April 24, 2001 – Vending machine technology provider e-Vend.net is helping companies cash in on new "smart appliance" trends, including the option of allowing consumers to make payments wirelessly and machine operators to monitor kiosks with mobile devices.

Specifically, e-Vend.net this week announced several solutions that it says extends the capabilities of vending machines, including one that allows the completion of cash and credit card transactions from one machine. Its operating system, the company said, is the only online vending system that offers cash as well as non-cash payment options, including secure credit card, debit card, PIN card, and RFID (radio frequency identification) tags.

"Non-cash technology to date has completely removed the cash option for the customer. Now, customers can decide if they want to use a credit card or make a traditional vending transaction using cash. The goal is to make every transaction the most convenient one for the customer," said Dick Arenschield, president and CEO of New Horizons Consulting Group.

Arenschield pointed to a recent test where cash and non-cash machines were placed side-by-side. The results: overall sales rose significantly and 47 percent of the credit card sales were for multiple purchases. "It proved that the non-cash option was a real benefit for the customer, and that people were more likely to buy that extra item or two if they were offered the opportunity to charge it to their credit card."

e-Vend.net's reDEX device also contains the proprietary technology that enables vending machines to be monitored wirelessly. Until now, each machine was installed with a separate reDEX device, each sending a unique signal to the e-Vend.net platform for data collection.

"The reDEX solution saves the operator hardware costs, enabling two machines to be run with one device" said Tim Chambers, senior VP of business development at e-Vend.net, based in Kennett Square, Pa. "It's a win-win situation."

Chambers said it has overcome most signal difficulties by maintaining a flexible platform and continually working toward growing its network of communication providers. Despite its open technology, signal remains an issue in some remote locations, however. With the launch of its new handheld device, e-Vend.net said it is now able to monitor even those machines without access to any signal.

e-Vend.net strives to provide convenience and operating efficiency with its wireless solutions, said e-Vend.net CEO David Goodman. "We recognized the need to develop an alternative for those machines beyond the reach of a wireless signal," he said. "This handheld device bridges the technology gap and enables the operator to monitor a vending route as a single unit through the e-Vend.net system."