{"id":17339,"date":"2023-05-24T13:17:01","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T13:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/?p=17339"},"modified":"2023-05-25T13:18:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T13:18:19","slug":"smart-vending-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/resources\/smart-vending-opportunities","title":{"rendered":"Automated Retail: Smart Vending Explodes,  Creating a Surge in New Service Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><i>By Wael Mohammed, EVP of\u00a0 Strategy<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vending machines have been around for a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">long <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">time. While the first modern versions were patented in the 1880s, mathematician, and engineer Heron of Alexandria invented the <\/span><b>earliest coin-operated vending machine in the first century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (It\u00a0 dispensed holy water.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of us have, at one time or another, felt grateful for that late-night candy bar or a hot cup of coffee when there weren\u2019t any other available options. But today, <\/span><b>automated retail is smarter than ever<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Over the past year, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesbusinesscouncil\/2023\/03\/07\/ways-you-can-take-advantage-of-the-new-generation-of-vending-machines\/?sh=33ec6064df0a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">smart vending has gained traction worldwide.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installations of new smart vending machines and smart vending replacements are booming. And many other machines are being retrofitted to add smart capabilities. All these factors translate into new service opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How does Field Nation know? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because we\u2019re seeing more requests for this type of work than ever before.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our data confirms the trend: the vending market is one of the fastest-growing areas of digitization right now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today\u2019s machines:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>offer a wider range of products<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from fresh salads and cupcakes to electronic devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>accept more convenient forms of payment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cashless, cardless, and using a smartphone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>connect to cloud inventory management systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with remote monitoring in real-time.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart vending machines are completely customizable, from displays and digital signage to touchscreens and UI. And now, AI algorithms can suggest products<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">based on the recognition of an approaching customer\u2019s age and mood!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These developments\u2014along with the continued expansion of 5G cellular networks\u2014 make vending machines more profitable than ever and create a higher demand for field services that support smart vending installation, operation, and maintenance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a name=\"what-are-the-implications-of-smart-vending-adoption-for-field-services\" class=\"fldn-table-of-contents-anchor\"><\/a><h2 id=\"what-are-the-implications-of-smart-vending-adoption-for-field-services\"><b>What are the implications of smart vending adoption for field services?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart vending machines are transforming the retail landscape as <a href=\"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/resources\/iot-trends-2023\">IoT infrastructure expands<\/a>. They offer convenient and contactless transactions with secure payment systems and digital wallets. However, upgrading to this technology requires qualified field service technicians to install and maintain the machines at dispersed locations nationwide. The demand for field services will increase as smart vending becomes more prevalent and profitable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a name=\"what-field-service-skills-are-most-important-in-smart-vending\" class=\"fldn-table-of-contents-anchor\"><\/a><h2 id=\"what-field-service-skills-are-most-important-in-smart-vending\"><b>What field service skills are most important in smart vending?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200b\u200bSome of the most important skills for maintaining and optimizing smart vending machines include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installation: Setting up and connecting the smart vending machine to the power source, network, and other devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commissioning: Testing and verifying that the smart vending machine is functioning properly and ready for use.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decommissioning: Removing and disposing of the smart vending machine when it is no longer needed or operational.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firmware upgrades: Updating the software that controls the smart vending machine\u2019s hardware and features.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Card reader upgrades: Installing and updating card reader devices that accept various payment methods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Card reader break\/fix: Troubleshooting and repairing any issues with the card reader device that may affect payment transactions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Periodic inspection: Conducting regular inspections and maintenance on the smart vending machine\u2019s components, such as the touchscreen, conveyor belt, elevator, and sensors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall equipment break\/fix: Diagnosing and fixing any problems that may affect the smart vending machine\u2019s operation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upgrades involving installing consumer-facing components: Enhancing the smart vending machine\u2019s features and interactivity by adding or replacing components that allow more consumer engagement, such as screens that display additional information, real-time updates, digital signage, and video content.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a name=\"how-does-smart-vending-affect-inventory-management-and-restocking\" class=\"fldn-table-of-contents-anchor\"><\/a><h2 id=\"how-does-smart-vending-affect-inventory-management-and-restocking\"><b>How does smart vending affect inventory management and restocking?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart vending machines are smart enough to change almost everything about how vending works. Retailers can now monitor their inventory remotely using cameras that indicate when a product needs to be replenished. Data analytics can track inventory and upload information to cloud systems in real-time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physically counting inventory and restocking is finally a thing of the past. That\u2019s a win-win for businesses and the field service companies and technicians that can install and maintain the technology that makes it possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a name=\"smart-vending-isnt-just-for-the-big-guys\" class=\"fldn-table-of-contents-anchor\"><\/a><h2 id=\"smart-vending-isnt-just-for-the-big-guys\"><b>Smart vending isn\u2019t just for the big guys<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Your business doesn\u2019t have to be huge to move in this direction. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big players may have the resources to hire a permanent team of field techs and move them from location to location. You don\u2019t have to. Field Nation\u2019s network of skilled technicians is tens of thousands strong, so you can find all the field service techs you need for all locations nationwide.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interested in expanding your presence in<\/span><b> smart vending? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re ready to embrace the next generation of retail, Field Nation can help you find <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/how-it-works-for-businesses?cta=main_nav\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the technicians you need<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to make it happen. Whatever your plan. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/field-ready-workforce?cta=mhttps:\/\/fieldnation.com\/how-it-works-for-businesses?cta=main_navain_nav\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wherever you are.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Wael Mohammed, EVP of\u00a0 Strategy Vending machines have been around for a long time. While the first modern versions were patented in the 1880s, mathematician, and engineer Heron of Alexandria invented the earliest coin-operated vending machine in the first century. (It\u00a0 dispensed holy water.) Most of us have, at one time or another, felt [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":17341,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"xn-wppe-expiration":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-action":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-prefix":[],"footnotes":""},"content-group":[],"class_list":["post-17339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","fldn_content_category-trends","fldn_content_type-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Automated Retail: Smart Vending Explodes, Creating a Surge in New Service Opportunities | Field Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fieldnation.com\/resources\/smart-vending-opportunities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Automated Retail: Smart Vending Explodes, Creating a Surge in New Service Opportunities | Field Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Wael Mohammed, EVP of\u00a0 Strategy Vending machines have been around for a long time. 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