THE VENDIES - SB SOFTWARE A most worthwhile experience


The Vendies returns on June 3 at the Café De Paris in London. One of this year’s sponsors, vending software specialist SB Software, is very pleased to be sponsoring the Best Overall Operator category. Here’s what managing director Simon Black had to say about getting involved …


1. WHAT DOES SB SOFTWARE LIKE ABOUT THE VENDIES? We like everything about the Vendies. Vending is an arduous business. Every day is a challenge – whatever your role. And the everyday tasks that drive our sector are demanding. So, the Vendies is an ideal opportunity to pause, and reflect on


what is happening all around us. We can learn from others. We can celebrate success. We can enjoy the company of key players in our market. And once all the helium balloons have deflated, we can return to


work. The machine parks will still be there. But maybe we will see them with different eyes, refreshed by taking a bit of time out. And maybe our businesses will benefit from that too.


2. WHY ARE YOU SPONSORING THE BEST OVERALL


OPERATOR CATEGORY? We wanted to sponsor an award at the Vendies as recognition of our appreciation of the event itself, and the sector where we do business. We don’t have large marketing budgets to play around with, so it’s important that we focus on activities that we genuinely believe make a positive contribution to the industry. The Vendies definitely fits that bill. Operators are our customers. We value what they do, day-in, day-


out. So, sponsoring this particular award is a way of recognising their vital role. It’s also very handy that we are not involved in the judging in any way at all. This way, we play a role in recognising excellence amongst operators – while both congratulating the winner and commiserating with the other entrants. We are not in the fray. Perfect!


3. WHY SHOULD THE INDUSTRY GET INVOLVED BY ENTERING


VOTING AND ATTENDING? A) Whether you win or not, entering The Vendies is a most worthwhile experience.


Even the process of filling in the form to enter is a useful exercise


in itself – because you need to view your company with the eyes of others – through the lens of their perceptions, not the invariably distorting mirrors of your own PR department. If you do come away with a gong, you can feel rightly proud to


have been recognised by your peers in the sector. And be grateful that they appreciate the value of what you do. And whatever happens, it’s always good motivation to do better


next year – to the advantage of both your clients and your colleagues.


B) Voting is the right thing to do. Always – for everyone who meets the eligibility criteria. Otherwise the winners are not truly representative of our sector as a whole. It’s best for all if we get as


true a picture as possible of what is valued by our peers and clients.


C) Attending the event is always an ideal combination of the fun and the useful.


As our world gets ever more digital, online and remote, chances


to meet and engage face to face with key players in our sector become ever more valuable. And the organisers of The Vendies have perfected the recipe – giving you the chance to both enjoy the evening and talk some business on the side.


4. HOW IS THE VENDING SECTOR EVOLVING AND HOW DOES


THE VENDIES COMPLEMENT THIS? The context in which we operate has never been more dynamic, vibrant even, than it is today. Markets and customers are changing. Innovative products are


emerging. New regulations continue to impact the playing field. Important issues including the environment, waste and recycling are wielding ever more leverage. Cashless is growing more significant day by day. And everywhere technology is adding new opportunities to do things ever better. Yet, against this morphing backdrop, the core values of vending


are just as strong as they have ever been. Service and value will set the winners apart from the rest of the field. The Vendies is vital to both strands of this reality: - leveraging the new - celebrating the constant. And harnessing both.


5. WHAT DOES SB SOFTWARE HAVE TO OFFER OPERATORS


AND WHAT IS TO COME FROM SB SOFTWARE? Our unceasing commitment to operators is to make things “simply better”. This is what brings us into work every day. To date, the solutions we provide (combining both software and


hardware where relevant) have been successful in this – our clients tell us that they are effective. So, now we are going to do better still. Look out for ever


improving: - hardware (especially, to bring more of the machine park in both vending and OCS online);


- support to help our customers achieve their own objectives; - software functionality to increase and enhance the features/benefits we offer.


We are dedicated to making our clients ever more successful. And


it’s just as important to us to ensure it’s as easy as possible for them to achieve that success.


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