Make an
old machine
new again
By Alfonso Flores, Assistant Editor
Not all vending operators can afford to
replace their feets with new vending
machines. Retroftting allows operators
the opportunity to embrace innovative
technology and save money as well.
A
s the number of millennials
continues to grow, so has the
emphasis on innovative technology. Consumers want to be wowed
with new and exciting equipment, and
will be more inclined to do business
with a company willing to provide
that fare. The same is true for the
vending industry. With a number of
innovative solutions available for new
and existing machines, operators have
to decide what to invest in. One thing
is for sure, after speaking with industry leaders, it became apparent that
embracing new technology is a must
to stay ahead in vending.
Telemetry evolves in new areas
Telemetry is a term around which all
other current innovations seem to be
focused. Touchscreens, payment systems and even locking mechanisms
all use telemetry; meaning real-time
data for operators at the push of a
button, and wireless capabilities for
consumers at the point of sale.
According to Poch Ceballos,
online solutions product project
manager at Crane Merchandising Sys14
Automatic Merchandiser
Installing retrofit
technology can
take a mechanical
vending machine and
bring it online, add
cashless acceptance
and deliver greater
security — leading to
increased profits.
tems, Telemetry suggests a wireless
platform, like Android or Linux, that
can instantly stream important data
such as malfunctions and product
shortages to the operator — alerting
him or her of the problem.
Brent Garson, CEO of Vendors
Exchange International Inc. (VEII)
believes telemetry and wireless connectivity will be a main-stay in the
industry for years to come.
"I think telemetry and interactive screens are going to become a
de facto phenomenon," Garson said.
"We don't sell a Connect [VE Connect] unless it's connected to the net-
VendingMarketWatch.com
May 2013
work. So I don't think connectivity
will continue to be a novelty, I think
it's going to become a reality."
When operators ft their vending
machines with telemetry, they're
often preparing their machines
for future innovations. Andrea
Ihara, vice president of marketing
and business development at VendScreen uses the VendScreen Revolution as an example of a device
that adds telemetry and includes
software that can be updated every
few months as new innovation is
brought to market. Updates are
seamless for the operators.