Exhibitor News

Retail has spent decades optimising the shopfront, the checkout, and the supply chain. Yet automated retail has largely stood still. Vending machines and kiosks have remained transactional, static, and disconnected from the intelligence that now drives modern retail.

Refreshment Systems Ltd (RSL) is changing that with Vendsmart — an intelligent software platform that transforms automated retail from a passive dispensing unit into a fully connected, data-driven, commercially adaptive point of sale. Rather than making incremental upgrades to vending, Vendsmart redefines what an automated retail endpoint can be: personalised, compliant, always-on, and operationally intelligent.

This shift is being accelerated by changing customer behaviour. The widespread use of 24/7 parcel lockers and self-service collection has normalised secure access, digital verification, and autonomous collection without staff. Expectations have moved decisively towards convenience, immediacy, and reliability at any time of day — creating the ideal foundation for intelligent automated retail experiences.

Closing a critical gap in the market

Traditional POS systems and kiosks process transactions, but they do not adapt in real time. They rely on fixed product ranges, generic user journeys, and manual oversight. Even newer self-service solutions often struggle with compliance, meaningful personalisation, and actionable operational intelligence.

RSL developed Vendsmart to meet the requirements of modern automated retail from the ground up. The platform enables operators to:

• Personalise the customer journey in real time
• Enable compliant age-restricted sales without staff
• Deliver targeted digital marketing at the moment of purchase
• Operate autonomously at scale
• Generate live, decision-ready data

Redefining the customer experience

Vendsmart puts the customer at the centre of automated retail with dynamic, personalised engagement.

Personalised and compliant retail
Using age verification and demographic recognition, Vendsmart can control what each customer sees on screen. Products, messaging, and promotions adjust automatically to support relevance, legality, and trust.

24/7 access without compromise
Vendsmart enables around-the-clock access to products that have traditionally required staffed environments. Compliance is built into the platform, rather than added as an afterthought.

Discovery, sampling, and engagement
Vendsmart also acts as a live discovery channel where brands can introduce new products, test demand, and observe purchasing behaviour in real time — turning automated retail into an experience, not just a transaction.

Beyond snacks and drinks
Vendsmart-powered machines can support a broad range of retail categories, including merchandise, clothing, premium goods, samples, and non-traditional items, unlocking hybrid retail models and increasing revenue per square metre.

Marketing that acts at the moment of purchase

Vendsmart turns the point of sale into a point of influence through:

• Targeted digital advertising
• Personalised promotions
• Interactive content and video
• Context-aware upselling and cross-selling

Instead of static branding, retailers and brands can deliver relevant content to the customer standing in front of the machine — increasing engagement, extending dwell time, and improving conversion.

Creating retail where retail never existed

By removing staffing requirements and lowering infrastructure barriers, Vendsmart enables retail in locations previously considered unworkable. This supports flexible, data-driven placement strategies where retail becomes scalable, responsive to demand, and viable in new environments.

Transforming operations through intelligence

Vendsmart does not stop at the customer interface. It changes how automated retail is managed day to day.

Live data and telemetry
Operators access real-time sales performance, machine health, and product insights, enabling faster, smarter decisions.

Automated stock management
Telemetry-driven ordering based on demand reduces waste, prevents stockouts, and improves cash flow.

Uptime and reliability
Automated fault reporting identifies issues early, protects uptime, and safeguards revenue.

Seamless cashless payments
Integrated payment solutions improve security, simplify transactions, and strengthen data accuracy.

Measurable impact and lasting change

Vendsmart is already delivering improvements in customer experience, operational efficiency, and revenue generation — while providing a scalable platform that can adapt to regulatory requirements, consumer behaviour shifts, and emerging retail models.

By redefining automated retail as intelligent, personalised, and data-led, Refreshment Systems is setting a new benchmark for what self-service retail can achieve.

Enquiries
Email: info@refreshmentsystems.co.uk
Phone: 0800 169 3686