Connected vending is booming
According to Berg Insight, connected vending machines are on track to reach 8.9 million units globally by 2024, driven by consumer demand for convenience, digital payments, and better service experiences.
What was once a coin-operated box is now a full-fledged, cloud-connected endpoint — and it's transforming business models across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more.
What makes a vending machine “smart”?
A smart vending machine is connected to the internet via cellular IoT, and often equipped with sensors and cloud integrations. With Com4’s IoT connectivity, operators can:
- Monitor machines remotely for inventory, usage, and faults.
- Enable cashless and contactless payments via mobile wallets.
- Track environmental conditions to ensure product quality.
- Set up predictive maintenance to avoid breakdowns.
- Launch promotions and deliver personalized experiences.
- Optimize restocking and routing using live data.
Customer spotlight: Snacktime Finland
Snacktime, one of Finland’s leading vending companies, operates hundreds of vending machines across various industries. Their mission is simple: deliver convenience with reliability — at scale.
To do this, Snacktime needed an IoT connectivity solution that was:
- Reliable, even in remote areas with inconsistent coverage.
- Scalable, to support growth across Finland.
- Transparent, with easy management of data usage and SIM activity.
- Cost-effective, without compromising quality.
Results:
- Improved uptime and fewer support tickets.
- Smarter refill logistics through real-time usage data.
- Better customer experience thanks to contactless payment.
- Reduced operational costs.
Where smart vending delivers the most value
IoT-enabled vending isn’t just for retail. Here’s where connected vending is making an impact:
- Food & beverage: Temperature monitoring and demand-driven stock optimization.
- Transportation hubs: Round-the-clock access for travelers.
- Hospitals & clinics: Refreshments and hygiene products for staff and visitors.
- Education: Reliable access to snacks and supplies for students and staff.
- Office buildings: Frictionless breakroom solutions.
- Hospitality & leisure: Modern amenities with branded, cashless vending.
“We’re extremely happy with the service from Com4. The IoT connectivity has been reliable, the support team is always responsive, and everything just works — which is critical for our operations.”
— Jarkko Juho, Snacktime, Global Vending Oy, Finland
“For us, the most important qualities in an IoT partner are operational reliability and a strong balance between price and performance. Com4 has delivered on both — and consistently exceeded our expectations.”
— Jarkko Juho, Snacktime, Global Vending Oy, Finland
It’s not just smart — it’s strategic
Here’s what businesses are seeing when they upgrade to Com4-connected vending:
- 15% reduction in supply chain costs.
- 5% increase in revenue from optimized stock and promotions.
- Less downtime, fewer manual interventions.
- Lower energy usage via occupancy-based controls.
- Stronger customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Built for scale, designed for reliability
At Com4, we support vending companies with:
- Multi-network IoT SIMs that work across regions and carriers.
- Secure, encrypted data transmission for every device.
- A powerful self-service portal for managing large SIM fleets.
- Expert support from engineers who know IoT inside out
Whether you're rolling out new machines or retrofitting an existing fleet, we’ll help you deploy faster and operate smarter.
Ready to scale your vending business?
Smart vending is no longer a trend — it’s a competitive advantage. With Com4’s IoT connectivity, you get everything you need to power intelligent vending: reliability, visibility, scalability, and support.
Contact us today to learn how we help vending operators like Snacktime transform operations — one connected machine at a time.
