Working with partners Invenda, Aim, Selecta and Visa, Taiwanese company Aaeon Technology has developed a smart vending machine. It was unveiled at last month’s European Vending & Coffee Service Association event in Seville.
 
The machine can integrate direct, targeted marketing at the PoS, where it can handle data collection and optimise its product display and offerings. The aim to save costs while eliminating waste and reducing opex.
 
Each vending machine is connected to the backend cloud service through a secure network connection (https) and will communicate over encrypted channels. Also, it should improve the efficiency of servicing and digitalisation of customer interactions. It can provide real-time inventory, transaction details and complete machine status.
 
The machine integrates artificial intelligence from Aim2 for audience recognition and cataloguing, ID and product recognition, all on the edge without the need of any cloud-based AI.
 
The machine on show in Seville had independent modules for:

• Device management and centralised monitoring;
• Device inventory and automated pricing;
• Digital signage and marketing;
• Transaction and location data collection;
• Facial recognition with statistics and targeted marketing analytics for dynamic content generation, product selection, optimisation based on customers and environment, predictive servicing, filling, and maintenance; and
• Biometric payment capability.

Aaeon off-the-shelf hardware for intelligent vending and artificial intelligence helps ease the integration of new services on existing vending machines, such as motor control, payment integration, and customer and product recognition.
 
The showcased machine was an old Selecta Wurlitzer, eliminating wastage and reducing opex. It is entirely modular to address all vending industry needs today and in the future. The intelligent software can recognise customers and environmental conditions to display targeted offers and campaigns.