IoT Technology to Link Tobacco Vending Machines through Partnership between SECO and BDTA
The tobacco vending machine sector is set for a significant leap forward, as SECO and the BDTA (Federal Association of Tobacco Wholesalers and Vending Machine Operators in Germany) have extended their partnership for another 11 years. This collaboration focuses on advancing remote management and monitoring through innovative telemetry and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
The partnership between SECO and BDTA has resulted in the development of telemetry systems that enable real-time data collection from vending machines. This technology empowers operators to monitor machine status, sales data, stock levels, and operational conditions remotely and efficiently.
Leveraging telemetry data, the collaboration has facilitated proactive remote maintenance capabilities. This minimises machine downtime by detecting potential faults early and enabling technicians to address issues without the need for onsite visits, thereby reducing costs and improving service quality.
The collaboration provides continuous remote monitoring services for vending machines, including security surveillance, compliance checks (such as age verification compliance), and operational performance monitoring. This ensures machines operate within regulatory frameworks while optimising uptime and customer satisfaction.
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT, SECO and BDTA have created smart vending machine ecosystems. AI algorithms analyse telemetry data to predict maintenance needs, optimise stock replenishment, and enhance fraud detection. IoT connectivity ensures seamless communication between vending machines and central management systems, enabling automated, data-driven decisions.
Over the next decade, this partnership aims to digitise and modernise tobacco vending machine operations, aligning with evolving market and regulatory demands. The collaboration exemplifies how IoT and AI can transform traditional vending sectors through improved efficiency, compliance, and user experience.
Stefano Baggio, the managing director of SECO Northern Europe, expressed his delight at the extended partnership between SECO and BDTA. He looks forward to continuing and deepening the collaboration in the upcoming months and years. The agreement between SECO and BDTA extends their existing long-term cooperation, which includes a framework agreement on hardware supply.
SECO is committed to providing innovative vending machine solutions and ensuring long-term operational continuity as part of the extended partnership. The collaboration will connect over 200,000 devices in the tobacco vending machine sector. SECO will not only deliver the described functionalities but also operate and maintain the corresponding servers on behalf of customers.
The benefits of this partnership include improving process efficiency, reducing operating costs, optimising machine performance, and enhancing customer experience through integrated solutions. The integrated age verification feature promotes faster, optimised sales processes, customer loyalty, and repeat purchases.
SECO's AI and IoT-driven vending solution, Clea Vend, will be implemented, allowing the upgrading of traditional vending machines with IoT technologies, edge computing, and big data analytics. The solution will unlock new opportunities for operational efficiency and smarter management, positioning SECO as a leader in telemetry solutions for the tobacco vending machine sector.
Technology plays a crucial role in the partnership between SECO and BDTA, as they have developed advanced telemetry systems and integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT to create smart vending machine ecosystems. This technology, used in over 200,000 devices, empowers remote machine management, predictive maintenance, and optimized operational performance, ultimately enhancing efficiency and customer experience.
