# Blog posts ## Note to Vending OEMs: Proprietary Software is Costing You Time, Money, and Sales URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/oems-and-proprietary-software ### Publish Date 2025-12-05T00:00-05:00 ### Content The vending industry's fastest-growing segments—fresh food, regulated products, smart lockers, and micro-markets—all require sophisticated software that goes far beyond basic sales tracking. If you're building your own software, you're splitting your focus and losing time. The Real Cost of Proprietary Systems Building software means maintaining engineers, handling payment compliance, managing cloud infrastructure, and updating security patches. That's expensive overhead that pulls resources from your actual expertise: building machines. When a prospect needs temperature monitoring for fresh food or RFID integration for tool cribs, you face two options: spend months on custom development or walk away from the deal. Meanwhile, dedicated software providers can deploy these features immediately because they're already serving similar use cases across multiple hardware brands. Proprietary software creates another problem: your customers get locked into a single roadmap. When they want to expand into new applications or integrate with systems you don't support, they can't. And increasingly, they're choosing not to buy from OEMs who limit their options. Open-Standard Software Changes the Game Here's what happens when you separate hardware from software: - You win more business by supporting features operators need today: compliance reporting, fresh food tracking, access control, and more. - You reduce your support burden. Software updates, security, and cloud infrastructure are handled by experts, so your team can focus on hardware. Stay ahead of the market. Your solution should meet operators where they’re headed, not where they’ve been. What to Look For Here’s what matters when you’re looking for open-standard, adaptable solutions: - True hardware agnosticism: The software solution should work with multiple OEMs, not just claim openness while favoring proprietary hardware. - Proven integrations: Payment processors, age verification, inventory management, and business intelligence integrations should already exist. - Cloud-native architecture: Legacy systems retrofitted with cloud features can't match the speed and security of solutions architectured for the cloud from the ground up. - Commercial flexibility: Your customers have different business models, vending should accommodate them. The Competitive Reality Software sells hardware. When operators choose between your machines and a competitor's, hardware specs matter less than comprehensive features, instantly accessible diagnostics, and reliable remote management. Consider how point-of-sale systems have shifted from vendor-locked hardware to flexible, cloud-based solutions—and unattended retail and vending are following suit. Making the Move You don't need to abandon existing customers or product lines. Continue supporting legacy systems while positioning new products as software-agnostic. Ensure your hardware meets open-standard specifications, establish clear partnership terms, and educate your sales team on the value proposition of flexible solutions. The Bottom Line You can invest heavily in software development to compete with specialized technology companies, or you can focus on hardware innovation while partnering with software vendors that serve the entire industry. The second approach offers faster market response, broader application support, lower development costs, and alignment with operator preferences. Applestone Solutions has seen the results firsthand. We've partnered with multiple OEMs and distributors who've discovered that working with us is more effective than building internally or buying rigid proprietary systems. Our partners respond to market changes faster, support more use cases, and win deals they'd otherwise lose—because we're singularly focused on solving software challenges and augmenting our partners’ capabilities. ### Excerpt If you're building your own software, you're splitting your focus and losing time. --- ## What We're Reading: Multi-Format Vending is Pulling Ahead URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/multi-format-roundup ### Publish Date 2026-07-21T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![image of a smart cooler, a refrigerator with a glass door and a payment device on the left side. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/1LNMTtD43VYDlQ4Af6HW5k/6a43a7ffebf63d91092417c06c7c80f4/generic-smart-fridge.png) ### Content Recent industry reporting tell us that successful operators aren't necessarily running the most machines. Instead, they're running the right mix of formats at a single account. Here's some reporting that's caught our eye: The old model is aging out.[ IBISWorld's latest read on U.S. vending operators](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/vending-machine-operators/1113/) sees the industry shrinking as customers lean on loyalty apps and retail coupons instead of the snack machine down the hall. Diversifying formats is beating diversifying products.[ Vending Market Watch](https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/micro-market/article/55126778/smart-market-technology-allows-vending-operator-to-offer-a-secure-packaged-micro-market-in-places-a-traditional-micro-market-doesnt-fit) spoke with Evan Jarecki of Gimme about smart coolers, the undeniable leading trend in automated retail. In his words, they "combine the best of markets and the best of vending."[ 365 Retail Markets' Ryan McWhirter](https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/micro-market/article/55126778/smart-market-technology-allows-vending-operator-to-offer-a-secure-packaged-micro-market-in-places-a-traditional-micro-market-doesnt-fit) made a similar point after Vend Italia, citing operator demand for "the perfect marriage of markets and vending." The revenue math backs it up.[ Nayax data cited by VMFS](https://vmfsusa.com/blogs/business/micro-markets-vs-vending-machines) shows micro markets outselling traditional vending by 65–70%.[ Seaga's write-up on its Three Square Market acquisition](https://seaga.com/seaga-manufacturing-acquires-three-square-market-to-expand-micromarket-innovation-and-strengthen-operator-technology-platforms/) puts the delta at 30–50%.[ Cantaloupe's 2025 Micropayment Trends Report](https://www.cantaloupe.com/resource-center/micropayment-trends-report-2025/) found consumers spent 53% more at micro markets, a category that crossed $1 billion in annual sales in a single year. Location, location, location![ VendSoft's](https://www.vendsoft.com/micro-markets-vs-traditional-vending-which-model-is-right-for-your-business/) points out that vending wins on speed while micro markets win on variety ("when the location can support it.")[ Vendon's 2026 trends piece](https://vendon.net/blog/vending-trends-2026-a-reality-check-for-vending-operators/) agrees from the other side, warning that one-size-fits-all product strategies are failing faster than before as top operators design around each site's dominant use case. Security determines the form factor.[ William Blair's research](https://www.williamblair.com/Insights/Overcoming-Theft-and-Shrinkage-in-Unattended-Retail-Operations),[ cited by VMFS](https://vmfsusa.com/blogs/business/micro-markets-vs-vending-machines), points out that theft has confined micro markets to secure workplace settings. That's why smart coolers and hybrid formats are a strong sell, since they bring market-level revenue into spaces an open-shelf market couldn't. The biggest operators are already on board.[ Coverage of the largest U.S. vending operators](https://zhongdasmart.com/Vending-Machine-News/708.html) notes that market leaders have moved past one snack machine and one soda machine per site — their top accounts now blend smart vending, micro markets, locker delivery, and specialty kiosks into one program. In short, merchants aren't choosing vending or a micro market or a smart cooler. The operators seeing the biggest lift treat each account as a portfolio, matching formats to foot traffic, security, and customer needs. --- ## Revenue Sharing Tools for Partners URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/revenue-sharing-tools ### Publish Date 2026-07-01T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![image of a smart cooler, a refrigerator with a glass door and a payment device on the left side. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/1LNMTtD43VYDlQ4Af6HW5k/6a43a7ffebf63d91092417c06c7c80f4/generic-smart-fridge.png) ### Content Lots of our clients place their own branded machines in third-party locations like farmer’s markets, lobbies, and even supermarkets. Usually this means a merchant will need to share a percentage of sales revenue with the partner location. While this is common in vending and unattended retail, managing it manually can quickly become time-consuming and difficult to track. That’s why Applestone has built flexible revenue sharing tools that let operators arrange splits by location, machine, or individual product, with automatic calculations and reporting built in. Both merchants and host locations receive regular reports on revenue splits, and our vending management system issues automatic invoices and maintains a complete audit trail. For operators managing multiple partnerships, this can save scores of hours a year in quarterly reporting and accounting. ### Excerpt Applestone has built flexible revenue sharing tools that let operators arrange splits by location, machine, or individual product, with automatic calculations and reporting built in. --- ## Touch Screens for Digital Marketing URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/digital-marketing-through-touch-screens ### Publish Date 2026-06-15T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![A vending machines with a picture of apples. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/36YiRkA8Xw7aShdCFtCsJR/548663487348bb4813f8b93b6b1da46f/zhilai-frozen-vending.png) ### Content When customers aren’t using them to buy products, touch screen vending machines double as digital marketing kiosks. Use them to: • Display full-screen video promotions • Run banner ads • Highlight featured products and bundles • Promote brand sponsors Applestone’s vending management system allows you to manage videos and images through built-in tools, or it can integrate with the ad management system you’re already using for digital signage. ### Excerpt When customers aren’t using them to buy products, touch screen vending machines double as digital marketing kiosks. --- ## Item-Level Tracking and Blocking Individual Item Sales URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/blocking-individual-item-sales ### Publish Date 2026-05-29T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![A screen shot of Applestone's administrative interface for blocking individual item sales.](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/2kac0NSmxHynwH4eL1aDA0/973b74f1fcd9556b300a73914c26e3a0/blocking-item-sale.jpeg) ### Content When you’re vending fresh food, the individual items you sell don’t always have the same weights, prices, or expiration dates (even if they are technically the same SKUs). We’ve spent years perfecting “item-level tracking” so you can sell individual items at their proper prices and manage their per-piece availability. This is especially important if you learn that you’ve mislabeled an item or if you’ve issued a recall on a batch of product. Just mark an item or group of items as “forbidden to sell,” and it instantly becomes unavailable to the customer. Key benefits: • Instantly block recalled or restricted products • “Remove” products fleet-wide without visiting machines • Block specific lots, load dates, or locations • Hide unavailable items from the customer while others remain available • Keep a full, auditable lock of blocked products and items You stay in control of product availability at the individual item level in real time. --- ## A Practical Guide to Launching an Automated Retail Channel URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/launching-an-automated-retail-channel ### Publish Date 2026-01-23T00:00-05:00 ### Featured Image ![A vending machines with a picture of apples. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/36YiRkA8Xw7aShdCFtCsJR/548663487348bb4813f8b93b6b1da46f/zhilai-frozen-vending.png) ### Content Smart lockers, large-screen vending kiosks, and smart fridges are growing more prominent as legitimate retail solutions in airports, hospitals, apartment complexes, office buildings, entertainment venues, and businesses of all sizes. At Applestone, we've helped retailers launch vending and automated retail channels for everything from perishable foods to regulated products, so we’d like to share a basic roadmap for anyone considering an automated sales channel. ##### Step 1: Define Your Product Mix What do you actually plan to sell? Start with a core assortment of 30-50 SKUs covering the products that best suit your environment and audience. (A hospital break room obviously requires a different product mix than, say, a high-end grocery store.) Interview customers about what they’d like to buy, especially before and after business hours. Garner customer feedback and consider traffic patterns. For specialized product mixes like perishable foods or regulated products, item-level tracking becomes critical. Solutions like Applestone’s can track price, expiration dates, and lot numbers for each unique item, ensuring compliance while minimizing waste. Most importantly, accept that you won’t get the product mix exactly right on the first try. This is okay – with the right software solution, you’ll have plenty of data to help you test, iterate, and improve. ##### Step 2: Choose the Right Machine Choose your vending machine, locker, or smart fridge based on the venue, your product mix, and your capacity to tend to the machine. If the location is further afield, consider a higher-capacity machine that requires less frequent refills. In residential buildings and gyms, you might want to add smart lockers that handle package delivery to complement walk-up-and-buy self-service. And, of course, know whether you need refrigerated, frozen, or ambient temperatures. Know your space constraints, electrical supply, and internet connectivity. A wired connection is always the best, and cellular routers are great for fallback and, for some situations, a perfectly good primary connection. If wi-fi is your only available connectivity type, it’ll probably take you a little more time to connect your hardware to the Internet. ##### Step 3: Choose Cloud-Based Management Software When evaluating software, prioritize remote inventory monitoring, dynamic pricing tools, telemetry, and alerts for malfunctions. Be sure your software solution includes easy-to-use reports and analytics to help you understand your purchasing patterns and inventory needs. The right cloud-based solution will weave individual machines into a data-driven retail network. Look for solutions that accept all payment types, allow customers to order products in advance, and allow you to offer discounts, coupons, and other promotions without requiring complicated tools or processes. ##### Step 4: Integrate with Your Existing Data Systems Automated retail data shouldn't exist in a silo. While integration complexity varies depending on your existing tech stack, cloud-first platforms built on open standards make it possible to connect with your point-of-sale, accounting software, loyalty programs, and business intelligence tools. More sophisticated integrations can enable your automated retail data to flow into analytics systems, informing decisions across all your channels and helping you treat automated retail as part of a unified strategy rather than an isolated experiment. ##### Step 5: Measure Success with the Right KPIs Track sales per machine, average transaction value, and inventory turnover rates (healthy automated retail sees turns every 7-14 days). Monitor customer engagement through transaction frequency and basket size, plus operational metrics like machine uptime and restocking efficiency. For retailers concerned about shrinkage, automated retail creates a record of who loaded the machine and when, and in many cases gives customers a much more pleasant purchase experience than waiting for store employees to unlock plastic cases. Most automated retail channels reach break-even within 6-12 months, particularly if you work to optimize your product mix and operational efficiency. ##### Final Thoughts: Software Built by Retailers, for Retailers We built our automated retail software because we used to run our own automated retail operation, and learned firsthand the real-world challenges of selling perishable goods, tracking inventory, and creating self-service experiences customers actually love. Be sure the automated retail software you choose (and we hope it’s ours!) is fun to use, quick to deploy, and easily customizable. You’re going to be using it every day, so you need to be comfortable with it. If you’re a forward-thinking retailer, the question isn't whether automated retail belongs in your channel strategy – it’s where you’ll deploy it first. We hope the above tips will help you get off to the right start. --- Note: This article originally appeared [on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/practical-guide-launching-automated-retail-channel-dq5ge/?trackingId=xig89OMgSQ%2BwiFe0yNnv4Q%3D%3D). ### Excerpt Smart lockers, large-screen vending kiosks, and smart fridges are growing more prominent as legitimate retail solutions in airports, hospitals, apartment complexes, office buildings, entertainment venues, and businesses of all sizes. --- ## Fresh Food Expiration Date Tracking: Our Approach URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/fresh-food-expiration-tracking ### Publish Date 2025-12-31T01:00-05:00 ### Featured Image ![image of a beef flank steak product with an interface that displays its price and expiration date](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/2YjH3upDRvvg1SUQUzcG2T/e9ce37eb563561979436c8a11ecbb14f/expiration-date.png) ### Content Most fresh food vending solutions take a crude approach to expiration date tracking (if they take any approach at all). Most vending operators need to come up with their own systems for fresh food expiration management, but because they can’t distinguish between individual items or access expiration data remotely, they still wind up tossing out a lot of product. Applestone takes a more precise, accessible approach, and allows operators to: - Set up alerts when products approach expiration, with notifications days in advance - Configure alert thresholds by product type, i.e. 7 days for slow-moving items, 2 days for fast sellers - Make sure customers can never purchase or even know an expired item is in inventory Thanks to Applestone’s open architecture and focus on third-party integration, our system can communicate precise, item-level expiration data back to your inventory management or route planning system. This helps you reduce wasted trips, wasted product, and wasted time. ### Excerpt Thanks to Applestone’s open architecture and focus on third-party integration, our system can communicate precise, item-level expiration data back to your inventory management or route planning system. --- ## Remote Vending Machine Monitoring URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/remote-vending-machine-monitoring ### Publish Date 2025-12-18T01:00-05:00 ### Featured Image ![bar chart showing machine uptime](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/42Oe4PHyldFoRsm4QnxkCB/2cc6443819d900e0ce12d037944ab060/telematics2.png) ### Content With Applestone’s vending management software, you can monitor your entire vending and locker fleet – whether it’s 10 units or 10,000 – with up-to-the second data and status updates. This includes information like: - Temperature readings - Online/offline status - Stock levels - Daily, weekly, and monthly sales - Expiring product reports - Issue diagnostics Remote monitoring eliminates unnecessary service calls and enables you to scale operations without proportionally increasing costs. Operators particularly appreciate that they can immediately receive an alert if the temperature spikes in a fresh food machine, preventing inventory loss and customer complaints. A vending management system with comprehensive remote management features helps merchants and operators work more efficiently, plan stocking routes more strategically, and address issues before they affect revenue. ### Excerpt A vending management system with comprehensive remote management features helps merchants and operators work more efficiently. --- ## True Item-Level Tracking URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/item-level-tracking ### Publish Date 2025-12-10T00:00-05:00 ### Featured Image ![Screen shot of a dashboard with a listing of products in inventory. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/6XEIzBKBx0C18xBLWTjTtw/d3f9cfe1c7d8c30b349d4232d239860e/inventory_by_product.png) ### Content Most vending management software thinks in two dimensions – it knows how many shelves a machine has and how many lanes are on each shelf (the X and Y axes, so to speak). This is fine for bulk loading and sales of uniform products. Applestone’s vending management system (VMS) is different. It thinks in three dimensions, so it knows the X, Y, and Z position of every item in a machine. This granular understanding of a machine’s capacity, and the unique information about each item in inventory, is unique to Applestone. Here's what that means: - Operators always know when a specific item was loaded, and by whom - Merchants can sell products with variable attributes like weight, price, and color → Regulated products can be traced back to their points of origin and lot numbers - Expiration date tracking on individual perishable items blocks expired items, and prioritizes dispensing of items closest to expiration - Business analysts have granular data for tax reporting, supply chain management, and kitting plan design With Applestone’s VMS, you see exactly which items are where—always. ### Excerpt Applestone's vending management software thinks in three dimensions. --- ## Applestone is a Registered ISV Partner with Zebra Technologies URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/applestone-zebra-technologies ### Publish Date 2025-10-02T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![Logo for the technology company Zebra. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/JEsdLXFVw2XGFuizuVciz/d4879b588bc30b9ba30600a4f002b209/Screenshot_2025-09-26_at_11.47.52â__AM.png) ### Content It's official! We're now a Registered ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Partner with [Zebra Technologies](https://www.zebra.com/us/en/partners/partner-application-locator/partner-details.html?id=001Kk000007N826IAC&viewType=nav ), the "the market leader in rugged mobile computing, barcode scanning, RFID readers, thermal printing and retail task management software." Talk to us about how you can add Applestone's vending solution and pickup locker solutions to your existing Zebra-powered infrastructure! ### Excerpt It's official! We're now a Registered ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Partner with Zebra Technologies. ### Author Applestone Solutions --- ## September 2025 Feature Updates URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/september-2025-feature-updates ### Publish Date 2025-09-15T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![A screen shot of an order summary screen on a vending machine kiosk. There are two products labeled "21+" to indicate that they are regulated. There is also a note at the bottom of the screen to remind the user that they need to have their ID ready. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/3IIuJVMAIQz0w2T76DVa1g/3625d1b4f92f6e3229053a12d3a2251f/september-update.png) ### Content ###### We've got some delightful feature updates and fixes for you, including: - Updated presentation and handling of regulated products: - Clearer labeling of regulated items - Customers can now buy regulated and unregulated products in the same order - Clearer explanations of when a customer will need to present their ID - Optional warning label text for product screens - Improvements to subscription and licensing management for operators and OEM's - Improvements to bulk product creation process - Bug fixes and stability improvements in the Kiosk, Loader App and Admin Console ### Excerpt - Major changes and new capabilities releated to branding, image and video management, and customer experience customization - Updates to the Loader App include bar code and QR code scanning options as well as remote inventory updates --- ## June 2025 Feature Updates URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/june-2025-feature-updates ### Publish Date 2025-06-24T00:00-04:00 ### Featured Image ![Image of an administrative console with a preview of a vending machine purchase interface. ](https://images.ctfassets.net/al01e4yh2wq4/8W8Hrc8fTXjnXKB9DRxZB/7dbd0b513bb32afe311b79856b3e905d/branding-ui-update.png) ### Content ###### Our latest software release has a few new features, fixes, and fun things worth mentioning. Highlights include: ###### Admin Console - Customer Experience (Formerly Visual Identity) Updates: - The "Visual Identity" section has been renamed to "Customer Experience." - The "Customer Experience" section is now organized into three tabs: Media Library, Branding & Look, and Shopping & Checkout Experience - Media Library lets you manage and store all your images and videos in one place - Branding & Look is where you set your basic visual elements like logos, button colors, and background colors - With Shopping & Checkout Experience settings, you can show only the screens you really need your customers to see. For example, if you’re not offering coupons, you can hide the coupon collection screen. If you want to create an express checkout experience, you can have customers jump right from product selection to checkout. - Instantly preview your branding and customer experience changes - New loader app settings in the Admin Consol include: - Adjustable expiration periods for perishable products. - Added options to load products via QR code or bar code scanning - “Force Loading” is now an option, allowing you to stock products remotely even if a machine is not connected.. (Note: Not recommended for typical operations.) ###### General - Bug fixes and stability improvements in the Kiosk, Loader App and Admin Console ### Excerpt - Major changes and new capabilities releated to branding, image and video management, and customer experience customization - Updates to the Loader App include bar code and QR code scanning options as well as remote inventory updates --- ## June 2024 Feature Updates URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/june-2024-feature-updates ### Publish Date 2024-06-01T00:00-04:00 ### Content ###### Our latest software release has a few new features, fixes, and fun things worth mentioning. Highlights include: ###### Admin Console - Expiring inventory alerts tell you what products are about to expire - Added a color picker for visual identity custom colors - Added a new text editor for product guides and cooking tips - Added new administrator data collection tools to the alarms page ###### Kiosk - Added a clearer illustration of payment device location during checkout process - Bundles appear more clearly on customer receipts - Category button colors are now customizable - You can now create promotional banners for bundles - Customer-facing messages are now clearer and more friendly when machines are offline ###### General - Bug fixes and stability improvements in the Kiosk, Loader App and Admin Console ### Excerpt - Expiring inventory alerts tell you what products are about to expire - Added a color picker for visual identity custom colors - Added a new text editor for product guides and cooking tips  - And more! --- ## April 2024 Feature Updates URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/april-2024-feature-updates ### Publish Date 2024-04-01T00:00-04:00 ### Content ###### Our latest software release has a few new features, fixes, and fun things worth mentioning. Highlights include: ###### Admin Console: - ###### We updated machine uptime reports with easier-to-read graphs - ###### We added placeholder images to bundles to make them easier to create - ###### Added instant previews of e-mail templates for alerts and notifications - ###### Added a “Low Turnover” alert to let you know when products are not selling - ###### Added time stamp to transaction records in tax reports - ###### Reorganized alerts signups to make them easier to read - ###### Admin Console looks better on smartphones! - ###### Various bug fixes and usability improvements! ###### Kiosk: - ###### Customers can now receive notification e-mails when out-of-stock products are back in stock - ###### Introduced a new product screen layout for products with more than three variations ### Excerpt - Added a “Low Turnover” alert to let you know when products are not selling - Added time stamp to transaction records in tax reports - Reorganized alerts signups to make them easier to read - And more! --- ## February 2024 Feature Updates URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/february-2024-feature-updates ### Publish Date 2024-02-09T00:00-04:00 ### Content ###### February 9, 2024 ###### Our latest software release has a few new features, fixes, and fun things worth mentioning. Highlights include: ###### Admin Console: - ###### New Special Product Variations allow customers to buy products with specifications like color, size, and weight ranges - ###### New offline status alerts allow for faster reporting of connectivity problems or other issues - ###### Re-organized navigation menu gives quicker access to the features you use the most - ###### A redesigned Machines information page gives quicker access to diagnostic data - ###### Default values in certain reports give quicker access to recent data ###### Loader App: - ###### New functions allow for loading of products with Special Product Variations - ###### A new search bar makes it easier and faster to select a product from a long list - ###### A revised tool tip better illustrates shelves, lanes, and positions ###### General: - ###### Other minor interface improvements - ###### Bug fixes - ###### Speed and stability improvements ### Excerpt New Special Product Variations allow customers to buy products with specifications like color, size, and weight ranges...and more! --- ## New Software for OEMs URL: https://applestonesolutions.com/blog/new-oem-software ### Publish Date 2025-01-01T00:00-04:00 ### Content We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve just released a major software update geared toward OEMs. The full text of our press release is below. Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more! Applestone Solutions Releases New Vending Software for OEMs Automated Retail Solution Offers Unprecedented Flexibility and Unique FeaturesStone Ridge, NY - November 1, 2024 - Applestone Solutions, a leader in innovative vending machine software, today announced an update to its specialty retail solution designed specifically for vending technology Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Applestone’s cloud-based solution is compatible with machines running Android, Linux, or Microsoft Windows. “Software sells hardware,” said Joshua Applestone, CEO of Applestone Solutions. “OEMs who work with our software solution can cover more retail categories, accommodate more product types, and focus on what they do best — selling great vending hardware — while we help them meet evolving customer needs through constant software innovation. OEM distributors, resellers, solution seller partners, and VARs make substantial revenue when they sell more advanced software with OEM hardware.” Key Features: - Universal Compatibility: Operates on any vending machine running Android, Linux, or Microsoft Windows, eliminating the need for any proprietary hardware; - Item-Level Tracking: Up-to-the-second awareness of sales data and inventory changes; - Pricing Variations: Weights, colors, sizes, expiration dates, and custom details; - Multiple Network Connectivity Modes:  - Disconnected: Operates in challenging environments where connectivity is not guaranteed - Cloud-connected: Unlocks premium features including real-time inventory updates, instant sales reporting, and visual customization via an intuitive content management system “Operators and retailers want to vend everything from perishable food to electronics to regulated products, and they should be able to use exactly the right hardware for their needs," said Greg Kelleher, CTO of Applestone. "Our software solution is open and adaptable. We've geared our latest release specifically to OEMs, making our offering different from what you see from our competitors, who are typically restricted to specific hardware.” Applestone Solutions' software represents a significant leap forward in vending technology, enabling OEMs to focus on hardware innovation while leveraging unique, expansive software capabilities. The advanced item-level tracking feature is particularly valuable for retailers managing perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, or products requiring precise inventory control. OEMs offering Applestone's open-standards solution benefit from: - Tested and proven software - Reduced internal software development costs - Satisfied customers in North America and Europe - Rapid innovation that drives revenue for OEM partners OEMs interested in shipping this solution are invited to contact Applestone Solutions for partnership opportunities and technical specifications.For inquiries in the USA and globally, please contact: +1 (845) 389-2680 or [hello@applestonesolutions.com](mailto:hello@applestonesolutions.com) ### Excerpt We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve just released a major software update geared toward OEMs. The full text of our press release is below. Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more!