Vend Machine Sales As High-Tech

Vending machines are an old-fashioned selling channel. Yet most current stories of successful vending machine implementations are about new-fangled technology.

• Hundreds of Macy’s stores have had vending machines to dispense electronics products. Signage tells shoppers they can seek advice from sales personnel about what to purchase from the machines. 
• Best Buy Express vending machines are located in airports, each machine selling those items from the Best Buy line with which the customer has high familiarity. Considering that Best Buy closed fifty of their Big Box stores last year and is pulling back support for the Geek Squad business component, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, expect to see more Best Buy vending machines. 

     Shoppers between ages 18 and 29 years—called variously Gen Y and Millennials—like to buy from vending machines. The explanation given is that young adult consumers embrace technology. Gen Y seeks the speed associated with high tech. Kraft Foods and Samsung developed a vending machine which allows the customer to select multiple items rather than make each purchase separately. Don’t slow down the shopper by requiring cash exchanges. Have machines that accept credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets.
     Selling to older consumers, use technology to assure them of quality. Senior citizens often associate vending machines with stale food and cheaply-made tchotchkes. To change those sorts of barriers to usage, Canteen’s 2bU vending program features local and organic items.
     Even if you’re selling nutritionally vapid stuff, technology adds high-class polish. The Vend Ever Cotton Candy Factory produces the confection while you watch, and the output is said to be warmer and fluffier than what you could buy at the fair booth next to the deep-fried Oreos stand.
     With that older demographic more willing to spend time paying with cash, there can be another tie-in to an increased interest in vending machine sales, speculates The Independent in the U.K. It’s anonymity.
     At the vending machine, consumers don’t have to identify themselves or interact with a salesperson if they choose not to. They need not be embarrassed by their purchases. Just like sitting in front of the computer keyboard. Or wanting a computer keyboard from a vending machine. At the machines located within Facebook headquarters, you can get a replacement keyboard or even a throwback to paper stationery. But you do have to scan your high-tech ID card for the stuff to drop down into the chute.

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