Posts made in September 2020

All vending machines are convenient, but some are more convenient than others, thanks to special features. Here are some of the must-have accessories for drink and food vendors in Pittsburgh, PA.

Credit Card and Mobile Wallet Readers

It’s true: in the year 2020, many vending machines still don’t accept credit cards, let alone mobile payments. If your machines are still cash and coin only, you’re not serving a significant portion of your population. A survey by U.S. Bank found that 50% of respondents carry cash less than half of the time they are out. Millennials are especially likely to rely on credit and debit cards or digital payments through phone apps.

Bill Validators

At the same time, drink and food vendors can’t abandon cash and coin payments just yet. A bill validator is one of the most important components of a vending machine and also one of the most likely to act up or break down. If you find that your validator consistently rejects legal tender, it’s time to replace it so that people can keep getting the snacks they want. To get the most use, upgrade to a validator that can accept higher bills rather than just $1 and $5.

Coin and Bill Changers

Finally, your machine needs to be able to make change. The good news is that if your changer breaks, you’ll hear about it quickly from customer complaints. Make sure your changer can integrate well with the rest of your drink or food vendors’ components to avoid difficulties during the installation.

As the business world starts to open up again, we can use certain strategies that put employee safety first when returning to work after the COVID-19 lockdown. There are common-sense practices that can easily be applied to an office environment. We all need to use what we know about the virus, and how it’s spread through contact and respiratory droplets, to help implement workplace practices. Adding a Pittsburgh commissary in your break room can help mitigate risk to employees while providing them with high-quality, delicious food that is available with less human contact.

Maintain Distancing

While we all should be practicing social distancing and trying to keep a 6-feet radius between ourselves in public places, the practice will be just as effective in the workplace. While some employers have the advantage of having lots of space, those who don’t can modify workspaces to maintain distances of 6 feet. If you implement a Pittsburgh commissary, large stickers on the floor will encourage employees to stay apart.

Create Barriers Where Possible

If office furniture cannot be moved to separate staff, then place barriers between desks as another solution. Large pieces of cardboard or wood between gaps can create a cubicle-like separation. Remember, when we were children and hung up a sheet between our siblings and us to get some privacy in our rooms? That skill set might come in handy to create a COVID-19 barrier between you and your co-workers.

Keep the Workplace Clean

In a Pittsburgh commissary, and everywhere on the worksite, having extra clean surfaces will be critically important to mitigating risk. Hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting wipes are essential to employees and should be provided in all high traffic areas.

Anyone that has been by a Pittsburgh commissary for a bite to eat at work recently knows that it’s not as easy to feel safe as it used to be. With a global pandemic to worry about, employees who can’t work from home and the businesses that support them have to be cautious when it comes to frequent-use areas like the company commissary. Still, nutritious meals are a critical part of keeping crews of essential workers ready to meet today’s economic challenges. Here are a few ways to take precautions and encourage safety in eating areas:

Clean Frequently — As with everything else, the best defense against COVID-19 is diligence. Vending areas are high-touch by nature, but regular cleaning keeps them free from germ buildup.

Enforce Safety-First Policies — For businesses, it’s vital to have strong policies in place to protect themselves and their teams. From handwashing to mask use, you can protect your commissary and the people who use it by prioritizing sanitary practices in the workplace.

Partner with the Right Vendors — From cashless machines to trusted providers who take their own precautions when supplying food, having the right vending company on your side can make all the difference in employee confidence.

Vending isn’t a new business, but new technology and worldwide trends make it one that’s always in flux. That’s especially true in a year where worldwide changes to how people live, work, and eat have drastically shifted the economic and cultural landscape. Smart food vendors in Pittsburgh, PA, know that staying on top of opportunities in the industry is the only way to grow in a time marked by adversity. Let’s take a look at some of the top trends impacting the market today:

IoT Technology — Part of an ever-growing list of new technological capabilities, “internet of things” systems connect vending machines and the companies that manage them through complex networks of digital information that help with tracking and reporting.

Expanded Choice — From new brands breaking into the market to diet-specific options that dominate health-conscious consumer bases, it’s more important than ever to give customers more to choose from so that they see your vending operation as a source of both quality and convenience.

COVID-19 Changes — Vending has been hit hard by the sudden prevalence of work-from-home arrangements and limits on public travel. One place where many companies see the potential for growth is vending in healthcare facilities. Marketing to these locations is an excellent way to keep cash flows for food vendors positive during the pandemic.