Facebook: a name synonymous with innovation, genius, and stalking. But even the vast global social network needed some help when it came to their corporate office. Here at Intelligent Dispensing Solutions we’re always talking about vending machines that do way more than sell drinks and snacks. We want machines that make life easier, and not just fill our growling stomachs. Facebook CIO Tim Campos had the same idea. He designed a series of a office vending machines to dispense supplies and equipment, like keyboards, power cords, and screen wipes.

With just the swipe of an employee badge, employees can quickly get the replacement items they need without filling out forms or making a trip to the supply cabinet. The equipment is now readily available and easily accessible. Most importantly, it’s easy to track so accounting knows where all the money is going. It’s also cost-effective and has already cut costs nearly 35%. That’s a huge number and Facebook hopes it will continue to keep expenses low.

To see the custom vending machine in action, click here to watch the video. How can Intelligent Dispensing Solutions help your business save money and make day-to-day life more efficient? Visit the website to learn more.

The technology behind vending machines has changed a lot over the years. As we discussed last week, many machines are accepting credit and debit cards to make purchasing even easier. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is all about making unique, simple machines that gives customers the best possible experience. One “newer” technology that is popping up a lot in drink vending machines is the belt and conveyor mechanism.

The belt and conveyor machines are best used for those just selling drinks. One of the big problems of the traditional drop-down machine is that the drink will be shaken. And we all know the dangers of a shaken soda. It’s always a risky endeavor as you twist off that cap or pop that tab. The last thing you want to do is create a bad experience for the customer. Although it is not directly your fault, some might be less inclined to buy a drink and maybe go to just the snack machine instead. But this entire mess can be avoided by opting for the conveyor vending machine.

At Intelligent Dispensing Solutions, there are plenty of options to create custom vending machines to provide users with great vending experiences. No matter what items you are selling, they can make it easy to buy.

Vending machines are a wonderful convenience. You put in some loose change and voila! Out pops a delicious treat. But how many times have we all suffered from lost or rejected money? We clearly put in the correct amount but no food came out. Or almost as worse is when the machine will not accept your wrinkled dollar bill. *Cue asking everyone in the office for a crisp bill to exchange.

This scenario never has to play out again when you choose custom vending machines from Intelligent Dispensing Solutions. Their machines really are intelligent –taking I.D. cards. Employees can simply swipe a card and receive whatever supply they need. But if you prefer traditional machines that do accept money, IDS uses better technology that will reduce the loss of money by over 95%. The new machines will accept $1, $5, $10, and even $20 dollar bills. Add an optional credit card module to further increase sales opportunities and reduce problems and money lost.

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions prides itself in taking the latest steps to increase your overall customer experience. The vending machine has come a long way since its humble beginnings selling books and cigarettes. You want your vending machine to do more and they listened.

Just when you think you’ve seen every type of custom vending machine out there, another one pops up. And this one is great for people who don’t even want to spend money! In an effort to spread a little love and smiles, Coca-Cola created a special vending machine that dispenses a free can of Coke when you hug the machine. The words “Hug Me” are sprawled across the front in Coca-Cola’s font, an inviting gesture. How could anyone resist those words?

The students at the National University of Singapore certainly could not resist. Spokesman Leonardo O’Grady stated, “Whether you were hugging the machine or experiencing the event online, our goal was the same – to put a smile on your face and share that emotional connection. Reactions were amazing…people really had fun with it and at one point we had four to five people hugging the machine at the same time as well as each other.”

They put together a cute little video of people’s reactions and I can’t say I wouldn’t want to join those kids. Sadly, none are expected to appear here in the States, that we know of. But the company does want to place more in locations across Asia. Sometimes the best things in life are for free. So what unique vending machine would you like to build?

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions has become a leading innovator for custom vending machines, such as office and school vending machines. But what if your business is looking for the “traditional” vending machines? They can take care of that too, from snacks to soda to coffee. Coffee machines are wonderful to have in the office, saving employees time and money. Just think about the time employees waste when they have to go down the block and wait on line for a cup. And some employees can’t make it through the day without two or three cups.

Making a pot of coffee in the morning can be easy if your company is small. But even with 20 employees, you’ll be making several batches throughout the day. And let’s not forget that everyone can be picky about how they like their coffee made. It’s not a horrible thing to admit –some like it stronger than others. A coffee machines can rid you of all these problems and I’m sure employees won’t mind spending a few dollars less on their daily fix.

If your company is ready to make the office even better and create happier employees, speak to IDS about coffee vending machines or any ideas that you have.

School vending machines are not a new idea, but with many parents, and the government, concerned about the health of our children, we need to come up with new and better ways to provide nutritious food in schools. We can’t just accept snack vending machines filled with soda, candy, cookies, and chips. There needs to be an innovative system and Intelligent Dispensing Solutions has stepped up to the plate to take the challenge.

They have partnered with Point of Sales companies to bring automation and tracking to the lunchroom, while still offering a better selection of foods. Their POS system will easily track food and offer students an easier way to purchase. Any students who are eligible for free or reduced lunches can be easily tracked too. Money will be deducted from a student’s account instead of wasting time with cash, although cash can still be accepted.

School vending machines can reduce the congested lunch line by providing similar healthy choices in a convenient location. You can easily change the face of your lunch program by investing in these smart machines. Visit Intelligent Dispensing Solution’s website to learn more and speak with a representative about integrating the machines into your school.

Intelligent Dispensing Solution has teamed up with hotels and motels to give guests an easier and more reliable solution to their food and drink needs. With the ever-so smart VendNetwork, guests can simply use their room key or enter a special pin number to have any purchased items billed automatically to their room. No more worrying about carrying singles and change on you.

But if you’ve learned anything from our blogs about custom vending machines, you know that they can house more than just beverages and snacks. Miscellaneous items for the room, like extra shampoo and soap, can be quite useful. No need to have the maid bring more at 2 am when a guest decides to take a late night shower. Souvenirs can also be placed in vending machines. Magnets, keychains, postcards, hats –everyone loves picking up these items as a remembrance of their vacation.

The vending machines for hotels offer state of the art dollar bill acceptors, credit card readers for those who don’t have cash, and back-lit keypads to make them easy to read and use. Vending machines in hotels can make both employees and guests’ lives easier and much more convenient. Learn more by visiting Intelligent Dispensing Solutions’ website.

With Intelligent Dispensing Solutions there is no end to the possibilities of custom vending machines and today we’ll discuss one smart solution that can solve numerous problems for many companies. Emergency medical supplies are needed in more than just hospitals and doctors’ offices. They are also needed by ambulance companies, fire stations, and paramedic operations. With custom vending machines you can easily and safely store medical supplies for your employees.

The EMS UCapIt dispensers allow all drugs and medical supplies to be locked up and easily stored. With documented access, you know exactly who is using the supplies and how much. They allow for 100% control over your inventory –which we all know is immensely important when it comes to medical supplies. But it’s not just about stopping theft and keeping everything under control. The vending machines also ensure that any dated stock is always used first so you don’t waste money should anything expire before use. You can easily check stock levels online so you never run out.

With UCapIt you can save on what is normally a costly endeavor for others. Who doesn’t enjoy saving money and knowing their supplies are safely stored and tracked? Visit IntelligentDispensingSolutions.com to learn more.

I love to see what new vending machines will pop up next across the country. Last week we discovered cupcakes. You can find gold in Dubai, fingernail painting in Japan, and instant pizza in Italy. But back here in America, in Boston to be more precise, you can purchase a fresh new pair of clothing from a vending machine. You never know when you might have a late night rendezvous or perhaps someone spilled coffee on your shirt. The temperature took a dip and you’re without a scarf. Whatever the case, you can find t-shirts, underwear, gloves, scarves, socks, and even shoes in the Automatic Apparel.

And just for the heck of it, you can purchase earbuds too. Maybe someone swiped your headphones. It’s quite the nifty idea and I’m sure people around the rest of the country wouldn’t mind enjoying the convenience of some new threads without having to run into a store. It’s convenient for after hours or when there are no clothing stores nearby. I think this idea could really expand though to offer a bit more of a selection.

If you’re willing to take this idea and run with it, contact IDS about creating a custom vending machine.

This week I’d like to take the time to highlight an interesting and tasty custom vending machine that will soon be popping up, hopefully across the entire nation. Imagine being able to receive a fresh and delicious cupcake from vending machines, any time you’d like. Who wouldn’t enjoy that? A gourmet cupcake chain, Sprinkles, opened up their first cupcake vending machine just a few days ago. The store has 10 locations across the country, but the first machine opened in their Beverly Hills location.

A spokeswoman for the company says she hopes to have 10 machines in operation by the end of the summer, hopefully more by the end of the year. As of now, the intention is to have the machines located outside the stores, but in the future they would like vending machines dispersed in other locations.

The machines will be known as 24-hour Sprinkles, but others are already referring to them as Cupcake ATM, which is perfectly fine with the company. Cupcakes will cost $4, as opposed to $3.50 inside the store. They will only take credit and debit cards, no cash folks. Selections will rotate, but popular flavors, such as red velvet, will always be in stock. The machines will be able to house about 600 cupcakes at a time, so they will be larger than typical vending machines. Naturally, they will be freshly baked each day. Awesome idea Sprinkles!