Blog - Intelligent Vending Ltd

Prescription Medication Vending Machines Come to the UK

A first for the UK – Sainsbury’s have begun trials of prescription medication vending machines in two Sussex branches of the superstore.

Upon registering with the vending machine, customers are given a unique ID and PIN number to be later used to collect prescriptions. Before stocking machines with the required medication, a trained pharmacist manually ensures the validity of prescriptions as a preventative measure against potential abuse; the medication is then placed in to the kiosk along with any applicable usage instructions.

To collect prescriptions, customers simply sign in to the vending machine using their ID and PIN code. A list of their prescriptions is then provided on screen, along with any relevant payment information; medicines are then dispensed through the collection point.

The automated kiosk is not intended to replace the existing pharmacy service. Both services will run side-by-side so customers are still able to ask advice from qualified pharmacists if desired. The idea is the vending machines will provide an extra level of convenience and flexibility for the consumer – allowing prescriptions to be collected quickly and at a time that better suits their schedules. It is even possible for a family to group prescriptions together, so they can all be collected at the same time.

The vending machines themselves have a storage capacity of up to 450 packs of medicines and each pack is uniquely identifiable by the kiosk, thanks to a barcode system.

Sainsbury’s currently has a total of 236 in-store pharmacies. If the trials of the prescription vending machines are successful and well received by customers, they are likely to be featured in more stores over the country in the future.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: medication, prescription, Vending Machine News

Cigarette Vending Machine Ban Cancer Research UK Survey

Results from a recent survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK suggest around three quarters of the public support the ban on cigarette vending machines and the removal of tobacco displays from shops. The vending machine ban is due to be implemented in October 2011, while the removal of tobacco displays is set for total implementation by the end of 2013. However, both campaigns still rely on the government to commit to the regulations which are already in place.

The survey was conducted online and sampled more than 1100 adults, 73% of which favoured the ban on cigarette vending machines, and 77% were for the removal of tobacco displays from retail outlets.

A June 2009 survey found 76% backed the vending machine ban – which is actually 3% higher than the latest survey – while 70% approved of removing tobacco displays from shops. Compared with the latest survey results, this shows that popularity for removing tobacco displays from shops has increased by 7%.

It is thought the motivation behind this survey is to keep the pressure on the government to see the plans through.

Though, some are not entirely convinced by the results, suggesting that surveys from Cancer Research UK are slanted and that the results are inconsistent with the opinions of many people they ask.

Posted in: Public Vending, Vending Machine News
Tags: ban, cigarette, vending machines

Vending Machines Help Endangered Bird

Soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola, has partnered up with a non-profit organisation in Japan to assist environmentalists protect an endangered species of bird, the Okinawa Rail.

With a currently estimated population of around just 720 – down from 1,800 in 1986 – the Okinawa Rail is exclusive to a northern area of Okinawa Island called Yambaru, and is a legally protected species (which has also been declared ‘Natural Monument’).

Coca-Cola have agreed to mount IC audio recorders and microphones to the top of two vending machines in the region. The equipment will record noises and calls from the Okinawa Rail, which when analyzed, should provide researchers with vital data relating to the population and activity of the endangered bird. By using vending machines as the hub for the equipment, additional installation costs are avoided and power can be supplied directly by the existing feed to the machines.

The decline of the Okinawa Rail is thought to be a result of threats to their habitat, including tree felling, farming and building. Also, introduced predators such as cats and dogs are partially responsible for their drop in numbers.

In 1996 Yambaru became a national park and a number of additional nature reserves were created in the area by conservationists.

By using vending machines as the hub for the equipment, additional installation costs are avoided and power can be supplied directly by the existing feed to the machines.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas

Book (Cigarette) Vending Machines

A German publishing company has found a new purpose for cigarette vending machines – book vending!

As the laws on smoking and tobacco retail steadily get more restrictive for many countries over the world, cigarette vending machines are increasingly under threat. They have already been banished from a number of places including the American state of Wisconsin and the European island of Guernsey. A date of October 2011 has also been set for a ban on cigarette vending machines in England, Wales and probably Scotland too.

Of course, this means there are thousands of vending machines out there which are now (or soon to be) void of purpose and likely to be destined for the scrap heap. But now this might not have to be the case…

German publishers, Hamburger Automatenverlag have found a novel use for the cigarette machines – adapting them to dispense condensed books. Novels, poetry and comics are among the selection of literature on offer, which is authored locally and available at a cost of 4 Euros per vend.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas

Wine Vending Machines

The state of Pennsylvania is home to some of the most strict and unusual alcohol laws to be found within the United States.

Pennsylvania is one of USA’s 19 ‘alcoholic beverage control states’ where the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages are monopolised, restricted, and controlled by the government.

For example, in Pennsylvania wine and spirits are sold exclusively by state owned shops. The prices of the drinks in these shops are also governed and are kept consistent throughout the entire state.

Softer liquor such as beer can only be obtained in restaurants, bars, bottle shops or dedicated distributors. Although these distributors will happily sell or refill beer kegs, smaller quantities such as the familiar six-pack must typically be purchased from bars or restaurants.

Pennsylvania became an alcoholic beverage control state as a result of the 1936 Johnstown Flood. The state imposed a ‘temporary’ tax rise of 10% to help pay for the clean-up operations and repairs to damage caused by the flood. However, the tax still remains, and has in fact now almost doubled to 18%. Additionally, the estimated $200 million raised annually by the tax is no longer distributed to flood victims.

In an attempt to put some convenience back in stores, while also working within the peculiar laws governing the sale of alcohol in Pennsylvania, special wine vending machines have just been developed and are currently being trialled in two different supermarkets. There are plans for significant expansion should the trial realise success.

Though, perhaps the actual convenience provided by these machines is up for debate. In order to vend a bottle of wine, the customer must first select their drink of choice, swipe their driving license for identification, look in to a surveillance camera, and blow in to an alcohol sensing breathalyzer. The sale is then approved by an employee located remotely, in the state’s capital city: Harrisburg.

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: Vending Machine News

Smile, you’re on [a vending machine] camera!

They say it costs nothing to smile – actually, now it pays.

Breaking tradition from the usual suspect for unusual vending (Japan – who else), reports of an innovative vending concept have this time sprung up from down under, as Australia reveal their joy-judging vending machine.

The ‘Share Happy’ vending machine detects how happy (or smiley) users are. Using images captured with a front-mounted camera which are then processed by sophisticated facial recognition software, the vending machine calculates the size of smiles and rewards accordingly – with ice cream!

Additionally, the Share Happy vending machine is equipped with 3G capability, allowing photos taken by the machine to be uploaded directly to Facebook (with the permission of the user, of course).

The vending machine has been created for Unilever – one of the largest ice cream companies in the world. It is the first of its kind – if you don’t count the age detecting vending machines in Japan – and is due to be piloted later this year, in a number of countries.

Other parties have already expressed an interest in the machine, and industry experts have spoken of it as a sign of change for the way consumers will buy in the future. This original idea presents an interesting new concept for retailers and marketers. Perhaps the technology can be adapted in the future for other uses. For instance, could this be the dawn of the vending machine image consultant?

Posted in: Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas
Tags: australia, ice cream vending, smile, Vending Machine News