Vending

Eseye, Device Insight team to improve connectivity for vending machines

Image courtesy of Eseye.

March 30, 2021

Global IoT connectivity specialist, Eseye, has teamed with IoT platform solution provider, Device Insight, to provide connected technology capabilities for managing vending machines, according to a press release.

Device Insight will develop the IoT platform, while Eseye will provide the connectivity infrastructure, building on the success of Eseye's and Device Insight's joint customer, Costa Express, a vending service provider.

Costa Express is the vending operation of Dunstable, U.K- based Costa Coffee, a coffee chain acquired by Coca-Cola Co. in 2018.

"Eseye and Device Insight's technology has provided a holistic managed IoT platform and connectivity solution with a global footprint," Paul Borrett, systems and data director for Costa Express, said in the press release. "As a result, we can continue to rapidly deploy our connected vending machines to deliver premium quality drinks worldwide, providing Costa Coffee with a real advantage as we continue to expand across international markets."

Eseye will use its multi-IMSI-roaming, eUICC-compliant AnyNet + SIM to provide near-ubiquitous managed cellular connectivity, as well as ongoing 24/7 technical support, to ensure that intelligently connected machines are able to provide a reliable service to consumers.

Device Insight's IoT framework unites global IoT devices — connected by Eseye — through platform services that include data acquisition and analysis, visualization, reporting, condition monitoring and alerts and remote service and device management.

The number of connected vending machines is expected to reach 9 million by 2024, according to Berg Insight.

Connecting a vending machine in retail presents a challenge because the machine manufacturers, or service providers, typically do not own the shop floor, nor do they have control over the wired and wireless communications infrastructure in which a machine is placed.

This, in turn, requires a significant effort in maintaining business-critical connectivity for payments, telemetry data and monitoring for ongoing maintenance and data security. To alleviate these efforts, many machine manufacturers opt for cellular connectivity as a means of ensuring reliable connectivity regardless of where a machine is located. But there remain challenges around mobile network selection and the need for continuous network availability.

Eseye's technology enables commercial IoT devices, regardless of where they are located, to remain reliably connected on any network, eliminating the risk and associated costs of those devices being disconnected after deployment.