One of the great things about an investment in a vending machine is its potential to generate a return 24/7 without direct supervision. However, to produce that revenue, any vending machine must be in top operating condition.
A frustrated and disappointed customer will walk away from a malfunctioning machine without leaving their money in it. This means lost revenue and, potentially, more damage to a machine, especially if it keeps the money without vending the product.
Taking Care of Business
A successful commitment to the vending business carries with it a commitment to taking care of maintenance and vending machine repairs in a timely manner. Whether the machine is in place for employee morale or part of a large route, customers expect it to work correctly every time, all the time.
It is also a simple fact that proper maintenance helps avoid more expensive repairs and problems over the long-term. Stocking the right coffee vending machine parts is part of the management approach that makes it possible to achieve the highest possible return on every machine.
If only 5 percent of a 350 machine route routinely loses two or more days of sales because of an out of stock vending machine part, those missing parts will cost thousands in annual revenue and related profits. Likewise, failing to provide required soda vending machine repair in a timely manner will often cost several times the cost of inventorying basic replacement parts.
The Economics of Uptime
The simple fact of the vending machine business is the higher your total machine uptime, the greater the turns and profits. The larger the number of machines serviced, the more significant this number becomes.
Every vending machine operator will benefit from a simple analysis of what it takes in operating costs to maximize uptime. Such an analysis will help justify the costs of:
- Sending personnel to school for training maintenance and repair procedures
- Keeping a sufficient inventory of high-risk parts in stock at all times
- Enforcing a rigorous preventative maintenance program
- Keeping operating and maintenance manuals accessible
- Making sure customers know how to provide notification of an operational problem
Other important aspects of maintaining a high level of service for vending machines are to ensure all new products are registered properly and clear lines to the right technical support resources are maintained.
Modern vending machines are increasingly sophisticated devices that can provide long and durable service. However, as with every electrical and mechanical resource, problems are a fact of life. Working to minimize those problems and responding promptly when they do occur are two basic priorities of the vending machine business.
