Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on how Smart Market works: what it costs (nothing to your site), who stocks it (we do), whether there is a contract (there is not), and what your site needs.
The commercial side
What's the catch?
There isn't one. We earn from product sales, so the machine, install, stocking and maintenance cost you nothing. You provide the space and we do the rest.
Is there a contract or lock-in?
No. If Smart Market isn't working for your site, we take the machine away.
How are prices set?
Shelf prices are benchmarked against convenience store pricing, with nothing added at the terminal.
Can we sponsor or subsidise it for our people?
Yes. Some sites cover part or all of the cost as an amenity. Entirely optional.
Can you install across multiple sites?
Yes. We run a network of machines across Melbourne and can roll out to multiple locations under one arrangement, with consistent ranges and pricing.
The site
How many people do we need on site?
Around 70 or more on a typical day, counting staff, members, residents or visitors depending on the setting. It works best where there is nothing convenient to eat or drink close by.
How much space does it need?
Machines come in a range of sizes and formats, including chilled and ambient units. Get in touch and we will work out which one suits your space.
Where should it go?
Somewhere people already stop: a break room entrance, a cafeteria exit, a lift lobby, a reception or waiting area, a shift-change route. Not a busy corridor where nobody pauses, and never blocking a safety route. We work this out on the site visit.
What sort of sites do you install in?
Offices, warehouses, factories, depots, recreation and leisure centres, gyms, healthcare facilities, education campuses, community and council facilities, apartment buildings and hotels.
How long does installation take?
Usually two to three weeks from the first conversation to a stocked, working machine. The install itself takes a morning.
We already have a vending machine. Can you replace it?
Yes. Most of our installs replace an existing machine, and we handle the swap and the removal.
Do you cover all of Melbourne?
Metro Melbourne, including the western, northern and south-eastern industrial corridors.
Running it
Who restocks and cleans it?
We do, on a regular schedule, with stock monitored remotely so shelves are refilled before they run empty.
Can we choose what goes in it?
Yes. We build the range with you, then review it after around sixty days based on what your people actually bought.
What happens if it breaks?
Machine health is monitored remotely, so we usually know before you do. There are far fewer moving parts than in a coil machine, so breakdowns are rare, and repairs are on us.
Do your machines jam?
No. Product is taken off a shelf by hand rather than dropped off a spiral, so there is nothing to get stuck.
The technology
How does it work?
Tap any bank card or phone wallet to unlock the door. Take what you want. Close the door. Cameras and weight sensors work out what left the shelf and you are charged for exactly that. No app, no sign-up, no codes.
What if I change my mind?
Put it back before you close the door and you are not charged for it.
Does it take cash?
No. It is cashless, which is what allows the tap-and-go entry. It also means no coins to lose and no cash on site.
Is it secure?
The door stays locked until a valid card is tapped, so it cannot be opened anonymously. Every item taken is recorded against that transaction.
How is it different to a normal vending machine?
No coils, so nothing jams and nothing drops. No coin mechanism, so no lost change. Far fewer moving parts, so far fewer breakdowns. It is refrigerated, so it can hold real meals and fresh product. And the whole range sits on shelves at eye level, so people can read a label and put things back.