VENDING
TECHNOLOGY
INTEGRATION
Figure 2 – Compatibility matrix between technology solutions providers, including VDI
AirVend
AirVend
Arrow /
InOne /
Coinco
N/A
Arrow / InOne /
Coinco
Cantaloupe
CompuVend
Crane /
Streamware
LightSpeed
Automation
MEI/
Easitrax
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N/A
Cantaloupe
USA
Technologies
Vagabond
N/A
Y
Y
Y
N/A
Crane / Streamware
Y
Y
Y
N/A
Y
Y
LightSpeed
Automation
Y
Y
Y
Y
N/A
MEI / EasiTrax
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N/A
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
VendSys
Y
Y
Y
Y
Vagabond
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N/A
Y
Y
N/A
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N/A
VendScreen
Y
Y
Y
Validata
VendSys
Y
Y
Y
VendScreen
Y
CompuVend
USA Technologies
Validata
N/A
Y
Y
N/A
This list of compatible systems was provided by the technology solutions providers and edited by the authors. Specifcs vary by provider.
Previously, NAMA defned the standard MDB and
EVA/DTS (DEX) standards. Although it has taken some
time for these standards to be universally applied, vir-
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VendingMarketWatch.com
October 2013
tually all payment system peripherals work
inside vending machines (via MDB), and virtually all VMS handhelds and telemetry boxes
can read DEX data from a machine.
However, many operators were using different telemetry and VMS systems and wanted a way to get vending
machine data from one system to another. Therefore, in
2009, a new task force was assembled by NAMA, which
included most of the technology providers, in order to
establish standards to solve this type of problem.
"The purpose of the VDI task force is to create standards
that make it easier for operators to adopt new technologies by helping to address some of the challenges related to
system integration," said Chris Lilly, VDI Task Force chair
and vice president of IT for the Compass Group.
On May 1, 2010, the NAMA VDI Standards — VDI
S2S DEX 1.0 — were offcially published, and by this time
several "early adopter" operators and solutions providers
already had the standards in place to exchange DEX data.
Today, many operators of all sizes who have a VMS and
telemetry/cashless installed are using this standard. Figure
2 shows a matrix of current providers using VDI standards
to support compatibility across the different systems.
Creating the VDI standards is a win-win for the industry. "NAMA VDI Task Force members sign a participant
agreement that enables the free exchange of ideas without
consideration of attribution or ownership consequence,"
explained Michael L. Kasavana, NAMA Endowed Professor, School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University. "As a result, comprehensive problem statements,
non-proprietary naming conventions, enduring industry
standards and effective documentation are being developed