Tag: vending machine manufacturers

Solar Vending Machines on the Horizon

Posted on by John Van Horn

As much as vending machines evolve over the years, they all have one thing in common. Whether they dispense batteries or nachos, vending machines essentially all run on electricity.  However, according to Times Free Press, a humble Cattanooga company is looking to change the way vending machines operate entirely.

The article reports that a company called VendomMax has been working on a custom vending machine that runs entirely on solar power. VendoMax co-founders Rob Creswell and Mark Hixson officially unveiled the machine today, and the product will be available at a Las Vegas vending trade show next week. The vending machine manufacturers are hoping this machine can get some quality momentum among top beverage companies.

This unique custom solar vending machine will come in two models: A moveable version on wheels and a more traditional fixed product. Solar power is still a developing trend among a variety of different industries, and we are certainly interested on seeing how it develops over the next few years. Vending machines, especially ours, eat up a ton of energy, and a truly sustainable way to keep them running could change the business for the better. If you are looking to get a head start on the innovative side of the industry, our custom vending solutions are the perfect place to start!

The NAMA OneShow is Here

Posted on by John Van Horn

It has been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over! The NAMA OneShow, one of the vending industry’s biggest conventions, is finally upon us this week, allowing members of the vending world to convene, celebrate, and usher in another year of exciting vending innovations. There is plenty to see and do at this year’s NAMA, from keynote speeches from esteemed figures such as Newt Gingrich and Magic Johnson to appearances from some of the biggest vending machine manufacturers in the business.

If you can think of a major brand in the world of automatic dispensing, chances are they will be at the NAMA OneShow from April 24th to the 26th. From Hershey’s to PepsiCo, all of the major players in the snack, drink, and vending technology worlds will be on hand to show off their latest and greatest products. Not only is the OneShow a great opportunity for smaller vendors to get their name out to the world in a massive Vegas exhibition center, it is also a special change to witness some of the most exciting custom vending machines that will be hitting the market soon.

The folks behind Intelligent Dispensing Solutions will be at the OneShow this week, and will be looking forward to spreading the word about our own custom vending machines while seeing the very best our beloved industry has to offer!

Huffington Post Outlines Oddest Vending Machines

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing SolutionsThe Daily Meal is always on top of the latest trends in the food business, and their latest post on the world of vending machines is no exception. Our beloved industry continues to gain more and more steam on mainstream media outlets, and the The Daily Meal recently highlighted some of the world’s more unique vending devices. While we are no stranger to exciting custom odd and unique vending machines, it is certainly pleasing to see our industry make the front pages of the web.

Fortunately for us vending enthusiasts, the website compiled 24 of the oddest vending machines in the world into one convenient photo slideshow for our viewing pleasure. These custom vending machines truly run the gamut of creativity, from a machine that dispenses Coca-Cola for a hug in Singapore to a baby food dispenser in the United States. Japan allows customers to buy bananas out of a metal machine, while Germany serves sausages through a similar device. France is famous for baguettes, but did you know you can buy one without stepping foot into a store? From french fries to caviar, The Daily Meal’s list proves that nothing is truly off-limits in the ever-expanding world of custom vending machines.

Rechargeable Batteries from a Custom Vending Machine

Posted on by John Van Horn

A variety of Whole Foods grocery stores in the Northwest United States recently added a special series of custom vending machines outside of their establishments. And while you may think a vending machine on Whole Foods grounds would sell healthy drinks and snacks, the actual product is something far more sustainable.

According to OPB.org, Portland-based company Bettery has designed a special custom battery vending machine that dispenses rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. The concept is simple: Users can put their old batteries in the vending machine and receive a pair of freshly charged ones in return. Bettery CEO Charles Kawasaki hopes that this battery reuse system can help limit clutter and pollution.

“You can reuse them up to 500 times, and that’s what Bettery does,” said Kawasaki in the article. “We reuse them over and over, so that a single battery takes the place of hundreds of batteries that would otherwise have gone into the landfill.”

While batteries and vending machines are no strangers to each other, Bettery’s custom battery vending machine solution certainly puts an interesting, environmentally-friendly spin on things. We always love hearing about new and innovative automated supply dispensing machines, especially when they can change the world for the better. What do you think about the Bettery product?

Vending From a Taxi?

Posted on by John Van Horn

If taxis and vending machines have anything in common, is that they are both vehicles of convenience. Few things come in handy like having a guaranteed ride home after a late night out, just like finding a snack vending machine when you have the munchies is supremely satisfying. So what happens when these two services become one? That is exactly what New Orleans cab riders are currently enjoying, thanks to the city’s recently upgraded carriage cabs.

According to Vending Marketwatch, those riding New Orleans Carriage Cabs will be treated to a selection of five non-alcoholic beverages. These custom taxi vending machines have been installed in over 200 cabs throughout the city and can be purchased with a simple swipe of your debit card. The current options are Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, iced tea, and orange Fanta, which gives cab riders a solid selection of popular sodas.

“We decided to introduce the vending machines in New Orleans because it is the nation’s hub of innovation,” said New Orleans Carriage Cab owner Simon Garber, whose teenage son was the one to initially suggest the idea. The technology is available for purchase, meaning anyone in the country can install this exciting custom vending machine within your vehicle.

Facebook Vending Machines Provide a Unique Take on Dispensing

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing SolutionsEvery office has a vending machine, and it should come as no surprise that the vending products found in Facebook’s corporate offices are just a tad bit fancier than most. What you may have not presumed, however, is just how trusting the company is when handing out supplies via their unique vending installation.

The most remarkable vending machine in Facebook’s offices has nothing to do with anything edible, according to The Atlantic. The company’s IT department has its very own custom Facebook vending machine, which vends everything from quality headphones to keyboards. Employees must swipe their cards in order to obtain the goods they want, but they actually are not charged for any of it. The IT department simply trusts its employees to only take what they need, with credit card info being used for security reasons only. This is certainly a new-age vending concept, but few companies scream “new-age” like Facebook, the undisputed kings of social media.

Facebook’s IT machine is just one of the many vending innovations that seem to be popping up all over the world as of late. Could your business benefit from its own custom vending machine? Thanks to the vending machine manufacturers here at IDS, you can turn just about any vending vision into a game-changing reality

New Phone App Allows Vending Machine Operators to Connect to Customers

Posted on by John Van Horn

No matter what industry you work in, few things are more important than providing unforgettable customer service. However, in the world of vending machines, where customers are buying your product via automated transactions, there is very little room for communication between machine owner and customer. However, thanks to the work of VendCentral, vending machine companies can communicate directly with those purchasing their products via an innovative smartphone app.

According to Vending Times, the Mobile Request 1 app, will allow vending patrons to leave feedback on machines, report operation errors, and request new products and refunds. Vending machine manufacturers can attach a QR code sticker to their machine, allowing customers to scan the code with their smartphone and be presented with all of the aforementioned options. According to the article, the app also allows for an all-new level of social media integration between vending companies and their machines.

Despite their many advantages over physical stores, vending machines do sacrifice the one-on-one customer service that only a real worker can provide. However, thanks to the Mobile Request 1 app, it seems that the gap will be closing very soon. Between social media integration and the advent of custom vending machines, it has truly never been a better time to get involved with this ever-growing industry.

Social Media and Vending

Posted on by John Van Horn

A few weeks ago we highlighted American Express’s new Twitter interactivity, and the age of social media innovation has just begun. The vending machine business continues to find new and interesting ways to merge with the vending industry and now seems like a better time than ever to have your own Twitter account. According to a video showcased by Vending Marketwatch, customers will be able to purchase Hot Wheels toy cars simply by using social media creatively.

Developed by TrojanOne, the Hot Wheels Camaro-Matic Trending Machine is a one-of-a-kind vending product. Developed out of a collaboration between Hot Wheels and Chevrolet Canada, the machine was created to celebrate the release of the Chevrolet Camaro at the Canadian International Autoshow in  Toronto last week. Any guest that tweeted @HotWheelsCanada with the hashtag #ChevyCIAS would receive a complimentary limited-time diecast Hot Wheels car.

Tweeting for vending products is a new trending topic, but it certainly has the potential to stick around for a while. While custom vending machines such as the one made by TrojanOne seem right out of the future, these types of innovations are brewed up every day by the vending machine manufacturers at IDS. No matter your vending vision, Intelligent Dispensing Solutions can make it a reality.

Ohio Company Goes Custom

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing SolutionsIt seems that almost everyday, businesspeople everywhere are adapting to the innovations made possible by modern vending. This month’s vending news is no different, as a recent article from the Journal News highlights a Miamisburg, Ohio firm that created its own vending machine business by getting creative. Patrick McDonald, looking for a new way to help his son sell t-shirts, eventually started creating custom vending machines that currently vend products from all types of companies, from food to retail.

Just like every Intelligent Dispensing Solutions customer, McDonald had a vision, and made it a reality. When you are working with us, the sky is truly the limit. Are you a retail shop owner and would like to have longer business hours but lack the necessary staff? Our innovative custom vending solutions can sell your product 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether you sell sporting goods or action figures for kids. Our custom vending machines are used in all types of industries, whether they are safeguarding the goods of a medical facility or servicing a busy fitness center.

Do you have a vending vision like McDonald’s? By working closely with Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, your dream vending solution can become a reality.

Pay for Products with a Tweet

Posted on by John Van Horn

While we are no strangers to innovation here at Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, we are constantly wowed by the great strides made by our ever-expanding industry. While cashless transactions have been around for years, the recent integration of social media into the commerce world has given the term “cashless” a whole new meaning. According to Vending MarketWatch, American Express has conceived a way for consumers to make purchases simply by using Twitter.

By syncing an eligible card to sync.americanexpress.com/twitter, customers can make full purchases just by using hashtags on a Twitter vending machine. This concept first appeared on Twitter last March, and social media-savvy shoppers can currently purchase American Express Gift Cards and select items from Amazon, Sony, Xbox, and more.

“We’re leveraging our unique technology and closed-loop network to introduce a seamless solution that redefines what’s possible in the world of social commerce,” said Leslie Berland, a senior vice president at American Express.

The vending industry only gets more creative and convenient as vending machine manufacturers figure out how to take their products into new and exciting territories. We are constantly inspired by these innovations here at Intelligent Dispensing Solutions and are happy to create a completely custom vending machine that is tailored to your needs. Whether you want the most durable custom vending machine in the business or you are looking to create the vending product of the future, we have you covered.