MACHINE INNOVATION


Contactless transforms machines


As far as vending machines go, perhaps the biggest evolution in recent times, is the rapid acceleration towards cashless/contactless payment systems across all variations of machine and there new innovations in this field are continuously being announced.


T


he ongoing demand for contactless payment in vending and OCS comes as the shift in consumerism leans towards card payment with cash in decline. Contactless payment not only


provides convenience, but improves operational efficiencies and cashflow, as well as future-proofing machine estates beyond the traditional coin-operated solutions on many unattended machines. New devices on the market offer


clever technology to assist with self- service machine elements, alongside convenient and simple contactless payment solutions in an all-in-one device with built-in telemetry. Such solutions are is ideal for


future-proofing any vending and OCS businesses with added innovative features, from offering a configurable selection window for different machine programmes, to multimedia capabilities with the ability to play multimedia such as videos or adverts


through HDMI screens or monitors. Vianet’s new ‘SmartContact Pro’ contactless payment terminal is one such device which will suit any business looking to perhaps utilise for advertising space, as an additional revenue stream. Rachel Little, Vianet marketing manager said: “This is just a few of the possibilities with this clever device, which has the potential to transform the possibilities for your machine estate and allow you to manage your machine assets remotely from anywhere in the world. “Not only this, but the integrated telemetry offers a solution for


operators to access machine data and insights remotely, allowing businesses to manage machine estates anywhere, anytime.”


MOBILE PHONES


While contactless vending is now the new normal, with the popularity of mobile phone payments (using Apple/Google Pay) on the rise, the way consumers are using it is changing. The move from cash and card payments to using our phone


instead is a significant one, and something that will drive the next stage of development in contactless vending.


16 | vendinginternational-online.com


The next natural step for operators is to consider how the increase in mobile phone payments can be leveraged to their advantage. Adding options like loyalty, rewards and promotions can help maximise sales and encourage repeat purchasing. Introducing apps that make all these benefits easily accessible and make buying simpler is another method widely used by high street hospitality chains. Laura Barwell, head of business development commented: “Our


approach is very much about what else contactless can do for your business. It can add value in the form of advanced loyalty schemes, detailed customer data capture, bespoke promotions, and even green initiatives. Gaining insight on customers and purchasing habits can help operators to grow their sales and increase customer engagement.” Laura continues: “The beauty of our VMC Flex technology is


its flexibility, and most recently we’ve added the Payter payment terminal to our portfolio. This new terminal offers our customers a 4G-ready reader that is very quick to set up, supporting payment with contactless card, mobile phone and even QR codes. Instant connection via SIM enables immediate service and competitive transaction rates from Elavon make it a really compelling package.” She said: “Ultimately consumers want (and expect) convenience now with payments, and the surge in mobile phone payments creates new opportunities for the evolution of vending machines, in terms of how they are used and their future sales potential. Changing consumer demands during and post pandemic have driven the transformation of machine payment systems in vending. This is a rapidly advancing environment which will no doubt bring many new and exciting innovations as we go into the new year.


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