Could the beverage vending machine of the future be a smart, minimal one stripped entirely of product displays and decorations?
To explore this possibility, DyDo DRINCO has installed a vending machine called “HAKU” in Phase 1 of Toyota’s large-scale experimental city, “Woven City,” located in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. The first stage of testing began on September 25.
“HAKU” is a standard vending machine standing 183 centimeters tall. Its minimalist design, based on white tones and featuring a display that shows product samples while eliminating buttons and coin slots, enables it to blend naturally into any space or environment — its most distinctive feature.
Yoshihiro Komon, Assistant Manager of the Vending Machine Sales Planning Department’s Equipment Development Group, who responded to interviews that day, said, “Think of it as a pure white canvas. Even if it’s placed at a company’s reception area, it won’t be obtrusive, and by applying original designs, it can also serve for corporate PR or advertising.”
By projecting images or video onto the display area, the machine can be customized to match the atmosphere of its surroundings.
The proof-of-concept experiments aim to find out whether people recognize it as a vending machine, among other aspects.
“It would be meaningless if fewer people use it than a conventional vending machine. We’ll see whether usage increases when digital-native users interact with it. Even if it loses the traditional look of a vending machine, we want to confirm whether it’s still used as one,” he explained.
Users purchase items through digital devices such as smartphones.
“When the QR code is scanned with a smartphone, all products inside the vending machine are displayed on the phone. From there, users can select a product and proceed to payment on their phone, enabling a seamless and stress-free purchasing experience,” he said.
