About the business

Café D'arte, operated by Concourse Concessions, is a minority-owned small business managing several food and beverage outlets inside Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Under the leadership of Kyle Fukuhara, Director of Finance and Administration, the company focuses on improving operational efficiency while expanding to new airport locations nationwide.

The Challenge

Airports are fast-paced environments where every second counts — especially during peak travel hours.

Café D’arte faced a major bottleneck:

  • Long lines during rush hours
  • Not enough cashiers to take orders quickly
  • Higher labor costs due to constant hiring and training

Post-COVID, the team also noticed a clear behavioral shift — travelers increasingly preferred self-ordering over traditional cashier lines. To stay competitive and efficient, they needed a solution that could handle high volume, reduce labor strain, and meet new customer expectations.

Traveler using digital ordering in a busy airport
Applova Self-Serve Kiosk solution

The Solution

In May 2022, Café D'arte deployed Applova's Self-Serve Kiosks integrated directly with their Clover POS and Kitchen Display System (KDS).

Kyle describes the implementation as "really seamless — right when we plugged it in, it just worked."

The kiosks instantly streamlined order management, enabling customers to browse, customize, and pay at their own pace while freeing staff to focus on food prep and service quality.

The Results

Applova's Self-Serve Kiosks delivered measurable impact across multiple areas:

22% Increase in Average Ticket Size

Customers ordered more items, thanks to intuitive upsell prompts and visual menus.

$1 Million+ in Kiosk Sales

Generated in just over a year — a major boost to top-line revenue.

Reduced Labor Costs

The kiosks replaced the need for additional cashiers, saving time and money spent on hiring and training.

Faster Service & Happier Customers

Travelers praised the kiosk's clarity and speed, allowing them to grab their meals and head to their gates without delay.

Kyle sums it up best:

"The self-service kiosks have been great for our business. They work seamlessly with our systems, and I just couldn't recommend Applova enough."

— Kyle Fukuhara

Why It Worked

Plug-and-Play Integration with Clover POS & KDS

Improved Order Accuracy and shorter wait times

Modernized Guest Experience matching today's traveler expectations

Reallocated Staff Resources to high-value operational areas

Results Snapshot

A quick look at the key metrics from Café D'arte.

Metric Impact
Average Ticket Size +22%
Total Sales via Kiosk $1M+ (in first year)
Implementation Time Instant plug-and-play
Labor Cost Savings Significant – fewer cashiers needed
Customer Feedback “Easy, clear, and fast ordering”
Kyle Fukuhara at Café D'arte

“Our self-service kiosks have brought in over a million dollars in sales and increased our average ticket amount by 22%. The cost of hiring and training new employees is priceless — these kiosks have saved us time, labor, and stress.”

Kyle Fukuhara

Director of Finance & Administration, Concourse Concessions (Café D’arte)

For Café D'arte, Applova's Self-Serve Kiosks didn't just speed up service — they reshaped how the business operates in a demanding airport environment. From effortless setup to substantial revenue growth, the kiosks proved to be the ultimate win for both staff and travelers.