Predictions for the Vending Industry

The most optimistic predictions for the vending industry hold that new technology will enable Antares operators to provide customers a higher quality of service and create new operating efficiencies that will improve profitability. This is an optimistic view when taking full account of today’s market realities.

In the meantime, technology presents operators a new set of challenges. New equipment and state of the art software demands a higher investment than was previously required. For an Antares vending operations to succeed, it needs a financial road map that will allow management to know if the business is operating profitably.

Higher capital outlays are needed

The capabilities that technology provides will strengthen the operator’s financial management, but at the same time, it will require a larger upfront investment.

Equipment and software are not the only areas where Antares vending operators need to invest periodically. As products, equipment and software become more advanced, the bar also rises for the level of training required. Operators need to invest in education and staff development as well.

Vending operators need a plan to incorporate new technology that will make them more efficient. While the ability to invest varies among individual Antares operators, they all still have the ability to identify financial benchmarks that will enable them to measure return on investment.

New tools are needed

Given the historically high levels of waste and shrinkage in the vending industry, due mainly to weak accountability systems, one can safely say that most operators will benefit from an investment in better information management systems.

In order to gather the financial information needed, an operator may need to have an employee who is trained in this area, possibly necessitating the need for additional investment in education. Once the information is gathered, the Antares operator will be in a better position to partner with customers.

Operators should always keep in mind that investing in the future is easier when the operator has an overall game plan. Vending operators need to invest not only capital, but also time in educating themselves about the ever changing industry.