The vending industry overall should play off this new market tool as being a “Loyalty” program for it’s customers. With technology, this can happen and the industry could be viewed as an added value partner, instead of a pawn.

I sit on the board of the Arizona Coin Laundry Association.

Belonging to an association is important. Anybody who does not belong to an association is missing out on a great source of information. I would suggest that everybody joins an association for the industry they are in.

When it comes to technology, there is an S-curve of adaption - people adopt new technology as the cost drops and the technology gets better. Mr. Finelli’s negative view of technology is sensationalist; if he were truly against technology then dollar bill validators have no place in his machines either. However, every operator embraces technology to a certain degree. We just have a different threshold for what makes it economically viable for us. Right now, with our depressed margins the technology does not make sense because in many cases, the placement of the machines (and possibly the entire vending business) does not make sense. This too shall pass.

I just feel that it is important to take a step back and realize that our industry is going through a gut wrenching transition period and that change is inevitable. Technology ultimately lowers costs, but the technology itself must be low cost enough to be widely adapted. This will happen one way or another.

I firmly believe that our industry is where the PC industry was in the 1970s. Telemetry, cashless (and signage) are viewed as high end products for top accounts. However, as consolidation within the industry continues, and as costs drop, adapting new technology ceases to become so radical and in fact becomes commonplace. This is when productivity gains really start to take hold.

There will come a time when most machines have telemetry cashless and interactive signage. Perhaps they will work in tandem to create a new profit center driven by advertising or other efficiencies that will lift our industry out of its current doldrums.

Either way, our industry does not have a choice. I continue to develop my product because I feel that change is inevitable. One of the things signage does is inform customers of the changes that are occuring (you’d be surprised how many people aren’t aware that card readers are in the machines they patronize!) When our industry does make the transition, we will be more profitable and better able to serve our customers. Operators know that vending, if anything, is increasing in importance and is not going away. Some of them just refuse to face the reality of our situation. It is impossible to have an optimistic long term view of our industry without believing in new technology. My customers are happy. That’s all I care about. If Mr. Finelli feels this way now is a good time for him to consider selling his business to a larger rival who is willing to do what it takes to survive on a long term basis.

I see the need for on-site, telemetry data, but again for a small (sub $1M in revenue) provider its just not cost effective. Nor is the possiblity of having to upgrade or replace machines to accomidate such devices. There are legions of small operators looking for simple easy to use technology or programs that help them run their businesses more effectively. I’m not sure why the industry had ignored this but I see a quickbooks type vending product more necessary than telemetry data. After that cashless solutions and then onsite reporting.

I’m not sure what technology providers are thinking but most shops are 1-3 guys w/ an owner operator. There needs to be a solution for that guy, that doesn’t put him in debt or require him to become a “tech expert”

Just my .02

Very inspirational, thanks.