Vending machines changing: mechanics in harmony with digitalisation
Andrej Schmidt | 13. May 2020
It has been a long time since vending machines were only used as an emergency solution for sales. Operators have recognised their strengths and know how to use them. Especially in competition against ever growing online consumption, vending machines offer new possibilities for stationary sales. Thanks to modern, customer-oriented concepts, it is no longer possible to imagine the digital age without them.
Hygienic thanks to NFC
New vending machines score points with functions such as contactless payment or efficient access control. Especially in today’s world, the applicable hygiene and distance rules can be observed easily and cost-effectively. Cashless payment minimises contact areas and shortens the sales process. This reduces the risk of crowding and can be utilised by connecting a vending machine to the entrance and exit area, where it controls access.
Data loggers enable target-oriented selling
Modern data loggers count customers. If the sales area has reached the maximum permitted number of people, further customers are not allowed entry until one person leaves. Data loggers also enable operators to make targeted purchases & sales. By collecting customer data, such as their purchasing preferences or times, costs can be reduced and sales increased. New vending machines already have the option of being connected to their own ERP system. This way, the collected data is processed directly and can be used if you like for own advertising purposes. Vending machines offer sufficient space for this. Another advantage: the advertising can be shown around the clock. And like advertising, vending machine sales do not have a closing time. Both can be used 24/7.
More mechanics despite digitalisation
Today vending machines offer operators more than just “selling”. Their versatile application possibilities are the reason for their increasing popularity. Whether as advertising space, monitoring tool or for sales control, it is impossible to imagine our everyday life without vending machines and their functions. And despite the increase in software and electronics due to digitalisation, the proportion of mechanical components is also increasing. The increasing number of functions requires powerful components. In cabinets or in the payment system there are bearing points and gears, whereby racks can be pulled out by means of linear guides, the movement of scanners or the product dispensing is also carried out by electrically operated linear systems, and energy chains guide the cables reliably. All this requires reliable components. As a supplier of linear guides, plain bearings, chains and cables, igus offers such solutions especially for the vending machine sector.