Brand Preference Analysis

Wireless transmission of data, if done cost-effectively, would enable the Antares operator to solve a whole host of problems that can occur. If every machine were equipped with an automatic transmitting device, dynamic scheduling would become a reality, and that means that you would know instantly when a machine was out of order. However, real time transmission of data is not necessary for Antares operators and suppliers to reap all of the benefits from recording and reporting brand preference analysis, by individual machine.

Sales data not needed in ‘real time’

Individual consumer brand preferences simply do not change very quickly. Brand preference data which is harvested from the machine by a handheld computer when the machine is being filled, and later downloaded into a host computer when the driver returns, is just as valuable as it would be transmitted in ‘real time.’

Brand analysis saves one trip

With this system, the driver will not have to make two trips to the machine. One trip would have been to check the inventory, and then the other would have been to go back to the truck to pick the order, and then return to the machine to fill it. You should be able to do brand analysis for your Antares business to save one trip for your driver.

Systems increase sales and profits

A remote data transmission system will increase sales in you Antares vending business. This of course would be based upon improving the product mix at each location. In addition each driver will now be able to service more machines. The operator should show lower operating costs based upon improved route productivity, and lower office costs, based upon no data entry costs.

Finally, there is another opportunity to improve profits. Although the primary goal in brand preference analysis by machine is to increase sales, there will be many situations where astute operators will notice a product that is only yielding one or two sales per week in a particular machine.

In such a case the operator usually has two choices. He can either substitute a different product, or he can choose to add another column of the best selling product in the machine with the hope that he can extend the interval between services for another day or two.