Vending machines of the 20th century, move over — your 21st century competition has arrived! Not only do they deliver merchandise that’s new to the genre (cotton candy, anyone?), but they incorporate new credit card processing technology like mobile payments.
The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) recently concluded its first Gratitude Tour on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas by highlighting the latest generation of vending technology. New hardware and software enables customers to bypass traditional coin slots and bill scanners to pay for their purchase with cashless options like credit cards and smartphones that are pretty much standard among younger consumers.
In addition to snack foods and beverages, the so-called “Dream Machines” featured on the nationwide tour offered upscale fare like organic trail mix, freshly-spun cotton candy and fresh fruit alongside cosmetics, toothbrushes, magazines, cell phones and iPods. There were even machines that talk to each other, making it possible for consumers to buy a snack from one, a beverage from another and pay with just one swipe of their credit card.
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