Vending Equipment Archives - Page 3 of 10

21st January 2023

Safety, Quality, Profitability for Vending Operators

Safety, Quality, Profitability for Vending Operators https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_203205634-scaled.jpeg 2048 1365 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_203205634-scaled.jpeg 21st January 2023 21st September 2022

GAD works with a variety of Vending Operators that service many types of end locations. Part of our job is to help our Vending Operators with their profitability, safety and operational streamlining.

Service at the End Location

Service is the pain point for many of the end location customers. This is especially important for independent operators. Tasked with overseeing everything to do with the equipment, payment and stock levels this can be a big lift for a single operator.

But GAD can help.

Rethinking Vending Management

It is critical to manage your time, your route efficiencies and your profitability. Crane Vending offers Simplifi new software apps to manage your entire business on your smart phone. Set up stock alerts. Machine malfunction. And other alerts to help you be aware of issues before your end location. This helps you stop reacting to being proactive.

Customization is Key

Know your customer. Customize your vending equipment to service the type of customer. You may want a mix use machine that delivers both liquids and snacks. Check out the vendors that deliver full meals. Place a vending machine that dispense products like PPE, cell phone accessories or other high need merchandise.

Use Quality Equipment Reduces Ongoing Costs

Maintenance is key to keeping a quality machine in its best working order. Crane vending machines partnered with GAD Vending parts department keep your machines working 24 hours delivering product.

Machine Placement is Key

Machine placement is key. High traffic areas. Low competition areas like breakrooms. Unique locations like apartment complexes, schools and even convenience stores.

Many customers are looking for self service, securing product and low employee interaction cost. This opens up all new positions for vending machines. High priced products can be secured without employee costs. Small items can be vended easily.

Vending machines aren’t just for candy any more! Vending is an answer for today’s growing demand of retail and consumer expectations.

15th January 2023

Vending – Brand Extension and New Marketing Opportunities

Vending – Brand Extension and New Marketing Opportunities https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/YSL-vending-machine.jpg 1100 450 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/YSL-vending-machine.jpg 15th January 2023 21st September 2022

Vending: Not Just for Vending

How Convenience Services is Expanding

Vending: it’s not just for vending anymore. As retailers and brands look for ways to extend their reach and distribute their products in new ways, they’re turning to vending for customized merchandising solutions. A trend driven by both retailers and end users seeking self-service, vending operators are presented with new market opportunities to deploy the equipment they’ve been using for years in a whole new way.

Brand Extension

How Custom Vending Can Play a Role

Auto Vending Specialists (AVS), an Australian equipment distributor, has successfully used vending for companies seeking to deploy and extend their brands in unique ways. Some of the world’s leading retailers, including Moet, Armani, Lancôme, and Yves Saint Laurent, have partnered with AVS to produce custom vending machines that both promote their brands and delight their customers.

Their most recognizable project supported wine producer Moet with a custom vending machine. Designed to dispense single-serving champagne bottles, the fully branded vending machines debuted at high-end events and venues. Vending gave Moet an interactive way to take their brand and their product directly to the end customer.

The custom machine program resulted in an uplift for AVS revenue and awareness. To support the custom requests, many of which are for pop-up or temporary events, the AVS model enables companies and brands to rent the machines. This allows them to use the same equipment from event to event, with custom wraps and graphics for each. AVS founder, Basil Hourmouzis, explained that while AVS works with multiple machine manufacturers, they lean on CPI machines for custom events. The flexibility and brand reach enabled by the custom machines’ graphics and digital media screens delivers extra value to retailers.

Big Branding Opportunities

Vending’s Custom Future

Hourmouzis believes that the trend towards non-traditional vending will continue to increase over the years, as retailers look for new ways to distribute and promote their products and brands. Both distributors and operators should accommodate these changing needs, increasing the flexibility of their offerings to support clientele beyond the traditional convenience services market. Increased consumer reliance on self-service will mean increased demands from brands looking for new options to stay engaged with their customers.

2nd November 2022

Vending – Brand Extension and New Marketing Opportunities

Vending: Not Just for Vending

How Convenience Services is Expanding

Brand Extension

How Custom Vending Can Play a Role

Big Branding Opportunities

Vending’s Custom Future

20th October 2022

Vending Payment Options: What Customers Want

Vending Payment Options: What Customers Want https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_512835730-scaled.jpeg 2048 1365 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_512835730-scaled.jpeg 20th October 2022 21st September 2022

Cash Payment Preferences

Options, options, options: consumers demand them in everything that touches their lives. I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded about the proliferation of the seemingly never-ending turnover of snack and drink options in your warehouses and machines.

Well, the latest Federal Reserve Diary of Consumer Payment Choice has been published and, once again, confirms that consumers expect options in payment methods when making an in-person purchase. The continued rise in digital payment methods is evident from the study, but so is the importance of (and preference) for cash payment as an option.

Where Cash Counts

Consumers don’t look at the decision to use cash or a digital payment type as zero-sum. And, this is particularly true for transactions under $10, where cash is used 59% of the time according to another study by Cardtronics. Consumers expect options in the goods and services they purchase, as well as how they purchase those goods and services.

In that 2018 Health of Cash study by Cardtronics, 1000 consumers aged 18 and over were surveyed on their in-person (not online) spending preferences. 73% of those consumers reported using cash regularly despite other forms of payment being available, and nearly 45% said they would stop going to a store or restaurant if it stopped accepting cash. The findings also concluded that 56% of people use cash for purchase amounts of $30 or less, just slightly below the 59% for purchases $10 or less.

In that same Cardtronics study, I was surprised to read that 81% of consumers use cash as frequently, if not more, than they did last year. I’ve read an increasing amount of articles describing cash as a budgeting tool for the younger generations—a demographic we don’t think of as having any meaningful interactions with cash. Turns out, what’s old is new again—just like my college clothes, long ago discarded in the back of my closet. If they only still fit…

Going Steady with Cash

The continued use of cash is also reflected in data on ATM usage. In 2018, six in 10 people (59%) reported withdrawing money from an ATM monthly or more frequently, according to a Mercator Advisory Group report. This rate remains unchanged from a few years ago, as Mercator found that six in 10 people used an ATM at least monthly in 2016, showing that ATM usage remains stable.

Even millennials are withdrawing cash at high rates. That same Mercator report found that 53% of people aged 18 to 34 reported at least monthly ATM usage. The report also found that young adults are also more willing to try alternative authentication methods including the use of biometric data. It’s hard to conclude against cash remaining a preferred, if not desired, payment option with so many young people relying on ATMs to withdraw cash at least a few times a month.

Looking back to the Federal Reserve study, if we compare a 2013 Consumer Diary study to the 2018 edition, it is interesting how little has changed. Back in 2013, the majority of purchases (across all demographic groups) $10 or under were made using cash; in 2018, the same remains true. Debit card usage continues to grow, but only becomes dominant in transactions exceeding $25.

Coping in a Cashless Society

Another demographic to consider is the unbanked. According to a late 2017 survey by the FDIC, one in four US households are unbanked or underbanked—referring to people who don’t have a bank account, or only use their account for direct deposits, and immediately withdraw the balance. This population only transacts in cash, and carries a significant amount of buying power. And, the younger generations we mentioned before? The population aged 15-34 makes up the largest portion of the unbanked and underbanked. We see this more than ever, with some cities now reacting by mandating retailers accept cash in an effort to protect the unbanked and underbanked as the trend of stores going completely cashless rises. My very own city of Philadelphia just passed a similar law prohibiting “cashless only” retail operations.

A route driver or technician approaches a bank of machines, and can instantly see, in simple green, yellow or red icons, the health status of every payment peripheral in those machines. They can see all alarms in priority sequence to help the tech work through the tasks at hand. And best of all, any alarm automatically links to a series of written troubleshooting steps or videos to walk anyone through to resolution.

What This All Means for Vending

We are a convenience services industry, delivering outstanding products and services every day. Cleaned, filled, and working isn’t enough to drive sales growth. Operators need to ensure every potential vend patron can make a purchase at machines, with no barriers. While we all get excited about the possibilities of cashless (as we should—connectivity does amazing things for machine efficiencies and customer experience), we can’t assume that because cashless is great, cash no longer is. Cash isn’t going anywhere, and operators are wise to remember this. A great operation continues to be a diversified one.

We always say it, because it’s always true: from cash to credit to mobile and beyond, design your operation to take whatever is in the consumer’s wallet.

13th October 2022

Vending Equipment

Vending Operators: Raising the Bar to Win

Vending Operators: Raising the Bar to Win https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_467087300-scaled.jpeg 2048 1365 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_467087300-scaled.jpeg 13th October 2022 4th October 2022

Rethinking Vending Standards

“Cleaned, Filled, and Working” is No Longer Enough

In vending, the tried-and-true mantra that measured the success of a machine has long been “cleaned, filled, and working.” But in a time of customer empowerment wherein 73% of customers will stop doing business with a brand after three or fewer experiences, vending operators will be forced to reevaluate what makes a good experience at their machine. As consumers continue to rely on and seek out self-service experiences, customer engagement and attraction will prove to be essential elements of a vending business.

Crane Media Network, CPI’s out-of-home digital advertising network, is comprised of more than 40k MEDIA vending machine screens nationwide and enables operators to earn additional revenue through opt-in use of their screened devices to display 3rd party advertisements. While the network works as a powerful tool for consumer brands looking to extend their out-of-home advertising presence, the Crane MEDIA platform gives operators engaging content that allows them to move products, influence user behavior, and, most importantly, win new business.

IntelFoods, a long-time customer of CPI, has been earning additional revenue participating in Medianet for over 8 years. Based out of New York City, IntelFoods runs almost 400 machines across high-traffic locations, such as residential buildings, college campuses, and stadiums. Stan Rubinov, COO of IntelFoods, is a longtime advocate of CPI’s MEDIA2 platform, and the extended engagement it provides with Medianet. Rubinov gave details on how Medianet not only helps him engage customers, but also grow his business.

Raising the Bar on Revenue Potential

How MEDIA2 Delivers More

The MEDIA2 platform, with its dynamic content, has provided a unique way to directly engage consumers for years. Following a year where customers are actively seeking alternatives to traditional retail stores, this level of dynamic engagement is more critical than ever.

According to Rubinov, engaging customers provides operators with advantages that surpass the financial benefit. Rubinov knows that in the low-margin vending industry it’s crucial to look for additional revenue opportunities. In most cases, though, the digital media aspect is key to getting through the door with new end-location customers. “The intangible part,” Rubinov says, “is that you have certain content on the screen that attracts people…it’s the appeal of content on the machine itself, the advertisement functionality” that gets people up in front of the machine. According to Rubinov, not only does digital media attract customers purchasing from the machine, but it also attracts locations looking for modern ways to add value for their customers, residents, and employees.

The operators are not the only ones benefitting from Medianet’s services. End users enjoy the variety of displays that are presented on the screens as well. In a year where digital engagement skyrocketed, Medianet survey found that 78% of the respondents stated that they interact with QR Codes when they encounter them—whether they need to or not. Media interaction is quickly advancing from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’.

Rubinov further elaborated on this point, saying that in the past year where self-service options were utilized more than ever, IntelFoods’ Medianet machines consistently outperformed their non-media machines. According to a study done by a national developer, there was a “definite uptick” in traffic at the Medianet machines in comparison to the standard vending machines.

Becoming Essential

Why Digital Media Will Drive the Future of Customer Engagement

Rubinov believes machines offering media and digital engagement will be a staple in vending services soon, just as cashless components are now. As Rubinov reflected, operators were once skeptical of the need to install cashless components to their machines. Now? It’s unlikely to see a machine without a full suite of cashless acceptance. “A lot of people are hesitant to commit to the cost and change… in the future [MEDIA machines] will be a given,” says Rubinov.

As operators look to invest in technology, they should remember to look beyond connectivity and payment. They should look back to the heart of vending: the machine itself. When it comes to engaging consumers, the machine, the first touchpoint, is more important than ever.

28th September 2022

In Celebration of International Coffee Day – Give Crane Vending a Taste

In Celebration of International Coffee Day – Give Crane Vending a Taste https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/photo-x.jpg 1800 1200 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/photo-x.jpg 28th September 2022 29th September 2022

Yes, we acknowledge there was a time when the jokes about vending machine coffee were very true. The original coffee vending machines were pretty bad.

But Crane has spent years perfecting their new equipment to give the best baristas a challenge on taste. In are Crane coffee vending machines with bean grinders integrated in the machines for truly fresh ground coffee. Then there is an amazing selection of quality options to create the perfect cup. Choose from a variety of flavors, frothing and sweetening options. Create your perfect cup – and the machine will remember your order for the next time.

These machines are replacing many restaurant, coffee shop and bar baristas as the quality is the same cup after cup.

If you are looking at the coffee station in your breakroom as a constant disaster, replacing the mess with a simple Crane coffee machine could be a simple solution. Or if you cater to a particularly picky coffee crowd, these units can save you time, employees and money to service your crowds.

Start with a free cup of coffee from any of our GAD sales staff. Then order your new coffee station for immediate use from our stock in Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City.

27th September 2022

How Vending Operators Can Bring Results

How Vending Operators Can Bring Results https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/vending-scaled.jpeg 2048 1367 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/vending-scaled.jpeg 27th September 2022 21st September 2022

GAD works with a variety of Vending Operators that service many types of end locations. Part of our job is to help our Vending Operators with their profitability, safety and operational streamlining.

Service at the End Location

But GAD can help.

Rethinking Vending Management

Customization is Key

Use Quality Equipment Reduces Ongoing Costs

Maintenance is key to keeping a quality machine in its best working order. Crane vending machines partnered with GAD Vending parts department keep your machines working 24 hours delivering product.

Machine Placement is Key

Machine placement is key. High traffic areas. Low competition areas like breakrooms. Unique locations like apartment complexes, schools and even convenience stores.

Vending machines aren’t just for candy any more! Vending is an answer for today’s growing demand of retail and consumer expectations.

Touchless MEI and Crane vending payment options at GAD Vending.

22nd August 2022

Vending Equipment

What Should You Be Asking Your Payment Processing Provider? 5 Security Questions

What Should You Be Asking Your Payment Processing Provider? 5 Security Questions https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/vending-pay.jpg 1000 666 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/vending-pay.jpg 22nd August 2022 16th August 2022

Navigating a Connected World

Our world is more connected than ever. The rapid pace of technological innovations has given us access to an unmatched level of convenience and speed in our day-to-day business transactions. But that innovation also comes with increased security concerns—especially when it comes to money and payments, where the security of customer data is paramount, and not all technologies are created equal.

As you consider which technology solutions are best for your business, security concerns should be top of mind. Here are five questions to ask a potential suppliers to help you find the right fit for your security needs.

1. How are they prioritizing the safety and security of their customers?

When it comes to payments and the protection of your business data and customers’ information, a good partner should take security just as seriously as you do. They should have protocols and teams in place to continuously monitor all technology for potential weaknesses and threats, from the design phase all the way through implementation, service and updates. Look for a company with a dedicated Security Compliance Officer who ensures all processes are carefully followed, and has your business’s security as their top priority.

2. Are they offering security in-depth, or just at the perimeter?

When you picture security—whether digital or physical—the first thing that comes to mind is protecting the perimeter from outside threats. In the physical world, these are things like locks and security guards—in the digital world, these come in the form of network firewalls and tools to protect technology from outside hackers. But today’s threats can also come through a different source: the applications and devices used by companies and their personnel. A good payments partner should understand the interconnected nature of modern technology and be prepared to address the security threats that come with it. That holistic approach, often referred to as “Security In Depth,” is key to protecting your customers’ payments and their privacy from all sides. Always ask potential partners how they view security – what you’re looking for is a robust, considered answer that reflects a culture of safety, not just a checkbox for your inquiry.

3. How are they securing connected devices?

The more interconnected devices and applications your system has, the more targets cybercriminals can potentially exploit. But that interconnectedness is key to doing business the way customers expect in 2021—so how are your payments partners protecting your system as a whole? Any holistic security approach should include detailed, dedicated security for connected devices and applications, in addition to network security. If your partners can’t speak specifically to their device-level protections, that could be a red flag.

4. How are they staying on top of evolving threats?

Security is not a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. New threats and vulnerabilities are arising every day, and the speed at which cybercriminals are taking advantage of those vulnerabilities is accelerating. Any potential security partner should readily acknowledge this reality, and have protocols in place to stay ahead of the latest threats. Look for a partner that is a part of the IoT Security Foundation, which rapidly updates members on relevant security frameworks and threats, allowing all members of the foundation to proactively address threats before they become a problem.

5. How are they monitoring their own software and technology?

While it’s vital to stay on top of evolving threats throughout the industry, it’s just as important that your suppliers continuously examine their own technology for potential weaknesses, and are positioned to rapidly respond. Tools like Black Duck allow companies to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Your partner should continually monitor all their software and tech, quickly identifying and patching any weak points to keep your data and your customers’ data secure and safe. Transparency is key here – if your partner is open, communicative, and engaged in sharing and correcting potential threats, that’s a good thing – don’t mistake candor in threat communication and correction for weakness in security. It could be a sign that your partner is on top of evolving technology threats, and proactive in solving them. And you can be sure that if your partners aren’t proactive in protecting their own systems, they won’t be proactive in protecting yours.

The Takeaway

When it comes to the security of your business in an interconnected age, the stakes are high—but the right partner can help mitigate those risks and keep your business protected from evolving threats. Any good partner should treat your security concerns as an ongoing discussion to help keep you protected. These questions can serve as the beginning of that discussion as you find the payments partner that’s right for you, your customers, and your business. And while there’s no single way to address security, you can gain confidence in a partner who is open and confident engaging in a discussion, and offers a depth of analysis that goes beyond a simple “yes” or “no.”

Looking for more resources that can help you improve the safety and security of your payment systems? GAD Knows Vending. As an authorized distributor for Crane Vending, GAD knows how to help you secure your vending machines.

4th August 2022

Labor Shortage Issues? Want to Accept Cards and CASH? Look Into How Self Check Out Can Help Your Business

Labor Shortage Issues? Want to Accept Cards and CASH? Look Into How Self Check Out Can Help Your Business https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cashless-i.jpg 750 520 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cashless-i.jpg 4th August 2022 21st July 2022

47% of all sales that total under $25 are paid in cash

It’s 2022–Retailers have recognized the value of self-checkout technology and the benefits it will bring to their stores including easing labor shortage problems, improving the customer experience, and, of course, increasing the bottom line. Now you need to consider how to deploy your self-checkout to best suit the needs of your stores and your customers; the big question is—do you automate cash, or go completely cashless?

You may be leaning toward cashless—it’s less costly upfront, and card payments seem more like “the future.” Let’s examine that assumption—can you get the full ROI you expect from your self-checkout without adding cash? First consider from the perspective of the speed of service; self-checkout will move your customers through the line faster and eliminate long lines at peak times of day. If you’ve only automated cashless payments you haven’t solved the complete problem, and will not be able to repurpose cashiers to take on additional store related tasks, like cleaning, stocking shelves, etc. Stores that struggle with staff shortages will find relief by allowing their customers to checkout without their assistance, ensuring only one cashier is required to ring up age-verified products.

41% of customers will abandon their purchase if they see a long line

What is your customers’ experience? For the average purchase in convenience stores, consumers overwhelmingly choose cash; 47% of all purchase values under $25 are paid in cash. The percentage of cash usage in your stores may be even higher given that the average c-store transaction is between $3.75-9.00; recent studies report around 40-50% of purchases are made in cash. In addition to preferences, the Federal Reserve estimates 20-28% of the population is currently “unbanked,” or “underbanked,” and do not have access to card payments. Cashless only self-checkouts could lead customers to perceive unfairness—why should they wait in line while the card paying customer can breeze right through? It’s not worth the risk alienating such a large portion of your customers.

Card-only self-checkouts will still require a cashier to handle all cash payments, increasing the likelihood that lines will continue to be long at rush hour, and risk customers walking out without purchasing. 41% of customers will abandon their purchase if they see a long line, and one bad experience can sour customers on your entire business. Almost half of consumers avoid a specific store if they have to wait longer than 5 minutes. No one wants to lose business due to customer dissatisfaction, and these lines can be effectively eliminated by deploying cash automation with self-checkout.

Lastly, cashless processing isn’t always as cheap as it seems to be. There’s a good chance cash payments cost less as a percentage of your revenue than cashless. Driving customers to cashless may actually increase costs and negatively impact profit margins.

In order to fully reap the benefits of your self-checkout deployment you need to include both cash and cashless payments. Cash automation makes it a well-rounded solution and delivers a superior ROI for your business.

If you are looking for self check out equipment that accept both cash and cards, give GAD a call. Our sales team is knowledgeable to help retailers save on labor cost, speed check-out, and improve customer experience.

26th July 2022

3 Reasons Why Self Checkout is a Smart 2022 Solution

3 Reasons Why Self Checkout is a Smart 2022 Solution https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cpi-3.jpg 332 347 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cpi-3.jpg 26th July 2022 21st July 2022

It’s 2022 and savvy retail owners have recognized the value of self-checkout technology and the benefits it will bring to their stores including:

Easing labor shortage problems
Improving the customer experience
Increasing the bottom line

Now you need to consider how to deploy your self-checkout to best suit the needs of your stores and your customers; the remaining big question is—do you automate cash, or go completely cashless?

47% of all purchase values under $25 are paid in cash

You may be leaning toward cashless—it’s less costly upfront, and card payments seem more like “the future.” Let’s examine that assumption—can you get the full ROI you expect from your self-checkout without adding cash? First consider from the perspective of the speed of service; self-checkout will move your customers through the line faster and eliminate long lines at peak times of day. If you’ve only automated cashless payments you haven’t solved the complete problem, and will not be able to repurpose cashiers to take on additional store related tasks, like cleaning, stocking shelves, etc. Stores that struggle with staff shortages will find relief by allowing their customers to checkout without their assistance, ensuring only a few manager cashiers are required to ring up age-verified products and help customers with items that don’t want to ring up easily.

Next, think about your customer’s experience. For the average purchase in convenience stores, consumers overwhelmingly choose cash; 47% of all purchase values under $25 are paid in cash. The percentage of cash usage in your stores may be even higher given that the average c-store transaction is between $3.75-9.00; recent studies report around 40-50% of purchases are made in cash. In addition to preferences, the Federal Reserve estimates 20-28% of the population is currently “unbanked,” or “underbanked,” and do not have access to card payments. Cashless only self-checkouts could lead customers to perceive unfairness—why should they wait in line while the card paying customer can breeze right through? It’s up to the retailer to know their average ticket sale and customer demographic to make the right choice before going all cashless.

41% of customers will abandon their purchase if they see a long line

In order to fully reap the benefits of your self-checkout deployment you need to decide to include both cash and cashless payments. Cash automation makes it a well-rounded solution and delivers a superior ROI for your business.

Having a conversation with a well versed GAD Vending sales person can help you determine the optimal self checkout solutions for your business. Let us help today.