Saturday night in the city center: the local nightlife is in full swing, the clubs are open, and cheerful people fill the streets. Amid it all, David stands not far from one of his cigarette and vape machines and observes the goings-on.
Not long ago, David became restless when night fell. Especially in the city's popular nightlife district, he often had to deal with vandalized machines and calls from angry customers complaining about broken systems the following day. But since his vending machines have been equipped with the KarL4 payment system from SECO, things have changed for the better for him.
Cigarette and vape machines for the nightlife district: innovative solutions directly on-site
David has operated three vending machines for cigarettes and vapes for four years. They are located on the main street at intervals of around 100 meters between the city's most popular bars. He owns one of the bars himself.
He used to be asked by several guests every evening where the nearest kiosk or cigarette machine was. There are only nightclubs and restaurants in the street, so the nearest kiosk is about ten minutes away. David kept asking himself why there was no cigarette machine there. Then he saw his chance: why not set up his vending machines? As he knew, there was plenty of demand.
I thought, I've finished it. The first machine was ordered and filled. His idea soon paid off: Customers came to his bar more often and stayed longer - now they had a vending machine just around the corner and no longer had to go far.
The challenges of vending machine operation
However, it wasn't long before the first problems arose—Vandalism was one of them. The operation of cigarette and vape vending machines requires strict age verification. In order to buy products, the customer's age must first be identified using their ID card. In the past, however, there have been repeated attempts to circumvent this identification process. As a result, the document reader was regularly manipulated and damaged.
Other problems were simpler but still led to fewer sales: some customers didn't have their IDs with them, and others were put off by the cumbersome document verification process. David had to find a solution quickly to avoid losing too many customers.
Then, an acquaintance drew his attention to SECO's KarL4 payment system - an ideal option, as KarL4 identifies the customer's age during the payment process. At first, David was skeptical - a system that checks age directly via the girocard? He wondered if a single system could enable payment transactions and legal compliance.
David tried it out on one of his three vending machines and had the technology installed without further ado. One drill, four holes - and the device was securely attached to the machine and immediately ready for use.
Why David no longer wants to do without KarL4
David watched the machines for two evenings and was pleasantly surprised. No more long searches for change and no more discussions about ID cards. People hold their girocard or smartphone in front of the reader and receive the desired product after a few seconds. Age verification runs automatically and without any problems via the girocard.
Cashless payment and age verification in one - KarL4 from SECO has already taken a lot of work off David's hands. Processing is much quicker, and his customers are more satisfied. He sees this above all in the rising sales figures in SECO's Clea Vend telemetry system. Thanks to the software, David has an overview and can see which products are in high demand, which compartments need to be refilled, and whether there are any problems with the vending machine. With Clea Vend and KarL4, David saves valuable time and manages his business effectively.
Conclusion: stress-free operation thanks to innovative technology
The popular nightlife district in the city center is full of life again tonight. A lot has changed for David since he started running his vending machines. In addition to his successful bar, which constantly needs his attention, the vending machines with the KarL4 payment system from SECO are a nice extra income in his stressful everyday life. They practically run themselves. He checks on them occasionally, fills them with new products, and enjoys the sales figures in the Clea Vend telemetry system.
Relaxed and ready for another night shift, he says goodbye to his cigarette and vape machines and strolls down the street to his bar.
You can also benefit from the advantages of Clea Vend and KarL4 telemetry: with simple payment and fast age verification using the girocard, your vending machines offer a secure, user-friendly, and efficient purchasing experience!
