It’s probably literally cheaper to have a cheap device that supports one display than a single device capable of supporting multiple displays.
It also simplifies the design. You don’t need different hardware requirements or software configs for a slushy system of 3 or 4 or 5 flavors. You just have a single design for each slushy device.
On top of that, when a device is restarting or failed it only has a single failure. All of the other flavors are displayed.
Also, for the other “why not a sticker” comments. Having a digital display does have its advantages. You may not want your chain of stores having tacky hand drawn labels by a lazy employee. This prevents that. You can include the price in the display later if you want to. Ensuring you charge more for that “limited time” flavor and you don’t have to send stickers to each store.
Also, the cost of these displays is so little in comparison to the mechanical parts that operate the actual machine it’s likely worth the it for the flexibility in display.
Also, digital displays catch the eyes more. You’re gonna get more people that notice a flashy machine and think “I’m in the mood for a slurpy”. That alone is likely worth any other cost.
Capitalism doesn’t have to “make sense” in terms of design or simplicity. It often doesn’t. It chooses the things that return the most profit. It’s not reason based in “logic” it’s reason based in “profit”.
Also, for the other “why not a sticker” comments. Having a digital display does have its advantages. You may not want your chain of stores having tacky hand drawn labels by a lazy employee. This prevents that. You can include the price in the display later if you want to. Ensuring you charge more for that “limited time” flavor and you don’t have to send stickers to each store.
It’s probably literally cheaper to have a cheap device that supports one display than a single device capable of supporting multiple displays.
It also simplifies the design. You don’t need different hardware requirements or software configs for a slushy system of 3 or 4 or 5 flavors. You just have a single design for each slushy device.
On top of that, when a device is restarting or failed it only has a single failure. All of the other flavors are displayed.
Also, for the other “why not a sticker” comments. Having a digital display does have its advantages. You may not want your chain of stores having tacky hand drawn labels by a lazy employee. This prevents that. You can include the price in the display later if you want to. Ensuring you charge more for that “limited time” flavor and you don’t have to send stickers to each store.
Also, the cost of these displays is so little in comparison to the mechanical parts that operate the actual machine it’s likely worth the it for the flexibility in display.
Also, digital displays catch the eyes more. You’re gonna get more people that notice a flashy machine and think “I’m in the mood for a slurpy”. That alone is likely worth any other cost.
Capitalism doesn’t have to “make sense” in terms of design or simplicity. It often doesn’t. It chooses the things that return the most profit. It’s not reason based in “logic” it’s reason based in “profit”.
It also has the benefit of being able to show metrics and diagnostics right there without having to connect it to another device.
Ear me out: you print them, crazy right?!