As manufacturers of drinks vending machines continue to look for new ways to fulfill the consumer-penetration needs of vending machine operators, one of the key trends has been the emergence and increasing visibility of “cashless” vending machines [to be sure, cashless vending machines do not mean that these do not accept any cash; just that they offer an additional option to accept credit/debit cards or smart cards].

In fact, studies in the US have already proven that the cashless payment options are helping vending machine operators to increase their consumer base and consumer satisfaction, with electronic payments already exceeding those made by cash. In fact, purchases from vending machines using credit and debit cards are already growing at double-digit rates, thereby providing an even greater reason for operators to seriously consider opting for such machines. Considering this trend in the US, it is highly likely that a similar trend will follow in the UK and other parts of Europe.