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The UK vending industry has an annual turnover of £1.54bn. It is an industry employing 24,500 people directly in the UK. A figure which is supplemented by those employed within the wider vending channel supply chain. Refreshment Systems Limited members operate over 1500 vending machines in the UK (November 2022), vending snacks, food, soft drinks, water, and hot and cold beverages.
The majority of vending machines are placed at sites where consumers will consume the product within the same premises as the machine. Given this, those machines are placed in “closed” sites, businesses, academia, hospitals, manufacturing sites, and leisure.
Suppliers like Refreshment Systems Limited strive for innovation. The company has launched internet of things (IoT) based vending machines. This has enabled data to be captured in real-time, which is enabled by telemetry.
As a result, it has increased efficiency from the operatives traveling to the machine and filling them up, or an engineer going to fix the vending machine. Also, it has improved consumer experience and expectations and provides an enhanced way of shopping.
Constant innovations and technological developments have led the vending industry to offer more modern, on-the-go solutions that are parallel with shifts in consumer behaviour. Furthermore, vending machines that feature full interactive touchscreens allow for features such as, facial recognition payments, voice recognition, the ability to advertise videos, shopping carts, and big data integration, have made it more convenient and user-friendly for customers, thereby creating a positive impact on the vending machines market growth.
The global Smart Vending Machines Sales market has been segmented based on components, system type, and end-use. On the basis of components, the market for Smart Vending Machines Sales is segmented based on hardware, software, and services. Additionally, the market on the basis of system type is segmented into barcode tracking and radio frequency identification. The global market for Smart Vending Machines Sales s is also covered based on the end-use segment which is further split into hospitals and others.
Pre-pandemic was a time of inefficiencies in most workplaces, a time when everyone was too busy dealing with the day-to-day and had no clarity around what would actually drive businesses forward to a more efficient, productive, competent, and well-organized way of doing business. Vending was certainly no exception.
As the pandemic hit, the vending industry had to reduce its cost base in line with its revenues being slashed (as were most companies/industries!).
After the initial shock of what had happened, companies like Refreshment Systems Limited took a step back and looked at what 3 and 5-year plan they had that they could accelerate – the plans that would not only help them when navigating out of the pandemic but those that would help its customers deliver on their “new” ways of working in the brave “new” world.
Vending supplier Refreshment Systems Limited believe they’re improving the customer experience and helping industries like Facilities Management, Healthcare, and Hospitality through vending by embracing technology and integrating every touch point.
Refreshment Systems’ state-of-the-art back-office systems are now one interconnected ecosystem of automation and Artificial Intelligence.
The RSL Telecosystem uses real-time data at their fingertips and was built, connected, and driven all in-house using a team that wanted to deliver from good… to out of this world…
RSL operatives know what products they need for which machine before even setting foot out of the van. We call this aspect “single walk” – no more visiting the machine first and then allowing for human error.
RSL Telecosystem dynamically schedules every visit based on consumption. The operatives visit when the machine asks for a visit, not just because it’s a Tuesday! Reducing their carbon footprint further in line with their Net Zero plan target of 2045.
Managing stock has never been clearer, improving efficiencies of stock usage and control. Forecasting and budgeting tools are enabled through the Telecosystems’ AI functions.
RSL-integrated BI tools also take planogram management to another level. Highlighting best sellers to double up on and targeting low-performing products to introduce new and exciting products for the consumer. Driving a customer centricity never seen before.
Telecosystem enables RSL to discount products remotely as they move towards the end of shelf life, thus reducing food waste. All stock is managed by the Operatives and audits are checked monthly in line with their stringent customer excellence policies.
RSL’s estate of machines now tells them when there’s an issue – no need for the Facilities Manager or Team leaders to worry about placing a call – they’re already on their way.
For Facilities Management companies with multiple sites and locations, the stress of thinking about this service for their customers and employees is nullified.
Below is an example report showing the real-time data which is readily available to the sites.
The RSL Telecosystem connects to every aspect of the vending machine. Even to a granular level of exactly what time a bottle of water was vended. All this live data comes into the RSL Telecosystem Portal and from this, a set of Management
Information dashboards and alert functions have been created to be sent out as and when the key stakeholders need them.
Improving economies and high disposable income are presumed to drive the Smart Vending Machines Sales market growth worldwide. The global Intelligent Vending Machines Sales market could be challenged by slow economic growth in some regional markets, nevertheless, organisations in the Smart Vending Machines Sales market will carry the growth rate forward.
In short, all this goes towards allowing facilities managers and stakeholders to never think about the vending solutions – enabling them to focus on delivering more balanced workplaces, more appealing to the employee and ultimately a more connected work environment.
Strict regulations regarding the sales of unhealthy, junk food, and tobacco products in public places, institutions, and the majority of commercial spaces are expected to restrain the growth of the vending machine market.
According to the vending machine market analysis, the market is segmented into types, application, technology, sales channel, and region. Based on type, the market is segregated into food vending machine, beverages vending machine, tobacco vending machine etc. The cold drinks vending machine segment held the largest market share in 2019 and is expected to lead the vending machine market in the near future. Beverages vending machine is used in various applications, such as hotels and restaurants, corporate offices, and supermarkets among others globally and its demand is growing in development countries.
