Smart Mart Scan and Grab

Are you team AI vending machines or team old school vending machines?

No right or wrong answer.

Some people like the simplicity of a traditional vending machine. Walk up, make a selection, and you're done.

Others like AI-powered machines because they can browse products, use mobile payments, and get a more modern shopping experience.

I'm curious where everyone stands on this.

Which do you prefer, and why?

5 things I didn't know about vending before I started:

1. People buy convenience, not products.

The same drink can sell great in one location and sit untouched in another. Location matters more than almost anything else.

2. Cash flow and profit aren't the same thing.

A machine can do good sales and still eat up money if you're constantly buying inventory, equipment, and supplies.

3. Small planogram changes can have a huge impact.

Moving products around, changing facings, or putting the right item at eye level can increase sales without adding a single new customer.

4. The machine is the easy part.

Inventory, ordering, stocking, tracking products, and managing routes takes far more time than most people expect.

5. Driving around looking for locations isn't how I do it anymore.

These days I use the Smart Mart Leads app to find potential locations, build routes, track prospects, and spend more time talking to decision makers instead of wandering around hoping to find a good lead.

What surprised you most when you got into vending?

The weather is beautiful this weekend! What are you all using to scout new locations and take advantage of the good weather??

How many new locations do you get per year??

Getting new locations to place a vending machine isn't easy.

What do you use to scout for new locations? Seems like most people use google or chatgpt to do the scouting