In the increasingly competitive retail market, vending machines are no longer limited to simply relying on selling goods to make profits, and their profit models are constantly expanding towards diversification and innovation. Nowadays, these vending machines scattered throughout the streets and alleys are exploring various potential business opportunities, opening up more diverse profit channels, and demonstrating huge commercial value expansion space. Let's explore together which innovative profit models can be used to increase revenue for vending machines besides selling goods.
1、 Advertising placement and brand cooperation
（1） Aircraft advertising
Vending machines have a striking appearance and are distributed in various places with high pedestrian traffic, such as shopping malls, office buildings, subway stations, etc., making them a natural advertising carrier. Operators can rent the vending machine body to various brands for posting posters, displaying brand logos, or placing creative advertisements. For example, displaying a popular coffee brand advertisement on vending machines in office buildings can accurately reach busy office workers and attract them to purchase the brand's coffee. At the same time, the brand pays the corresponding advertising fees to the vending machine operator, achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. Moreover, according to the different scenarios and audience characteristics of the vending machine, targeted advertising placement can be carried out to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the advertisement, thereby enhancing the value of the advertising space and bringing considerable advertising revenue to the operator.
（2） Screen advertising
Many modern vending machines are equipped with electronic displays, which can not only display product information, but also play video ads, scroll display image ads, and more during idle time. These screen advertisements can attract customers' attention when choosing products and increase the exposure of the advertisements. For example, playing new product advertisements for fashion brands on vending machine screens in shopping malls, leveraging the high traffic of the mall to allow more potential consumers to see the advertising content. Operators can charge advertisers based on the duration and frequency of ad display, and by reasonably arranging ad playback time and content, they can maximize the profit potential of screen advertising without affecting customer shopping experience.
（3） Brand cooperation activities
Collaborating with well-known brands is also an innovative way of making profits. For example, holding a promotional event in collaboration with a certain beverage brand, launching customized packaged drinks that are only sold through the vending machine channel, while also cooperating with online and offline promotion to attract consumers to participate in purchasing. The brand will provide corresponding promotion expenses or offer certain product purchasing discounts to the vending machine operator for this exclusive cooperation. The operator will use the brand's influence to enhance the visibility and sales of the vending machine, and jointly create a marketing feast to achieve revenue growth.
2、 Expansion of value-added services
（1） Provide convenient services for the public
Vending machines in communities, parks, and other places can add some convenient service functions to attract customers and achieve profitability. For example, setting up a mobile phone charging interface to provide emergency charging services for residents whose phones have low battery levels, and charging appropriate charging fees; Alternatively, simple health monitoring devices such as weight scales and blood pressure monitors can be equipped. After using these devices, people can obtain test results and health advice by scanning a code and paying a small fee. These convenient services not only increase the frequency of vending machine usage, but also provide additional sources of income for operators, while also enhancing the popularity of vending machines in the community.
（2） Create a sharing feature
Drawing on the concept of sharing economy, endow vending machines with the function of sharing items. For example, in some tourist attractions or leisure squares, shared power banks, shared umbrellas and other devices are set up next to vending machines. Tourists or passers-by can conveniently rent these items through vending machines when needed, and operators charge rent from them. In this way, vending machines have become a multifunctional service station, meeting people's different temporary needs, expanding profit channels, and complementing the original retail functions of vending machines, enhancing the overall commercial value.
（3） Collection and delivery services
With the development of express delivery services, vending machines can serve as collection or distribution points for express delivery. Residents can choose to store their parcels in the corresponding lockers at the vending machines, making it convenient for them to pick them up at the appropriate time. The operator will charge a certain collection and delivery fee to the courier company. At the same time, for some users who have shipping needs, vending machines can also provide convenient packaging, weighing, ordering and other services, further expanding the boundaries of profitability and integrating them into more aspects of people's life services, increasing revenue sources.
3、 Data Sales and Analysis Services
（1） Data sales
Vending machines collect a large amount of valuable data during operation, including consumer purchasing behavior data, product sales data, payment method preference data, etc. in different regions, scenarios, and time periods. These data have high reference value for market research companies, brand owners, and other related enterprises. Operators can organize and desensitize this data, and sell it to third parties in need to help them understand market dynamics, consumer demand, and other situations, in order to develop more accurate marketing strategies and product development directions. Through data sales, vending machine operators can convert accumulated data resources into actual profit points and open up a new revenue path.
（2） Data analysis services
By leveraging their accumulated data advantages and a professional data analysis team (or with the help of external expertise), vending machine operators can also provide data analysis services to partner enterprises. For example, analyzing the sales performance of a food brand's products in different scenarios, identifying the reasons for sales peaks and valleys, and proposing targeted product improvement suggestions and marketing plans. The cooperating enterprises pay corresponding service fees for this, while the operators use their own data insight capabilities to help other enterprises develop while also creating additional profit opportunities for themselves.
4、 Membership and Subscription Services
（1） Establish a membership system
Create a membership system to encourage consumers to register as members and accumulate points through consumption. Points can be used to redeem goods, enjoy discounts, or participate in exclusive activities. Members can also enjoy privileges such as priority restocking and regular member exclusive benefits. Charging a certain annual membership fee or linking membership benefits to the amount of consumption can stimulate members to continue spending, improve customer loyalty and repeat purchase rates, thereby increasing overall sales and achieving profit growth. For example, for office workers who frequently shop at vending machines in office buildings, becoming a member can enjoy a weekly half price discount on specific products, which will attract them to use the vending machines more frequently for consumption.
（2） Subscription service (for specific products)
For some products that consumers have regular demand for, such as coffee and tea in the office, drinking water in the community, etc., subscription services can be launched. Consumers can choose to subscribe to corresponding products on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis, and the operator will regularly replenish them to designated vending machines or deliver them to their doorstep (depending on the specific service model) according to the agreement, and charge corresponding subscription fees. This service model not only provides convenience for consumers and ensures stable supply of goods, but also locks in a stable income for operators in advance. At the same time, it can better plan inventory and delivery arrangements based on subscription status, improving operational efficiency.
In short, there is vast space and unlimited potential for innovation in the profit model of vending machines. As long as operators dare to break through traditional thinking, fully tap into their own advantages, and combine with the diversified needs of the market, they can achieve diversified profits through various innovative channels such as advertising, value-added services, data utilization, and membership systems in addition to selling goods, stand out in fierce market competition, and make vending machines radiate stronger commercial vitality.
Which profit model innovation do you think has the greatest potential for development in vending machines? Welcome to share and exchange in the comment section!
