Convenience and location

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by: ArcticAl
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Word Count: 309
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 Time: 2:17 AM
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Whilst there are times when a friendly shop assistant can make your day with good customer service, there are some purchases that you just want to keep simple. The addition of self service checkouts in supermarkets, eBay auctions and online travel agents has cut down the time needed to complete a purchase, whilst the variety of items on sale has increased. This sounds like the perfect combination of circumstances but there is always going to be a need for more convenience, and that is where vending machines seem to be filling the gap.

Although not a new concept, office vending machines seem to be enjoying a renaissance throughout Europe. Following on from their heavy usage in countries like Japan, the humble vending machine seems to be popping up all over the place, filling a gap in the marketplace. Machines vending DVDs are a great example of this. Bringing convenience that cannot be gained through high street shops or online rental - these machines enable the operator to browse through hundreds of DVDs, select one they want, pay for it and take it home with them. This is impressive because it is immediate, convenient and inexpensive, accessible any time of day or night.

Exploring this idea of convenience further, the positioning of vending machines is an important consideration. Placing them in areas where there is a need and no other outlets available, provides an invaluable service, for example: toothbrush machines in public toilets or telephone card dispensers in airports.

This increase in vending services can only gain momentum with the popularity of micro payments. Having the ability to pay using cards, phones or other portable devices simplifies the transaction further, cutting out the need for cash. We can be sure that in the next decade, the vending machine will become ever more popular, and its uses more broad and varied.

About the Author

KLIX vending machines are easy to use and highly reliable. The Klix office vending machine serves over 1 billion drinks per year.