THE VEndiEs


‘A fun and useful event’ for the vending sector


The Vendies 2022 is back in a live format this year and with SB Software sponsoring, managing director Simon Black reveals more about what the company has been up to and why they are supporting the event again this year


Sometimes (nearly always?) after a


sustained period of being “possible”, an innovation becomes suddenly “viable” or even “necessary”. The roots of that switchover can be varied. And Covid triggered a few of them of late (massive uptake of contactless right across society, or the surge in interest in the ability to activate vending or OCS buttons from a short distance away without actually touching anything.) More often things evolve gradually, even


imperceptibly, until one day people wake up and realise that tangible benefits are already within grasp today. Just ask us when you are ready to know more!


It’s been too long since we were all together (in real life!) at The Vendies. Here at SB Software we are looking forward to putting that right. Hoping to see as many of you as possible again in 2022 ….


1) What does SB Software like about the Vendies and why have you decided to get involved in sponsoring? What’s not to like about the Vendies? It’s an event that is both fun and useful, run by and for the sector where we do our very best, day- in, day-out, to make things better. It’s a chance to mix with people who we like spending time with, and who are very important to us as well. We like everything about the Vendies.


Like everyone, we found it hard last year with things being run online virtually. But Heather and Jenny and the whole team did a fantastic job making the best of a difficult situation. Thank you. The only way that the Vendies could be


better is if more of the players in our sector got involved even more deeply in whatever way they can. So, we are pleased to be doing do our bit by signing up as a sponsor.


2) Why should the industry get involved by entering voting and attending? Reading reports about the Vendies after the event is always interesting - seeing how our industry is progressing and who is making


20 | vendinginternational-online.com


the most impact. But being there on the day is so much better: you get to meet key players face to face, make new acquaintances, and maybe even explore commercial opportunities off the record (all in a fun environment). And best of all is actually taking part as


fully as you can - being a player on the pitch, not just spectating from the grandstand. The process of entering for an award is a good way to take a long hard look in the mirror: where are you doing well already, and where are the opportunities for improvement? And voting makes your voice heard, aligning the recognition of success with your own views on the sector.


3) The Vendies aims to reward innovative new products and systems, but just how is the vending sector evolving to drive this innovation? Things are always changing - evolving - all around us. In every aspect of our lives. And the vending sector is no different. We do not exist in isolation - it’s just that we have a shared focus/interest in common.


4) What does SB Software have to offer its vending customers and what is to come from SB Software? Since we started in 2008 we have grown to be the foremost provider of management systems for vending and office coffee machines across all of the British Isles.


We take pride in what we have achieved


to date including: - Vendmanager and Coffeemanager: the best management systems there are for vending and OCS, integrating with unattended retail including micromarkets - Six national awards so far, spanning innovation and customer service - Datakey and Databridge (bespoke hardware peripherals designed in-house to improve visibility and efficiency) - longer experience with micromarkets than any other UK company.


What do we plan to do next? More of the


things we do well. Learn how we can perform better still. And add a little more to our offering, with special focus on OCS and micromarkets. Check our website to keep up to date!


sbsoft.co.uk


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