After reviewing several providers, Exquisite Refreshments selected VMC’s cashless payment readers based on their reliability, fast transactions, ease of integration, competitive pricing and the responsive support provided by the VMC team.

Since first deploying the solution in 2024, around 30 commercial coffee, snack and drinks vending machines have been equipped with VMC cashless readers, with further installations planned as the business continues to expand its customer base.

The rollout was completed with minimal disruption, allowing customer sites to begin accepting fast, secure contactless payments quickly and efficiently.

Having first met the VMC team at a trade show, 86 Degrees Coffee chose VMC as its cashless payment partner based on the team’s knowledge, responsive support and shared commitment to customer service.

Payment readers are now installed alongside De Jong Duke bean-to-cup coffee machines, providing customers with a fast, secure and reliable payment experience. The straightforward ordering process, quick delivery and simple installation allow contactless readers to be deployed seamlessly as part of each coffee machine installation.

The partnership has enabled 86 Degrees Coffee to offer customers a complete, modern coffee solution that combines premium equipment with the convenience of contactless payments.

Looking ahead, 86 Degrees Coffee is exploring additional integrations that will allow customers to link payment technology with membership and loyalty schemes, providing even greater flexibility for end users.

We upgraded the existing Metro system to VMC Flex, moving all on-site catering and vending services into one cashless payment solution that connects directly to the back office in the cloud. The client can now run reports in real time and as often as they like.

Staff are now able to top up and view their card balance at any time online with funds held in the cloud so no problems if a card is lost or stolen. Open payment was added to all tills and vending and we swapped their existing mobile tills that worked on WIFI for new mobile units with built-in SIM, making remote transactions more reliable.

Automatic payroll loading was also improved enabling staff to pay for their food each day using their Flex card, with just one consolidated payment taken directly from their pay packet at the end of the month. This feature has simplified catering payments for the staff and improved accuracy in catering reporting.

The existing Metro system was upgraded to VMC Flex, moving all on-site shop, catering and vending services to cashless and the VMC App was added to the system enabling users to access and manage their accounts online at any time. On request, we also made it possible for the client to maintain their original Metro cards for site and locker access control.

The new system was fully bespoke to match the client’s needs, which included managing free food and drink subsidies across any specified time period. Transaction times were now 4 times faster than before enabling a speedier service at busy breaktimes, and the ability to handle many tariffs across multiple points of sale automatically has simplified the operation for the client.

Waitrose were very happy with the upgrade to Flex and have since incorporated the same system into their retail stores. VMC have continued to work with GXO at other client sites, most recently providing tills, contactless payment readers and chip and pin machines for 5 Iceland distribution centres.

The Payter reader was the perfect choice for this project as it can be easily installed on a wide variety of machines with minimal modifications. These contactless readers are 4G ready and have instantly improved connectivity and transaction speeds on the Bettavend units.

The addition of VendManager software was also straightforward thanks to the integration between VMC and SB Software already being in place. This ensured that Bettavend had an active and stable connection from day one of the rollout.

Cost was also an important factor for Bettavend, and by providing financial projections over 5 years we were able to highlight that our contactless payment transaction charges are some of the lowest on the market.

It was clear from the early stages of the project that a multilayered software solution was required. The VMC Engineering team worked closely with the team at PGL to create a bespoke payment system based on VMC Flex.

For colleagues, a customised mobile app was designed making it easier to choose meal packages, manage pre-orders and payments, and keep track of their balance anytime from their phone. Special functionality was also added to the system to fully automate the purchasing of subscriptions, saving on admin time and increasing take-up.

For the PGL management team, detailed insight on orders, transactions, meal packages and different colleague groups is now captured with each tap at the payment terminals, logging all colleague activity as it happens and presenting the data in a bespoke reporting format.

With full visibility of what colleagues are buying and when, they have been able to reduce food waste and the associated labour costs and improve their purchasing and stock management processes.

The school needed a system that could be tailored to their exact needs. Easy enough for the children to use and with a simple back office for the staff to manage. The virtual bank was created using our existing Flex technology, installing our till software on the school’s laptop and a card machine for making purchases.

The children earn their ‘Dane coins’ from their teachers throughout the week and then use their card balance to make virtual purchases. This has taught them that their card has a value and the tap and go technology has enabled them to experience first-hand how we pay for things today.

Launched in National Maths Week the system is now being used by all 360 children across years 1-6 and has been a big hit! The children are super engaged with it and there has also been lots of positive feedback from parents about the initiative.

A bespoke integration was developed between the Paxton card reader and the vending controller, supported by our Flex cashless technology. Incorporating the access control element into the payment system removed additional equipment and reduced cost and complexity for the client.

The final solution is one card that enables staff access to the building and use of all the vending machines. Cards can be topped up at a loader using contactless credit/debit card, Apple/Google Pay or cash (notes only), giving Aldi colleagues more choice and flexibility.

Less overall use of cash on site has reduced the risk of loss and the processing workload for accounts. The new back-office system also provides improved data and reporting, enabling them to monitor and manage waste from the machines more closely. The new system has been in place for several months now with no issues and great feedback from all users.

Alan Duggan runs the Blackpool franchise and has Vendotek card readers on 8 of his machines. Adding contactless payment to his operation has made an instant difference, and has helped give his sales a boost, even during the pandemic. He chose VMC because of the competitive pricing and now plans to add readers to all of his machines to drive more profit from his franchise. Feedback has been really positive with customers loving being able to use card payment. With people carrying less cash the ability to use a card or phone makes it so easy for them. All the units have achieved an increase in sales, showing that by simply adding the card reader you can turn an average performing machine into a good one without having to relocate it.

The new Flex ‘cloud hosted’ system was installed across a number of their sites and included till software, on site server software, order monitors, contactless card readers on vending machines and a Mobile App for students.

Initial discussions started in July 2020 and the installation was completed in September, enabling them to quickly adapt to the changing situation. Feedback from those that used the system was really positive giving the college the confidence for the full return of students.