Mike and Sharon Rahn aren't waiting around to see what's next for vending machines. Instead they are investing in a kiosk that does not have to be staffed.
Each item in the kiosk has a radio frequency identification tag on its packaging. They allow customers to pay with debit or credit cards or cash.
The Rahns, who own Cereal City Snacks vending company, installed the area's first kiosk this summer at
TRMI Inc. in the Fort Custer Industrial Park in Battle Creek.
The area that houses the kiosk looks like a convenience store and customers walk between sensors to enter the store.
"You've got your coolers, candy, chips, aspirin and just about anything else you'd find in a convenience store other than cigarettes, beer or wine," Mike Rahn says.
Once employees or other individuals make their selections, they walk up to the kiosk scan their item and make their payment.
The kiosks are part of a franchise of
Sterling Services, a food service management and vending company that also has several automated checkout kiosks in the Detroit area. The setup enables distributors like Rahn to offer more food and beverage choices, in addition to a variety of other items such as magazines or aspirin.
TRMI, a maker of electronic switches and circuit boards, wanted its employees to have a greater selection of food and beverages, Rahn says. Prior to the installation of the kiosk, Cereal City Snacks had two pop machines and one snack machine at TRMI.
Cereal City Snacks has more than 200 vending machines in Barry, Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties. Rahn said the kiosk at TRMI is his first.
"I think it will replace vending machines in some locations where it makes sense," Rahn said.
Writer: Jane Parikh
Source: Mike Rahn, Cereal City Snacks
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