For the purposes of expanding its off-site footprint and offering convenience-focused experiences for customers, Subway is testing smart fridge vending machines. The smart fridge is stocked with pre-made Subway Grab & Go sandwiches that are prepared daily at a nearby Subway restaurant and thanks to artificial intelligence, hungry passersby can inquire about any of the products inside. And thanks to AI, the vending machine has the capacity to accept verbal orders.
Subway has been selling pre-made sandwiches at locations like casinos, gas stations and airports since 2020 and these grab-and-go experiences helped to bolster the business amid the pandemic. Now, similar vending machine solutions are becoming popular across the industry, reflecting changing consumer preferences for grabbing a bite on the go.
Going forward, Subway sees the potential for its smart fridge vending machines to be installed at college campuses, airports and hospitals.
Smart Fridge Vending Machines
Subway is Testing a Vending Machine Filled with Pre-Made Sandwiches
Trend Themes
1. Smart Fridge Vending Machines - AI-enabled smart fridges that offer pre-made meals and snacks for customers on-the-go.
2. Grab & Go Convenience - Increasing demand for pre-made meals that can be quickly consumed.
3. Voice-enabled Ordering - Innovation in AI technology that offer customers a seamless ordering process with voice-enabled vending machines.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage Industry - Restaurants and food retailers can benefit from investing in smart vending machines to expand their off-site footprint and offer convenience-focused experiences for customers.
2. Hospitality Industry - Hotels, airports, and college campuses could install smart fridge vending machines that offer easy access to pre-made meals and snacks.
3. Artificial Intelligence Industry - AI developers can continue to innovate and improve AI-enabled vending machines, making them more seamless, faster, and convenient for consumers.