Intel has built a vending gateway based on its Internet of Things (IoT) platform.
The Intel IoT Retail Gateway Reference Design for Intelligent Vending integrates ‘pre-validated building blocks to facilitate the integration of several compute workloads.’
These features include vending machine controllers, touch screen telemetry, digital advertising, payment and transaction management. The solution also offers simplified integration with back office applications.
Based on the Intel Atom processor E3815 system-on-chip, the gateway includes the Intel IoT Gateway software stack. The compute board uses the Intel Reference Design for Digital Signage. The solution is available through members of Intel Internet of Things Solution Alliance, including Advantech, Gigabyte and Jabil.
Intel has worked with N&W Global Vending to produce the first prototype of a vending machine using the technologies. The company also revealed the availability of the Intel® SSD DC S3510 Series to meet demands for data stores in the data centre.
The release aims to address the IoT requirements for vending, with global shipments of intelligent vending machines set to hit around 2 million units by 2016, according to Frost and Sullivan.
"By consolidating multiple workloads onto a single vending platform, manufacturers can free up time to focus on meeting the increasing expectations of today’s tech-savvy consumers," said Jose Avalos, worldwide director of visual retail at Intel.
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Avalos added: "For example, customers can integrate new natural user interfaces, social media capabilities, loyalty programs and nutritional information – all of which will have a positive impact on the consumer’s vending experience."
