Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.
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AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISER EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Anant Agrawal Cantaloupe Systems Brad Ellis Crane Co. Carl Moser Cardinal Canteen Food Service Chuck Reed Crane Payment Innovations (CPI) Elyssa Allahyar-Steiner Avanti Markets Inc. Jeff Whitacre Food Express Jim Carbone The Classic Group/Chicago Coffees & Teas Jodi Glimpse Camelback Vending Joe Hessling 365 Retail Markets Lee Hartnett Commercial Coffee Service/ Food Systems Inc. Michael Miller Mondelez International Paresh Patel PayRange Paul Schlossberg D/FW Consulting Sandy Thornton VendEdge Technology Trends In 2015 Technology providers continue to push vending forward, helping operators run more effcient businesses and engage with consumers. IN 2016, technology will continue to be important. Facebook/VendingMarket @VendingMagazine http://linkd.in/VendingMarketWatch echnology is a small word for such a large range of topics. For instance, it is used to describe everything from enhanced promo- tional capabilities of micro markets, vending management systems, digital marketing and cashless payment options. This year we have seen technology adoption increase even more sharply in the vending industry than in the past with new/expanded partnerships, equipment launches and slow but consistent integration. Here is a look back at some top technology-focused news items that came out in 2015. So far, 2016 is looking just as innovative and exciting. Micro markets go big with mobile push In January, big news broke about two industry companies – the purchase of BYNDL by Avanti Markets. Jim Brinton, CEO of micro market sup- plier Avanti Markets, told VendingMarketWatch.com that consumers wanted to use more mobile pay- ments. He believed the merger would help make that a reality while also developing the tools to promote loyalty. Sure enough, this fall the Avanti Markets App, Powered by BYNDL was released and does both. In April, we looked at trends refected at the NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas, NV. Among new products to sample was an infux of technology innovations, including more mobile payment and promotions options available for vending machines. It's not just customer facing tech- nologies that have been steadily increasing all year, but the use of systems to enhance product offerings and delivery schedules, too. Vend- ing management systems (VMS) are no longer 'nice-to-haves', but instead have become 'need- to-haves.' The ability to both visit a machine only when necessary and prekit products for the route driver, are allowing tremendous growth and unparalleled control over the business by the operator. Technology integrations have also been hap- pening at a greater pace, which makes transi- tions more seamless and saves time transferring data and looking at metrics in two different sys- tems. In early December LightSpeed announced a new integration with Vagabond; an integration which should be available to those customers in early 2016. It's one more positive step in the right direction for vending. Vending equipment gets a boost While there has been much talk about micro markets and offce coffee service, the vending industry is still a strong core segment – it's just evolving. This October it was reported that the Wittern Group in Clive, IA, was planning a $17.75 million expansion that includes bringing controlled dispensing solutions to industries like healthcare and maintenance repair. The next month vending equipment was again in the spotlight when AMS announced its MicroVend, a countertop vending machine that would start production in 2016. While previewed at a few trade shows, the announce- ment gained a lot of industry attention for the compact vender. Technology will continue to be a major trend in 2016. It is driving some operators to higher profts and frustrating others, but we have reached a tipping point where technology is no longer in a testing phase, but has proven its worth. Look for more of it in the year ahead. T 4 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com December 2015 E D I T O R ' S N O T E B Y E M I L Y R E F E R M A T