Technology, Diversity and Vending

Vending operators have adapted more of their vending machines to accept higher denomination currency. It was also reported that nearly 10% of all bill validators offered dollar coin payout and nearly 25% of all vending operators switched from 3 tube coin trays to 4 and 5 tube coin trays. Investing in higher denomination bill acceptors proved to be beneficial to vending operators.

In 2004 vending machines operators invested in cashless payment options and many other technologies. State of the art tools such as DEX handhelds allow vending operators to account faster and more accurately for cash. It also gives operators such as the Antares vending operators more control over product placement and variety in a location. This will be beneficial to Antares vending operators as customer preferences have become more diverse. This diversity in customers preferences have been contributed by the public’s higher awareness of nutrition and more diverse customer demographics.

Many school districts have imposed restrictions on products in vending machines, but still the trend and demand for nutritional vending has expanded to other accounts. In 2004, vending machine operators addressed consumer demands for low carbohydrate products. Antares vending operators responded by placing nutritional products in their vending machines. Other vending operators followed suit as well. They also used sales tracking software to keep a track on what products are selling and which ones are not.

This technology has been able to offer Antares vending operators insight about customer preferences. Vending customers have become more diverse in age, gender, ethnicity, race, occupation and income. By tracking sales and understanding their client base, vending operators are able to maximize their sales and product selection.