Vending machines encourage social interaction in exchange for goods
Implications - Moving away from paying for goods with money, vending machines are integrating elements of social engagement as an alternative form of payment. Dispensing goods in return for engagement, these machines are using interactive and heartfelt experiences to boost consumer-brand interaction.
Workshop Question - If your brand was going to launch an engagement-based vending machine, what products would you put in it? What engagement would you require in order to retrieve a product?
Trend Themes
1. Social Interaction Payment - Vending machines are using interactive and heartfelt experiences to boost consumer-brand interaction.
2. Tweet/hashtag Rewards - Vending machines that dispenses prizes in exchange for tweets or social media hashtags that spur on word of mouth promotion.
3. Selfie Generation Marketing - Vending machines with selfie-taking capabilities are offering young buyers an added lifestyle bonus for purchasing products.
Industry Implications
1. Fast-moving Consumer Goods - Brands in the FMCG industry can implement social payment and tweet/hashtag reward vending machines to increase consumer engagement and brand loyalty.
2. Retail - Retail businesses can use selfie vending machines and social interaction payment vending machines to attract customers and increase brand awareness.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing and advertising professionals can utilize vending machines with social payment, tweet/hashtag rewards, and selfie-taking capabilities to generate consumer-generated advertising.
