Bananas, live crabs, make-up and even guitar strings are just a few things that one can find in vending machines around the world.
While Singapore’s convenience culture is not quite there yet, the country is catching up. We now have the “first vending machine cafe”, launched yesterday at Blk 320C along Anchorvale Drive, which dishes out hot food such as Nasi Goreng Istimewa or Vegetarian Rice Noodle. There are even snacks such as cookies to go along with your meal, and there are tables and chairs where you can tuck into your vending machine meals in comfort.
Meanwhile, independent bookstore BooksActually made the news when it started selling works from home-grown authors in vending machines in June. The machines have been a hit — three have been launched, and one machine located in the National Museum of Singapore has sold more than 100 books (as of July 11, 2016).
Kenny Leck, BooksActually director and co-founder, said: “The book vending machines were done with marketing value and publicity in mind than sales. But we have been surprised by the sales generated by at least one of the machines, located at the National Museum of Singapore. It has done well enough for us to replenish stocks once every week.” Sales are a little slower at the machine at the Singapore Visitor Centre, but it still gets stocked every two weeks, he revealed.
At 10 FairPrice outlets, consumers can find iCash machines, which accept cash on behalf of a cashier. The machine also dispenses change. The system was rolled out late last year, and is also available in 17 Cheers outlets. According to a FairPrice spokesman, you will see these machines in another 16 FairPrice and 13 more Cheers outlets by the end of this year.
A vending machine that accepts your dirty laundry? Why, yes please. — picLaundry services via the help of a machine are another automated service you will find at some FairPrice Finest outlets, such as at Marine Parade and UE Bizhub. There, you will see a dry-cleaning locker machine called My Laundry Box where you drop off your clothing and pick it up as soon as two working days later. You can even get curtains and stuffed toys cleaned.
Vending culture
Some say that Singapore is behind countries such as Japan, which for decades has been renowned for its vending machines (its first was reportedly a cigarette-dispensing machine, which debuted in 1888). Vending machines have certainly become a common sight, no matter where you are in the world. They spit out everything from the mundane (think headphones in many United States airports) to the unexpected such as condoms (Italy).
Consumer experts say Singapore is moving that way. A Spring Singapore event was held last week for vending machine operators. There, exhibitors gathered to show new technology — such as machines with innovative robotic arms — and to be part of panel discussions.
Head of SIM University’s School of Business, Allan Chia, explained that Singapore is lagging behind not because of our culture or technology. “The main issue is sales volume, which is linked to our small market size,” he said. SIM University has received research funding to study consumer usage on self-service technologies, particularly in the food and beverage sector.
He notes that while unusual items have not taken off on a wide scale, there could be a market for more as the machines do fill a certain gap in the retail scene. A shop could be closed, for instance, but a vending machine could offer products at all hours — and without the need for a sales person.
Ironically, some machines aid in human interaction. FairPrice’s iCash system was installed to optimise manpower, said its spokesman. But ultimately, the system has helped the stores’ checkout staff by allowing them to focus more wholly on the customer, rather than on handling cash.
