Monday, September 17, 2007

What is Cashless Vending Machine Technology?

Have you ever wondered how a vending machine actually works?
Behind the product dispensing, cash generating vending machine lay the technical aspects which actually make it function. With time, there has been an increasing amount of attention being paid on innovations in the vending technology.

The visible parts include the coin acceptor and bill readers. These are at the front of the machine and used by customers to make payment for the desired products. The product dispenser is also at the front of the machine. The other parts inside the vending machine are the vending trays, channels, bins, rotors, sensors, etc. all these facilitate the customer to get the required items after they insert money and the currency detector verifies that such amount is sufficient to get the desired product.

With advances in vending machine technology, these machines have become more consistent and rewarding with reliable performance. A recent trend has been the increasing popularity of cashless vending machines which accept credit and debit cards. This has empowered people on the run to use vending machines without searching for change and wasting time. This technology results in faster transactions as well as higher profits for the vending operator. The price of products is higher, customers are more satisfied and as a result, vending business has become more financially rewarding.

A large number of good vending companies like Planet Antares Inc. have started supplying vending machines with this technology. This can be a profitable business opportunity if you are planning to start your own vending machine business.

Another benefit of cashless vending machines is the significant reduction in thefts and vandalism. Using cashless payment technology enables your vending machine to go cash-free and hence, prevent damage to your business.

You can also get rid of frequent repairs to your vending machine by using this technology. Coin receptacles and bill readers are commonly damaged with wear and tear as well as constant customer handling. Credit card acceptors are more durable in comparison and also minimize repair expenses for machines.

Remember that such technical innovations will make your vending business more effective and economical, after the initial investment in the machine. However, the success of cashless vending machines will depend on the location and products also. These are not a viable option for schools and children’s products. High priced products are more suitable for such type of vending.

Keep the pros and cons of cashless vending in mind before making a decision to buy such a machine or a more traditional one.

Friday, September 7, 2007

All About Full Line Planet Antares Vending

Initially, full line vending business started with large retailers providing vending machines to all branches of large enterprises. However, this arrangement did not suit the companies which had different product preferences than the standard products offered by the vending company.

With time, the smaller, customized companies became more common as full line vending providers as they catered to the specific needs of the business owners and staff with lower prices and better service.

The most popular form of such machines is the soda/snack machines which are desired by most locations. Unlike other vending machines, business owners don’t need much convincing for keeping the machine in their premises and may even take the initiative to request such installation. This is an important benefit for the vending operators. Also, these machines are rarely asked to be removed from locations unless they are being well-maintained and serviced. This makes them like a permanent fixture which can generate consistent income.

Another feature of these machines is their large size which ensures lesser thefts. Moreover, vend counters help in avoiding cash embezzlement by employees or any other person. On the other hand, full line vending machines are bulkier and heavier and thus, difficult to move to a better location without the help of a third party. Servicing of such machines also takes more time as compared to bulk vending machines. The repair is more complicated and may often require professional support. Most importantly, these machines are expensive and may not be the right option for starters with a low budget.

If you have decided to start a full line vending business, you must choose the kind of machines you will buy from a vending machine supplier. It is important to find a superior-quality vending machine provider such as Planet Antares Inc. to get the best possible deal from a range of vending machines. These may be separate product vending machines like snack and soda machines or a combo machine which dispenses both these products. Check the capacity of such a machine as it may be less for each product. You don’t want to spend too much time in refilling products rather than forming strategies to improve your business. However, you must regularly change snacks or beverages with short expiry periods.

Finding a good location is another important aspect of successful vending business. You need to find locations which have not yet been explored, which is easier said than done. The locations should be such that you can easily keep track of vending operations as well as earn more than the location costs and commission paid to the business premise owner.

A full line vending business requires other kinds of considerations as well. These include bank arrangements, business license or permits, taxes, etc. make sure that you have knowledge of all these aspects before you say go!