Automated Retail Whats All The Buzz About?

Automated Retail Definition / Map

So what is automated retail?

Well if you google it, it seems ZoomSystems have coined the phrase and got the ranking to go with it.
However

The term vending is synonymous with your typical, box in the corner, dispensing little more than chocolate bars and soft drinks for a £1 a go. But take a step back for just one moment. Stick a 12-20" touch screen and increase the size of the channel and you've pretty much got the basis of an automated retail unit.

Most importantly Automated Retail is updating the image of vending. No more do you have to be infuriated by a pack jam, rather you will be offered a full refund,

The typical sequence of events are:

Attraction: The consumer is attracted to the store by advertising
Browsing: The consumer can browse through product finding out more about products in question, using a product selector and a touchscreen interface similar to any online shopping experience.
Payment: The consumer pays for their selected product using chip and pin technology, contact less payment, or a typical cash / note reader.
Dispensing: The unit dispensing the product via a method which ensures delivery or in the case of failure a full refund given and the operator alerted to the machines status.

The Origins Of The Humble Kiosk

Touch Vending Offer Consumers Memory Cards And Mobile Accessories Via Vending Machines At London Victoria

Barclaycard launch contactless payment method wavepay

O2 experiment with sim card and mobile phone vending machines at Manchester Airport

Traveling throughout Manchester airport you may notice several vending machines that are literally head and shoulders above the rest. It seems O2 are having a go at targeting the massive travel market through a series of O2 branded vending machines selling pre loaded Pay as you Go sim cards and several basic handsets to suit.

The price points are travel friendly for the cash laden holiday goers £10-15 range and the machines are chip & pin ready. Some seem to accept cash too, whilst others remain strictly card only.

All machines come with a massive 40” display unit running the latest television add campaign. The one featuring the ducks.

Digital signage around the airport tells customers that you can pickup O2 sim cards around the airport. But it doesn't say where.

As for their impact... Time will tell.


find out more about sim card vending here

find out more about mobile phone vending here