NAMA 2026 in Los Angeles Has there ever been a more exciting time to be in the convenience services industry? Take a look at the education schedule for NAMA 2026 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, April 22-24. The capabilities introduced by AI and related technologies have unleashed extensive possibilities for delivering white glove quality service in an… Read More »
Trade Show Report It’s never a dull moment in the amusement business, but last week’s Amusement Expo International show in Las Vegas pushed the industry’s excitement into a higher gear. Attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center indulged in a barrage of gamification innovations – personalization technologies such as immersive reality, AI holograms and avatars – that augment… Read More »
What Was Notable at HIMSS 2026 No one questions the importance of healthcare (here is our Hub for healthcare fyi). Sooner or later, it becomes everyone’s primary concern. The automation explosion that is changing human activities by the day is transforming healthcare in more ways than many people recognize. Those who attended last week’s HIMSS 2026 Las Vegas… Read More »
Automated Vending News As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the self-service and unattended retail industry is fixated on one date: June 15, 2026. This is the “End Date” for the $848 million acquisition of Cantaloupe by 365 Retail Markets. While the parties initially aimed for a 2025 close, the FTC’s “Second Request” issued in late… Read More »
ATM Geeks addresses the rising demand for servicing cash handling equipment. As payment technology continues to evolve, consumers now have more ways than ever to pay for goods and services. While digital and contactless payments are expanding, automated teller machines (ATMs), first introduced in the 1960s, remain a vital component of the global payments ecosystem. Nick Mehdi, founder… Read More »
Photo provided by the National Retail Federation. NRF Big Show 2026 Report One would be guilty of hyperbole to say that the NRF Big Show in New York City has become the largest self-service technology show in the world. But a veteran attendee can certainly say the number of unattended service exhibits has surged every year, driven by… Read More »
Photo provided by the Consumer Technology Association. Tech Report from Las Vegas Everyone knows AI is changing the way we live. What became obvious walking the CES show this week is that everything from making the morning coffee to using the toilet to knowing the best route to get to wherever you’re going when you leave the house… Read More »
Photo provided by the Consumer Technology Association. CES 2026 to highlight booming tech investment, announces record innovation awards Economic uncertainty hangs across much of the globe, but technology remains on the march. AI spending will continue to rise in 2026, with 68% of CEOs increasing investment, according to Teneo, the CEO advisory firm. Next week’s CES show in Las… Read More »
Costco Versus Walmart Versus Amazon? Insight — China is becoming the proving ground for three very different retail futures. Costco is betting on controlled physical expansion plus digital pull, using a small but premium warehouse footprint to anchor membership loyalty while evolving toward app-driven engagement and localized supply chains. It’s disciplined, brand-centric growth aimed at long-term density rather… Read More »
Service and Vending Much has been reported about new capabilities of self service equipment thanks to technology, but when it comes to vending, one maxim has never changed since the time Hero of Tesibus is believed to have invented a coin-operated machine to dispense sacrificial water in ancient Egypt: Service makes the difference. In vending industry parlance, “service”… Read More »
