Autonomous retail concept scales up at Circa Resort

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

VenHub Global Inc. and Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas are innovating on what may be the world's most advanced autonomous smart store installation.

Vending as social infrastructure: Expanding access to essential goods

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The notion of vending machines delivering public services isn't new. Using those machines to deliver overdose-reversal medications has been expanding across…

Healthy vending gets a boost: Farmer's Fridge, Weight Watchers team up for National Nutrition Month

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

A partnership between Farmer's Fridge and Weight Watchers underscores the trend of healthy vending and highlights how technology-enabled vending can help make…

Expressions gift card kiosks bring personalization to retail gifting

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The Expressions Gift Card Kiosk offers a personalized greeting card with the option to include a digital gift card, all in a fraction of the space retailers…

What makes the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show a must-attend event?

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show takes place December 14-16 in Miami Beach this year. Here are the many reasons to attend.

USC student creates app to transform vending placement

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

Automated dining takes flight at Southwest Florida International Airport

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

Hot meals are back in the [vending] box

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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…

How self-service operators win by automating through curation

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

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

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

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

9 self-service tech trends to watch

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

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…

Naloxone vending machines performing life-saving function

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

Card processing fees pose a challenge to vending machine operators

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

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

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

EV charging stations provide a built-in customer base

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

“Better for You” options fueling new vending opportunities

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

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

Self-service innovators honored at ARKI Awards

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

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

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

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, 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…

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

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

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…

Prescription pickup lockers offer practical solutions

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