Ford, Alibaba roll out test-drive services via ‘auto vending machine’ — China Automotive News — “Users can book a test drive via the Alibaba’s Taobao mobile app or the Tmall platform. Entering a key word of ‘super test drive’, users can follow the instructions from the interface to select the vehicles they want and the time to have the test drive. To schedule a test drive, users should submit their basic information and upload their selfies on the platform. Besides, they need to pay some test drive fees and the money for vehicle purchasing intention. After all these done, consumers can pick up their test vehicle via a facial recognition at the ‘super test drive center’ in Guangzhou to enjoy a three-day ride.”
Vending
Cargo turns Uber cars into convenience stores
How Cargo is helping Uber drivers earn extra cash by selling stuff to passengers — VentureBeat — “Cargo partners with brands across confectionery, electronics, cosmetics, and more to offer riders access to goods such as chocolate bars and USB cables. The company sends a transparent case to drivers, along with the goods, which they place in the vehicle’s front compartment, allowing passengers to see at a glance what’s on offer. The traveler can then make payment using PayPal, Apple Pay, Android Pay, or their credit card through Cargo’s mobile website, using a unique code to ensure payment goes to the right driver.”
Malaysia’s first cashierless store opens in Subang Jaya
Malaysia’s first self-service convenience store has opened in Subang Jaya — Says — “Following the likes of Amazon and Alibaba, an e-payment operator has opened Malaysia’s first unmanned, self-service convenience store… Customers are required to download the Irispay app, fill in personal details, and scan the QR code on the products before making payment.”
China’s JD.com to open hundreds of unmanned convenience stores
Chinese online retailer JD plans to open hundreds of unmanned shops, ahead of Amazon — The Telegraph — “Chinese online retailer JD.com has beaten Amazon to the next stage of the shopping revolution by announcing plans to open hundreds of ‘unmanned’ convenience stores. The shops have already been trialled with JD’s 10,000 employees at headquarters in Beijing and use facial and recognition technology to register payment and product identity, meaning that customers do not have to wait in a checkout line.”
Samsung integrates Hong Kong’s Octopus card into Samsung Pay
Samsung teams up with Octopus to launch exclusively the first “Smart Octopus” in Samsung Pay — Octopus Holdings — “Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay will enable NFC payment at all Octopus acceptance points, covering public transport as well as over 21,000 retail outlets, online shopping, recreational facilities, vending machines, self-service kiosks; plus the use of parking and access control facilities at residential or commercial premises.”
USA Technologies to acquire Cantaloupe Systems for US$85m
USA Technologies to acquire Cantaloupe Systems — USA Technologies — PARTNER NEWS — “USA Technologies Inc, a premier payment technology service provider of integrated cashless and mobile transactions in the self-serve retail markets, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cantaloupe Systems Inc, a premier provider of cloud and mobile solutions for vending, micro markets, and office coffee service, in a transaction valued at approximately $85 million.”
USA Technologies to discuss IoT payments and commerce at Money20/20 USA
PARTNER NEWS: Maeve McKenna Duska, USA Technologies’ SVP for marketing and strategic development, will be discussing the future of payments and commerce in the “Internet of Everything” as part of the customer experience conference track at Money20/20 in Las Vegas on Tuesday 24 October... More
Premier Food Service adds rewards to contactless vending machines
Premier Food Service selects USA Technologies as a strategic partner as they move toward connecting 100% of their machines to cashless payment — USA Technologies — PARTNER NEWS — “‘As personalization becomes more common in the marketplace, we wanted to be one step ahead of the trend with customer loyalty and reward programs being at the center of our go-to-market strategy,’ said Gary Kurth, chief operations officer, Premier Food Service… ‘USAT has made it easy for companies like ours to quickly deploy innovative cashless payment technologies across our business so that we can better engage consumers at the point-of-sale and build in customer loyalty programs.’”
New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza
New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza — Little Caesars — “Customers just place an order and pre-pay via the Little Caesars mobile app. The app will notify the customer when the order is ready. When the customer arrives at the store, they skip the line and go directly to the Pizza Portal and input a three-digit pin or scan a QR code. Then, the door on the customer’s secured compartment opens, and they take their hot, fresh order.”
French rock band takes NFC vending machine on tour
PARTNER NEWS: US fans of French rock band Phoenix can use their bank card or mobile phone to purchase merchandise during concerts from a specially commissioned pop-up vending machine that makes use of USA Technologies’ cashless payment technology and is designed to appeal to the band’s primarily post-millennial fan base... More
Convenience store Cheers opens first unmanned, cashless outlet
Convenience store Cheers opens first unmanned, cashless outlet — The Straits Times — “The Cheers outlet at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) looks like its normal store — with shelves and fridges stocked with food and drinks — except there is no cashier or assistant in sight… Customers use a QR code found on the free ‘Shop It Yourself’ mobile app to gain entry to the store… The store also features a unified self-checkout system that accepts various cashless payment modes, eliminating the need for multiple payment terminals.”
Coca-Cola reveals AI-powered vending machine app
Coca-Cola reveals AI-powered vending machine app — Venturebeat — “The app, which launches in about two weeks in places like US universities and locations around Australia and New Zealand, will allow you to order a Coca-Cola drink for yourself and a friend, then have it available on the vending machine.”
Apple Pay users to get rewards at 300,000 self-serve machines
US consumers making purchases at 300,000 self-serve machines across the country will soon receive exclusive offers, promotions and discounts toward future purchases when using Apple Pay to complete a payment... More
Apple Pay advertising sparks strong rise in contactless payments at vending machines
Digital advertising promoting the availability of Apple Pay at unattended vending machines has resulted in a 36.5% increase in overall sales for cashless vending machine technology provider USA Technologies (USAT) as well as a 135.2% increase in NFC mobile payments, a six-month study now available to download from the NFC World Knowledge Centre reveals... More
mBeaconVend enables mobile vending machine payments
Consumers will soon be able to make Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based mobile payments at vending machines integrated with mBeaconVend, the latest range of devices unveiled by smart beacon provider Netclearance... More
US vending supplier to offer mobile payments
US consumers will soon be able to make mobile payments at vending machines belonging to American Food & Vending, by tapping their device against a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) plug-in dongle provided by digital payments enabler PayRange... More
Apple Pay advertising increases contactless payments at self-service machines
Cashless vending machine technology provider USA Technologies (USAT) has seen an 89% increase in revenue through contactless purchases at self-service machines running on its ePort Interactive platform as a result of digital advertising highlighting Apple Pay availability at the point of sale. More
Paytec to enable mobile payments using colour-coded light signals
Italian payments solutions provider Payment Technologies (Paytec) is to build a new mobile payment technology into its vending machines that will let consumers make contactless payments using colour-coded light signals and tokenisation. More
NXP and HID Global to enable wearable devices to unlock doors
PARTNER NEWS: NXP has teamed up with HID Global to work on enabling consumers to open electronic locks at commercial buildings, hotels and workplaces with a tap of an NFC wearable device. More
Coca Cola to launch vending machine loyalty programme
Coca Cola is planning to launch a loyalty programme at select vending machines this spring that would let customers accumulate points to earn a free drink... More