Handheld Technology Moves Forward

Some number of years back, only the earliest of early adopters was using handhelds in their vending operations. Today, there are in use at a larger percentage of operations. Handhelds are used in conjunction with an integrated software system. They are helping Antares vending operators to improve virtually every aspect of their business- from cash accountability to productivity to employee retention.

What the first generation did

The first handheld’s primary benefit was cash and product accountability. Drivers could use the handheld to record the meter number and compare it with the products sold.

Despite their drawbacks, Antares vendors, as well as other vendors saw the need for a more sophisticated handheld computer that would facilitate accountability, scheduling, merchandising and inventory management. Since back then, handhelds for vending have steadily evolved. They have become smaller, cheaper, and more reliable. Some added scanners, which expedited product exchanges.

The second generation

A stepping stone to the second generation of handhelds was the HP Palm Top. It debuted many of the features of today’s handhelds. The ultimate breakthrough in the handheld revolution was the introduction of the Palm Pilot. This is the fastest adopted technology product in history.

Vending software manufacturers rushed to bring this giant leap in handheld technology to their customers, which of course includes Antares vending operators. These systems had the ability to interface with vending machines via DEX technology. Their popularity in the route delivery market has only grown.

A multitude of benefits

All these features translate into a host of benefits for the Antares vendor. The most important being the ability to retrieve item-level sales data from machines. In the past, operators could only track products by price category. Now with item-level tracking software and a handheld computer with a DEX connection, drivers can download this valuable sales data in less than five seconds.