Bill Acceptors Need an Upgrade

Many operators realize that they need to upgrade their bill acceptors by adding coin mechanisms that have inventory management system to run entire routes. Antares vending operators as well as other operators need to always upgrade their technology not only for the currency changes, but also to proactively integrate technology that will minimize other risks associated with cash storage, theft and shrinkage.

Spending money on technology upgrades, like going from a 4 tube to 5 tube changer, will drive favorable results with customers. As an Antares operator you can implement different advanced technology systems in your vending machines which will always bring in positive results from your customers.

Improved customer satisfaction and gaining more market share from competitors is the primary focus of operators who see the $20 denomination becoming increasingly important to the vending industry.

Antares vending operators should accept the new $20 bill in change machines and vending machines. Operators who have not accepted this $20 bill, risk turning away customers and exposing their Achilles heel to competitors.

Antares vending operators should be able to respond to shifting consumer purchasing patterns and change the way they manage their inventory.

As an Antares vending operator you will need to upgrade your security features, because advances in technology are making digital counterfeiting of currency easier and cheaper. In 1995, for example, less than 1 percent of counterfeit notes detected in the U.S. were digitally produced. By 2002, the number had grown to nearly 40 %.

Antares vending operators need to be armed to accept only valid currency, as well as reject counterfeit currency. Counterfeiters are using more sophisticated fraud techniques, so you will need to be armed to counter this.

The vending industry needs to be prepared for the future by upgrading their bill acceptors. Antares operators should take the opportunity to enhance their equipment; hence they will see the payoff from customers who look to vending for purchases of snacks and soft drinks.

Leasing Vending Equipment

Operators are under constant pressure to maintain profitability and also to increase their return on investment. The best measure of overall performance for any business is return on assets (ROA).

There is a new product in the vending industry that can increase a business’s ROA. The new product is operating leases.

If you are new to the vending business and would like to start off with Antares vending machines, you will find that operating leases not only provides increased ROA, but will also reduce the operator’s risk by enhancing flexibility in allocating assets to the highest revenue generating location. Leasing Antares vending equipment is no different than trucks, copy machines and automobiles.

Below is the number of benefits in operating equipment leases.

· Matches the revenue stream of a contact with the lease cost of equipment.

· Reduces the fixed cost of a purchase with the flexibility of a lease.

· Frees capital for other requirements

· Protects against equipment obsolescence.

Antares operators struggle to increase and maintain the profit before taxes portion of the ROA ratio. Competitive pricing pressures, increased commission costs, expended government regulation and inventory shrinkage are just some of the issues facing operators. Significant effort in running a business is focused on revenue and cost structure issues.

Vending equipment is typically the most significant asset on the Antares operator’s balance sheet. Therefore, the daily challenge of the operator is finding the right balance between income and assets, which increases one’s ROA.

Majority of operators buy their vending equipment. But to increase flexibility to upgrade to new and more efficient equipment, an operating lease may be a wiser choice for your Antares vending business.

Thinking about Investing in GPS Technology?

As an Antares vending operator, you will probably be thinking about investing in GPS technology for your vending business. Before you rush out and make a substantial investment in GPS technology, you need to sit down and really analyze the system. Firstly you need to realize what you are getting out of such a system and if you are happy about that.

There are a number of reasons why you should invest in GPS technology for your Antares vending business. For one thing, it gives you control over the equipment and driver investment. Such a system maintains a balance between employer and driver, allowing an owner to control his fleet and know that his drivers are giving him a day’s work for a day’s pay.

A GPS system will improve customer service for your Antares business. If an owner decides to ride along with a driver on a route, productivity will go up.

With this system it is also easy to determine whether an employee is doing work on the side, or whether he is using the vehicle for his own personal reasons. This can bring about loss for your Antares vending business. This is the reason why a lot of stress has been laid on hiring the right employees. When you start your Antares vending business, you would only want it to be successful, but there are some factors that hinder this from happening. A GPS system would put all your worries to rest, because you will now get to know what your employees are up to.

If you decide to install the GPS software, you can have the driver up and running within two hours once it has been set up. This software is like any other software, the more you use it, the more efficient you become. The key is that you have to invest the time.

When the technology was first introduced, it was mostly targeted at over the road companies. One manufacturer’s system cost at that time was about $3,500 a truck and $150 per month. The system would give you an average communication with the truck.

However, with the advent of wireless communication, GPS is now practical for fleets such as Antares vending operators. There has also been a decrease in the price as well.

Wake Up Vending

Changes in the American workplace, increasing costs and constant competitive pressures from a variety of sources threaten the survival of vending operators. Since the past few years, it has become clear that a new business model is being created. This requires a higher front end investment, investment in technology and intense focus on controlling all cost elements.

Antares vending operators must continue to provide greater customer service and satisfaction, and at the same time improve their cost efficiency and profitability.

The vending industry is at a crossroad. Only those operators who take quick, thoughtful, progressive action will grow in the years ahead.

The Warning Signs

The vending industry has not kept pace with the rate of economic improvement in the U.S., nor has it fared as well as the food service industry.

Historically, the industry’s growth reflected that of the U.S. economy. It was reasonably healthy in the middle and late 1990s as the economy surged, then it suffered with the fallout of the implosion of the “tech bubble” and the 2001 terrorist attacks. Post this occurrence the matching trend ceased to continue.

Vending Fighting Back

Despite this, the vending industry has been fighting back, thus improving the state of the industry. Antares Corporation has a wonderful vending program by Natural Choice USA that will offer you all the right opportunities to make your Antares business grow. There are a number of strategies that you can use for your vending business if you would like to see more profit. This can include: raising prices, cutting location commissions, investing in employee development and also getting up on speed on health and nutrition.

One thing that will remain true is that vending is a $30 billion industry, and automatic merchandising is one of today’s fastest growing industries. All this, despite the setbacks! You can also own a piece of the profits with Natural Choice’s Antares Vending, without having any special skills or training and also without a big investment of time or money. By doing this you will find that you will undergo growth in your business, in the years to come.

Vending Faces Unique Challenges

The environment for raising prices may have improved, but vending operators still face some unique challenges in this area. Historically, operators have based the decision to change prices on their overall profitability. This includes other factors such a; taxes, commissions, cost of goods sold, equipment depreciation, shrinkage, spoilage, service costs and overhead. Vending operators use these to determine account profitability.

As an Antares vending operator, you should look at all the factors when raising your prices. This is because the decision to raise prices continues to be in relation to a number of factors. Several operators that were interviewed recently acknowledged that account decision makers are more agreeable to accepting to price increases than they have been in the past. When they are presented with the factors they are bound to be in agreement with you. You will not lack support when raising prices for your Antares vending business, due to the current climate.

Operators should monitor the profitability of all locations on a regular basis. While doing this they can also consider all profit saving options before deciding to raise prices. Customers might be resistant to accept the price changes in your Antares vending machine. It has been observed that customers in most situations have come to accept the new prices in the long run. What will always certainly happen is that customers will be in demand for a product in the vending machines and will have no option but to purchase from it. Other profit saving options include; reducing commission, removing a piece of equipment, reducing the level of service and lengthening service intervals.

To decide which option to pursue, it will be necessary for the vending operator to have accurate accounting information of the location’s sales and expenses. If removing the Antares vending machine will make the account more profitable, this might be an easier change then seeking a price or commission concession. You can then place the Antares machine in a different location which night just work better.

State of the art software packages make it easier then ever to keep track of account financials; however they require accurate accounting at the route and supervisory levels. These are just some of the challenges that operators are facing today.

Full Line Vending in the United States

This report investigates the distribution of goods in the U.S. by vending machines. The most common products sold are hot and cold drinks, cigarettes, candy, and snacks. These are just a few of the products. Antares vending machines are full line vending machines which offer snacks, candy and beverages.

The $45 billion vending industry is in the throes of an evolution. Industrial workers were at one time the most important consumers, now the numbers have down. Vending operators are finding it necessary to find new locations. This is not a problem for full line vendors. With an Antares full line vending machine, you will never find it hard to get a location. Products that are sold in these vending machines are always in great demand. You can try offering healthy yet popular products which will satisfy the health conscious consumers. The only hindrance to full line vending is improving technology and efficiency which are creating challenges for the industry. These can be overcome by making the right choices.

This report clearly identifies the principal external factors driving or curtailing growth in the vending market. Exclusive consumer research reveals the attitudes, needs and behavior of vending machine consumers, which includes Antares vending consumers. This research is broken down by demographic characteristics and product type.

Six years of specific sales data provide a factual and impartial presentation of the market as a whole. This report also evaluates the performance of individual sectors in the market as well as provides information about the major companies and brands. This is all beneficial to the Antares vending operators as well as the full line vending industry.

One thing that is well known is the fact that full line vending machines are always in demand in most locations. Once you place your Antares vending machines in locations you will be on your way to a successful business. The reason for this is that the products that are offered in full line vending are always in demand by the customers. That is why location owners will almost always say yes to a full line vending machine like those that are provided by Antares Corporation.

Dollar bill changer

A bill changer is a dedicated vending machine that accepts bank notes and dispenses coins. In some cases the machine subtracts a small amount (e.g. 5 cents) as a surcharge for the transaction. This is particularly common where the merchant expects the coins to be used on the spot in other vending machines. Electronic bill changers can be found next to other vending machines, especially those that lack bill validators. The Antares vending machines usually have a bill changer mounted on the side.

A bill changer next to Antares vending machines has to work with all sorts of bills, from crisp new ones to ragged old ones. The device can tell the real bills from the fake ones. In many cases the changer must also be able to sense the denomination of the bill. In order to accomplish these tasks, dollar bill changers use a variety of technologies. Below are some techniques that people have employed. Some of these techniques have changed over the years as microprocessors have allowed more capability in the device.

Here are some of the techniques that have been tried:

1. Many of the early bill changers took advantage of the fact that U.S. bills are printed with magnetic ink. They would use magnetic heads (like the ones in a cassette tape recorder) to pick up signals from the bills. Areas of the bill would generate signals at a specific frequency, and the detection of this frequency would validate the bill. Different bills generate different frequencies, so the frequency can also determine what the denomination is.

2. Genuine dollar bills have certain conductivity, and checking for the resistance of a bill can authenticate it.

3. Inks and papers have different fluorescent properties, and these properties can help to tell the difference between real and counterfeit bills. No one should try to insert a fake dollar bill in Antares vending machines, it will simply not work.

4. The optical properties of a bill, or a strip of a bill, can be sensed with a photocell or a camera. They can then be compared to valid patterns stored in memory. Different patterns from different bills can determine the denomination.

A good bill changer like those found in Antares vending machines use several of these techniques because people seem to have a strong desire to outwit bill changers. These techniques that are used in bill changers such as the ones placed next to Antares vending machines, are foolproof and it will be next to impossible to outwit them.

Contactless Payments: A New Vending Resource

The vending industry has always struggled to keep up with the retail industry. The latest technology trend may just be the key to the industry’s resurgence. To do this you will need to eliminate the fuss of cash transactions. Credit and debit card vending machine transactions are much more convenient, but contactless, cashless payments are even better. Imagine being able to purchase a soda from an Antares vending machine on a very hot day without having to take out your wallet.

Contactless, cashless payment options are something new to the vending industry. Gasoline retailers and toll road operations have been using the technology for over 10 years now. Contactless, cashless transactions simply require a plastic card, flexible tag, mini-card, or key chain fob embedded with a microchip to pass within the proximal range of a device reader. There is no direct contact or line of sight required. All you have to do is place the card in close proximity to the Antares vending machines for the transaction to occur.

Studies have shown that this form of payment can be authorized and executed up to 53% faster than credit card transactions and 63% faster than cash payments which mean more transaction volume for the Antares vending machine operators.

There were 13, 370 domestic restaurants that accepted contactless, cashless vending in 2005. Implementation at fast food restaurants showed a reduction in purchase transaction time that was sufficient enough to impact the restaurants ability to support a higher volume of transactions.

The vending industry is already known for its convenience. People count on candy/snack and soft drink Antares vending machines for quick satisfaction. Contactless, cashless vending would help to further promote the efficiency and ease of Antares vending machine transactions. Consumer buying habits are changing to favor cashless payments. The vending machine industry should grasp this opportunity to bring the business up to date with the growing trend. This would increase revenues by allowing vending machine consumers more flexibility in payment options. This would definitely bring in more profits for your Antares vending business.

Increasing Profits with Preventative Maintenance

To have a successful Antares vending business, you must stock and properly maintain your vending machines. Most vending operators usually like to delegate little management attention to the overseeing of equipment maintenance. Vending machine operators tend to wait for vending machines to break down and then make an emergency call. However better management can increase revenue by decreasing the number of emergency calls.

There are some emergency calls that are unpredictable. Like when a cup gets jammed in a hot beverage vending machine, or when a coin acceptor malfunctions. There are times when emergency calls can be prevented. Clogged filters in coffee or hot beverage vending machines and compressors that stop cooling soft drink vending machines are examples of problems that can be avoided by making small maintenance adjustments.

Refrigeration compressors will stop cooling soft drink and food vending machines like the Antares vending machines, once their fins become clogged. Regular cleaning of the compressors will prevent this problem. These maintenance techniques could drastically improve your Antares vending machine profits by saving money. The estimated cost of addressing one of these kinds of problems is about $200. However if the Antares vending machines receives regular maintenance, it will cost one or two extra dollars.

To maximize profit, you should practice the following:

1. Stop predictable problems: Avoid many emergency calls. Clean coin mechanisms and bill acceptors on the Antares vending machine regularly. Disposable parts like water filters in coffee vending machines should be changed.

2. Keep inventory parts: Every field maintenance vehicle should be properly stocked with parts so that vending machine technicians can carry out the repairs without having to go back to the shop.

3. Good diagnostic/ repair skills: Vending machine technicians should receive regular training in order to keep up with the latest maintenance techniques.

4. Maintenance Records: Keeping good maintenance records will help to determine the life of consumable parts in the Antares vending machine. This will help the operator to know when to change the parts.

Organic Food in Vending Machines

Organic food in vending machines was established to cater for the growing demand for healthier snack alternatives. Organic foods have been combined with the versatility of vending machines to promote healthier snack alternatives suitable for all health conscious people and environments.

Research has shown a rising trend in the market for organic foods and snacks. Placing organic foods in your Antares vending machine will not be bad idea. You are bound to have a large number of customers who will be interested in that kind of food.

Schools benefit greatly, offering healthy alternatives instead of mass produced foods and beverages, with little nutritional value. Companies can support their staff by providing healthier alternatives in their Antares vending machines.

Organic food is breaking out of the produce section to a new spot few anticipated: the snack aisle. It is sales of organic snacks, also produced in accordance with government rules to be labeled “organic” that are on fire. Organic snacks are currently hot!

Sales of organic chips, nuts and nutrition bars jumped 29.6% last year. All the good things about the $23 billion dollar industry are being processed by food makers at a frenetic pace into convenient snack foods. These are the ones you can place in Antares vending machines.

Organics are Frito-Lay’s fastest growing line. In a year, Frito-Lay has emerged as the No 1 seller of organic snacks. Vendors have taken note of the public’s interest in organic food and have started selling them in their vending machines.

More schools, like San Francisco’s Mission High, are introducing vending machines which feature organic foods and snacks. Last year in New York, seven schools welcomed a new ally in the fight against unhealthy snacks, and started vending some organic foods. School officials have recognized the extent of the problem of children and teens’ poor eating habits.

We all know that today, the public are more conscious about what they eat. With this growing trend vendors will need to start offering healthy foods in their Antares vending machines, to cater to the public.

Food or Beverage Vending Machine Operations

No person, firm or corporation shall operate or maintain within the state any self service vending machine offered for public use which dispenses unit servings of food or beverages without replenishing the device between each vending operation, except after compliance with the following requirements:

1) All foods and beverages offered for sale through vending machines like those provided by Antares Corporation, shall be manufactured, processed and prepared in establishments which comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. They should also be free from adulteration, spoilage and contamination

2) Prior to sanitary storage in a vending machine, all foods and beverages shall be stored or packaged in clean protective containers and shall be handled in a sanitary manner.

3) All parts of the Antares vending machine which come in direct contact with hazardous foods and beverages, shall be removed from the machine daily and shall be thoroughly cleaned.

4) Place your Antares vending machine in a well-lighted area which can be maintained in a clean condition. The floor should be in good repair and of cleanable construction.

5) The exterior construction of the Antares vending machine shall be such as to facilitate cleaning and to minimize the entrance of insects and rodents.

6) All interior surface and component parts of the Antares vending machine shall be designed as to permit easy cleaning. All product contact surfaces of the machine shall be smooth, non toxic and corrosion resistant.

These are just some of the requirements that you are meant to follow. You should not operate Antares vending machines without local permits or licenses, if they are required. If you fail to meet any of the requirements, the local director of health shall order for the removal of the vending machine.