Tom Vogt, Vice President of Micro Markets and Vending at AVS Companies, discusses how smart cooler technology is reshaping unattended retail and why operator support remains critical to long-term success.
The rapid adoption of AI-powered smart coolers is reshaping the unattended retail industry. From expanding product variety to reducing service requirements and opening doors to smaller locations, smart cooler technology is creating opportunities for both established operators and newcomers entering the market.
At the recent NAMA Show in Los Angeles, smart coolers were one of the most talked-about technologies on the show floor. Industry veteran Tom Vogt of AVS Companies believes the technology represents one of the most significant shifts the industry has seen in years.
“I think it is fundamentally changing the way we do business and the way our customers are doing business,” Vogt said. “It’s increasing sales, decreasing service, and giving operators the flexibility to sell products they typically couldn’t sell before.”
Expanding Opportunities for Operators
Historically, many operators faced difficult decisions when evaluating smaller accounts. Locations with 50 to 60 employees often fell into a gray area where traditional vending equipment could be difficult to justify economically.
Smart coolers are changing that equation.
Beyond providing additional product capacity, connected cooler technology gives operators access to real-time sales and inventory data, reducing unnecessary service visits and helping routes operate more efficiently. Operators can stock a wider range of products while maintaining visibility into exactly what is selling and when.
The result is a business model that allows operators to consider locations that may not have been viable with traditional vending equipment.
A Different Kind of Learning Curve
For new entrants to the industry, smart coolers are also lowering barriers to entry.
Traditional vending required operators to understand the mechanical aspects of equipment, including motors, bill validators, coin mechanisms, and other service-related components. While technical knowledge remains valuable, today’s smart retail technology simplifies many aspects of operation.
According to Vogt, this accessibility is helping attract a new generation of entrepreneurs to unattended retail.
“It’s a much simpler approach,” he said. “It affords new people the opportunity to get into the industry that probably couldn’t have in the past.”
The Value of Industry Experience
While equipment technology continues to evolve, one challenge remains unchanged: knowing how to build and operate a successful business.
For many operators, particularly those entering the market for the first time, questions often extend far beyond selecting equipment. Warehouse setup, route design, merchandising strategies, planograms, and inventory management can all impact long-term success.
One area where AVS Companies has differentiated itself is through its consultative approach. Many members of the company’s sales team have firsthand experience working as vending operators or owning businesses themselves.
That operational background allows conversations to go beyond equipment specifications and focus on real-world implementation.
“We become that consultative partner,” Vogt explained. “We can walk operators through how to set up their warehouse, how to set up the cooler, how to set up their trucks, and all those little details people don’t always think about.”
For new operators especially, access to practical guidance can help shorten the learning curve and avoid costly mistakes.
Growth Fueled by Smart Retail
The industry’s evolution is already creating success stories.
Vogt pointed to Roots Vending in the Chicago area as an example of a newer operator that has leveraged smart cooler technology to build momentum quickly. Working with support from AVS, the company has expanded its cooler deployments and experienced strong growth.
Stories like these are becoming increasingly common as operators explore new business models built around connected retail technology.
Service Still Matters
As unattended retail becomes more technology-driven, equipment support remains a critical factor in operator success.
Winning a location is only the first step. Maintaining uptime and quickly resolving issues can determine whether an account remains profitable over the long term.
AVS Companies operates from five locations across the United States and maintains dedicated service, parts, and customer support teams. New customers receive onboarding and training designed to familiarize them with both the equipment and the support resources available to them.
For operators investing in smart retail technology, access to knowledgeable support can be just as important as the equipment itself.
As smart coolers continue gaining traction across the industry, the conversation is shifting from simply purchasing equipment to building sustainable retail operations. In that environment, experience, training, and ongoing support may prove to be just as valuable as the technology driving the transformation.
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