What is Vending?

Vending is one of the fastest growing branches of commerce where goods and services can be sold through machines without the involvement of a seller. This scheme is becoming popular for its convenience and accessibility, especially in public spaces.

One of the most popular examples is coffee machines, which you can find everywhere from offices to train stations. However, vending includes a wide variety of products, and the opportunities in this business continue to increase.Վ

What can you sell through vending?

Vending covers a variety of products that are beyond the traditional coffee and snacks. Modern vending machines now offer an increasingly wide range of selection, which makes this business highly flexible and adaptable to different market needs.

First and foremost are, of course, drinks and snacks. Vending machines for hot beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are especially popular in offices, schools, and public areas. Soft drinks, water, and snacks are the next most common items. They are usually placed in high-traffic areas like railway stations, shopping malls, and sports venues.

But vending is not limited to food only. Now, the machines that offer non-food items are becoming more and more popular. For instance, there are vending machines with medical masks and disinfectants, and they became especially relevant during the pandemic. Stationery machines are also popular, and they are very convenient in schools and offices. In some countries, vending machines provide chargers, batteries, electronics, and sometimes even small gadgets like headphones.

Another interesting way of vending machine usage is vending for cosmetics and personal care items. In large shopping centers, you can often find machines that sell travel-sized creams, deodorants, tissues, and other essential products to have on hand. With the developing technologies, increase the possibilities for vending. We can gradually find machines that offer unique products entering the market. In Japan, for example, you can find vending machines that sell fresh flowers or even animals.

What can’t be sold in vending machines?

Along with the variety of products that are available through vending machines, there are also restrictions. For example, you can’t sell alcohol and tobacco through vending machines due to the need for age verification. Additionally, prescription medications, narcotics, and psychoactive substances are not allowed in vending, because these require direct human involvement for their dispensing and control.

Types of Vending Machines

Vending machines can be categorized based on their purpose and the products offered. The most common one is the coffee machine, which makes hot drinks on the spot. These machines offer a range of options like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, that’s why they are especially popular in business centers and public areas.

Another type is snack and drink vending machines, which offer chips, cookies, chocolate, soda drinks, and water. These machines are usually installed in high-traffic areas like schools, hospitals, and business centers.

There are also combined vending machines that can combine multiple features. For example, a single machine can sell both hot drinks and snacks. This type of machine is perfect for places with limited space.

Specialists are also developing vending machines that offer non-standard products like office supplies, personal hygiene items, and in some countries even machines for gadgets and clothing.

Some machines do more than selling goods and provide services instead like charging phones, issuing bank cards, or even renting umbrellas. Due to technological developments, modern vending machines can give users the convenience of self-service, multiple payment options, and the ability to purchase products anytime they need.