A method of installing a cartridge in a beverage dispensing system, the method comprising: determining, by a processor of the beverage dispensing system, a condition of the cartridge; causing, with the beverage dispensing system, information corresponding to the condition to be stored in an RFID tag associated with the cartridge; reading, with a reader of the beverage dispensing system, the information and a code from the RFID tag associated with the cartridge; comparing the information and the code to an expected value; unlocking, with the beverage dispensing system upon reading the code with the reader, a front panel of the beverage dispensing system; reading, with a further reader of the beverage dispensing system associated with a correct location for the cartridge in the beverage dispensing system, the code from the RFID tag when the cartridge is placed at a distance sufficiently close to the further reader; providing, with the beverage dispensing system upon reading the code with the further reader, a visual and/or audio signal indicating the correct location for the cartridge when the cartridge is placed at the distance sufficiently close to the further reader associated with the correct location; operating, with the beverage dispensing system, a partial locking mechanism of the beverage dispensing system, the partial locking mechanism being configured to allow for a spent cartridge to be pulled slightly out and then unlock when the cartridge is registered; and unlocking, with the partial locking mechanism upon validation of the cartridge, a restriction, thereby allowing the cartridge to be inserted in the correct location into the beverage dispensing system and engaged fully with a nozzle of the beverage dispensing system. determining, by a processor of the beverage dispensing system, a condition of the cartridge; causing, with the beverage dispensing system, information corresponding to the condition to be stored in an RFID tag associated with the cartridge; reading, with a reader of the beverage dispensing system, the information and a code from the RFID tag associated with the cartridge; comparing the information and the code to an expected value; unlocking, with the beverage dispensing system upon reading the code with the reader, a front panel of the beverage dispensing system; reading, with a further reader of the beverage dispensing system associated with a correct location for the cartridge in the beverage dispensing system, the code from the RFID tag when the cartridge is placed at a distance sufficiently close to the further reader; providing, with the beverage dispensing system upon reading the code with the further reader, a visual and/or audio signal indicating the correct location for the cartridge when the cartridge is placed at the distance sufficiently close to the further reader associated with the correct location; operating, with the beverage dispensing system, a partial locking mechanism of the beverage dispensing system, the partial locking mechanism being configured to allow for a spent cartridge to be pulled slightly out and then unlock when the cartridge is registered; and unlocking, with the partial locking mechanism upon validation of the cartridge, a restriction, thereby allowing the cartridge to be inserted in the correct location into the beverage dispensing system and engaged fully with a nozzle of the beverage dispensing system.