Top vending optimization platform provider, Cantaloupe Systems, has announced that it will be working with a leading e-commerce and payment processing firm, First Data Corporation, in order to be able to use a near field communication (NFC) reader in so that consumers can use their cell phones to make purchases at vending machines at any of thousands of units across the country.
Consumers will be able to make the vending machine purchases through NFC technology-based Google Wallet, which will require them to simply tap their phones against the reader in order to complete the payment transaction.
Google Wallet is a mobile payment system that is compatible with the contactless reader for MasterCard PayPass, which is already being used in thousands of shops in the United States and is expected to expand its use significantly in order to be able to accept mobile payments as they become more common.
According to the CMO and co-founder of Cantaloupe Systems, Anant Agrawal, the purpose of that organization is to bring the latest retail technology into the vending environment, “and you can’t get more leading-edge than Google Wallet, which will allow consumers to buy everything from electronics to snacks using their smartphones.”
Agrawal added that they are hoping to assist their clients in being able to provide their own customers with a larger amount of choice and improved service. By adding the payment option of a using cashless mobile – as well as all of the various ways in which it can better merchandising – an important step toward accomplishing that goal is taken.
