HOSPITAL CATERING
The vending technology offering healthier choices
David Llewellyn, Chief Executive of the AVA (the Vending & Automated Retail Association), discusses the features and benefits of the latest food and drink vending machines in healthcare facilities. He explains that today’s machines use increasingly sophisticated technology to help healthcare estates teams identify the biggest-selling products, ensure rapid re-stocking, minimise waste, and ensure that patients, staff, and visitors in hospitals and other healthcare settings have a good choice of snacks, and indeed hot choices, whatever the time of day.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are prime locations for vending machines, providing a valuable service for patients, visitors, and staff, who need quick access to food and drink at all times of the day and night. For many years, however, the stereotype has often been that these vending machines are badly maintained, poorly stocked, and, most importantly, offer only a selection of unhealthy food and drink. This is far from ideal in a healthcare setting, either for those using the machines, or for healthcare estate managers tasked with keeping them operational. Thankfully, that stereotype is outdated. Instead,
today’s vending machines use a range of leading-edge technology to offer a service that is quick and seamless, while being able to dispense a healthier range of snacks and drinks. In this article, I’ll explore how modern technology is now coming to fill the gaps that vending once missed out on, and in turn helping to revolutionise hospital nutrition. Through the evolution of this technology, and an added emphasis on smart maintenance, we’ll see how modern vending is making life easier for healthcare estate managers, and making an active contribution to overall wellbeing. Gone are the days when vending machines were simply devices that ate a handful of coins, and provided the user with a potentially questionable selection in return. Today’s machines are smart, secure, connected to Wi-Fi, and incredibly versatile.
One of the most significant advances has been seen
in the incorporation of cashless payment systems. To this end, our AVA census revealed that 85% of pay vend machines now have cashless payment options. This shift to contactless payments has made transactions quicker and more reliable, reducing the need for staff intervention. The additional benefit of cashless systems has allowed for modern vending machines to be equipped with telemetry systems that gather data on purchasing habits and stock levels. This information is invaluable for operators and healthcare estate managers. It allows for better and more consistent stocking decisions, ensuring that popular items are always available, and reducing waste from less popular products. The data also helps with maintenance, as machines can send alerts when they need attention due to a fault with electrics or something similar.
Rise in machine use These technological advancements have made vending more attractive to healthcare facilities. Since 2014, we’ve seen the machine base rise by 4% in healthcare, meaning that this sector accounts for 8% of the entire machine base across the UK. Vending is the all-inclusive solution for healthcare estates, and the food selections are improved as well.
One of the biggest developments in vending has been
the shift towards healthier options. The vending machines of the past were filled with sugary drinks and high-fat
The AVA said: “Today’s vending machines use a range of leading-edge technology to offer a service that is quick and seamless.” It added: “As we look to the future, we can expect even more innovations in vending technology.”
January 2025 Health Estate Journal 63
All photos used courtesy of the Vending & Automated Retail Association
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