Features

USC student creates app to transform vending placement

Deven Chitkara is attempting to modernize one of the most traditional sectors of unattended retail.

Automated dining takes flight at Southwest Florida International Airport

For kiosk and vending machine vendors, the trend toward vending-operated food service represents potential for significant expansion. For foodservice brands…

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Hot meals are back in the [vending] box

by Richard Slawsky

Hot food vending is no longer a novelty. It is a response to real market pressures and a sign that, once again, vending is pushing beyond its historical…

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How self-service operators win by automating through curation

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Josh Rosenberg, founder of Forward Thinkers, outlines challenges the self-service and automation industry and what operators need to do to overcome those…

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Regulation creep: 5 policy issues vending operators should watch in 2026

by Richard Slawsky

Taken individually, none of the policy issues is likely to upend the vending industry overnight. Taken together, though, they can reshape the economics of…

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9 self-service tech trends to watch

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

The recent Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show kicked off with a keynote on nine self-service trends to keep an eye on in the coming years: including…

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Naloxone vending machines performing life-saving function

by Richard Slawsky

One of the fastest-growing vending applications today is in the public health space, with announcements of the deployment of naloxone-dispensing machines…

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Card processing fees pose a challenge to vending machine operators

by Richard Slawsky

With card acceptance becoming a near-necessity in vending due to declining cash usage, processing fees can put meaningful pressure on already thin margins.

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A look back at vending in 2025, what's ahead in 2026

by Richard Slawsky

Taken together, the vending stories of 2025, and the outlook for 2026, suggest an industry that is steadily redefining its role.

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EV charging stations provide a built-in customer base

by Richard Slawsky

Charging stations are growing in popularity and they present a major opportunity for vending operators.

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“Better for You” options fueling new vending opportunities

by Richard Slawsky

Vending machines are becoming a strong channel for delivering those “better for you” food options in corporate offices, healthcare facilities, schools and…

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Self-service innovators honored at ARKI Awards

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

The Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show Awards honors innovators and influencers in automated retail, kiosks and responsible self-service.

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Why the convenience store industry won't support Visa/Mastercard swipe fee settlement

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

With 85% of cards today tied to rewards programs, almost all would fall under the new ‘premium consumer’ category, leaving businesses with virtually no choice…

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Transforming high-traffic operations: The power of strategic self-service

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

A panel of experts at the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show Dec. 10-12 will discuss how strategically deploying smart self-service solutions can elevate…

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Prescription pickup lockers offer practical solutions

As pharmacies continue to grapple with staffing shortages, expanding clinical responsibilities, and rising customer expectations, prescription pickup lockers…

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