectation I have when going into a cinema and the Ster-Kinekor at Thorn Hill Mall not only lives up to that expectation, but is leading the way in setting new standards which put it ahead of other cinemas available at the moment

Post Views: 302

#Cinema #Forest Hill #IMAX #Movies #Pretoria #ster-kinekor

Posted By

Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.