# Cashless Robotic Retailers Next Generation Biometric Vending Machines are in Beta Testing By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-08-14 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biometric-vending-machines References: [myfoxny](http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/your_money/consumer/vending-machines-of-the-future-20100807-lgf) & [nextgenerationone](http://www.nextgenerationone.com/vendWise/) Next Generation—a Massachusetts-based vending and food service company—is actually beta testing biometric vending machines for more widespread deployment by the end of 2011. The VendWise branded Ethernet connected biometric vending machines not only scan the users’ thumbprint and match it to a credit card on file, they interact with [real-time inventory management software systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venhub) so the machines can be optimally restocked. The company plans to add [retinal scans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tcl-dr2-max-retrofit-smart-lock) to their biometric vending machines as well as an interactive product information display. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Biometric Vending Machines:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Integrating biometric technology into vending machines for secure and personalized transactions. - **Real-time Inventory Management:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Developing software systems that enable vending machines to autonomously restock based on real-time inventory data. - **Interactive Product Information Display:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Creating interactive displays on vending machines that provide detailed product information and enhance the user experience. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Vending:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Modernizing the vending machine industry by integrating biometric technology and real-time inventory management systems. - **Retail:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Applying biometric technology and interactive displays to enhance the retail experience and streamline transactions. - **Technology:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Advancing biometric technology and inventory management software to optimize vending machine operations and improve customer satisfaction. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Refrigerated Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/redyref-smart-food-fridge.md) - [AI-Enabled Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vending-tracker.md) - [High-Tech Residential Security Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/residential-security-system.md) - [Smart Cashierless Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cashierless-shop.md) - [Smart Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-vending-machines.md) - [Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vision-kiosk.md) - [Robot Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tortoise-smart-stores.md) - [Biometric Debit Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biometric-debit-card.md) - [AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retail-checkout.md)