September 8th, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Simplifying Payment Options for Your Customers)
As stated in our previous blog discussing the national coin shortage, many vending businesses must look for other ways to accept payments on their machines. One way to do this is by utilizing PayRange, a leading mobile payment app. This fast and secure app allows customers to purchase products, without carrying around cash or coins.
PayRange, which is a standard feature on our Elite vending machines, is a simple app that makes it easy for users to purchase products from your vending machine. Users simply download the app and load money onto the app from a major credit or debit card or Apple Pay, Google Pay or Masterpass. From there, users swipe up to purchase the product or products they desire.
Using PayRange benefits more than just the machine’s customers. It also benefits the machine’s operator. PayRange allows operators to utilize coupons and special promotions to customers, such as the first product free or loyalty points. Operators can build a marketing plan for their business that leads to increased spend by customers.
As with many payment options, vending operators must have the proper equipment in order to utilize PayRange. This also means creating an account to ensure that they are receiving the money they deserve. PayRange is not free to use, but it does make it easy to help increase sales on your vending equipment and reduces direct contact between your customers and your machine.
PayRange is a simple-to-use app that helps increase revenue on your vending equipment while being easy for your customers to use. To find out more about cashless payment options on your vending equipment, give us a call at 800-944-5524 or fill out our contact form.
The growth of COVID-19 has inconvenienced businesses across the world. It has led to the temporary closure of businesses, effected essential supplies and has led to a coin shortage across the United States. While this may seem like a detriment to the vending industry, it can actually be seen as a way for your vending business to grow.
With fewer people using coins in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 between currencies, vending operators need to ensure customers are still able to purchase products from their vending machines. This can be accomplished through a cashless card reader, such as Greenlite.
Greenlite can be added to numerous vending machines that eVending has to offer, such as the Elite Series of vending machines. Greenlite allows vending customers to pay for products with credit/debit cards and mobile wallets, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay. On the operator’s side, Greenlite gives you access to sales and accounting insights to save you time and money on overhead costs.
PayRange, a leading mobile payment app, is a standard feature on select eVending vending machines. It is a fast and secure way for customers to pay for products, without having to carry around physical cash or coins. This contactless payment system eliminates payment as a barrier and increases the overall user experience.
With so many things changing around the world, it is essential that you vending business is changing with it. If the coin shortage continues, the vending business may be more affected. It is your job to ensure that your business does not suffer. To find out more about vending payments, give us a call at 800-944-5524.
Building your vending business is no easy task. It takes research and investment to ensure you are purchasing the best possible machines. At eVending, we want to ensure that your vending business goals are being met. For a limited time, we are offering a promotion on the Futura Combo Vending Machine that will help you reach your business goals.
Right now, purchase a Futura Combo Vending Machine for only $3,895*! The Futura is one of the most versatile and high capacity snack, candy and drink vending machines on the market. It vends nine (9) drink and beverage selections for cans and bottles, as well as 20 snack, candy and food selections for pastry, chips, candy and healthy vending food products. The Futura Combo Vending Machine makes the perfect addition to any location.
There are many benefits that set the Futura Combo Vending Machine apart from other machines. Included with your purchase is an unprecedented 5 Year Parts Warranty, a feature not often found in the vending industry, as well as peace of mind knowing that this machine was manufactured in the United States. While this warranty does not cover everything, it does cover manufacturing defects under normal use. Additionally, our obligation is limited to replacing or repairing such vending machine parts at the sole discretion of eVending, provided the vending machine part is demonstrated to be defective.
When you purchase a Futura Combo Vending Machine from eVending, it allows you to take advantage of our financing options, with approved credit. Right now, make no payments for 120 days, with up to 48-month terms. Our financing terms are catered to each vending business. No business is the same, so why should financing terms be the same?
eVending wants to help you grow your business. Take advantage of this limited-time offer by purchasing a Futura for only $3,985. For more information on the Futura, click here or call 800-944-5524.
*Contact us for shipping options. Offer valid effective July 1st and cannot be combined with any other offers.
The Sani-Center PPE Vending Machines limit face-to-face interaction by safely dispensing cleaning supplies, medical masks, hand sanitizers, wipes and more to customers. Offering up to 25 unique selections, the Sani-Center Vending Machine is ideal for space-constraining locations. Sani-Center Plus PPE Vending Machine, however, offers up to 34 unique selections for customers to choose from.
The Sani-Center PPE Vending Machine offers a number of features that allow your customers safe access to supplies they need while generating revenue for your business. With configurable flex trays, you can offer products of various shapes and sizes including gloves, face masks and disinfecting wipes.
One of the biggest benefits of the Sani-Center PPE Vending Machines is the capability for customers to pay for their items through a cashless card reader or a mobile payment platform. This feature limits the spread of harmful viruses through cash and coins. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dollar bills and coins present a transmission risk for some infectious diseases. Keep customers safe by giving them the ability to pay via debit cards, credit cards and mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
In order to increase your vending machine sales and make your machine stand out by adding a custom graphic wrap to your vending machine. You have the ability to brand your business or add a design that is meaningful to your location.
Generate revenue for your business while meeting consumer demand with safety and PPE products. The Sani-Center PPE Vending Machine gives you that freedom. Click here to find out more about the Sani-Center PPE Vending Machine or call us at 800-944-5524.
Beginning any new business is not a small task. This is especially true for starting a vending business. You have to consider the cost of purchasing your vending machine, products, maintenance costs and so much more. eVending wants to make this process a little easier for you by providing financing options that work for you and your vending business.
At eVending, we offer a variety of financing options that range from 6 months to 48 months. Plus, you will not even have to make a payment for the first 90 days. This gives you time to begin your vending business, without having to worry about payments for a few months. Instead, you can spend this time learning the ins and outs of your vending machine and how to grow your vending business. When you do begin making payments, your machine can essentially pay for itself with just a few snack sales per day!
If you already have an established vending business, you can still benefit from financing your vending machines. It allows you to stay on the cutting edge of vending technology. Tools, systems and equipment are constantly evolving in the vending industry. By financing, you can utilize them from day one, without having to accrue a large amount of upfront costs.
Financing your vending machines with eVending is easy. We provide you with the flexibility, value and scalability you need for your vending business to grow. We help find a budget and a payment plan that works for you and your monthly budget. No matter what you are looking to finance, eVending can give you competitive rates to help you grow your vending business.All financing options are available only with approved credit. To apply for financing, fill out our finance application. For additional questions regarding financing, contact us at (800) 944-5524.
April 20th, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Vending Machines – A Controlled, Safe Method to Provide Food and Beverages to Consumers – Part 4)
Reducing COVID-19 Exposure Risk with Contactless Payments
Previously, we delved into why vending is the ultimate solution in the convenience services industry in Part I, finding the right product to keep your vending machines disinfected and safe for your customers to use in Part II and best practices to properly clean your machine in Part III. In this final installment, we will focus on why cashless payment options are more important now than ever before.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is possible for a person to contract COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or their eyes. Potentially contaminated surfaces and objects that pose as infection risks include dollar bills and coins.
When it comes to the potential spread of COVID-19 through currency, some countries are taking an aggressive approach to reducing the risk of currency spreading COVID-19. China, for example, has been quarantining the country’s cash. The government collected banknotes and then sanitized the stacks of bills. From there, the currency was kept in isolation for 7-14 days before being released into the banking system.
While the United States has taken similar measures on currency that has come from Asia, steps such as those taken in China have not been taken on a widespread basis in the US. Even so, as consumer behavior changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to see an acceleration in the already growing trend of cashless as consumers’ payment preference of choice in vending.
Recognizing the risk of COVID-19 exposure through surfaces and objects, many operators are being proactive in reducing the risk to consumers by ensuring their vending equipment is cleaned and sanitized on a more frequent basis and updating their fleets with cashless card readers.
“We see the cashless payment trend increasing, even while the crisis is happening, with a shift towards the use of contactless transactions. The ability to offer cashless payment capabilities encourages consumer confidence,” said Carly Furman, CEO of Nayax LLC.
While the COVID-19 crisis is sure to bring unseen changes to the convenience services industry, we believe there is an underlying, long-term opportunity for operators. The current crisis may increase the growing share of cashless transactions in vending, resulting in increasing operators’ profits. In fact, in a study done of 250,000 machines over an 18-month period, the number of total transactions increased by 26% on machines that allow for cashless payments.
According to the same study, there is a 37% increase in dollar spend when customers pay with a card versus cash. Customers are more inclined to purchase more than one item from the machine, simply because it is so easy to swipe their card. Although mobile payments only account for 5-7% of payments, that number is estimated to grow during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as people are looking to move away from making contact payments, such as cash. Apple Pay and Google Pay use near-field communication (NFC) to power contactless payments. With NFC, consumers simply tap their phone to a compatible terminal such as a Greenlite device and the transaction is complete.
This is an unprecedented time for all of us, meaning that we have to adjust to the way we live our lives and operate our businesses. Adding a cashless card reader, such as Greenlite ensures you will not miss out on a sale due to payment acceptance limitations while providing a safe, contactless payment option for consumers. It also keeps you safe by providing you with access to inventory reports, maximizing machine fulfillment when it is needed.
For any questions regarding safe practices for your vending business or information about your vending equipment, contact eVending at 1-800-530-9592.
April 13th, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Vending machine - (Comments Off on Vending Machines – A Controlled, Safe Method to Provide Food and Beverages to Consumers – Part III)
Best Practices for Cleaning and Disinfecting Vending Machines
Previously, we delved into why vending is the ultimate solution in the convenience services industry in Part I and finding the right product to keep your vending machines disinfected and safe for your customers to use in Part II. Part III of our four part series will provide best practices to properly clean your machine, without causing damage to the equipment.
While eVending recommends soapy water for cleaning and disinfecting vending equipment, the choice is up to you. Regardless of what type of cleaner you choose, here are some Best Practices for Cleaning Vending Equipment.
Ensure the machine is Switched OFF before completing any cleaning tasks.
Do not apply or spray the soapy water solution directly onto surfaces that could or might leak directly onto electrical components such as the keypad or touch screen. Where this is a possibility the soapy water should be applied to a ‘clean’ cloth which then should be used to wipe the surface to be sanitized.
Why do I need three separate cleaning cloths? The ‘contact’ cloth should be used on areas of the machine that come into contact with areas of consumer interaction. The ‘non-contact’ cloth should be used on internal areas of the machine. The ‘external’ cloth should be used on all external surfaces with the exception of areas of the machine that are exposed to consumer interactions.
Some Do’s and Don’ts:
Do not use metal scrapers
Do not put any of the machine’s internal parts on the floor
Do not take water for cleaning from a toilet area
Always wear protective gloves
Always use the correct cleaning agent for the application and follow the manufacturer’s instructions
In many grocery and retail stores, it is commonplace to see self-serve sanitizing wipes for customers to use. To help ensure your equipment stays clean and provide peace of mind to consumers, if possible, provide sanitizing wipes at or near your equipment.
As with all individuals working in convenience services in a food-handling role, an operator who is suffering any form of illness should inform their supervisor and not perform any work sanitizing the vending equipment.
Safe sanitation is crucial now more than ever for your vending equipment. For more information on best practices to sanitize your vending equipment or other equipment questions, please contact eVending at 1-888-485-1167.
With consumers using cashless often due to sanitary concerns, Part IV focuses on why cashless payment options are more important than ever. Check back soon to view Part IV.
April 6th, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Vending machine - (Comments Off on Vending Machines – A Controlled, Safe Method to Provide Food and Beverages to Consumers – Part II)
Part II – What Products Are Recommended to Safely Clean and Disinfect Vending Equipment?
Previously, we delved into why vending is the ultimate solution in the convenience services industry in Part I. Part II of our four-part series will provide guidance on finding the right cleaning agent to keep your vending equipment disinfected and safe for your customers to use.
As communicated by the European Vending Association, even with the secured product control offered by vending, it is extremely important to clean and disinfect vending equipment often, especially considering the current health crisis due to COVID-19. Fortunately, the cleaning and disinfecting process for vending equipment is easy and cost-effective. All components on vending equipment, including electronics, keypads, plastic surfaces, and glass surfaces, can be effectively cleaned and disinfected with warm, mild soapy water.
Why is soap so effective against bacteria and viruses, such as the Coronavirus? Soap is comprised of two-sided molecules. One side is attracted to water; the other side is attracted to fat. Viruses, such as the Coronavirus, are comprised of material surrounded by a coating of proteins and fat. When viruses interact with soap, the soap molecules rip that fat coating out. Soap literally demolishes viruses in as little as 20 seconds. To learn more about why soap is eVending’s preferred cleaning and disinfectant agent, check out National Geographic’s articleWhy soap is preferable to bleach in the fight against the coronavirus.
There are commercial-grade cleaning and disinfectant options such as Kay 5 Chlorinating Sanitizer, which is highly effective against bacteria and fungus, and is used primarily for kitchen equipment, soft serve and shake machines and kitchen utensils. Another option is PURELL® Foodservice Surface Sanitizer, an EPA registered multi-surface sanitizer/disinfectant approved for use on food-contact surfaces with no-rinse required and is currently registered in all 50 states.
If you choose to use a commercial-grade product, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix these products with ammonia or any other cleanser. Also, check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Expired products will likely not be as effective against coronaviruses. You can view all EPA approved disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19HERE.
For more information on best practices to sanitize your vending equipment or other equipment questions, please contact eVending at 800-944-5524.
How should you go about cleaning your vending machine? Check back later to find out in Part III.
March 27th, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Vending Machines – A Controlled, Safe Method to Provide Food and Beverages to Consumers – Part I)
Why Vending is the Ultimate Controlled Dispensing Solution for the Convenience Services Industry
As organizations modify their operations and procedures to best keep employees and customers safe in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping across our nation and the world, the need to safely provide food and beverage options remains critical.
According to the National Merchandising Association (NAMA), “Through our unique food distribution system, our industry can be the greatest source of “contactless” nourishment to over 40 million consumers with food and beverages daily, and it is all accomplished in an unattended retail environment, often with round the clock availability.”
Federal and State governments, along with the CDC, are encouraging social distancing, including reducing or eliminating face-to-face encounters with alternative options such as contactless delivery and self-serve options. In workplaces, this includes re-evaluating how food and beverages are offered to employees. For example, in the past weeks, many organizations have shuttered cafeterias to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Recently the NIH and CDC released information on the Coronavirus’ lifespan on surfaces.
Airborne: 30 minutes to 3 hours
Cardboard: 24 hours
Stainless Steel: 2 days
Plastic: 3 days
These guidelines have prompted many organizations to further re-evaluate self-serve convenience service options deployed in their organizations such as unattended retail markets. The risks in these applications is that the food and beverage products are not controlled in such that consumers can pick-up products and return them to the shelves for the next consumer to handle. With COVID-19 having up to a three-day lifespan on items such as bottled beverages and clamshell salad containers, unattended retail applications may pose a risk of being a spreading point within organizations.
Unlike unattended retail markets where consumers can access and return the food and beverage products, vending requires consumers to purchase the product(s) before the consumer is able to touch the product(s). Just think in a micro market setting how many people before you may have picked up that plastic bottled beverage or salad in a plastic clamshell before you and put it back on the shelf.
Besides the product itself having the opportunity to be handled by multiple people in a micro market application, another consideration is the cleanliness of micro market hardware itself. For example, when consumers access products in micro markets they often come in contact with shelving holding the product. You have risk of direct exposure on the shelf itself, as well as transfer exposure from the product. Being full secured access, this is not a concern or risk when it comes to vending, as only the operator has access to the interior of the machine including the shelving.
Vending offers the ultimate secured access solution and allows organizations to safely provide employees and consumers with food and beverage products, with little to no risk of contamination from numerous other individuals handling the product.
According to the European Vending Association, “Vending machines are a reliable and safe way to obtain food and beverages. Vending machine operators place food safety as top priority in their daily service, and are trained in protection against infections. During the current health crisis, operators have also put in place measures to ensure that the disinfection of machine surfaces is also carried out as regularly as possible.”
For more information or other equipment questions, please contact eVending at 1-800-944-5524.
What products are recommended to safely clean and disinfect vending equipment? Check back soon to find out in Part II.
March 2nd, 2020 | Posted by Lindsay Hottovy in Branding - (Comments Off on Increase Sales with Custom Branding)
New vending machines typically are either silver or black, which provides the perfect neutral palette to provide a cohesive look in almost any type of environment from office buildings to fitness clubs to manufacturing facilities. But many locations and operators do not want their vending machines to simply get lost and blend into the background. They want to showcase their brand, while attracting customers to increase sales!
Picture this. A customer is walking to the service desk at Kent Auto Sales. A standard gray vending machine blends into the neutral walls and the customer walks right past it without a second thought or even noticing a vending machine is there.
What if your machine would have been able to stand out, though? For instance, if the machine had been branded with Kent Auto Sales’ logo and signature bright orange branding, the customer is much more likely to first notice the vending machine is there and second, take a glance and notice he can satisfy his snack craving with his favorite brand and flavor of chips.
By adding a custom wrap, your machine will stand out among other machines. Consumers will be more likely to be drawn to your machines, rather than other machines. This small switch will lead to an overall increase in machine sales. Custom wraps can feature anything, including schools wanting to sport their mascot or businesses looking to gain brand recognition.
Your vending machine can be used to promote anything, including designs meaningful to your location. For example, if your machine is placed in a fitness center, it can be branded with the location’s logo or it can be branded with various fitness equipment. You have control over your machine and the brand your machine promotes.
Luckily for you, you do not have to worry about the creation of your custom vending machine wrap. Using the design of your choice, whether it is a photo, a logo or something else, our marketing team is available to help you get the exact look you are looking for for your machine. Whether you want to create a custom wrap that complements your company’s branding or the placement’s decor, we can help you create the look your machine has been missing.
Don’t be “just another vending machine” at your location. Instead, make your machine stand out with your very own custom vending machine wrap. Our marketing team is here to help you get started. If you are ready for your machine to stand out, fill out this form or call us today at 1-888-568-4896.
