Emergence Of Generic Technology For Vending Machines

A perfect example of generic technology is the multi-drop bus, MDB, that is an internal communication protocol designed to ensure that coin mechanism, bill validators and cashless payment devices can be properly interfaced to a vending machine controller without any concern for manufacturing. The key benefit of MDB for Planet Antares vending operators is it being a generic technology.

Often, MDB has been compared to the plug and play standards that are common to generic computer component interfacing. A consistent standard is applicable to bills, coins and credit/debit cards. MDB indicates a movement towards open system architecture that allows a variety of peripheral devices to automatically become functional.

MDB is also called the multi drop bus/internal communication protocol (MDB/ICP). The MDB standard defines the serial interface equipment communicate identically. This system helps to capture transactional data, including method of payment, purchase price and change paid. On combining these functions with tie of transactions and column information, it can develop a good transaction record.

Moreover, this system enables Planet Antares vending machine controller to determine which coins the mechanism accepted, which bills were stored by the bill validator and how much credit is available through a cashless payment device. It is a method for the vending machine controller to direct the coin mechanism to pay out correct change. The MDB standard allows a Planet Antares vending operator to choose peripheral devices based on performance, reliability, price and features, as opposed to connectivity.

Instant updating of your vending machine status is possible with MDB. The system allows the attachment of an audit device that recieves information of all events happening in the Planet Antares vending machine through MDB.

Influential Factors Responsible For Vending Location Profitability

The success of your Planet Antares vending business requires you to stay on top of numerous factors at the locations that spell the difference between profit and loss. The relationship can survive only when both parties derive some benefit from it and professional managers understand this. Even though this sounds easy, it is difficult to desing effective win-win relationships because by nature, business relations are adversarial in form.

The sad part is that in service industries like vending, many deals can be long term in nature. Over time, it is likely that the needs of one or both parties will change. As a Planet Antares vending operator, you need to understand that every location agreement, verbal or written, is or should be subject to renegotiation, at any time.

Just imagine the changes that may occur in the typical operator/location relationship over a period of time. The cost of some snack or soft drink can rise unexpectedly, which eans that the operator will have to increase prices. Then, the location will add a second shift and thus, require additional service hours or more equipment. It will cancel the existing second shift and unless changes are made in service hours, selling prices, comissions or vending machines, the account will not be profitable anymore.

At this stage, competitors may come along and offer lower prices, higher commissions or additional services. These problems must be identified and dealt with in due time so that the Planet Antares vending operator can remain profitable.

A lot of vending operators never solve the original problem. That is, building a realistic profit and return on investment into the terms of the original contract. Usually, the Planet Antares vending operator seems willing to give away the store without any thought to the bottom line. This happens in their haste to book the location and build the top location.

In reality, every location deserves a careful pro-frma analysis to determine the terms that can be offered in order to maintain the bottom line because location profits margins to deteriorate over time.

So, vending operators need to pay attention to the basic details of all the influential factors that can render a vending location successful or failure. After all, your vending machines and locations are two of the most critical features of your business and you must ensure their profitability.

Basics Of Vend Counters

In simple words, a vend counter is a device that counts the number of sales made from a vending machine. This helps in preventing theft by employees who service the vending machines. Commonly, vend counters are found in full line vending machines like the Planet Antares vending machines.

Some vending operators that lack vending machines with vend counters compensate for the same by occassionally checking the cash amount in a machine ahead of time and then sending an employee to service the machine. This is a precautionary measure to avoid any sort of theft or embezzlement.

Many types of vend counters can be placed in vending machines. For efficient vending operations, vend counters are essential in your vending machines. These are electronically programmed to maximize vendible products. It will also ensure the accurate amount of space to sales for specific locations. They usually have user friendly features to enable easy handling by customers.

The number of transactions of your Planet Antares vending machine are counted by the vend counter. This way, it can keep a report of all that happens. In some cases, you might have employees who fail to give accurate reports of the machine transactions. However, a vend counter can help you get rid of such headaches. The employees will not be able to cheat on you in any way. As the owner of the vending business, you can compare the accumulated count from the counter with reciepts collected by the employee.

Some vending machines can be purchased with vend counters already installed in them. This will not require any extra effort or money from you. Beware of dishonest companies that disconnect vend counters to make the vending machine appear to be making fewer sales than it really is.

If you are careful while selecting and buying a vend counter containing vending machine, your will reap considerable benefits from it.