Check out SAP’s futuristic vending machine in the video below, on display at Mobile World Congress. It slickly implements pretty much every innovative technology you could ask for including an iBeacon, NFC reader, facial detection (powered by Intel), social media integration and more.
SAP envisions people signing up for loyalty programs tied to a network of these machines, allowing you to earn rewards, pull up your favorite selections on any device, and even buy and send gifts to friends in the program directly from the machine. I was given $10 an a free account, and as you can see from the video the machine addressed me by name when I swiped in via NFC. If were using an iPhone, the iBeacon could push me an offer or message once I was withing range.
There are about 1,000 of these vending machines in the US now. SAP is also improving the supply chain side of the equation but collecting data on which sodas are most popular on each individual machine to ensure that companies don’t miss out on sales by running out of product, or carrying the wrong product. Customers can even request that new beverages be added to the machine in the future if they don’t see what they want.
Sign me up.
