November 2022 - 34

TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN
The operators credit Sirness
Vending's adoption of technology
early on and continued investment
in it as it has advanced for easing the
impact of the pandemic.
" We invest in technology because
it allows us to provide customers
with the latest, most meaningful
services and to run our business
most efficiently and profitably, " Bach
stated. " From vending machines
set to accept payment from mobile
devices to pick-to-light systems
that reduce errors in the warehouse
by automating product picking for
deliveries, we are well-equipped for
today's demanding business needs. "
Implementation of LightSpeed
Automation's pick-to-light warehouse
automation system was the final step
to get away from the age-old " rolling
warehouse " model of service.
Nesser recalled the company's
investment in cold-plate fully
refrigerated trucks in the early days
of Dixie Narco BevMax glassfront
cold beverage machines in response
to customers' complaints that drinks
were often vended warm. Because
they were loaded front to back, they
often didn't have time to fully chill.
Sirness upgraded its entire fleet
to fully refrigerated Sprinter-style
Dodge Pro Masters in 2017 after
integrating pick-to-light pre-kitting.
The fleet upgrade also improved
fuel efficiency and eliminated the
headache of melted chocolate in
the summer.
The move also supported Sirness'
commitment to food safety every
step of the way for fresh foods in its
vending machines and increasingly
in its growing roster of micro
markets. " You won't see picnic coolers
or partially cooled compartments on
our trucks, " Nesser emphasized. " We
want to ensure the temperature of
food is kept constant and cool. Food
safety is nonnegotiable. "
34 Automatic Merchandiser * November 2022
We invest in technology because
it allows us to provide customers
with the latest, most meaningful
services and to run our business most
efficiently and profitably. "
- Tom Bach, vice president and general manager of SVS
Loaded route trucks ready to go. All are plugged in overnight to keep standby
refrigeration operating.
Telemetry and iPads for route
drivers that tie into its VendMax
vending management system to
facilitate just-in-time service with just
the right products were the next logical
steps to stay ahead of the curve.
" It's all been a godsend to
maximize route profitability, " said
Bach. " Dynamic scheduling and not
guessing what to stock in the truck
and bring to each machine is
especially helpful during these
uncertain times to only make
meaningful stops, for a reason.
Telemetry allows us to know just
what's needed at each machine and
optimize the capacity of our warehouse
personnel on our routes. "
Nesser added, " We are so thankful
that we had the technology in place
before the pandemic so we were not
running all over the place overservicing
and bringing home empty
money bags. We know what the
worst of the worst is thanks to the
pandemic, and we managed thanks
very much to technology, and we can
only build upward from here. "
November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
