MACHINE UPDATE


The plain metal box transformed


Vending machines are evolving with emphasis on the trends towards contactless and convenience. VI canvassed some key industry figures to find out what is changing and what operators need to be aware of.


David Llewellyn, chief executive of the AVA “In the last year, consumer behaviour has changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with all industries needing to adapt and evolve in order to meet new demands and routes of access. The vending industry is no exception, adapting to cater for new working and retail environments. Since the arrival of COVID-19, the vending industry has seen a rapid


acceleration in the adoption of cashless technologies, with coin-based vending machine operators and manufacturers being encouraged to consider integrating cashless solutions to their machines. Despite appearances, vending has always been driven by


technological developments. The plain metal box people associate with vending has changed in significant ways over the years, from the addition of screens to provide enhanced product information, to cashless and even contactless technology. At present, almost half (47%) of all pay vend vending machines


now support cashless payments, which is a 235% increase in the last three years, according to the AVA’s 2020 census. Cashless payments are also stretching further than just contactless card payments, as payments made by smartphone devices have also increased by 27% in the last three years. As consumers grow more comfortable with cashless catering and


other types of retail technology, we are also seeing a rise in unattended retail markets, such as micro market vending – a custom


designed vending market or mart with a self-checkout kiosk. In some cases, these unattended retail markets do not even require the consumer to physically pay at the point of purchase, instead technology tracks what the consumers are leaving the store with and charges them later. During the last year, it has been so important that businesses


could find new opportunities and ensure they are able to take advantage of the circumstances, rather than admitting defeat. This level of technology and innovation shows that the industry is ready for the future, where contactless interaction and customer safety is at the heart of the retail customer experience.”


Rachel Little, Vianet marketing manager “The demand for contactless is growing significantly. Even before the pandemic, consumers were favouring speed and convenience over traditional payment methods. The pandemic accelerated this growth, with consumers fearing cash was dirty and a sure way to spread viral germs. Vianet, a data insight and contactless payment provider for the


vending industry, carried out a study through the pandemic looking at the rise in the use of contactless payment. Over lockdown, Vianet saw a huge increase in contactless payment transactions on vending machines across their estate which offered both cash and contactless payment options. These figures rose on machines that were still actively being used throughout the pandemic, showing a sharp rise in lockdown 1.0 where up to 68% of vending transactions were contactless. This continued to accelerate throughout 2020 and into 2021. Up to 74% contactless usage was recorded on vending machines in April 2021. Contactless payment usage in vending has increased by a massive +50% since January 2020. Vianet’s insight shows this consumer demand has continued, as


contactless usage is still progressively rising as we return to a level of normality. This data is vital for any vending operators looking to futureproof their estate. Cash is in decline, and contactless not only provides a more secure and convenient payment method for the consumer, but it safeguards vending operators. Contactless payment can protect your business from profit loss as well as improve cashflow and efficiency through secure transactions and


14 | vendinginternational-online.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28