A security camera provided by Hikvision, the North American leader in award-winning video surveillance products and solutions, was installed by Holmes Security Systems to help Spinners Pizza in Fayetteville, North Carolina, US, to improve its efficiency.
Established in 1999, Spinners Pizza is a popular restaurant with a dedicated following and a very busy lunch crowd. Owner Spero Poulos came up with the idea of using a ‘pizza cam’ to streamline the establishment’s operations during busy periods. "Holmes Security installed Hikvision cameras for security in and around the restaurant. We thought, ‘why not use it for service efficiency and accuracy?’ as well " says Poulos.
Covering the pizza buffet with a kitchen monitor
The restaurant needed to improve its operations and did so by combining a camera with a kitchen monitor that "keeps staff from running to the buffet to check what needs to be cooked". Poulos adds that staff members who leave the kitchen are "invariably stopped by customers and friends who want to chat, which can slow down the replenishment process".
The solution: using a HD 1080p video over existing analogue cabling
Spinners’ analogue and IP-hybrid system includes mini dome, bullet and turret cameras. Holmes Security recommended and installed the Hikvision DS-2CE56D5T 1080p Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera for the buffet, which delivers the HD quality that the restaurant’s coaxial cabling failed to provide. The turret camera is positioned to capture the entire line of pizzas on the buffet; this operation can be run from the kitchen with the ‘pizza cam’, reducing the time it takes to restock the buffet.
"Spinners is able to keep the buffet full at all times. When someone is on a tight lunch break, the last thing you want for them is to be waiting for food. With the Hikvision camera in place, they no longer have to be," Poulos states.
Improved efficiency, smoother operations and a great partnership
"Heat tolerance was a big consideration based on the camera’s position in relation to the buffet. The specs showed that the operating range for Hikvision’s cameras was 22-140°, so the company knew it could withstand the heat," says Dave Foster, sales and marketing manager at Holmes Security, which is a 109-year-old, family-owned business that is also operates out of Fayetteville.
"We have found that Hikvision provides higher quality, and is easier to install, program and maintain. Its tech support is great and the software is consistent. Plus, we have great reps and a great rapport with Hikvision personnel," adds Foster.
Holmes Security positioned the camera to the upper right of the buffet to monitor every pizza. Spinners’ kitchen staff can now see the spread from a monitor in the kitchen that also enables chefs to stay ahead of customer demand.
Poulos says that he gets "comments about what a great idea it is. The customers especially like the fact that they don’t have to wait for new pizzas to be placed on the buffet".
Better service
Spinners Pizza delivers a better customer experience by keeping its buffet stocked with fresh food. Hikvision’s turret camera has enhanced the restaurant’s efficiency, as staff can now check the pizza buffet’s status remotely and concentrate on serving customers. Hikvision’s ‘pizza cam’ has simplified the restaurant’s operations for its owner, staff and regulars.
"Our strength comes from forming partnerships with our integrators and their customers, and collaborating together to find new ways of solving real-world problems," says Alex Asnovich, director of marketing for Hikvision. "Spinners Pizza is a great example of applying the company’s technology to achieving business results in a retail-restaurant environment."
In addition to video surveillance, Hikvision has extended its business to smart-home tech, industrial automation and the automotive electronics industry. The company runs 28 subsidiaries globally, creating value for customers across all sectors with its truly international presence.
