Coges and D8 have been working hand-in-hand to push the boundaries of vending payment systems for over 20 years. During that time, what started as a simple integration of key-based payments alongside cash has grown into something much more sophisticated. Thanks to Coges’ solutions and in particular their Engine Connect IoT device, D8 now boasts a fully integrated payment and telemetry system.
‘Managing our vending machines was tough before we embraced telemetry.’
Bertrand Korwin, Back Office Manager at D8, was happy to share his ‘before-and-after’ experiences: ‘Managing our vending machines was tough before we embraced telemetry,’ he said. ‘The pandemic hit us hard, and with raw material costs rising, it became obvious we needed to be more agile. Telemetry was a game-changer. It let us roll out pricing campaigns quickly and efficiently, without all the logistical headaches incumbent in needing technicians on-site. Now, with just a click, we can tweak prices on our machines remotely.
‘In just two years, we’ve upgraded over half our fleet with telemetry and connected everything to our ERP’, Bertrand said. ‘This gives us real-time visibility into sales, helping us better understand what our customers want. Plus, we can spot technical issues before they become problems by monitoring Engine performance remotely, which means we can support our technicians better, cut down on intervention times, and avoid unnecessary trips.
‘The Nebular management program has been a lifesaver too—its simplicity and clarity make it easy for new team members to get up to speed quickly, while helping us stay on top of everything across our machine park.’
‘Working with Coges has completely changed how we think about monitoring and maintaining our machines.’
It’s a genuine example of collaboration as the source of improved innovation and efficiency, as Benjamin Pradolin, Head of Payment Solutions at D8, explained. ‘Working with Coges has completely changed how we think about monitoring and maintaining our machines’, he said. ‘We can now keep an eye on each system remotely, which is a huge step forward for our payment services. With over-the-air updates, we can roll out the latest Coges software across our entire fleet in just a few hours. Manual updates have become a thing of the past, which saves us so much time.’
Being able to manage everything from one place—whether it’s issuing free credits, blacklisting, or setting operating hours—has made D8 much more efficient. ‘A few years ago, this would’ve sounded like science fiction’ Benjamin says, ‘but today, it’s our everyday reality, and it’s turned our support team into a proactive, strategic asset.’
Bertrand again: ‘Our partnership with Coges has been a journey. We’ve watched their products evolve from simple key readers to sophisticated payment and telemetry solutions. They’ve supported us every step of the way, by helping us to transition smoothly from key-based payments to apps, to credit cards, and now to telemetry. We couldn’t have made those leaps without Coges’ solid technical support.’
‘Over time, the Engine has become more than just a payment system – it’s the brain behind our vending machines.’
D8 has also enjoyed some pleasant surprises along the way, in the form of unexpected benefits and synergies. ‘Over time, the Engine has become more than just a payment system—it’s the brain behind our vending machines’, Bertrand says. ‘It helps us meet customer expectations, manage inventory smartly; anticipate stock shortages and constantly monitor the technical health of our machines.
‘The technology also provided a boost for our internal operations. Our sales team can adapt strategies to match market trends and our technical team can keep abreast of system performance and issues. With real-time inventory management, our operations team can launch super-targeted pricing campaigns that respond to customer needs in the moment.’
Benjamin again: ‘The potential is huge. We’re now looking forward to integrating Coges’ cloud platform even more closely with our ERP system. Imagine a world in which operators only head out when the Coges platform sends an alert and technicians are automatically dispatched when a fault is detected. That’s the future we’re aiming for, and it is now within our reach.’
Looking ahead, D8’s partnership with Coges is opening up exciting possibilities. ‘We’re gearing up for even more automation to keep things running smoothly and make sure our customers always have the best experience’, Benjamin says, ‘and side by side with Coges by, we’re ready to tackle whatever the future brings.’
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