Custom Vending Machine Blog | Intelligent Dispensing Solutions

New Social Commerce: Vending Machines

Posted on December 22, 2014May 3, 2021 by John Van Horn

It’s no secret that social media is more popular than ever. Twitter in particular is taking the world by storm, boasting hundreds of millions of dollars and a true billion dollar valuation to its credit. It seems that Twitter users can’t get enough of the “micro blogging” service and companies in many different industries are finding bold new ways to meet that demand. One possibility for social media interaction in the not too distant future has to do with the pairing of the vending machine manufacturer and social media-enabled vending machines.

Brands like Old Navy and Nike have zeroed in on an idea that is brilliantly simplistic. Patrons can walk by a Twitter-enabled vending machine, post a tweet about a product or service that the company offers and get some type of reward for their trouble. Old Navy has already begun rolling out these social commerce twitter vending machines in Japan to great success. After posting a tweet about Old Navy brand flip flops, users of the vending machines can actually get a pair of those flip flops to call their own.

Old Navy has had similar success with these types of campaigns in the United States. In years past, the brand had installed 28 machines in strategic locations in major cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Not only did the company get promotion via the tweets, but the media attention also funneled directly into its big summer sale.

According to Evigo.com, these types of digital media vending machines accounted for 3,500 different tweets and 12 million impressions. Though that may not necessarily sound like much for a social networking site with hundreds of millions of users, it’s important to keep in mind that these campaigns were limited in their scope to this initial roll-out. Representatives from the companies involved were very clear that driving traffic wasn’t the goal – building excitement and displaying true innovation in the realm of social media is the prize that they were after and it’s definitely a prize they seem to have obtained.

These social media vending machines are a true example of “out of home advertising” and taking marketing campaigns and word of mouth to bold new heights in a digital age. One of the major factors that brands love about Twitter is that it is a great way to get customers involved in their marketing campaigns. Tweets can be seen by millions of people all over the world, creating the type of brand awareness in an instant that most companies only dream of. If social media campaigns like the type that Old Navy, Westin Hotels and other major brands like Nike are any indication, “social commerce” isn’t an idea that always seems to be just over the horizon – it’s one that is already here.

IDS | Twitter Activated Retail Vending Machine by Eddie Bauer

Posted on December 10, 2014April 22, 2021 by John Van Horn

Twitter is the second most popular social networking site on the planet, behind only the Internet behemoth Facebook. With hundreds of millions of users all over the world, it is also seen as a bold new source of both resources and innovation in terms of retailers. Eddie Bauer is just one example of a retailer that is using the social networking site to its fullest extent by installing Twitter-activated retail vending machine solutions in certain locations.

The Twitter-activated vending machine will be on display when Eddie Bauer opens a new store in New York City in the spring of 2015. The Eddie Bauer vending machine will be available for customers to interact with for the first two weeks after the store is opened. Not only will the machine be specifically designed to dispense the brand’s famous line of outdoor adventure products, but it will also offer discounts, gift cards and other promotions for people who Tweet using the @liveyouradventure hashtag and @eddiebauer Twitter handle.

For those who don’t want to wait that long to interact with a social media twitter enabled vending machine, Eddie Bauer is also opening a holiday “pop up” store in New York City that will feature the hardware throughout Christmas and New Years.

One of the major benefits of retail vending through IDS has to do with security. All IDS automated vending machine solutions are physically secured in such a way that puts bank vaults to shame. Not only is the frame of the vending machine itself secured with high grade steel, but it also uses high grade security glass. Customers will be able to clearly see the products on display but will never be able to gain unauthorized access. Regardless of the location in which these machines are placed, the vending machine manufacturer has gone to great lengths to make sure that all merchandise stays as safe as possible.

Retail vending through IDS is also secure in terms of digital security. Customers will still be able to access merchandise using all of the means that they have become accustomed to – fingerprint readers, credit cards and even traditional cash. Advanced technology called iQ Technology, however, makes sure that all customer information that is entered into the machine is secure at all times. Retailers won’t have to worry about hacking and other types of digital theft, as no credit card or other sensitive information is stored on the servers in the first place.

Twitter-activated retail vending machines are just one of the many ways that retailers are engaging with customers on their own terms – namely, in the digital realm. It is a true example of innovation at its finest and can be seen as an inspiration for retail businesses of all types to see the Internet not as a threat, but as a bold new frontier.

Vending Security and Control: How Software is Revolutionizing the Industry

Posted on November 21, 2014June 7, 2023 by John Van Horn

The vending industry is currently in a state of expansion. Spreading outward from its core of foods, beverages, and entertainment, vending machines are finding their way into a number of professions. The reason is a unique combination of inventory control and advances in technology that give vending machine management several advantages. As vending machine manufacturers adopt these security features, the potential solutions vending machines offer continue to grow. Below are several of the most promising examples and what they can offer:

Controlled Substances and Healthcare Supplies

Vending machine manufacturers are making inroads into the healthcare system for one primary reason: The importance of supply management for hospitals, clinics, and similar organizations. Healthcare organizations deal with a number of products that require tight controls, particularly drugs and similar controlled substances. Despite their best efforts, many hospitals see losses due to mismanagement and ongoing troubles with employee theft.

Secure medical vending machines offer a solution to these issues by allowing medical professionals to access exactly what goods they need without worrying about theft or mistakes. The system uses a mix of timestamps, access protocols, and unit tracking to control exactly who has access to drugs and valuable medical supplies, while keeping them safe. As a bonus, medical vending machines also provide solutions for dealing with scrubs using software like ScrubTrak to pick up new scrubs and return soiled versions.

Office Management and Accountability

In some respects, office supplies face the same losses that medical supplies do thanks to mismanagement, theft and miscommunication. A vending machine tracking software system for appropriate office supplies can solve corporate problems with these losses.

Office vending machines can be customized to offer everything from simple pens and notes to flash drives and electronics. Items are provided to employees who scan their IDs, helping to create more accurate accountability and removing human error from the process – as well as getting employees their solutions without requiring a lengthy request process.

Kitchens and Similar Workplaces

Busy kitchens found in large-scale restaurants and hospitality industries may seem like an odd choice for vending solutions, but the right kind of machine can provide a help to managers dealing with a balance of inventory control and workplace safety requirements.

Knives and other cutlery or expensive preparation supplies, vending machines can offer simple control answers to environments that are inherently different to closely regulate because of high turnover or sudden changes in volume and activity.

Law Enforcement Controls

While law enforcement may not suffer from the same turnover rates as the hospitality industry, these organizations do have plenty of sensitive products to monitor. Vending machines can help these agencies track ammunition, weapons, and similar products to increase safety and prevent deadly mistakes.

There is no better time to join the vending industry. With strict monitoring and inventory control, vending machine owners can rest assured that the technology is on their side.

See the Cap5 Medical Office Vending Machine from IDS at the 2014 Texas EMS Conference

Posted on November 17, 2014May 29, 2023 by John Van Horn

The EMS Conference in Texas is coming up from November 23-26, allowing EMS workers to see the latest tools and equipment in action. During the conference, attendees can experience workshops and hands-on sessions, lectures, and pre-conference classes. Some of the perks of this event, besides the large amounts of information offered, is the fact that attendees will receive free coffee, free lunch, and be able to attend an awards ceremony where EMS workers are honored for their contributions.

This year, Intelligent Dispensing Solutions will be in attendance showcasing two exciting medical office vending machines; the Cap 5 and the Cap 5 Refrigerated.

In the realm of custom vending machines, staying updated on the latest technology is essential, which is exactly what IDS does. When it comes to vending machine manufacturers, IDS understands the industry like no other. Below is more information about the two medical office supply vending machines on display by IDS at this year’s Texas EMS Conference.

CAP 5

The CAP 5 provides users with full control over a large number of medical packages and products. This vending machine offers secure storage for all items that are necessary to perform in the EMS field. It offers an electronic display and an intelligent control system to ensure that all transactions are monitored.

CAP 5 Refrigerated

The CAP 5 Refrigerated vending machine allows full control over a large variety of medical packages and products in a refrigerated environment. This provides maximum longevity for essential products that are needed on a daily basis. This machine offers a number of exciting features, including an intelligent control system, which allows for a 24-7 real-time reporting of any transactions. It also offers durable shelves, a high-security lock, and an extra-large delivery port.

Who can the CAP 5 help?

The CAP 5 technology is a type of innovative service that has been created by Intelligent Dispensing Solutions to help ensure that pharmaceutical products and other medical products are available in an easy and efficient manner for EMS, Veterinary, and other medical professionals. No more digging through unorganized cabinets for the right item. With the CAP 5 and an ID badge, EMS and other medical workers can easily and quickly access the product they need. Managers can also easily keep track of the materials being used and by whom with built-in tracking.

When it comes to medical vending machines, having efficient and effective equipment is essential. The CAP 5 and The Cap 5 Refrigerated provide any medical organization an effective way to dispense pharmaceuticals and other medical products, even in high-pressure situations. For anyone who wants to see the CAP 5 in action, attending this year’s Texas EMS Conference is a must.
Source:

Customer Convenience with ‘Will-Call’ Technology

Posted on October 14, 2014April 22, 2021 by John Van Horn

In the world of business, convenience translates into money. The fewer steps necessary to get from point A to point B, the faster you can supply a demand, the more revenue can be generated each business day. This is why ‘Will Call’ Technology is the answer to the needs of many companies.

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions has found an innovative way for many businesses to supply their customers with what they need without running into unnecessary expenses. With state of the art vending machine technology, vending can be broadened into all types of product dispensing. Using custom vending machines to help distribute products to your customers can cut down on costly payroll additions and human resource issues.

Who Can ‘Will Call’ Help?

‘Will Call’ Technology is an innovative service created by Intelligent Dispensing Solutions to help companies make their products available to customers in the easiest, most cost effective way. ‘Will Call’ is most beneficial to companies that deal primarily with online orders which customers need to pick up. Any customer who has ever experienced the long lines at traditional pick up centers can tell you, the old days of waiting in line and dealing with tired, annoyed pick up employees is not ideal. ‘Will Call’ technology uses retail vending machine lockers which entirely eliminates the need for an additional employee at the station as well as wait lines. ‘Will Call’ Technology is also beneficial for larger companies for use in supply dispensing. Employees can order supplies and pick them up when they are ready. This new innovation eliminates the need for extra employees to disperse supplies.

How Does It Work?

When an individual’s order is ready for pick up, they are notified through email or text and they are given a security code. Only this code will open the ‘Will Call’ Locker holding their order. This ensures that each order only gets to the person who ordered it. The customer simply puts in their code at the pick up station, retrieves their order and the transaction is finished. The locker is now available to be filled with the next order for the next customer.

Is It Safe?

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is among the top vending machine manufacturers today. Their products are custom built to ensure that each client receives a machine that will suit their individual needs. IDS understands that each company is different and one machine can not fit all. That is why from idea to completed product, IDS works tirelessly to make sure the vending machine you wind up with is exactly the product your company needs to solve distribution issues in the most convenient and cost effective way.

iQ Technology | Revolutionary Inventory and Tracking System

Posted on September 23, 2014June 2, 2023 by John Van Horn

Everyone is familiar with the ubiquitous vending machine. Since its first development in London, during the 1880s, as a vehicle for dispensing post cards, these machines have become a lifesaver for hungry office workers, peckish students, and thirsty travelers. With the convenience of walking over and pumping some quarters into the machine, the consumer has ready access to quick treats on the go, regardless of where the nearest convenience store might be located. Today, thanks to the revolutionary inventory and tracking system of iQ Technology, custom vending machines are an excellent way to manage the entire sales process from point of sale purchases to inventory control to enhanced security features. It is almost like having a computer that dispenses cold sandwiches.

What Makes iQ Technology Different

At Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, they have harnessed iQ Technologies to produce innovative custom vending machines, which gives owner-operators unprecedented control over all aspects of their product dispensing business model. In developing their smart supply vending machine, they have leveraged the power of cloud-based computing to transform the way vending machine manufacturers conceive of their products. The result, of course, is that vending machine operators have unprecedented levels of customization at their fingertips. Just some of the innovations that their designs supply include:

Cloud-based Computing Power
Multi-Machine Management
Secure Transactions
Powerful Reporting Tools
Alerts

Gone are the days when vending machine owners needed to add up the coins in their machines, and subtract the number of candy bars that are missing from the inventory to see where they stand from a sales perspective. Now, all that information is readily available to owners of a custom vending machine.

Also absent, is the singular focus of using vending machines merely to dispense food items to hungry consumers on the go who are operating in a busy environment. Today, the concept of the “office vending machine” has expanded to include more than just a dispensary for bad coffee, and now these machines are being used to dispense, with just a swipe of an employee badge, all manner of office related supplies from a new computer mouse to a packet of post-it-notes. IDS office vending machines offer a simple system to dispense and track office supplies.

What Makes Intelligent Dispensing Solutions Different

While their groundbreaking, vending technology is on the cutting edge of innovative, Intelligent Dispensing Solutions cut their teeth in the vending industry more than 80 years before, and they bring to the table a vast array of business related vending solutions that they have gleaned over the course of eight decades. Their design team is standing by to answer any questions about the manufacture of advanced technology vending machines for any business and all industries.

The Simple, Central & Smart Way to Track & Dispense Scrubs

Posted on September 19, 2014May 30, 2023 by John Van Horn

Hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities and practices are constantly trying to balance quality care with inventory control and minimization of costs. This can be difficult, and it pays to find ways to control costs without compromising care, comfort and safety. One area of inventory that is notorious for shrinkage is scrubs. Personnel frequently forget to return scrubs, and they get lost or thrown away. Not only that, but standard methods of storing, cleaning and stocking scrubs may be inefficient.

Fortunately, there is a better way. Imagine a custom scrub inventory tracking vending machine that not only stores and dispenses clean scrubs, but also tracks them.

ScrubTrak systems offers an easy way to dispense, track and store scrubs using powerful, cloud-based software that can be customized for your facility. Flexible management tools allow management to generate usage reports that can be printed online or sent to a desktop application. These features put scrubs inventory control at management’s fingertips, and allows for better planning and greater cost efficiency.

In order to access the scrubs in the machine, personnel must key in a code. The computerized, cloud-based system stores all data, and management receives regular notifications regarding stock and other data. When stock is getting low, a notification is sent out. Personnel can return used scrubs to the vending machine, and that will be tracked as well.

Management can control the inventory, allowing only certain personnel access to the scrubs, and setting limits on how many scrubs are dispensed per person.

Storage of scrubs using a uniform vending machine is much more streamlined. Both clean and soiled scrubs are housed in the space-saving machine. No need to keep them locked up or to distribute keys to certain personnel. They can be accessed any time of day.

Vending machine manufacturers that provide and maintain this service include custom features like remote inventory control and mobile notifications. For facilities that are large, or have more than one location, these vending machines are ideal. Personnel can retrieve scrubs from one machine, and return them to another. The cloud-based technology keeps track of all the vending machines for the facility, tracking and recording inventory easily. This ultimately reduces waste, shrinkage and improves efficiency.

Medical Supply Dispensing via Vending Machines

Posted on September 4, 2014May 29, 2023 by John Van Horn

Healthcare facilities face a number of challenges with regard to their supplies, and many of those challenges can be met with a custom vending machine. IDS is on the vending industry’s cutting edge by offering custom medical vending machines that can dispense tools and instruments, scrubs and even controlled substances, all of which come with numerous benefits.

Superior Inventory Control

The iQ technology IDS uses in its custom machine allows for remote inventory tracking. Rather than having to physically visit each machine, medical administrators can access reports online to review each machine’s inventory. This feature saves time and improves accuracy, giving administrators a real-time view of the inventory at any given time.

Custom machines can also machine time-stamp and catalog all withdrawals, only dispensing items to those with authorized access. Whether it’s a controlled substance, costly surgical instruments or a pair of scrubs, the custom machine will regulate the item’s access based on the swipe of an ID card, employee PIN or other access protocol.

Reduction of Inventory Shrinkage

Inventory shrinkage is another issue that can be eliminated with a custom medical vending machine, particularly useful for the facility’s scrubs department. Scrub shortages and constant inventory depletion is often the result of employees not returning scrubs after use. A custom medical inventory control machine can address the problem by dispensing scrubs in an authorized user’s specific size and color, as well as giving him the option of returning soiled scrubs. This feature saves money and eliminates the mess often found in scrubs return areas.

Medical Vending Benefit Overview

The full slate of medical vending benefits are many, and they include:

Fast and easy access to supplies for authorized users
Tracking of costly items and controlled substances
Reduction of shrinkage and theft
Elimination of storerooms
Customized sizes featuring single-sided or double-sided display
Reinforced steel and heavy duty glass for theft prevention
Custom skin options to specify machine use

While healthcare facilities may continue to face a number of challenges across the board, keeping tabs on their supplies need not be one of them. A custom medical vending machine provides a top-notch solution that comes with numerous benefits.

The Value of Social Commerce for Custom Vending Machine Owners

Posted on August 20, 2014April 19, 2021 by John Van Horn

There is no denying the power of social media. From kindergartners to grandparents, people all across the world are going online to share their lives and their interests. It is a wave that continues to rise and one that businesses of all types are attempting to take advantage of.

Old Navy Combines Custom Vending and Social Media

As a recent article from In Style notes, even vending machines are now part of the social media equation. Clothing company Old Navy decided to draw attention to its $1 flip-flop sale by dropping off custom vending machines in random places – machines that would dispense free flip-flops for a tweet. Interested consumers could keep track of these machines on Old Navy’s Twitter.

This effort by Old Navy demonstrates that such marketing avenues have true potential for businesses savvy enough to learn about and utilize social media platforms. Unfortunately, not all vending machine owners have million dollar marketing teams to come up with such interesting social media campaigns. For many owners the idea of marketing through social media may seem foreign and even intimidating.

However, there are companies working to make things easier. Fanwise offers a way for vending machine owners to create positive social media feedback in exchange for free products. More options like this are bound to appear as the desire for a social media presence grows among businesses.

Why Social Commerce Matters for Vending Machine Owners

Social media like Twitter and Facebook allow businesses to deliver interesting content and promotions to customers that want to be communicated with. If someone likes what a company is selling and chooses to connect with them through social media, the stage becomes set for ongoing interaction. This makes it easier to build your brand with customers and allows them to say positive things about your company. The more positive reviews and pervasive your brand becomes, the more profit you can expect to generate.

The best part about all of this is that it is free for companies to take advantage of. It may take some effort on the part of vending machine owners to find the right balance, but once they do they will have a new marketing channel that reliably delivers customers to their machines.

New and Trending: Vending With Fendi

Posted on July 11, 2014May 3, 2021 by John Van Horn

Fendi recently launched their new campaign and it revolves around.. haute couture vending machines.

As a custom vending machine company, we’ve always known how the possibilities are endless when it comes to vending products and supplies, but Fendi has taken it to a whole new level. The mastermind behind the new campaign is the famous fashion mogul Karl Lagerfeld. It’s no wonder he’s replaced the contents of the typical vending machine with high-line purses as his distaste for junk food is well known.

The Fendi handbag vending machines can be spotted at the Fendi Roma store in Italy, Fendi SoHo Pop-up-Shop in NYC and at the official Fendi Flagship boutique in Paris.

Category: custom vending machines