Over the years Vending machines in India have become commonplace. Especially at airports, railway stations, bus stops and hospitals, vending snackables like chips, chocolates, beverages - perfect for the traveller-on-the-go. Or in offices vending a variety of coffee and tea concoctions. But are these the only things vending machines can dispense? While the digital vending machines in India are not dispensing puppies or lingerie just yet (they do in Japan!) things have gotten pretty interesting here too!
The team at Vendekin Technologies has travelled far and wide for research and to install our smart, cashless and touchless vending machines in India and globally. Here’s a compilation of some of the oddest and most interesting vending machines we have come across in India:
Panipuri Vending Machine
A Delhi man has made a touchless golgappa vending machine that dispenses these scrumptious water balls, also known as panipuri, completely sans human contact or touch. From golgappa or product selection to cashless payment to the final dispensation of golgappas — the entire vending machine operation is touchless, says Govind, who has custom designed and developed this contactless vending machine in India.
All you have to do is scan the QR code and make the payment. Once the payment is done, the machine will dispense a sealed pack of golgappas. The pack contains a glass for keeping the mouth-watering flavoured water from four available options — sweet, spicy, hing and mix.
Similarly, a person from Banaskantha district of Gujarat invented a contactless panipuri vending machine. The machine dispenses a panipuri once the user selects the price of their panipuri treat, and inserts the respective cash into the machine. A few seconds later, the vending machine opens a flap underneath the keyboard and out comes a mouthwatering panipuri onto the conveyor belt.
T-Shirt Vending Machine
Vending machines in India only dispense quick food items right? But this Vendekin-powered smart vending machine in Pune sells t-shirts! Installed at Westend Mall in Pune by Universal Classic Tshirts Co., this customised, unmanned "t-shirt shop" has turned many heads, generating organic interest in the brand.
Apart from being an unmanned store, what makes this vending machine even more attractive is the price range and variation of the products. With prices starting at Rs. 399 and an option to choose from 8 different types of t-shirts, this vending machine has become quite the crowd-puller in this Pune mall. And like all the Vendekin-powered custom touchless vending machines in India, it accepts digital payments, supporting all major payment platforms and e-wallets.
Paan Vending Machine
Pune-based Shaukeen Paan sells their wide range of paans through Vendekin-powered smart vending machines. They were inspired and impressed by the fully contactless vending machine at Chitale Bandhu, also powered by Vendekin. Vendekin Technologies’ team guided them through vending operations and even suggestions about the ideal packaging of their product for the machine. This is perhaps the first contactless vending machine in India selling paan. During the several lockdowns, even as a majority of shops and businesses were shut, this Shaukeen Paan digital vending machine in India would stay operational 24X7, ensuring no stoppage in the sales. Curious as to what mechanism this custom touchless vending machine in India uses to dispense paan? Read our earlier blog detailing the entire journey of how this digital paan vending machine came to be!
Seafood Vending Machine
Gadre Marine, a Ratnagiri-based premium frozen seafood company has installed a frozen seafood dispensing digital vending machine in a residential complex in Pune. Not just frozen sea-food, this vending machine also sells ready to cook frozen seafood products like fish fingers, steaks, lobster meat and even prawn biryani. The touchless cashless smart vending machine has been a hit among residents, generating massive traction and interest for Gadre’s other offerings.
Similar to the digital paan vending machine, this is a Vendekin-powered smart digital vending machine with -18 degree refrigeration and an elevator to vend the products. This machine can dispense up to 5 products at a time and accepts cash and digital payments too.
And here’s a bonus! It’s not just India, but the US too has been seeing an interest in some oddities being sold through vending machines.
Pork Vending Machine
If you live near Stone Ridge, New York, head to the nearest Applestone Meat Co.’s 24/7 butcher shop. And you won’t find a bleary-eyed staff working over time to fulfil butchering demands. Instead you will find a row of vending machines selling meat, organised by the type of meat — beef, pork, lamb, sausages and ground meat — standing ready, stocked with steaks, chops, and burgers-to-be.
And business is booming! According to the owner, Joshua Applestone, people need 24/7 access to protein, and as he says, “I have to restock the machines constantly to keep up with demand.”
Are you interested in selling your products through similar touchless vending machines in India? Are you ready to take a deep dive into Instant commerce, taking your store straight to your customers, right where they need it and when they need it, with a digital vending machine? We can help! To get started with our smart vending solutions and customised digital vending machines. Connect with our team on marketing@vendekin.com or call +91 9555712713 to start a conversation today.