Cliff Fisher, sales manager for vending management solutions at MEI, moderated a well attended panel discussion on technology during the recent National Automatic Merchandising Association OneShow in Las Vegas. The panel included Doug Haddon, director of technologies at MEI, Stu Riemann, general manager, D & R Canteen in Rochester, Minn.; Scott Meskin, president, Black Tie Servicesin Baltimore, Md.; and David Sours, director of commercial leadership, Coca Cola Bottling Company United Inc. in Birmingham, Ala.
The panelists offered different perspectives on technology. Fisher notes technology is not a “magic bullet”; it is not a destination. Instead, the operator must build the right processes to best utilize technology.
To view part 1 of the video, click here.
Editor’s Insight: This is an outstanding panel that every vending operator needs to watch. Congratulations to MEI for making a video of this excellent panel and making it available for all operators to watch.
This panel will remove much of the mystery and anxiety that many vending operators have about adding technology.
MEI, in working with many vending operators on software and hardware upgrades over the years, has learned there is no “one size fits all” approach to technology. Instead, the vending company needs to understand its existing capabilities in order to know what investments make the most sense and how to plan to invest, one step at a time. 05-31-12 By Elliot Maras
