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…

Predictive vending: Why telemetry Is changing the way we think about service

by Dave Berman — Co-Founder & Director, VendEase

The most important change in the vending industry is not simply contactless payment, better screens, or smarter-looking machines. It is visibility. We can now…

Modern vending's smart alternatives

by Dale Laszig — Founder, DSL Direct LLC

Modern vending is expanding, bringing new opportunities for consumers, business owners, operators and investors alike. Successful operators are combining…

Secure your automated retail future

by Robert Holley — Head of Channel, New Routes to Market, Aeris

True operational resilience requires a strategy that treats cellular connectivity as a core part of the enterprise network. This involves moving toward…

Why legacy vending machines still have untapped value in 2026

Legacy vending machines are quietly being re-evaluated, not as outdated assets, but as infrastructure with untapped potential.

Foot Traffic Lies. Here Is What Actually Makes a Vending Location Work

by Jose Perez — CEO, VMFS USA

Understanding the difference between people walking past and people who will actually buy is the single most important skill to have in the vending business.

Office comeback? What return-to-work means for vending sales

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The return to office work is helping the vending industry recover from the steep losses it suffered during the pandemic, but the rebound remains uneven.