A coffee machine placed in the right location, stocked and ready, should perform. But sometimes… it doesn’t. People pass by. Usage stays low. And operators are left asking:
Is the machine the problem—or the location?
Is the brand unfamiliar—or are people just unsure?
Instead of guessing, one global beverage company decided to build a tool that could give them answers—and deliver results.
They didn’t change the machine. They didn’t run a discount.
They used Vendon’s API to build a fully contactless trial.
Here’s what they did—and what other operators can learn from it.
When a machine needs more than a discount
The company had launched its bean-to-cup coffee offering in high-footfall environments: shopping malls, hospitals, offices, hotels, and supermarkets.
Everything was in place—machines were working, coffee quality was high—but usage lagged. They didn’t need a technical fix. They needed a way to get people to try the coffee in the first place.
And they needed something scalable—no extra staff, no paper coupons, no app downloads.
The idea: Let the coffee prove itself
The solution was simple for the end user:
Scan a QR code placed near the machine
Enter your phone number
Receive a message (WhatsApp or SMS)
Instantly redeem a free coffee
The drink was dispensed automatically. No interaction with the machine required. No operator involvement either.
But behind the scenes, the entire experience ran on Vendon’s API.
What Vendon API enabled
The API was the invisible engine making the campaign work. It:
Validated each redemption instantly
Triggered drink dispensing in real time
Generated unique QR codes per machine
Logged usage data across every site
Collected first-party contact info (with consent)
Because the API is well-documented and built for real-world use, the client’s developers built and deployed the entire solution in-house—fast, without any machine changes.
Did you know? Vendon is known for its clear, well-structured API documentation, which makes integration fast and straightforward.
The result: More cups, better decisions
This wasn’t just about giving away coffee. It was a working business tool—and it delivered:
A 7% monthly redemption rate
Increased usage in existing sites
Smaller sales dips during off-peak periods
New partnership deals, with the campaign included in sales proposals
A way to test low-performing machines and decide which locations were worth keeping
Operators didn’t need to do anything. The trial ran in the background, and the machine told the story.
What else is possible with the same API?
Once the system was in place, new use cases became easy to launch:
Birthday-based rewards to build loyalty
“Send a coffee to a friend” referral campaigns
Instant feedback surveys at the machine
Reimbursements for failed paid transactions
All of it using the same API infrastructure—no machine changes required.
With Vendon API, the tools are already there.
API-driven campaigns might sound complicated. But this one wasn’t.
And you don’t need a team of developers or a big brand budget to try it.
With Vendon API, the tools are already there.
You just need an idea.
Want to test something similar?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you bring it to life.
