Beverage stock in vending machine
IoT makes vending machine restocking plannable: coffee machines report by themselves when supplies such as coffee or milk have not been refilled or a fault has occurred. Operators respond in a targeted way rather than visiting sites on spec.
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Vending machine restocking: supplies report before they run out
In the solution example, every machine has a built-in tablet-like computer with a touchscreen that already collects all the data needed for operation. Device Insight's IoT software reads out these sales and status data and transmits them via cellular network. Automatic alerting reports technical faults and missing supplies, and an escalation system with several alarm levels informs the right contact as quickly as possible. The same platform controls prices, promotions and display content, and customers can order contactlessly via app and QR code.
The user is Costa Coffee from the consumer goods sector, with Device Insight as partner. Besides its coffee shops, Costa Coffee is offered at a further 11,000 locations through machines supplied by its subsidiary Costa Express as fully automatic mini coffee bars. They are operated by airports, petrol stations or car dealerships, for example. Thanks to the IoT solution, Costa Express runs the machines remotely worldwide and has full transparency over their condition and operation. According to the source, service and maintenance effort falls, downtime stays low and monitoring ensures consistent coffee quality.
Vending machine restocking: frequently asked questions
How do operators know when a vending machine needs a refill?
Operators find out through automatic alerts from the connected machine. At Costa Express, the machine reports supplies of coffee or milk that have not been refilled as well as technical faults. An escalation system with several alarm levels ensures that the right contact is informed quickly. The machine collects this data for operation anyway; it is simply read out and sent via cellular network.
What does remote monitoring bring to office coffee machine service?
Remote monitoring makes commercial coffee machines remotely controllable and creates transparency about their condition and operation. Costa Express runs its machines remotely worldwide: faults and empty supplies are reported, and prices and promotions are adjusted centrally. According to the source, this reduces service and maintenance effort and keeps downtime low. The machine also provides data on purchasing behaviour and preferences.
How does commercial coffee machine monitoring support maintenance?
IoT supports maintenance by having the machine report faults itself and dispatching technicians in a targeted way. Device Insight's solution transmits machine and sales data from every Costa Express machine to an IoT platform. A multi-level escalation system informs the appropriate contact depending on the problem. This keeps downtime short, and monitoring helps to ensure consistent coffee quality.
What can smart vending do beyond restocking?
Smart vending turns the machine into a marketing and ordering channel as well. At Costa Express, the IoT platform controls prices, start and end dates of promotions and display content. Customers can order via app and connect to the machine with a QR code without touching the display. Costa also receives direct feedback on purchasing behaviour and preferences for marketing and product development.
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