Industrial vending helps companies of all sizes gain control over their inventory management with customizable solutions that vend and track almost anything. But were you aware of how vending helps distributors as well?
Vending not only provides customers with point-of-use solutions to more effectively manage inventory items and reduce stockouts, but it also helps distributors add value to their customer accounts. Vending helps customers:
- Reduce downtime with fewer stockouts
- Improve safety at the point of use
- Increase accountability
- Enhance visibility into stocked items
- Save on unnecessary inventory consumption
Vending definitely adds value to the distributor-customer relationship. However, overly complicated machines, technology and vending contracts have made distributors hesitant to introduce vending to their customers. Distributor complaints often included:
- Too complicated to use
- Hard to obtain accurate information about units and inventory
- Cumbersome to make last-minute changes to items in a machine
- Software training was expensive and time consuming
- Not tailored to customer business
Today’s vending machines and software are easy to use, intuitive and customizable to your customers’ changing needs. We share 10 questions you should ask to ensure you are choosing the best vending provider for your needs here.
Designate a Champion for your Industrial Vending Program
It’s one thing to recognize the value of industrial vending, but how can distributors build an effective vending program? For small to mid-size distributors, their salespeople tend to wear many hats, and they typically don’t have an abundance of spare time. Fortunately, today’s vending solutions require very little manpower to install, implement and maintain. Even so, it is always recommended that distributors designate someone within their organization as the primary point of contact, or the “vending champion.”
1sourcevend believes in the old adage, “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” We invest time and resources to train and arm our distributors and their vending champions with knowledge. As a result, if an issue arises with the vending machine or software, they can troubleshoot those issues quickly.
Our machines and software are so easy to use and maintain, that it isn’t a huge drain on the vending champion either. Having a designated point person assigned to your vending program reduces the multiplier effect on critical resources, a factor even more important during times of labor shortages. There is no need to train your entire sales team and staff on the ins and outs of vending when one person can handle the vending programs.
Our vending machines and inventory management software require so little maintenance and care that we recommend distributors designate a single point person for their vending program. Here’s why:
- Simple maintenance.
Are you worried that maintaining your vending machines is more trouble than it’s worth? Don’t be. Vending today is so advanced and user-friendly that just about anyone can maintain and service them. Our vending machines are so reliable that maintenance involves only proper placement, a reliable power source and regular wipe downs. Read simple maintenance tips and testimonials from users. - Internal knowledge source.
Larger, national providers often require all service or troubleshooting inquiries to go through them, which can be time-consuming and confusing for your sales reps. We provide champions with in-depth training on implementing and troubleshooting your vending program. By designating a vending champion, everyone in your organization knows who to go to for support or questions about vending. - Your customer has one knowledgeable source for help.
When vending is so simple, why not offer this value-added service to your customers? Because vending solutions are so flexible, customizable and user-friendly, sales reps need not fear vending any longer. Couple that with our in-depth vending champion training and your sales team knows they have the operational support they need within their organization.
Customer Example:
A recent 1sourcevend customer purchased 10 machines and appointed a vending champion to oversee their vending program. The 1sourcevend team then provided the champion with detailed training to learn how to manage the machines and software. The champion now has ongoing access to 1sourcevend support any time an issue arises. However, our solutions are so easy and low-maintenance, he may never need it.
Curious if vending can help your business? Download A Distributor’s Guide to Best Practices in Vending & Inventory Control.
1sourcevend’s Simple 5-Step Training for Industrial Vending
Training is quite simple.
On day one, we help you develop your list of items to vend and determine if helix coil machines, locker units, drawer units or combination units are best for your needs. Then, we get to work establishing the coil configurations you need to vend items and the software needed to effectively track usage.
Most of the work is done before the machines even arrive at your customer locations. Throughout the process, we teach your vending champion the following:
- How to understand and build their own configurations.
- How to set up a machine virtually with inventory selections, images and descriptions.
- How to assign permissions to employees and customers.
- How to implement the physical machine when it arrives.
- How to troubleshoot any potential issues quickly and effectively.
We also have video tutorials that are updated regularly.
Check us out on our YouTube channel!
Not all vending machines are created equal. While all vending solutions can offer point of use dispensing, the similarities end there. Distributors are already up against enough challenges. We believe vending should add value to their organizations and their bottom line. That’s why we developed vending solutions and software that are easy to use, accessible and powerful so you can get back to doing what you do best — helping your customers operate more efficiently and profitably.
Interested in learning more? Visit our website.
1sourcevend’s point-of-use inventory solutions and 1sourcelive software are designed by distributors for distributors looking to differentiate themselves from the competition. Learn how we can help you choose the right inventory management software and American-made vending solutions to empower your customers. Request a Demo