Drive through system including vision system and transaction system integration

A method comprising:

• obtaining image data of a lane of a drive through;
• determining, using the image data, a visual characteristic of a vehicle at the lane;
• operating a point of sale unit to provide an indication of the visual characteristic of the vehicle, the point of sale unit configured to be operated to implement a point of sale, the visual characteristic of the vehicle comprising a type of the vehicle selected from a plurality of predetermined types of vehicles using the image data, and a color of the vehicle;
• processing, at the point of sale unit, vehicle information relating to the visual characteristic of the vehicle and order information for an order received from an occupant of a drive through to provide compiled order information;
• and
• updating a plurality of display devices of the drive through to include an indication of the compiled order information during a service journey of the vehicle at the drive through.

A control system for a drive through, the control system comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• determine, using image data obtained from a plurality of cameras, a current number of customers present in a lane of the drive through waiting to place orders at a current time of day;
• predict, based on historical data of the drive through, a predicted number of customers expected to be present at the drive through at a future time of day;
• determine a quantity of food or beverage items for preparation based on the current number of customers or the predicted number of customers;
• and
• at least one of (i) initiate an alert via a point of sale unit for staff of the drive through to notify the staff regarding the current number of customers or the future number of customers, (ii) initiate an action to open an additional lane based on the current number of customers or predicted number of customers, or (iii) operate a kitchen alert device to prompt a kitchen action to prepare the quantity of food or beverage items.