Growing with technology
For over a decade Holt had
grown LCV one machine,
one truck, one employee and
one decision at a time. He
and his staff would meticu-
lously study the industry
to determine which invest-
ments would help grow the
company. In 2002 that scru-
tiny focused on technology
when Holt traveled to his
frst annual NAMA show.
"I remember going around
and talking with the VMS
distributors, looking at the
bill and coin counters and
just being so excited," he
said. "At that time we were
still counting everything by
hand and entering it in on
a spreadsheet." When MEI
told Holt he could purchase
an all-in-one mechanism that
would count the money for
him and fle data electroni-
cally, he was blown away.
"Technology changed my life
and my business," he said.
Since that day nearly
13 years ago, Holt has con-
tinuously looked at ways to
improve and upgrade the
company through technol-
ogy. "No one has to con-
vince or sell me on the
importance of technology
anymore," he said.
All of LCV machines
going out in the feld now
have credit card readers and
it's Holt's goal to transition
the other active machines
to 100 percent cashless
within the next year or
two. Currently 30 percent
of LCV vending machines
are cashless. "We are at the
same point now with credit
card readers as we were
with bill collectors 25 years
ago," he said. "Today you'd
never think of putting out
a vending machine without
a bill acceptor, and it's got
to be the same sentiment
with credit card readers."
Integrating technology has
streamlined Holt's business,
cut down on route time and
increased sales for drivers.
Holt does admit that with
new technology came a lot
of data he and his employ-
ees had to learn to interpret.
"Technology was hard at the
March 2015 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 17
O P E R A T I O N P R O F I L E
Community conscious
Lincoln County Vending supports and gives back to its
surrounding community because of all that the commu-
nity has done for it. Dan and Pattie Holt have estab-
lished and awarded multiple scholarships each year
to college students in the area, including the Lincoln
County Vending Scholarship and the Shoney's Fayette-
ville Scholarship at Motlow College. "We do what we
can for the community," said Holt, "because they give
so much to us."
For several years LCV has been involved in the com-
munity's Jack & Back Bike-A-Thon, a Tractor Day for a
local high school, Safety Rewards Events and summer
picnics. They have even purchased scoreboards for
the local high schools. "In our case, we get the most
pleasure out of giving to others," said Holt.