Installing a vending machine in your business or office can have multiple benefits, from the convenience of having refreshments available onsite to promoting a positive workplace culture and adding extra revenue streams to your business. The location and business type you place your vending machine in plays a large role in its usage and can mean great potential for generating extra revenue.
On average, research has shown that vending machines can make as much revenue as £350 per month in the UK. As a result, it’s more important than ever to ensure you’re upkeeping your workplace machine and maintaining your equipment regularly.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how regular vending machine maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your equipment, covering the importance of maintaining cleanliness and how maintaining your machine can improve the user experience whilst saving you money in the long run.
How to prolong your vending machine’s longevity and lifetime
The average lifespan of a vending machine can be anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Regular maintenance plays a significant role in determining the longevity of your machine. By performing consistent maintenance, you can mitigate the risk of future mechanical issues and ensure optimal operational performance and efficiency.
What is the maintenance of a vending machine?
There are many ways to ensure your vending machine is regularly maintained and serviced. Firstly, keeping your machine stocked up regularly with refreshments, ensures the people using it have a great user experience with the ability to choose from a large selection of refreshments. Here at Vending Sense, we offer a vending machine restocking service to ensure your machines are always fulfilled with refreshments. Find out more about our fully managed office vending machine service with maintenance.
We also recommend carrying out a yearly vending machine servicing with your vending provider to ensure it’s in tip-top conditions. Some providers may have a vending machine maintenance cost included within the lease contract, whilst others may charge this additionally on an ad-hoc basis.
How often should you clean a vending machine?
Whether you’re operating a coffee vending machine or a snack vending machine, it’s important to ensure that you clean it regularly to improve the overall operational efficiency. At Vending Sense, we strongly advise implementing a daily vending machine cleaning schedule for both internal and external components, such as drip tray maintenance, milk pipe cleaning, and wiping down the vending machine exterior. Additionally, it’s essential to conduct a thorough cleaning on a weekly basis to descale your machine if necessary. Read more on the importance of keeping your commercial coffee machine clean in our article.
Adhering to UK Food Safety Regulations: Cleaning Guidelines for Food Vending Machines
When it comes to cleaning vending machines that store food, it’s imperative to adhere to specific vending machine regulations within the UK to uphold food safety and hygiene standards. According to Croner-I, vending machines are subject to the same regulations that govern the broader food industry, ensuring they are maintained to a standard fit for consumption. This underscores the crucial role of staff in regular cleaning, waste removal, and restocking of food vending machines.
Similarly to a coffee vending machine, we recommend daily maintenance for food vending machines, coupled with weekly deep cleaning sessions. These measures are essential to preserve the quality and reliability of the machine, ensuring it operates at its best and provides safe, high-quality food for consumers.
At Vending Sense, we pride ourselves in working in conjunction with Natasha’s Law to ensure all the refreshments we provide are properly labelled and third-party allergy tested.
The multiple benefits of well-maintained vending machines
Maintaining your vending machine yields substantial benefits, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for your team and visitors. A pristine vending machine not only offers a delightful refreshment experience but also contributes to the aesthetic appeal of your workspace.
Regular vending machine upkeep translates into cost savings for your business by preventing downtime and minimising engineer callouts. Whilst preventing breakdowns such as blockages within the machine, cleaning your machine can also decrease the risk of usage faults.
Although maintaining your machine can be seen as quite the chore, investing regular cleaning and care is a huge investment that will save your business money in the long run. Routine maintenance significantly reduces the likelihood of breakdowns, such as frustrating blockages within the machine, and decreases the risk of operational faults.
The benefits:
- Enhanced team and visitor refreshment experience
- Improved workspace aesthetics
- Cost avoidance from reduced downtime and engineer callouts
- Minimized risk of machine breakdowns and usage faults
- Long-term cost savings and business efficiency
- Boosted user experience leading to increased sales and revenue
Whilst the importance of vending machine maintenance can significantly impact your business, promoting longevity and machine efficiency, it’s just as valuable to choose a reputable vending provider. Your business is not only investing in a machine, but also in a trustworthy partner. Look for providers with skilled professionals and trained technical.