Leaner automated retail, part 2: Give the hardware a second life

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

For operators managing large fleets, one of the most practical sustainability strategies may be extending the useful life of equipment already on the balance…

Leaner automated retail, part 1: Cutting energy and unnecessary service miles

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

The sustainability conversation in automated retail should start somewhere practical: How can we operate the network with less waste?

Beyond the kiosk: Why AI in retail still needs a human purpose

We’re moving from technology that waits for the customer to figure out what to ask toward systems that can participate in the conversation, but the opportunity…

The fresh food frontier, part 3: The cold chain becomes a data problem

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Fresh automated retail creates an unusual challenge. The store may be unattended, but the food cannot be unmanaged.

The fresh food frontier, part 2: Fresh vs. frozen is an operating decision

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Once an operator decides to offer meals through automated retail, another question appears quickly: Fresh or frozen?

Protecting the unattended: Let's count the ways

by Dale Laszig — Founder, DSL Direct LLC

As vending machines lean into the digital world, transmitting temperatures, inventory levels, machine health and other data to vending management systems…

The fresh food frontier, part 1: Compliance before deployment

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Consumers increasingly expect better food choices in workplaces, hospitals, campuses, residential properties, transportation locations, and other places where…

The autonomous pivot: What independent retailers should know before going cashierless

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Computer vision, smart access, sensor-based product tracking, cloud software, and digital payments have made autonomous retail more accessible across…

Research spotlight: Self-service technology moves deeper into health care

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Two recent research papers illustrate how kiosks and automated dispensing systems could play broader roles in detecting disease, improving access to medication…

The battle for the breakroom: Which automated retail model wins?

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Micro-markets, smart coolers, connected vending machines and specialty food systems are giving employers and property managers far more choices when providing…

Beyond surge pricing: A smarter model for automated retail

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Should prices inside an automated retail environment change based on current conditions? The technical answer is yes. The more important business answer is…

An operations guide to shrink mitigation in unattended retail

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Unattended retail offers customers speed, convenience, and around-the-clock access. For operators, it can open new revenue channels while reducing the need for…

Studies examine biometric kiosk adoption, predictive vending maintenance

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Two academic studies examine what it takes to make unattended systems more useful to passengers and more reliable for operators.

Studies examine how self-service technology can expand health care access

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

This edition of our academic research roundup looks at two studies exploring how kiosks and vending machines could remove barriers to care in very different…

Modern vending: Factory-built, field-tested

by Dale Laszig — Founder, DSL Direct LLC

Behind great vending customer experiences lies a collaborative design process involving cabinet manufacturers, payment providers and software developers. In…

What 2 studies reveal about self-service success

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Two academic studies suggest the most effective self-service deployments balance automation with accessibility and user-centered design. Although the research…

Research shows healthcare kiosks are growing smarter — and more human

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Four published academic studies suggest kiosk and vending technologies are becoming more intelligent, more accessible and more responsive to community needs.

What the latest academic research says about kiosks and vending machines

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Three recent studies examine topics ranging from customer acceptance of self-service kiosks to AI-powered healthcare kiosks and the growing role of vending…

The true cost of vending: Why zero cost Is not too good to be true

by Dave Berman — Co-Founder & Director, VendEase

Modern vending should not be something a client has to nurse along. It should be a managed service that quietly does its job: stocked, monitored, maintained…

The location isn't the product. The workforce is

by Vivian Chan — Owner, Lumi Vending

Most vending operators evaluate a location the same way a real estate agent evaluates a building: square footage, foot traffic count and lease terms. I used to…