Picking the perfect POS system for your vending machine

A POS system is a great way to take your vending machine business to the next level. Cash is slowly fading out as the primary form of payment. So, it's important to be able to accept credit and debit cards. Not only will this make it more convenient for customers, but it will also allow you to track your sales more accurately.

But POS systems are costly. They need special hardware, software, and sometimes even monthly fees. Plus you have to set them up.

We’ve had clients whose revenue grew by up to 30% within a few months of implementing a POS system into their vending machine. Naturally, not everyone will see such explosive growth. The results depend on many factors, with location and type of product sold being two of the main ones. But we’ve never seen a client who didn’t make at least a small, positive return on their investment within the first year.

The biggest hurdle is picking the right POS system for your situation. If you’re not careful, you can end up wasting a lot of money on a system that doesn’t fit your needs.

Let’s start by seeing what factors you need to weigh when choosing a POS system for your vending machine.

Key factors in deciding which POS system to get

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There’s a wealth of different POS systems available on the market. They come in all shapes and sizes with various levels of complexity. The key is to find the one that’s just right for your business. 

The main factors are:

• The type of products and services sold — A typical example would be a vending machine that sells coins at carwashes. In this case, you’d look for a POS with an IP65 rating, as that ensures it is waterproof.
• The transaction time — This ranges from a vending machine in a train station to a grocery store where people may spend 20 minutes or more. In the former case, you’d want a POS that is faster, while in the latter case you’d want one with more features like loyalty programs.
• The price of the products and services — If you’re running a vending machine that sells high-end items, such as jewelry, then you’ll need a POS that supports higher value transactions. 
• The geographical location — If you have a business in a remote area, then you’ll most likely need a POS that can read SIM cards. That way, you can connect to the internet and process transactions even if there’s no Wi-Fi available.
• Commissions and fees — These vary for each POS system. You’ll need to factor this into your decision to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money. Have a look at our POS ROI calculator to get a better idea of how your financials could look like based on different POS’ commission structures.

With all of the above in mind, let’s see the top POS systems for vending machines.

The 5 best POS terminals for vending machine by SmVend

The following 5 POS terminals will cover every possible vending machine use case out there. They are all great machines in their own right, but depending on your specific needs, one will be better suited for you than the others.

myPOS mini

The myPOS mini is a great choice for vending machines that sell consumables like snack and food, toys and entertainment devices like DVDs, and transportation services. Avoid using it in places that get lots of water like carwashes and in dusty environments like construction sites. The lack of IP65 certification means that water and dust will make the device break very quickly.

The terminal’s tiny size makes it perfect for locations with limited space, and its low price point (180 €) makes it an affordable option for small businesses. The myPOS mini also supports both NFC and EMV chip cards, which means you’ll be able to accept payments from anyone. 

Connectivity-wise, the terminal comes with a SIM card, but it can also connect to the Wi-Fi. Commissions are set at 3% of the transaction value. It’s pretty cheap all things considered, especially if you consider that there are no extra monthly costs associated with it.

There are, however, some limitations to the myPOS mini. The main one being its processing times of about 7 seconds, which is longer than most other solutions on the market. This is due to the processor it uses. If your vending machine is serving a high traffic location, you’re better off with a different solution that can keep up with the demand. 

We recommend myPOS mini if you’re looking for an affordable solution for a vending machine that sells everyday items but that doesn’t see lots of traffic. For example, if you own a small shop or want to provide your employees with snacks, myPOS mini is a great solution.

Worldline Valina

The Worldline Valina is a great choice for vending machines that sell high-value items like jewelry, electronics, and designer clothes. It’s also a good choice for locations with strict security requirements since the device comes with an touchscreen PIN pad.

The Valina, just like myPOS mini, supports both NFC and EMV chip cards. Owners of all sorts of debit and credit card will be able to shop at your vending machine.

This terminal can only function with an ethernet connection, so you'll most likely need to hardwire it to your router. The good news is that this will make the device more stable and secure. But of course, it can be hard to do in some areas.

Transactions processed with the Valina take about 3 seconds, which is much faster than myPOS mini. This is due to the different processor it uses. This makes the Valina better suited for areas with high traffic. Plus, it comes with a protective case with the IP65 certification. This means that you can use the Valina for just about every sort of vending machine, including places where water is bound to splash on it, like car washes.

The terminal itself is quite expensive — priced at 800 €. However, the fees are much, much lower than with most other POS terminals, thanks to it being directly connected to the bank. Other terminals will send the transaction through their own server, which will then forward it to your bank. But with Wordline Valina, the money enters your bank account directly, without middlemen taking a cut.

You’ll pay 1% commission on each transaction, plus 4.5 € per month. This fee structure is perfect for vending machines that do a high volume of transactions. Examples of common high volume vending machines are those that sell tickets, collect payments for parking meters, or dispense change.

Worldline Yomani

The Yomani terminals are designed for high-traffic locations. If you have a vending machine in an airport, a train station, or a stadium, this is the device for you. Fast processing speeds (2–3 seconds), a large PINpad, and an IP54 certification make it perfect for such places. 

The Yomani has three separated card chip readers, which means that it can read EMV, NFC, and magnetic stripe cards all at the same time. This is perfect for areas where people from all over the world are coming to shop. Also, the terminal comes with a contactless reader, which is perfect for mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Just like his biggest brother, the Valina, the Yomani is also limited only to Ethernet connectivity. But considering the locations where it shines (high-traffic areas with stable network connection), this is not a big drawback.

Another — potentially bigger — drawback comes with the design of the terminal. It's great for table top coffee machines or locations where is posible to fix POS terminal on horizontal surface like a countertop in the shop. But sometimes you need more flexibility like for wall-mounted machines. The Yomani is your standard POS terminals you see in retail shops all over the world. It’s not really made with vending machines in mind.

A Yomani terminal costs 250 €, which is middle of the road. Commissions and monthly subscription are the same as those of the Valina. 1% commission on transactions plus 4.5 € per month. 

The main difference between the Yomani and the Valina is in form factor and design. The Valina is made to go inside a vending machine, while the Yomani is not. Also, the Valina comes with an IP65 compliant case, which means that it’s dust and water resistant. The Yomani does not have this rating.

Still, the Yomani is great if you don’t need it to be attached to a vending machine and don’t need the extra protection that comes with the Valina.

otiMetry UNO-8-PLUS

The UNO-8-PLUS from otiMetry is one of the most popular terminals for vending machines. And for good reason. It’s rugged and easy to use. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor locations — but be careful, it's not waterproof.

This terminal is designed for unattended machines. It has 2 rows display that is easy to use, even for people who are not familiar with vending machines. There is no PINpad or keyboard, which makes it more vandal-proof. 

The UNO-8-PLUS is all about its contactless reader, which is perfect for mobile payments. As a result, it doesn’t accept chip cards. This can be a problem for some people, but EMV chips are slowly becoming less important. These cards are usually used by old people, so consider who is using your vending machine the most.

The UNO-8-PLUS can connect either through Ethernet or a SIM card (not included). This means that you can place the vending machine just about anywhere, without worrying about network availability. Also, you’ll be forced to go through Evalon bank for your transactions. You’ll pay a monthly fee of 5.5 €, plus your payments will be processed by Evalon bank itself. You’ll pay fees between 0.6% and 2%, depending on the average check. And, on top of this, a one-time payment of 140 € to Evalon bank itself. The reader itself costs 355 €.

The main reason to get this POS terminal is how easy it is to mount it on a vending machine. There are special brackets that make the installation a breeze. It’s slightly slower than the Wordline terminals, with a processing time of 3–4 seconds, but it’s still quite fast. 

UIC 680FG NFC reader

This is a barebone contactless POS terminal that allows customers to make fast, easy and secure payments by just waving their NFC-enabled smartphone or card in front of the reader. 

This is another terminal that is extremely easy to install and use. It’s perfect for things like parking, electrical charge columns, and vending machines. The lack of IP65 proofing means it’s not suited for use outdoors or in places like carwashes though. 

Its simplicity is both a strength and a weakness. The UIC680FG doesn’t have any of the features that the other terminals on this list have, like the ability to accept chip cards or magstripe cards. It also doesn’t come with a built-in printer, so if you need a receipt, you’ll have to get a separate printer. 

The UIC 680FG only supports NFC payments, so if you’re looking for a terminal that can do more, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if all you need is an NFC reader, the UIC 680FG is an excellent choice.

Also, it’s an Ethernet only terminal. But thanks to its fast processing speed (2–3 seconds on average), it’s at its best in areas with high traffic, which means it should be easy to find a way to connect it to the internet. 

You’ll pay a 2.5% fee on transactions, plus 5.2 € per month. The terminal connects directly to your bank, so no payment processing company is involved. 

If you need an NFC reader and nothing else, the UIC 680FG is a great choice. It’s simple to use and very fast.

Recap table of the 5 terminals

Here’s a table with some quick comparison points between the terminals.

We will help you pick the perfect POS system for your vending machine

SmVend’s experts are here to help you pick the perfect POS system for you. Just tell us your needs and business challenges, and we will guide you through buying the perfect POS system for you. 

Every vending machine is different. What works for one in an airport won’t most likely work for one in a college. That’s why we will take the time to get to know your vending machine and business before making any recommendations. 

We want you to have a system that meets all of your current needs and can grow with you as your business changes and grows. We also want to make sure that it is easy for you to use and understand. 

The bottom line is that we want you to be happy with your POS system and to feel confident that it was the best decision for your business.

If you have any questions, or want to know more about how a POS system can enrich your business, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to chat with you about your vending machine business and how we can help you take that next step with a new POS system.