The traditional vending machine is a decades-old snack and beverage staple in many customer-facing locations. But with consumers now expecting more modern vending experiences, vending business owners are wondering how they can take their fleet of machines to the next level.
Smart Stores, showcased for the first time in person at Vendex North in Leeds, are the solution to helping operators diversify what, where and to whom they offer more modern services across the UK and Europe.
Here are a few reasons why operators should consider adding Smart Stores to their fleet:
Smart Stores can be placed just about anywhere.
Smart Stores are similar in dimension to a typical vending machine, which means they can be easily placed in common vending locations, like office breakrooms. They also are extremely flexible in size, where you can link up to four total cabinets to one point-of-sale (POS) terminal screen, allowing you to replace a bank of vending machines that might include a fresh food or frozen unit, into a modern grab-and-go Smart Store. Most importantly, Smart Stores can be marketed to a variety of locations, including:
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Gyms & recreational facilities
- Block of flats
- Shopping centres
- Amusement parks
- Airports
- Public transportation stations
Smart Stores offer the ability to diversify your product offering, selling more premium products.
The traditional vending machine setup often offers consumers quick (but unhealthy) food and beverage options: crisps, biscuits, sweets and carbonated, and sugary drinks.
With a growing trend toward healthier grab-and-go options, vending business owners have an opportunity to shift the narrative by switching up what they stock. A Smart Store can not only offer healthier, fresher food options, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, fruits and yogurts, but can stock anything from frozen pizzas and meals, to retail products or at-home staple items, or even sports equipment rentals, making them even more appealing to clients and consumers alike.
Smart Stores offer simple grab-and-go consumer experience.
Curious how Smart Stores work? It’s simple.
Step 1: Consumers walk up to a Smart Store and tap the screen to get started
Step 2: Consumers are prompted to tap their card.
Step 3: Upon payment authorisation, the cabinet(s) unlock, and consumers can shop.
Step 4: Upon selection(s) made, which display on the POS screen as they are removed from the cabinet(s), the consumer taps “’Complete’ and their card is charged for the final sale.
Leveraging weighted-shelf technology, the Smart Store knows exactly what a consumer takes and when. Even if a consumer puts an item back in the wrong spot, the Smart Store will alert them to move it to the correct position before completing their purchase.
It’s that easy: tap, grab and go – guaranteeing a seamless checkout experience, every time.
Smart Stores are the perfect anti-shrink solution for self-service.
A Smart Store’s proven weighted shelf technology and cameras track items removed from the store, with a 99% accuracy. This theft-proof merchandising drives increased sales and will deliver peace of mind as operators scale their businesses.
Many vending business owners are concerned about shrinkage when moving from vending machines to a micro market. Consequently, they can be very selective about which locations make sense for vending versus micro markets. With Smart Stores, operators don’t have to worry.
“I went from 12% shrinkage in a micro market placed at a premium car dealership, to 0% when I put the Smart Store into the facility,” said Ron Barrett, owner of Barrett Vending. “They just work, and they work seamlessly.”
The proven weighted-shelf technology of a Smart Store is providing peace of mind to business owners who are placing them in locations like fitness gyms, college campuses, car dealerships, hotels and more.
Included in the Store are built-in cameras that record activity occurring between the door and the consumer whenever it is open. Smart Stores provide the flexibility to review footage, if necessary, for up to 90 days, depending on the usage of the Smart Store. This footage can be accessed through Cantaloupe’s software platform, at no additional fee. Cantaloupe’s line of Smart Stores, including the Smart Store 600 and 700 series, are available in the UK and European region. Connect with our sales team to learn more.