Automatic Merchandiser - 19

areas in micro markets. Coffey advised
that operators talk with their clients
to find solutions for these areas of
concern, noting that many clients are
prepared to offer hand sanitizer so
micro market customers can immediately disinfect their hands after touching a door handle.
"There are hardware solutions you
can add to the doors - a J-hook, where
you basically open and close a door
with your forearm, so your hands don't
touch - and there are several manufacturers building foot pedals so you
can use your foot to pull the door open
and closed, or you press on a pedal to
pop the door open or close it," he said.
Coffey noted that while operators
who offer prepackaged single-serve
coffee options like K-cups should offer
hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes in
the coffee area, bean-to-cup machines
offer truly touchless capabilities.

"If you're using a bean-to-cup
machine, we have some integrated
solutions that will allow you to pay
with your phone," Coffey said. "There
are some air touch solutions that allow
you to hover over your selection, and
then [the machine] knows you're hovering and it makes the selection."
McWhirter said that 365 is working with all major coffee original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to
enable touchless coffee dispensing on
bean-to-cup machines. This includes
a solution that projects the coffee
machine's keypad into the 365Pay app,
allowing the customer to customize a
beverage from their phone.
"The prevailing way that these
OEMs are making touchless happen
is to reveal a QR code on the screen of
the machine," he explained. "You scan
it with your smartphone, and it looks
just like the coffee screen. You place

your cup under the dispenser and that's
it. By putting it in the 365Pay app, the
incremental advantage we're offering
is that you can use your balance to pay
for your coffee at the same time."
THE POST-COVID FUTURE

Ultimately, operators need to remind
their customers that they're providing food and beverage solutions that
are convenient and safe for their
employees, eliminating the need to
leave the workplace.
"Micro markets are designed for
social distancing," Coffey said. "They're
set up closer to associates so they don't
travel as far to get the snacks and food
items that they want, they're designed
for smaller populations of people,
they're open all the time so there's no
set break periods. So, by the nature
of what they are, they're designed for
social distancing." ■

THE ANTIMICROBIAL, BREAK ROOM SOLUTION
THAT WILL REDUCE THE GROWTH OF GERMS
AND EMPLOYEE ANXIETY AT THE SAME TIME.

SaferTouch™ antimicrobial ﬁlm is an eﬀective barrier designed to provide a cleaner surface and prevents
the buildup of microorganisms on your most critical touch surfaces. The ﬁlm conforms to a variety of
shapes such as handles, knobs and other irregular surfaces. It can be replaced every 6 months (90 days
for touch screens) and is easily removed, leaving no residue.

Go to TouchpointScience.com for more info.

Prevents Buildup of Microbes
Easy Application and Removal
Eﬀective for Public Areas & Workplaces
Durable & Washable
Reduction of Touch Anxiety
©2020 Touchpoint Science.

August 2020 * VendingMarketWatch.com

http://www.TouchpointScience.com http://www.VendingMarketWatch.com

Automatic Merchandiser

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