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Imperial Vending IoT Solution

Applicable Industries

Retail

The Challenge

Imperial Vending has earned a reputation for outstanding service and quality and is always on the lookout for new ways to enhance this brand image. The company has used technology to improve service excellence since entering the vending business in the early 90’s. Handheld route systems, for instance, have helped Imperial Vending closely monitor customer consumption profiles and maintain transparent and accurate reporting for customer commissions. Another key reason to move to wireless technology was to improve operational efficiency. Imperial Vending had already attempted another solution for advance assembly of delivery orders, a technique known in the industry as pre-kitting. However, Imperial Vending found that their pre-kits were often significantly inaccurate because of unpredictable variations in account sales. While this early test of pre-kitting helped get drivers on their way from the warehouse more quickly, it did little to help with route efficiency and keeping fresh products in customer vending machines.

The Customer

Imperial Vending

About The Customer

Imperial Vending is Oklahoma’s largest vending company. Lance Whorton, President of Imperial Vending, joined company owner, Paul Tims, in late 2001. Both Whorton and Tims are involved in the daily running of the business and Whorton now oversees all

The Solution

Imperial Vending got started by installing Cantaloupe Systems’ Seed in 200 snack and soda machines on three adjacent routes in the Tulsa area. This initial implementation was fully deployed within 90 days and Imperial Vending began using Seed technology in parallel with the existing pre-kitting software to verify effective operation. After the Seed trial proved to be a success, the company continued to expand the implementation rapidly. Imperial Vending now has Seed technology deployed in five of its nine markets and has approximately 4,500 machines connected to Seed.

Data Collected

Inventory Turnover, Logistics Cost, Number Of Connected Devices, Operation Performance

Operational Impact

[Cost Reduction - Maintenance]
Trucks are being driven fewer miles, which not only affects oil and gas consumption, but also reduces ongoing vehicle maintenance costs for tires, service repairs, and periodic service upkeep.
[Efficiency Improvement - Productivity]
Drivers were able to visit more locations per day and spend less time at each location.

Quantitative Benefit

By eliminating 45.5% of its routes through route consolidation, Imperial Vending has also reduced its vehicle costs.
87.8% ROI based on reduced expenses.
76.8% Increase in average sales per route.

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