Operators Slow to Invest

The automatic merchandising industry stands at the bottom of a ladder, ready to climb, but barely moving. In 2005, the automatic merchandising industry’s revenue increased by 3 percentage points.

The vending industry will continue to remain challenging unless operators become more aggressive about investing in tools. There are a variety of tools that are available to Antares vending operators to improve sales and profitability. These tools exist to enhance efficiency and improve sales. These tools include: remote machine monitoring, electronic cash audit, electronic locks and cashless capability. In spite of all these, very few operators are able or willing to make the necessary investments in equipment, training and salaries that will allow them to utilize these advantages.

In the mean time, the Antares operator’s fortunes rest mainly on external economic forces, which in the short term can be described as non-threatening, but not generous.

The best news for Antares vending operators in the last couple of years has been the end of employee downsizing that had characterized the previous three years. Vending operator sales posted a 3 percentage point increase in 2005, which pushed aggregate industry sales to $21.89 billion.

Aggregate sales improved a total 4 percent points in 2004 and 2005. Operators took comfort in the fact that locations had stopped shedding employees during that time.

Operators are yet to take advantage of new technologies that offer the vending industry significant growth potential. With these technologies, you can schedule service at the most opportune time, improve customer satisfaction, offer higher priced products and improve level accountability of your Antares vending machine.

Although these technologies offer significant potential, the operator has barely begun to invest in most of them due to the high capital required. With some of these technologies, you will also need to integrate new hardware and software with existing management systems.

If you would like to make a difference in your Antares vending business, you can invest in some of these technologies. By doing this you will see a positive change in the running of your business.