Use Of Generic Technology In Planet Antares Vending

Generic technology has brought about many changes in the vending marketplace. In simple terms, a multi-drop bus is an internal communication protocol designed to ensure that coin mechanism, bill validators and cashless payment devices can be properly interfaced to a Planet Antares vending machine controller without regard to proprietary manufacturing.

Commonly, MDB has been compared to the plug and play standards common to generic computer component interfacing. A single standard covers bills, coins and credit/debit cards. This represents a trend shifting towards open system architecture enabling a variety of peripheral devices to automatically become functional.

MDB is also called the multi drop bus/ internal communication protocol (MDB/ICP). The MDB standard defines the serial interface equipment communicate identically. The system is designed in a way that captures transactional data, including the method of payment, purchase price and change paid. When combined with time of transactions and possibly column data, it can form an effective transaction record.

Planet Antares vending machines are equipped with the generic technology to detect which coins the mechanism accepts, which bills were stored by the bill validator and how much credit is available through a cashless payment device with the help of MDB. As a result, vending machine controller can direct the coin mechanism to pay out correct change. The MDB standard allows a Planet Antares vending operator to select peripheral devices based on reliability, performance, features and price, in contrast to proprietary connectivity.

Along with other benefits, MDB also allows instant updating of your Planet Antares vending machine status. The system protocol allows for the attachment of an audit device that, acting as a passive slave, receives information of all events happening in the Planet Antares vending machine through MDB.

In short, the vending machine controller and peripheral units need to support the highest common level while maintaining backward integration of lower level device compatibility. MDB aims to ensure that the essential operations of any device on the bus are consistent with the capabilities of the vending machine controller.

Upgrade Your Vending Business Image

Raising the image of your vending business involves measures like meeting customer desires and using branded products. The common customer is becoming more knowledgeable and educated when buying the items and brands have become all the more important. By keeping branded products in your vending machines and making the customer aware of it, your Planet Antares vending business is sure to prosper.

Do not undermine the importance of branding for your vending business success. Today, the vending industry is being viewed by manufacturers as a more credible marketing alternative. This can be done on a smaller scale, meaning that instead of doing a dedicated branded machine, you could go for a dedicated branded shelf or a spiral within a machine. As a Planet Antares vending operator, anything you can do to leverage brand equity enhances the image of vending.

Even the vending industry itself has not done a good job at marketing themselves. At one time, c-stores had to overcome a negative stereotype. There are similarities between vending and c-store evolution. Over a period of time, c-stores overcame a stereotype as an overpriced outlet to one that offers greater convenience and saves lots of time.

Gone are the days when shoppers’ price shopped between a supermarket and a c-store. They understand that c-stores are selling a convenience. In this way, the vending industry can change consumer perception too.

The focus of your Planet Antares vending business should be on extensive marketing. In large vending operations, an entire division must be dedicated to marketing. The customer needs to be educated about the service that the vending industry provides for them.

On the whole, the vending industry needs to be promoted. If you are able to get the consumer to perceive the vending industry for what it is, margin pressures would be greatly reduced. If the public is educated about the services that are being provided, they would be more willing to pay for it. If the vending operators continue to compete on the basis of vend price alone, the industry won’t move forward at all.