U-Select-It Unveils Evoke Vending Machine Line With Remote-Pricing Feature

CHICAGO -- U-Select-It Inc. is taking the wraps off its next-generation Evoke vending machine series. The line's first machine, an ambient snack model, makes its debut this week at the National Automatic Merchandising Association's OneShow at McCormick Place here. The snack machine will be followed by a refrigerated food machine, with more models slated for rollout in 2017, USI said.

The Evoke series is designed to encourage consumer interaction through its new touchscreen interface, the centerpiece of a media-driven delivery experience. Features include shopping cart software to speed and simplify purchases of more than one product in a single transaction. It also displays nutrition facts, advertisements and promotions.

According to USI, Evoke vending machines offer enhanced product showcasing and merchandising flexibility, as well as sophisticated exterior stylings that complement modern workplace decor. They also offers expanded capabilities for credit/debit and mobile payment platforms.

The vending machine factory is also debuting Greenlite's new remote-pricing feature. Greenlite, a cloud-based cashless acceptance, remote monitoring and management solution powered by Cantaloupe Systems, made its debut last year. | SEE STORY

The new remote-pricing capability, built into the system by Cantaloupe, allows operators to update machine price selections from any Web-based device through the Greenlite platform. This provides the flexibility to update pricing as part of a promotional campaign, to move closeout items or to react to market conditions in real time.

Remote pricing eliminates the costs associated with special trips to the machine as well as potential revenue losses occasioned by waiting to change machine pricing until the next scheduled fill visit. Remote pricing complements Greenlite's existing suite of monitoring and reporting capabilities, which include sales tracking, machine health monitoring, pre-picking and planogramming.

"The Evoke series maximizes vending operator productivity and efficiencies through its flexible, open software platform and plug-and-play feature, which ultimately drives revenue-increasing bottom-line performance," said USI vice-president of global sales James Chico.

U-Select-It will be in OneShow booth No. 500, April 13-15.