There's a vending machine for that: Why automated retail is becoming more the norm

Vending machines have taken a new, upscale form in the Canadian market, and experts say the pandemic, along with more innovative technology, have spurred thisshopping trend.

Most recently,"Cake ATMs," which are produced by Magex Srl, an automated-retail company based in Italy, have been installed at 25 shopping centres.Most are in Ontario and Quebec, butfourare in Calgary.The individually wrapped slices are shipped daily from the United States by Carlo's Bake Shopotherwise known asthe Cake Boss.

And getting your hands on one seems like a piece of cake.

"It just seems quick," said Calgary customer AndrewVenini."You can see all the selection right there, andall you got to do is deal with the screen."

Globally, the industry is expected to see10 per cent annual growth each year until 2027,and big Canadian companies like Sport Chek, Canadian Tire, Rexall and The Source have all started to invest.

ShamiraJaffer is the president and CEO of Signifi Solutions, a vending machine supplier based inOntario that has tapped intoautomated retail on an international level.

Her smart machines are located across the world inhospitals, malls, airports and grocery stores.

But her Canadian clients have recently wanted more of an in on the action during the past two years, and she attributes it to customers being more comfortable with online shopping.

"Today, people are buying stuffunseen, based on a picture and some words," she said.

"I think there's been a big shift in people's behaviours. There's a lot more trust, so they'll go and buy from [vending] machinesas long as the brand is recognizable."

What vending machines can sell

Jaffersays the look of the machine has also started to change and can be more curated to fit the brand, as well asbe able to dispense different shapes.

"Build-A-Bear is selling bears out of our machines, but it's hard to dispense so we created a special holder that can dispense the bear without it being in a box."

What's inside has also become more upscale, with some customers spending $1,200just to buy tech at the airport, she said.

"It took the retailers a little bit of time to realize that customers are adopting. And now I think retailers are realizing that,'you know what, this makes a lot of sense,'" she said.

"If you have a unique product that's a really cool brand, you could put it in a malland it's much more cost-effective."

In Alberta, malls and other popular destinations have started filling vending machineswith false eyelashes,skin care products or university sweatshirts.

It gets ever crazier inToronto,where automated food kiosks are all the rage, selling specialty items such asbeetroot hummus,ortea that's custom blended from a selection of 18 ingredients.

Rehman Mirali, CEO of TeaBot, says dozens of the company's automated machinesaredeployed in Toronto, Boston and Chicago.

He says there's a couple reasons why this business model works the first being that there's no brick-and-mortar costs.

"We've had a lot of success on university campuses, but you'll notice that all of the sales happen at the same time because everyone's moving between classes at the same time,"he said.

"There'll be this big spike on the hour, and then it'll be dead for 50 minutes, and then another big spike. Soit's just more efficient to not have a person sitting around during that whole time."

As well, the science behindbuilding the machines has become more intelligent and innovative.

"Here in North America, you'll see more touch screens insidequick-serve restaurants," he said.

The CEO, who also has a a PhD in aerospace robotics,believes the trend will continue to grow, especially in the food service industry.

"Automation is well suited for repetitive tasks and there's a lot of that in the kitchen," he said.

"So if we can just do all of the prep work with machines, then that lets the humans do the fun part, the innovation part."

Pandemic fast tracks automatedshopping

Kersi Antia, a marketing professor at the Ivey Business School at Western,calls it's a perfect storm due to social isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic

"We'd rather not do with the awkwardness of human interaction," he said."It may be impersonal, but not everybody wants personal service."

Asurveyin August found that "not having to talk to people" was one of the top reasons customers gravitate toward "unattended retail environments."

Convenience is another reasonsome customers are more likely to buy it when it's dispensed through a vending machine.

"They're all over the place. It just makes it easier for us to pick up something which we may not have planned on earlier,"Antiasaid.

"You can't beat the convenience. You can't beat the brand salience andthe fact that you're in and out as soon as you like."

LISTEN | The Cost of Living exploresvending machine trends:

Cost of Living5:43Let them eat cake from a 'Cake ATM'

For years, we've been hearing about all the crazy things they put in vending machines in Japan like fresh flowers, toothbrushes, ramen noodles, umbrellas, puppies (yes, LIVE puppies!!!).Finally...FINALLY...Canada is getting some properly weird vending machines. Weird in a cool way. Like producer Danielle Nerman. It's all part of a growing market called "unattended retail."

With files from Danielle Nerman and The Cost of Living