VendingMarketWatch Blog

Dennis

I agree that the quality and variety of vended products has vastly improved since the 60’s.   Too bad the industry lost most of the ideal venues for the application for vended food and beverage services.  Ironic isn’t it?

While my Dear Friends in the traditional full line vending business are agonizing over how to sell candy bars, potato chips and soft drinks profitably, something is going on in the background.

The self Service Revolution:

* 97% of consumers would use self-service to handle a transaction or service.
* 86% of consumers say they are more likely to do business with a company
   that offers the flexibility to interact using self-service.
*66% of consumers say the availability of self-service technologies
  creates a more positive perception of the brand.
*56% say their likelihood to use self-service has increased over the last
  12 months.

Speed, convenience and ease of use are identified most frequently by respondents when asked why they would choose self-service over personal assistance in each of four industry sectors:

* financial (faster-70 percent, more convenient-67 percent, easier-52 percent);
* retail (faster-68 percent, more convenient-64 percent, easier-52percent);
* travel (faster-63 percent, more convenient-61 percent, easier-60percent); and
* healthcare (faster-53 percent, more convenient-50 percent, easier-47percent).

Our industry was once the leader and innovator in the “unattended sale” concept.  Are we to be left behind in this major shift in retailing?

 *Sources of statistical data:Time Magazine, March 2008NCR Self Service Consumer Survey, 2008 

Timmy

Do not look for a vending machine that cooks from scratch (as in, peels the potatoes, slices the carrots and braises the beef) anytime soon I foresee a couple of barriers this type of device:·        

Sanitation, temperature control and related food safety issues. ·        

Extended processes, even though automated, mean longer delivery cycles and the vending advantage is fast and convenient delivery. 

Vended products are not usually served up with candlelight and violins. Frankly,  I do not see the need anyway.  There are lots of vendable microwaveable packaged meals and sandwiches available that are of excellent quality.  

 Advances in the packaging microwavable foods have been a big plus factor for the quality of vended foods. Absence of clear, concise cooking instructions on the package can be an issue.  Failure to follow the heat and time instructions will adversely affect finished product quality.  

A little consumer education is always beneficial when new products are introduced.

Keep the new ideas coming……Best RegardsTom

A Route Driver (or any employee) may be performing poorly because……

1. Their learning skills (verbal and numerical capability) may not match those required to do their job: 

> If their learning skills are lower than required, the employee may literally not be able to do their job properly. 

> If their learning skills are higher than required, the employee may have communication problems or become bored with their job. 

2. They may not have the necessary unique behavioral traits required to do their job.  In other words, they may not fit into the culture of the job at your company.  

3.  They may not have the occupational interests that match those required by their job.  If their interests do not match those needed by their job, they will lose interest and become disengaged.    

There is a management axiom that says: “you can’t manage what you can’t measure’. 

Given that most current measuring standards are based on functional results (sales, profit, returns, etc) that are historic (they tell you what happened yesterday, not what will happen tomorrow), the scale to which an employee is being measured may not have anything to do with the employee’s success….or lack there-of in a job function.

To be able to manage your employees in a predictive manner, you need to be able to measure their learning skill, behavioral traits, and job interests.  Once you have assessed what may be causing their sub par performance, you will be able to manage that employee to increased productivity. 

I hope this information helps improve productivity and reduce turnover at your company.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dave McCaffrey

profiles@predictiveassets.com

866 584-9551 (toll free)