VendingMarketWatch.com |

Many operators introducing “open” cashless systems note that it takes time for customers to use the cashless, but the cashless purchasing does increase with time.

Operators who have introduced new technology note that while it allows them to reduce route labor, they need to spend more time reviewing financial results to get the full benefit.

Hence, while technology can reduce labor, it can also require more management time. Operators who have used RMM note that the systems allow them to ascertain if the account is being serviced properly, to determine what consumers are buying, and it alerts them to service issues in a more timely manner.

Several operators interviewed noted that because RMM allows them to analyze location profitability on a more timely basis, they have found it worth their trouble to analyze location profitability regularly.

By reviewing individual location reports, operators can decide what changes need to be made to improve location profitability, such as service frequency, number of machines installed and line-item product performance.

Operators using new technology frequently find that technology influences their decisions to acquire other vending operations.

For instance, an operator who has machines with full DEX reporting capability will consider whether another operation’s machines have comparable DEX capability before deciding how much to pay for the company. The need to upgrade machine DEX represents an additional investment.

At the same time, an operator utilizing RMM could find that he can incorporate more routes at lower cost and will therefore be more interested in buying additional routes.

A 53 percent majority said they expect to add more employees in 2010, indicated in chart 2b. The most common job responsibility operators plan to add is in sales, cited by 18 percent. An additional 6 percent of operators indicated they will add customer relations personnel.