Azkoyen develops contactless Distance Selection Technology for vending

Azkoyen Group has developed and patented a new contactless solution which allows consumers to choose products from coffee or vending machines without touching a screen or pressing buttons.

According to Azkoyen Group – which owns the Azkoyen and Coffetek firms, as well as several payment technology companies – the newly-developed ‘Distance Selection Technology’ allows consumers to select products from a distance of 2cm, adding safety and hygiene to the purchasing process.

Consumer concern about the safety and hygiene of vending and coffee machines has been elevated by the Covid-19 pandemic, as mechanical push-buttons or touch-screen panels on these machines can be a transmission point for bacteria if they are not adequately cleaned or disinfected.

Azkoyen said in a statement that the introduction of contactless and remote solutions “will improve consumer confidence in the use of vending machines, ideal for work and hospitality environments.

“Changing the way we relate to the devices around us, such as vending machines, has become an indispensable step towards significantly reducing the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses such as Covid-19, which will be reflected in improved health for users.”

Azkoyen has not revealed precisely how the technology functions, but FoodBev has reached out to the company for further information.