Since their invention, vending machines have advanced significantly. Just five years ago, large, unwieldy vending machines that need precise change in order to be operated were dispersed throughout well-known markets. Did you know that Hero of Alexandria invented the first vending machine in first-century Roman Egypt? Holy water was dispensed by this machine in return for a penny.
Vending machines are now often associated with a mobile marketplace. Anything from personalized pizza to fresh cow milk may be had in a matter of minutes. However, it’s been a long road from supplying holy water to producing 24-carat gold coins. Furthermore, there is still work to be done before companies can fully reap the rewards of their vending machine venture.
But why have vending machines grown at a sluggish to static rate, given that they were created before computers? There might be many causes for this, but the difficulty in deciphering and putting into practice the best operationalization plan is the most important one. Any company may benefit greatly from vending machines as a means of interacting with its customers and increasing brand recognition in addition to being a fantastic source of income. However, because of the difficulties involved in maintaining inventory, monitoring the health of the vending machine, and adhering to local laws, companies often decide against use vending machines.
A small number of businesses have succeeded in overcoming these obstacles, nonetheless. These businesses pioneered tactics that have aided in the evolution of the vending ecosystem as a whole. These businesses are the focus of this site!
Cashless payment systems for vending machines transform how customers shop via offering safe and practical substitutes for accepted cash transactions. They also simplify operations for vending operations while meeting the monetary demands of contemporary buyers.
- Quisisana – The Pioneer of Automats
In Berlin in 1895, a German business called Quisisana opened the first automat restaurant in history. An automat, which isn’t very widespread these days, is essentially a fast-food restaurant where customers order food and drinks from vending machines. Quisisana made it possible for individuals to have meals “on the go” and rapidly. In 1902, Horn & Hardart presented this notion in the United States after the debut of the first automat. Automats were seen to be a fantastic way to bring people together in the past since they let the affluent and the poor to dine together side by side. As time went on, forty automated machines in New York alone served patrons of all income levels, sparking the vending machine revolution.
However, with the advent and widespread consumption of fast food, the idea of automata has all but vanished in recent years. Well, till 2015 anyhow. San Francisco saw the reintroduction of the automat idea by BrightLoom, previously Eatsa. On the other hand, this new automat lets customers order their preferred dish on an iPad or using the company’s mobile app. A few minutes later, the food appears in the “Eatsa Cubbies,” which display the diners’ names until the order is taken out. Perhaps this heralds the return of the robots?
- Gaochun Double Lake Crab Company: Pioneers of Selling Live FoodYes, you read correctly! You can certainly get diversity at this pace only in vending machines, which are your only real “marketplace.” A Chinese corporation advanced this while machines all over the world offered customers a range of goods including candies, drinks, newspapers, books, and more. In 2010, Gaochun Double Lake Crab Company Chairman Shi Tuanjie invented a unique kind of vending machine that sold live crabs to its customers. The idea was so well received that the machine sold around 200 crabs a day at its peak operation. Even though Shi was very successful, it wasn’t an easy task to pull off.
Shi used his inventiveness to come up with novel ways to keep crabs at the ideal temperature and to apply methods that improved their flavor. Furthermore, the danger of crab pinching was reduced by using efficient packaging, known as “Golden Amour,” which allowed the crab-filled containers to be put into boiling water!
In order to transform traditional beverage dispensers and provide real-time inventory tracking, specific suggestions, and seamless payment options, smart vending incorporates cutting-edge technology such as Internet of Things (IoT) cameras and machine learning algorithm development. That ultimately boosts convenience and efficiency for both service providers and customers.
#3. Carvana: The First Company to Sell Cars Through Vending Machines
Vending machines are at the heart of the unmanned retail revolution that has really taken the globe by storm. Why not cars? You can purchase gold, burritos, and even fresh veggies from vending machines. When the first vehicle vending machine was introduced in 2013, Ernest Garcia III, Ryan Keeton, and Ben Huston most likely had that in mind. Carvana, dubbed the “Amazon of Auto,” has successfully introduced 14 car vending machines around the United States.
It is a really easy procedure. A consumer must first go to carvana.com, where they may choose from over 10,000 cars and even sell their own vehicle. Next, just arrange for a vehicle vending machine pickup. Following the car’s “vend” into the delivery bay, clients are free to explore the vehicle and finish any outstanding paperwork. Every automobile has completed a rigorous 150-point examination to get the Carvana certification, which makes them even more thrilling. If the consumer is not satisfied with the vehicle even after that, they may return it within seven days.
#4 Coca-Cola: First to Market Using Vending Machines
Coca-Cola is the most popular brand in the world presumably because it is always coming up with innovative methods to make its drink enjoyable. And that’s most likely the reason it was among the first businesses to include vending machines into a major aspect of their marketing plan.
The Person Giving Hugs
As the name implies, you have to hug the machine in order to get a Coke can from this vending machine. The purpose is to spread awareness of the value of hugs and the joy that can be found in modest gestures.
THE ONE CONSTRUCTED OF ICE
In defiance of all obstacles, Coca-Cola created a whole ice vending machine to advertise Coca-Cola Clear, their newest beverage. Even though it wasn’t intended for daily usage, this machine was used as a publicity gimmick during the Japanese launch event. When onlookers shared a picture of their experience on social media, they were given a free sample of the product.
The Individual With The Dance
Coca-Cola introduced a vending machine in South Korea that offered free beverages to everyone who danced, which was another brilliant marketing ploy.m Customers are encouraged to dance along with the Korean boy band 2 PM thanks to the Xbox Kinect. The system tracked the user’s movements using artificial intelligence (AI), and the more well they do, the more Coke bottles they would get as compensation!
In the constantly changing landscape of the vending industry, vending machine software maximizes performance by offering sophisticated characteristics like inventory management, sales analytics, and surveillance from afar. This enables operators to maximize sales and provide outstanding client service.
LINKITSOFT: RETURNING ATTENTION TO CONVENIENCE
Even though our business is still new and expanding quickly, we still have a lot to offer the vending environment.