‘Open’ versus ‘Closed’ Systems in Cashless Vending

The term “open system” in relation to a cashless payment plan refers to a scheme in which a purchase transaction can be recorded, processed and reconciled without proprietary settlement technology.

A credit card purchase from an Antares vending machine is a good example of an open system transaction. When a credit card is used as payment, the card is swiped, authorized and processed without the use of in house application software.

A situation where unique application software is required to process a non cash transaction, is what is known as a closed system. A closed is usually defined by its environment (e.g. institution, factory etc.)

A closed system may be used to monitor and track internal transactions in your Antares business. With a closed system it is also possible to restrict transactions, account balances, and purchase frequency through a central authority or account.

As an Antares vending operator you can participate in both open and closed systems, although cashless has and continues to be successful in closed environments. Closed systems would provide fast transactions and enhanced security. In addition to this it will also allow Antares vending operators to offer employee bonuses in the form of purchase discounts.

Remote data polling has been the driving force behind the growth in cashless. Since telemetry is important to the development of cashless vending, it is difficult to discuss cashless transactions without including “intelligent vending.”

Cashless vending is expected to drive intelligent vending and hence lead Antares vending operators to discover the benefits of telemetry. This would also include polling line item sales and machine malfunctions via a remote computer.

“Online systems” would require an always ‘on’ communication network. “Off-line systems” that handle credit and debit cards will need to connect on an occasional basis, typically just once a day.

Cash Counting and Sorting Technology

Accountability in the vending business is a big issue. Fortunately, technical advances in money counting equipment and the ability to interface with management software, has given Antares vending operators as well as other operators more accountability.

The newer coin and currency counting and sorting equipment enables operators to monitor collections at the Antares machine level on a daily basis. Antares vending operators have been able to handle more business with fewer employees who have been assigned to money collecting, sorting and bagging, because these systems have become faster and more versatile.

Coin and currency counting and sorting equipment manufacturers continue to introduce new features. A random survey of vending operators including Antares vending operators revealed varying views on the benefits of the different features available. Some small vending operators have found use for some of the most advanced counting and sorting equipment, while some large companies insist manual counting and sorting makes the most sense.

A major development: software interfaces

Most Antares vending operators agreed that significant progress was made several years ago with the ability to interface counting and sorting equipment with management software. Currency sorters can interface with coin sorters, which can then interface with the main business software. By interfacing both sorters in this manner, an Antares operator can immediately know the total collected from a machine.

The software interface has eliminated the need for someone to read handwritten totals from a ledger or a print out and key it into the computer. Since this is an automated process, there is less chance of human error.

Software interface has given employees the ability to monitor machine collections on desktop computers as the coin and bills are counted and sorted.

Depending on the Antares operator’s needs, the process can simply interface the currency sorter with the coin sorter or it can also interface with handhelds and bar code readers.

Do you have the Right Vending Insurance?

Whether you are a seasoned Antares vending operator or new to vending, the vending business carries a certain amount of liability that operators need to protect themselves against. Operators can be properly insured without overspending. They just need to be reasonably informed about what coverage’s they need.

First and foremost, Antares operators must realize that they cannot depend on personal auto and homeowner’s insurance for their business needs. Operators will need to consult with an insurance professional in determining the amount of coverage they will need to cover their business assets.

Insurance and risk management

Insurance is a contract under which one undertakes to pay or indemnify another for loss from certain specified contingencies or perils. Risk management is the practice of protecting an organization from financial loss by identifying, analyzing and controlling risk at the lowest possible cost. The four ways of managing risk are by transferring it, assuming it, reducing it or eliminating it.

Disability insurance

What will you and your family do if you are injured, sick or gone? This is where risk management comes into play because you will need a written contingency plan. You should get insurance coverage short term and long term disability for your Antares business. You should have a written plan for how your business operations will continue if you are out of the picture for a period of time. You should also plan for what will happen incase you exit the business in the event of a catastrophe.

The loss of all your Antares vending machines at one go, would present a significant financial hardship. Of course the possibility of this taking place is quite remote. In case of loss exposure of your Antares vending machine, it would be best to “manage the risk” rather than transferring the risk of financial loss to your insurance company.

Treat vandalism and damage as a cost of doing business as opposed to trading premium dollars and claiming dollars from your insurance company.

Remember, the best approach is to manage the risk and fund small losses with internal funds and also rely on external funds (i.e. insurance) for the significant losses.

Ethnic Market Beckons Vendors

Vending operators have begun to recognize the rising number of ethnic consumers. Vending operators on the lookout for ethnic products are having an easier time than they were a few years ago. You as an Antares vending operator should also recognize the rising demand for ethnic products. The industry as a whole, however, seems to be slow to recognize the need to cater to this growing market.

Ethnic market expands

A survey that was conducted has found that the vending customer base is becoming more ethnically diverse. This is consistent with government data, which indicates the rising immigration. The biggest gain in the ethnic market has been Hispanic customers.

Operators that have met ethnic demands have reported positive results. The challenge you will face as an Antares vending operator will be in determining how much of the product mix should be geared to the ethnic audience when the customer base is mixed

Ethnic products for all categories

Popular ethnic products that have been offered are salted snacks, followed by food. The reason for this is that this category has offered the greatest product variety for several years, and also snack machines like the Antares vending machine, have more facings than other types of machines.

The food category ranked a close second in the percent of ethnic products being offered. Mexican handheld food products such as tacos and burritos have naturally lent themselves to single serve food packaging. This is the one category where ethnic products have gained a foothold among non ethnic Americans in addition to being popular among Hispanic consumers.

Vending operators have also provided ethnic choices in the cold drink category. This is following salted snacks and food. Antares vending machines sell snacks and drinks, so selling ethnic products from your vending machines will be convenient. The Jarritos soft drinks have proven to be quite popular in the last three years. They have become popular in the non ethnic communities as well.

Vending operators have found it necessary to carry products that cater to ethnic communities, because ethnic communities are continually rising in number. A recent survey indicates that product manufactures are a few steps ahead of operators in meeting this need.

Protect your Antares Vending Customers from Food Borne Diseases

It is very important that customers purchase only safe products from your Antares food vending machines. To do this you need you take every step possible to protect against products that could potentially pose a health threat. It has been said that 76 million Americans experience food borne illness every year.

You may think that you are in the food industry, but in reality, you are in the food service business. You and your company are the ones that are responsible for the safety of the food that is sold in the vending machine. The vending industry sells close to $2 billion per year in commissary prepared food or food purchased from an outside company. Food safety has to be one of your primary concerns. Antares vending machines sell snacks and soft drinks, which means that the food safety concerns are not as high as those machines that are selling perishable, high risk foods such as egg, ham or chicken sandwiches.

You must follow safe food handling procedures in order to assure that the food products you receive is safe for putting into your Antares machines by following a few simple steps.

Step 1: Wash your hands

Always wash your hands before servicing any Antares machines at a location. Your hands can get dirty as a result of unloading products onto your truck. Washing your hands shows your customers that you are concerned about the way you handle food. Even though the food is packaged, it is still important that the products are handled with clean hands.

Step 2: Remove outdated product

Always remove outdated snacks from the Antares vending machines so that you do not mix it with new snacks. Before loading new products, make sure that all of the trays are clean and in case there is food package that is torn, place it with the outdated products

Step 3: Brush the condenser monthly

Brushing of the condenser has to be done at least once a month. Cleaning of the interior glass is also important. After all this then you can clean the Antares machine exterior. This can be done after the machine has been serviced.

Why the Credit Card Industry wants to Promote Cashless Vending

All credit card companies have one goal in mind, and that is to increase their own profits. In recent years, they have been trying to get consumers to use plastic instead of cash for small dollar transactions, like the transactions done in vending machines.

One dollar can fetch a consumer a soda or a snack from an Antares vending machine. The total of all vending machine purchases is something that credit card companies are very aware of, and would like to be part of it. Back in 2003, there were more U.S. electronic payments than cash and check payments for the first time in history. Micro transactions, such as those made at vending machines, accounted for $1.32 trillion in consumer spending. Since 2003 micro payment transactions have expanded.

Credit and debit card associations aim to convert small purchases from cash to contactless, cashless payment technology. Companies which have already implemented contactless, cashless payment options have found that the new technology has exceeded all company projections. As an Antares vending operator you can implement this technology for the success of your business. The vending industry can play a pivotal role in converting consumers from cash to cashless transactions.

Credit card companies are currently offering vending machine operators (like Antares vending operators) incentives such as reduced credit card interchange rates and transaction fees. This is an attempt to lure vending machine operators to try cashless payment options. Contactless, cashless payment options would benefit both credit card companies and vending machine operators in the long run by increasing profits for both. This new technology would be a relief to many consumers who already enjoy the diversity of payment options in other retail locations. Consumers who have hectic lifestyles would be more inclined to grab a snack from an Antares vending machine, if the machine has a contactless, cashless payment option. This means that the product will be more accessible to them. By implementing this payment option in your vending machine, you can open up your products to new groups of customers. This means more profits for you and the credit card companies.

Electronic Locks for Vending Machines

For as long as vending machines have existed, burglars have found ways to get into them. Vending machines operators must also guard against internal theft as well. Today there are a variety of electronic vending locks available to protect all types of vending machines, such as those provided by Antares Corporation. These locks offer several advantages as compared to conventional lock key methods. Here are some of them.

1. Cannot be picked: These locks can only be opened with an electronic key. Some systems designed for candy snack vending machines and soft drink vending machines, use non- contact infrared key fobs. This eliminates a visible lock on the front of the vending machines, which will deter thieves. This is good news for Antares vending operators.

2. Difficult to drill: Hardened steel roll pins can be incorporated into soft drink machine t-handle locks to prevent drill bits from coming into contact with the actual lock.

3. Cannot duplicate keys: The software that is used is encrypted so only the vending operator will have access to key codes.

4. Vending operator controls life of keys: The Antares vending operator will have full control over when the key is active or how many times the key has to be in use.

5. Route people have no access: Keys have a programmed life; they cannot be used after they are expired. If one tries to open the machine locks, it will be tracked back to individual keys.

6. No need to change locks if key is lost: This is because electronic vending machine keys are inactivated regularly and the operator can quickly change key codes. The security of your Antares vending machine will never be compromised.

7. Can monitor route person work habits: This is done via the audit trail of lock key interactions.

Replacing conventional vending machine locks with new electronic vending machine locks does not take more time than regular lock changes. Some styles of electronic replace the barrel plug locks, leaving the main locking components in place. Electronic locks will offer tighter seals than conventional in your Antares vending machine. This results in decrease in cold air leakage in your vending machine. The compressor life of your Antares vending machine will be extended as well, thus lowering energy costs.

Other ways that the Antares vending operator can increase vending machine security is by reinforcing weak components of the machine.

Vending Outreach Charity Programs

There are a number of charities that have vending operators as members of their outreach programs. Some charities pay for the use of a charity foundation’s name or logo. On the other hand some display labels on their vending machines. As an Antares vending operator you can decide to support certain charities using your vending machine. Here are a few of them.

Carolina Hair Foundation

Vending machine owners use their programs to help secure locations. Once they have signed up CHF, they can present themselves to the location owner as a supporter of the charity. They then ask the location owner to support the organization by allowing them to place their machine in the establishment.

The CHF vending program requires each vendor to sign a royalty agreement in which they agree to pay a fixed monthly payment for the use of the foundation’s name or logo. As an Antares vending operator you will not be fund raising on behalf of the CHF.

Vanished Children’s Alliance

This is a non profit organization that helps to find missing and abducted children. The VCA found that by placing photos by stickers on vending machines helps in locating the children and keeps the issue of missing children in the forefront of people’s minds. As an Antares vending machine owner, you can help parents and others to find their children, by using your vending machine to spread awareness.

The VCA vending program also requires the vendor to sign a Royalty Agreement, in which they agree to pay a fixed payment. Once again as an Antares vending operator you will NOT be fundraising on behalf of VCA.

Dispensers in Vending Machines

Dispensers are what you find in vending machines and other places. In Antares vending machines they dispense whatever item that has been selected by the consumer. Dispensers are found in all vending machines because they are the ones that dispense the products from the machine

In most cases, a dispenser is in an automated form that only dispenses its contents when driven by human intervention. They take the form of vending machines like the Antares vending machine, that render a variety of products like foods and beverages, after inserting certain amount of money, whether bills or coins.

Consequently, since its inception, dispensers are now considered as the modern way of storing things, mostly those that are in liquid form. Here are some facts about dispensers that you need to know.

1. Fluid dispensers are the most common form of dispensers. It uses several “peristaltic pumps” that are capable of delivering accurate and fixed amounts of liquids. You can find these in Antares vending machines.

2. It provides a push-button handiness and is easy to refill

3. It has level indicator windows where you can be able to see if the dispenser needs some refilling already.

4. It also provides an easy-snap lid that automatically opens for trouble free access.

The dispensers in Antares vending machines will dispense food and beverages for the customers who have placed money in the vending machine. The dispensing process takes a short amount of time and that is why it is preferred to going to the grocery store.