Blog - Vending Service

Updating Your Vending Machine for the New GBP 1 Coin

The new GBP £1 coin is nearly upon us and will be released in March 2017.  It’s now time for UK vending machine operators to start thinking about updating their coin changers to avoid last minute chaos and lost revenue.

In order to support our customers in re-configuring their machines we have three options available:

Option 1:

We can visit site and reconfigure your vending machine coin mech to accept the new £1 coin. This will involve an engineer coming to site to update the coin mechanism on your machine. The cost of doing this, is £260.00 + VAT and £165.00 + VAT for any additional machines on the same site (UK mainland only).

This applies to most models of coin changers including MEI.  If you have any queries if your coin changer model is supported, please email sales@intelligentvending.co.uk for confirmation.

Option 2:

We can supply a brand new C2 Currenza coin mechanism (Dual MDB/Exec) which can be configured to your set up (***) and accept the new £1 coin.  The price of these units are £268.00 + VAT each plus shipping. Please see the following link to the mechanism on our website:  www.intelligentvending.co.uk/C2BLUEMDBEXEC

Please note this is a direct replacement for your existing coin changer and will require you to re-float the new coin mech once fitted as per day to day operation, and as you were trained by the engineer when your machine was delivered.

Option 3:

For machines where a C2 Currenza Coin Mechanism is already in use (this is a blue and grey coin changer), we can supply a HENRI service module and an unlimited use SIM level 2 with datablock GBP_0_002_F02_12 for the new £1 coin. This option is extremely economical if you have a number of machines, but it only works with C2 Currenza coin changers (N.B. it will not work for other brands of coin mechs such as MEI).

The price of this package is £165.00 + VAT plus shipping and can be found on our website using the following link: www.intelligentvending.co.uk/C2UPDATEGBP1.  Please note that this option does not include an engineer call out and will be the responsibility of the client to update their Currenza C2 coin changer in house.  However, it’s a straightforward process that literally only takes a few seconds to complete.   A crib sheet is also available on request.

The HENRI module is a useful item and can also be used for updating your coin mechanisms in the future (only an updated SIM would be required).  If you have any doubts if your machine is fitted with a C2 Currenza coin mechanism, please send a photo of your coin changer in advance of ordering so we can confirm.  N.B. We will not be responsible for returns if clients order this kit in error.

(***) N.B. We will require your coin values for the tubes on your current cassette, or model number (i.e. GBP1, GBP22 etc), so that we can provide you with a direct replacement.  If a none standard cassette type is required, the lead time is currently 3 weeks as your device would be made to order.

Posted in: Intelligent Vending, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product Help & Advice, Uncategorized, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Machine News, Vending Service

Intelligent Vending & SiriuS™ at AVEX 2015…

SiriuS™, the latest ‘all-in-one’ solution from Intelligent Vending Ltd, was given its first public outing in the vending arena at AVEX 2015, in Manchester. Partnering with Ingenico the international leader in provision of cashless payment systems, IV offered its new advanced SiriuS™ vending machine to show off their cashless hardware while providing attendees with a glimpse of what it believes is the future for the unattended automated retail market.

As an industry, vending has been stagnant or in decline throughout most of Europe for the past few years and it is desperate, Intelligent Vending believes, for a fresh impetus that will lead to reversal of this trend. While degrees of innovation are undoubtedly evident across the board in vending, this has been mostly small scale and incremental, and there has been no major development with the explosive energy to bring about the much needed revolution of the industry. Put simply, vending has made virtually little use of the advances in technology that are now standard across all sectors of retail, advertising, and social media. SiriuS™ incorporates the power and imagination to change all that!

The bespoke UI (User Interface) designed for Ingenico offered visitors of the show the ability to enter a competition to win prizes from triggering the vend process in three different ways:

1) Via the Ingenico card payment terminals (Contactless and NFC, plus Chip & PIN)
2) Via our in-house Twitter promo VendHook™ plugin
3) Via email address entry and a virtual keyboard

An Ingenico corporate video and other promotional information was also displayed on the machine’s different vend process screens, carrying a key underlying message to promote the new iUC280 payment terminals that are aimed primarily for the standard vending ‘mainstream’ market.

Also, on show was a premium vinyl wrap designed to showcase Intelligent Vending’s commitment to push visual branding boundaries. Using a newly unveiled printable and wrap conformable reflective material, all the visible panels of the machine were fully SiriuS™ branded. The three elements that define SiriuS™; VendHook™, VendHive™, and VendMesh™, were highlighted in the design. The revolutionary material used for the wrap gives an added, almost 3D effect, that is dramatically revealed across a range of different lighting conditions and changes based on the installation environment (see photos below).

No Direct Light (Black)

With Some Direct Light (Gold Elements & Binary Code In The Base Vinyl Design Showing)

As the first in a new generation of automated retail options by Intelligent Vending Ltd, this new self-service SiriuS™ solution offers a core software platform called VendHook™ designed from first principles, and eliminating the drawbacks experienced with traditional vending machine systems and protocols. The machines are fully modular and packed with functionality. Just a few of the features include large 46” touch screen and HD display, advanced product management, digital signage, social media integration, telemetry and the facility to remotely manage all machine functions & diagnostics in real time via Intelligent Vending’s fully bi-directional VendHive™ ‘Internet of Things’ cloud platform.

A key strategy underpinning the design process of Intelligent Vending’s new products was the need to provide a payment option that supported the high value transactions specified by many Intelligent Vending clients. While some card payment systems are available for the ‘mainstream’ sector, they have some limitations in terms of transaction value, and they do not provide VAT receipts, another feature often requested by customers. For its new system, Intelligent Vending has been able to incorporate a full Chip & PIN, Contactless and NFC solution into its machines, fully accredited to the latest Visa and Mastercard standards in the UK and with no cap on transaction values.  Our VendHook™ in-house receipt printer design suite also enables our clients’ to customise this ‘print-out’ experience for consumers with a few simple clicks (or touches!) including dynamic QR codes for cross selling or promotions where applicable.

Sam Roe, Managing Director at Intelligent Vending, said: “Projects such as this highlight the versatility of the SiriuS™ system, which is ideally suited to a range of challenging environments. We are looking forward to bringing our powerful Intelligent Vending technology to the widest range of clients, whether in high-end retail or the mainstream ‘plus’ market and increasing their ROI in the unattended space. Our vision is for all sectors to benefit from the sophisticated functionality we now provide as standard – Intelligent Vending by Intelligent Vending.”

More info available here (PDF): SiriuS Intelligent Vending Taster Flyer

Posted in: AVEX 2015, Customised Vending, Intelligent Vending, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Next Generation Vending Machines, PC Controlled Vending Machines, Product Help & Advice, Product News, SiriuS, Uncategorized, VendHive, VendHook, Vending Machine News, Vending Service, VendMesh

Intelligent Vending® Next Generation Automated Retail Solutions…

The vending industry has been in a state of inertia for many years, and while there has been a recognition of the need to change, vending technology remains largely based on that which existed in the 20th Century. The pace of development and the introduction of innovation compare very unfavourably to what has happened in the gaming and kiosk industries, where advances in technology are pounced upon quickly and incorporated into new machines.

A typical example is the recent introduction of credit/debit card & NFC mobile payment solutions which are just breaking though into our market, but are well established elsewhere. With only a very limited number of off-the-shelf solutions currently available for standard vending applications, it is extremely difficult to benchmark products and ensure hardware has the appropriate certification and approvals – even for the largest multi-nationals. Adverse factors (from a vending perspective!) such as the move towards healthy eating and the global recession have created massive financial pressures for traditional vending companies.

There is acceptance that vending needs to progress in order to meet the requirements of the times – in terms of interactivity with the customer and changing the vend activity from functional to rewarding. One of our corporate customers summed this up brilliantly by describing what was traditionally on offer from mainstream vending as ‘boring, dull & outdated’.

As a company, we have always innovated and looked into the future. In terms of products, we have regularly configured vending machines to dispense items that were not thought possible, and we have installed systems into machines that are way beyond what conventional machines were designed to do. On many occasions, however, the limitations of existing vending technology have proved a barrier to delivering exactly to the specification that our clients have required without significant R&D investment and major adaptation to current systems, protocols, and mechanical design. Our expert specialists in the field of software development, SolidWorks, high-end fabrication, electronics, and system architecture are here to help and can resolve many headaches, but they are still invariably frustrated by the inherent limitations of traditional vending platforms.

For example; the advanced hotel system such as Max-eBar® is already replacing traditional minibar provision in hotels, and saving our clients’ money while increasing revenue. This is a very creative solution to a thorny practical problem, but development of innovative systems such as this are often influenced by the inflexibility and limitations of existing vending machines and technology.

Significantly, and very positively, we are now moving to a position where the barriers described above are being overcome, with new system alternatives gradually entering the market, most commonly to date in the premium hot drinks vending arena.

Intelligent Vending intends to be a major contributor to this transformation, and together with our close technology and supply chain partners, we are looking forward to bringing new opportunities and revenue streams to our customers.

We’re sure to be communicating further information regarding this shortly…

Posted in: Customised Vending, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product Help & Advice, Product News, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Machine News, Vending Service
Tags: card payments, Intelligent Vending, interactive vending machines, next generation vending machines, NFC, touch screen vending, touch screen vending machines, vending machine development

Max-eBar® Your Key to Smart 24/7 Hospitality!

The Max-eBar® system is designed to provide hotel guests 24/7 access to goods using their room key. Products are dispensed by the Max-eBar® automated retail centre and charged directly to the guests hotel room bill. This provides a convenient, streamlined, reliable, and easy to operate service.

The Max-eBar® automated retail centre is usually sited on the guest bedroom corridor or in a central location like the reception area allowing guests to simply swipe their room key, make a purchase and have it charged directly to their room account. No credit cards or cash are required. In effect, this is a ‘max’ version of the traditional ‘mini’ bar with one cabinet able to provide service to many rooms.

Max-eBar® provides many benefits including:

* Reduced stockholding
* Faster stock turnover
* 24/7 unmanned service
* An alternative to visiting the bar or restaurant for those in a hurry and particularly for those travelling alone
* Safe, secure delivery, no possibility of contamination
* Impulse purchases with ‘no money’ required
* Opportunity to provide unattended serving of alcohol
* Wide range of goods available
* Available in Hostel or Hotel mode
* Accurate billing avoids disputes at Reception

Also, for added impact, we can provide a fully branded machine by a leading design agency using high-end 3M materials. The Max-eBar® can be free standing or incorporated into a custom built enclosure, depending on the needs to of your organisation and/or budget requirements.

Working in collaboration with one of our close development partners Quintus Systems (the originator and inventor of the Max-eBar® system), this reliable & high-end solution now becomes reality and a standard offering for our global hotel clients.

Let us integrate the Max-eBar® seamlessly with your hotel PMS and door key system. This is a perfect addition to any hotel environment and we can tailor our solutions to meet your needs with minimal downtime to guest services.

Hospitality is just one sector where we can add value, so let us unlock the potential of cashless interfacing within your organisation, whatever your business focus.

Intelligent Vending and Quintus Systems have packages to suit small niche hotels to large international chains, so please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on +44 (0) 1629 825555 or email: sales@intelligentvending.co.uk for more information.

Posted in: Customised Vending, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product News, Vending Machine News, Vending Overseas, Vending Service
Tags: alcohol vending machines, food and beverage hospitality services, hospitality vending services, hotel vending machines, Max-eBar

Size Matters in Vending

One of the most common questions we are asked when customers want to purchase a vending machine is whether the unit will fit into their available space. Ideally, they want a machine with plenty of capacity, but often there is only restricted space in the office, corridor, or alcove to locate it. They then want to know the largest machine that will fit within the limitations described. If the amount of space in the final location is not a problem, they report that the corridors or doorways are quite narrow, and wonder whether it will be possible to even get a vending machine in the building.

Most vending machines are quite bulky and heavy, so their size can genuinely create problems, particularly in older buildings which were not designed to provide access for large pieces of equipment. On one occasion we even had to arrange for a crane to get a machine into the building –the canteen had been located on a higher floor and normal access up the stairs was impossible!
However, as in life, there is quite a bit of variation in vending, and it may be possible to identify a suitable machine that will fit into relatively small places.

Although our quick dimensions search tool (top left of our website) is a great reference, please don’t rely on it completely – if you have any doubts regarding the suitability of any machine for your requirements, please ring. One thing to always bear in mind with machines that incorporate a fridge unit is that additional space not shown on the machine dimensions is needed at the rear of the machine. Fridge units need airflow so they can operate efficiently, so it is always wise to allow an additional 4-5 inches (10 – 12 cm) to the machine depth dimension for this purpose. Refrigeration units that operate without sufficient ventilation have to consistently work harder, which can reduce their efficiency and overall lifespan.

A final thought on size and space. We always ask customers to complete a site survey when they purchase a large vending machine from us. This helps us anticipate any problems with access and the possibility of an abandoned delivery because the machine will not fit through doorways, or is too large to get into the lift. Sometimes these forms are not fully completed or the measurements given seem more based on guesswork than actual measurement. It can’t be stressed too greatly that taking care over this stage could really save your costs later.

Customers will unfortunately be charged if a delivery has to be aborted because of the inaccuracy of information provided in the site survey. We will incur costs with our transport providers because of this and we have to pass charges on. There will then be further costs if a second delivery is attempted e.g. with door frames removed, or crane accompaniment (very costly!). At worst, if the machine is just too large, with no solution, there is the possibility of even higher costs from cancelling an order. Much better to spend time getting the measurements correct in the first place!

If you do have any doubts regarding suitability and the size question, remember, we’re always pleased to assist!

Posted in: Product Help & Advice, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: site survey, vending machine dimensions, vending machine sizes

Free Vending Machines

If you are looking for a no-hassle free drinks vending machine solution for a UK mainland site, our full service package might be just what you need.

If your site or business location is busy enough, you may qualify for our fully managed, free drinks vending service. This service comes at absolutely no cost and will even generate profit for you, provided the vending machines sell drinks effectively.

To meet the requirements for the free vending service, your site should be able to sell a minimum of 100 drinks a week for closed fronted vending machines, or 150 drinks a week to qualify for free glass fronted vending machines.

Every aspect of the drinks vending machine service is taken care of for you. Our fully managed drinks vending service includes all this:

• Free on-loan vending machines with telemetry including free delivery and installation
• Free product management including stocking, ordering and regular product selection reviews to optimise sales
• Free labour, technical support and maintenance
  • Emergency faults resolved within 4 hours
  • Major faults resolved by 9pm next day
  • Minor faults resolved within 7 days
• Vending machines cleaned every visit
• Free cash handling service

Not only this, the vending machines themselves are top quality and the drinks are provided by some of the biggest brand names in the industry. This includes extremely successful brands such as: Pepsi, 7up, Tango, Robinsons, Gatorade and Drench.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to take advantage of our free vending machines for your site or business – we will be delighted to help.

More information can be found on our full service soft drinks vending machine page, which is available at the following link: Full Service Drinks Vending Machines

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product News, Vending Service
Tags: drinks vending machines, free vending machines

PPE Vending Machines

Check out the latest addition to our website – PPE vending machines.

PPE or Personal Protective Equipment is something many companies deal with on a daily basis. It is essential equipment for many to help ensure the health and safety of employees.

There are a number of regulations governing PPE access and availability within companies, so it is an area which cannot be overlooked.

Monitoring and tracking stock of equipment can be a nightmare for the employer. This is often due to poorly managed processes taking up valuable time and resources, which can also lead to loss of equipment. Inevitably this leads to new stock purchase and higher outgoings.

We at Intelligent Vending Ltd have been providing PPE vending machines and engineering component vending machines to the industry for some time; however we have now added this new page to our website to showcase our services.

Our PPE vending machines are extremely comprehensive in their feature set. They can be integrated with almost any existing card system, offer full telemetry and audit systems, and are even compatible with contactless biometric systems.

PPE vending is a fantastic solution to the problem of mismanaged equipment as it requires minimal staff input and provides a solid system for PPE control. Also, providing such easy access to personal protective equipment to staff is a great way to demonstrate compliance with health and safety regulations.

To read more about our PPE vending machines, please visit the following link:

PPE Vending Machines – Intelligent Vending Ltd

Posted in: Customised Vending, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product News, Vending Service
Tags: ppe, ppe vending, vending machines

Vending Tips: Product Selection

In our first vending tips article we spoke about vending machine location and some of the benefits and potential downfalls of which to be aware. The aim of this article is to focus on vending machine product selection, with ideas of how this can be optimised to be more effective.

Choosing the right products to vend from your machines can mean the difference between profit and loss, and so is not a decision to be taken lightly.

Product Selection: Gather Data

Firstly, it is important to detach yourself from any personal preference towards particular products. Not everyone will share your opinion of the best snack/drink/brand of mints/etc. Providing products people actually want will yield better results. This is perhaps an obvious statement, but achieving it is not always so simple.

Read More …

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Product Help & Advice, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: product selection, vending, vending machines, vending tips

Vending Tips: Location, Location, Location

A profitable vending machine is a wonderful thing. Vending machines are one of the few business opportunities which can allow you to sit back and relax while the money rolls in. Of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to the success of vending machines, but there are ways to improve your chances and perhaps gain an advantage.

Whether you operate drinks vending machines, snack vending machines, condom vending machines or any other type of retail vending machine, there are some simple rules which can be applied to them all, which should help to encourage more sales if properly followed.

This first article in a series of vending tips will be dealing with the strategy of vending machine location – probably the most important factor when trying to achieve the highest possible product sales rates.

Vending Machine Location

A good location demands careful thought. It is not always optimal to just ‘whack the machines in the busiest area’. Try to think logically about the motivation and mood of the consumer and how they can be used to your advantage.

Read More …

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: vending, vending machine location, vending machines, vending tips

Vending Machines for Sale

Since Intelligent Vending Ltd was established, our portfolio of vending machines and vending related products has grown extensively – along with the company. Our comprehensive range of vending machines for sale mean there is something for everyone, whatever our clients’ needs may be.

Whether you are looking for a snack or hot drinks vending machine for your businesses’ employees, an air sterilization system to keep your environment clean and safe, or a domestic fly killer to keep pesky insects away at home; we can provide them all, and everything in-between.

An early ethos of the company was ensuring only top-quality vending machines and products appeared in our catalogue and were sold with integrity and customer satisfaction in mind. The vending machine market can be a minefield of unreliability and false promises; buyers should always be careful when choosing their supplier.

Read More …

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: Intelligent Vending, vending, vending machines, Vending Service