Vending Machine Technology: What is Right for You?

Picture this: you’re standing in front of a vending machine, credit card in hand. It’s mid-afternoon, and you’re craving a snack before rush hour traffic hits on the way home. You excitedly select a bag of chips only to realize that this vending machine doesn’t accept credit cards — it’s cash only. Instead of forking over your hard-earned money, you hit the road with a grumbling stomach.

Now, let’s put the shoe on the other foot. What if you weren’t a customer but owned the vending machine instead? What if you realized that employees, customers, and clients couldn’t buy snacks simply because they weren’t carrying cash? It’s pretty frustrating (and one of the many reasons why it’s important to keep the type and technology of your vending machine up-to-date).

The Types of Vending Machines

Before diving into the latest trends in vending technology, it’s important to understand which type will be most profitable for your business.

Food & Drink Vending Machines

Close your eyes and imagine a vending machine. Did you picture soft drinks and salty snacks? You probably did — but consumer habits are changing. People now seek healthy, fresh, and sugar-free vending options. If 100+ years of food and beverage experience has taught us anything, health-driven choices are here to stay. 

So when selecting a food and drink vending machine, it’s essential to remember the importance of a wide (and healthy) snack and beverage selection.

Merchandiser Vending Machines

What if we were to tell you that vending machines now have the ability to offer more than just food and drink? A merchandiser vending machine can be stocked with an assortment of supplies ranging from toilet paper and tissues to pens and pencils! You can often find a merchandiser machine in a hotel dispensing toiletries to guests; however, many businesses are turning to this technology to vend a variety of office supplies. With 638 unique items, Bernick’s has the portfolio to stock your vending machine with whatever merchandise you may need.

Custom Vending Machines

Vending machines are no longer a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Your customers, employees, and clients are unique, so your vending machine should be too. This is why we offer the opportunity to customize vending to your needs. Whether you want to include coffee, fresh foods, or grab-and-go products, Bernick’s recognizes that nobody knows your business better than you.

The Latest in Vending Machine Technology

As we’ve said before — vending technology is improving daily. Long gone are the cubes that may (or may not) deliver the snack you selected in exchange for a crumpled dollar bill. Now that we’ve touched on the different vending machines, let’s turn our attention to the vending technology that makes it possible.

Credit Card Payments

Cash is no longer the preferred payment method for Americans. In fact, many economists predict that cash will soon be obsolete in our country. That’s why it’s essential to provide vending machine technology that allows credit card payments complete with data encryption for secure transactions.

Energy-Saving Technology

We have all been told to turn off lights when leaving a room, but what about turning off vending machine lights? Thanks to LED lighting and motion-activated features, modern vending machine technology can turn off interior lights when not in use. This promising technology not only increases the life of the equipment but also dramatically cuts energy costs.

Is Your Vending Technology up-to-Date?

If your vending machine technology is ready for retirement, it’s only a matter of time before your employees and customers get frustrated. That's where an industry expert (aka your vending partner) comes in.

A quality vending supplier and partner should make a conscious effort to keep you educated on the latest evolutions in the vending industry. They should assess your individual needs to make recommendations for a profitable vending solution specific to your business. As your partner, we want what’s best for you and will do everything in our power to ensure you get it.

A Vending Machine Expert on Your Side

Thanks to various advances over the past few years, there’s never been a better time to offer next-level vending options. Stay up-to-date on your vending machine technology, and you can continue fostering a positive atmosphere that many enjoy.

Talk to a Vending Specialist

Published on: Sep 28, 2022

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