On 12th September in Brussels a conference took place organized by EVA (European Vending Association) on payment systems. The aim of the conference was to provide operators in the sector with the latest updates on the current and future payment system sector, in order for them to make efficient decisions and to further refine their strategies.
The conference presented the current payment system situation in Europe, with an outline of possible evolution over both the medium and long term. The payment systems currently available in relation to vending machines were outlined, highlighting the various advantages and disadvantages, while the final part of the conference focused on the future scenarios in relation to payments, and the possible means of application in vending machines.
Coges, ever attentive to evolving market trends, was one of the protagonists in this important event, presenting a report entitled “Mobile Payment”. This presentation took the form of a detailed outline of the mobile phone payment sector and the potential advantages for the Vending industry. It should also here be mentioned that Coges is currently involved in an ongoing collaborative project with a leading Telecom Italia research centre (in Turin, Italy). The project is based on a new transmission system which permits communication between the mobile phone and the vending machine making use of proximity technology. Thanks to this innovative technology, the mobile phone is capable of recognizing the vending machines present in the vicinity and thereby inform the user by means of simple messages that appear on the display, so that by selecting the available vending machine the user is then able to proceed with a purchase. The use of the mobile terminal also allows the user access to information services on the products actually available inside the vending machine.
The event enjoyed excellent public participation, with no less than 135 participants who actively intervened in the conference, engaging in lively debates and exchanges of opinions and experiences in relation to the various payment solutions. |
