The vending machine industry has experienced unprecedented growth and innovation in recent years. According to Market Research Reports, the global vending machine market size is projected to reach $22.69 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $29.2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.18% during the forecast period (2025-2030). This rapid expansion reflects modern consumers’ increasing demand for convenience, instant access, and self-service experiences.
With technological advancements and market segmentation, modern vending machines have evolved far beyond simply selling snacks and beverages. They have become highly specialized solutions capable of precisely meeting the unique needs of different industries, scenarios, and user groups. So, how do various types of vending machines address the specific challenges of different locations and industries? This is the core question this article will explore.
This article will systematically analyze several mainstream types of vending machines, including but not limited to: snack and beverage vending machines for offices, healthy food vending machines for universities and gyms, pharmacy vending machines for hospitals, tool vending machines for industrial sites, ticket vending machines for transit hubs, and customized specialty vending machines for events and the hospitality industry. By understanding these specialized solutions, business owners and facility managers can make more informed purchasing decisions to enhance operational efficiency, optimize user experience, and increase revenue.
What Are the Different Types of Vending Machines?
The primary types of vending machines are:
airport vending machines
office vending machines
snack vending machines
beverage vending machines
food vending machines
healthy food vending machines
ppe vending machines
industrial vending machines
pharmacy vending machine
hotel vending machines
tool vending machines
gym vending machines
hospital vending machines
medical vending machine
specialty vending machines
event vending machines
university vending machines
Different Types of Vending Machines and Their Scenario-Based Solutions
1. Ticket and Cashless Payment Vending Machines for Transit Hubs
At busy transit hubs like train stations, subway stations, and airports, traditional ticket counters often lead to long queues and poor passenger experiences. Modern ticket vending machines significantly improve ticketing efficiency by supporting both cash and cashless payments.
Key features of airport vending machines include:
●Intuitive multilingual user interfaces
●High-speed ticket processing and printing
●Real-time connections to central ticketing systems
●Remote monitoring and management capabilities
For transit operators, deploying Ticket Vending Machines(Cash Payment) and Ticket Vending Machine (Non-Cash) optimizes passenger flow, reduces operational costs, increases ticket revenue, and collects valuable passenger behavior data. In major cities like Tokyo, over 70% of subway ticketing is completed through vending machines.
2. Snack and Beverage Vending Machines for Office Spaces
In today’s fast-paced office environments, employees often need quick access to energy-boosting snacks and drinks to maintain productivity. Snack vending machines and beverage vending machines, specifically designed for office spaces, have become essential tools for improving workplace satisfaction and efficiency.
Key features of these vending machines include:
A diverse selection of snacks and hot/cold beverage options
Support for multiple payment methods, including contactless payments
Remote inventory management systems for easy restocking
Compact designs to optimize space utilization
These machines are suitable not only for traditional offices but also for co-working spaces, industrial parks, and commercial centers. For business managers, deploying office vending machines offers multiple benefits: improved employee satisfaction, reduced time lost to off-site purchases, additional revenue streams, and lower labor costs through automated sales .Notably, modern office vending machines can be equipped with advanced banknote-accepting modules, such as the BA-15-00S / Banknote Accepting Module, ensuring secure and reliable transactions.
3. Healthy and Fresh Food Vending Machines for Universities and Gyms
With the growing popularity of healthy lifestyles, traditional vending machines offering high-sugar and high-fat snacks no longer meet the demands of university students, fitness enthusiasts, and health-conscious consumers. Healthy food vending machines and fresh food vending machines have emerged to provide nutritious options like salads, fruits, protein bars, and low-sugar beverages.
Key features of these vending machines include:
●Refrigeration systems to ensure food freshness
●Clear nutritional information and ingredient lists
●Options catering to different dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free)
●Modern designs appealing to younger demographics
Deploying these machines in university campuses (university vending machines), gyms (gym vending machines), and educational institutions effectively encourages healthy eating habits, enhances user engagement, and drives revenue growth for operators. Research shows that campus vending machines offering healthy choices experience 30% higher usage rates than traditional models.
4. Pharmacy and Medical Vending Machines for Hospitals
The healthcare industry’s stringent requirements for timeliness and accuracy make pharmacy vending machines and medical vending machines ideal solutions for hospitals and clinics. These devices can provide prescription and over-the-counter medications 24/7, significantly alleviating pressure on pharmacy staff.
Key features of hospital vending machines include:
●Strict medication management and identity verification systems
●Seamless integration with hospital information systems
●Support for multiple identification methods (e.g., health insurance cards, fingerprints)
●Temperature and humidity controls to ensure medication quality
Deploying these machines in large hospitals, community healthcare centers, and nursing homes offers multiple advantages: reduced labor costs, fewer prescription errors, optimized patient wait times, and electronic tracking of medication data. Similar technologies are also used in scenarios requiring high-security verification, such as Internet Ticket Machines.
5. Tool and PPE Vending Machines for Industrial Sites
In industrial environments like factories, construction sites, and warehouses, managing tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) often poses challenges. Industrial vending machines and PPE vending machines have revolutionized traditional inventory management through automated dispensing and intelligent tracking.
Key features of tool vending machines include:
●Durable designs suited for industrial environments
●Precise inventory tracking and usage analytics
●Employee identification and access control
●Real-time alerts and automatic restocking functions
The benefits of these machines for industrial sites are clear: reduced tool loss and waste, ensured access to necessary PPE, streamlined procurement processes, and data-driven inventory optimization. One automotive manufacturer reported a 45% reduction in tool replacement costs and a 12% increase in production efficiency after deploying tool vending machines.
6. Specialty and Custom Vending Machines for Events and Hospitality
Hotels, large-scale events, and exhibition centers often require retail solutions that combine functionality with brand enhancement. Specialty vending machines and custom vending machines, with their unique designs and specialized features, are ideal for these settings.
Key features of hotel vending machines and event vending machines include:
●Customizable exteriors to align with brand aesthetics
●Sales of theme-specific or event-related merchandise
●Support for high-value automated retail
●Quick deployment and flexible mobility
In luxury hotels, theme parks, exhibition centers, and sports venues, these machines not only elevate the customer experience but also create high-margin sales opportunities. One five-star hotel reported a 60% increase in minibar revenue and an 80% reduction in item loss after deploying custom vending machines.
Product Portfolio
Product Portfolio
| Application Scenario | Core Products | GRG Technological Advantages |
| Office Spaces | Smart Snack & Beverage Machines, Contactless Payment Systems | BA-15-00S Banknote Module, Remote Inventory Management, Compact Design |
| Health & Wellness | Refrigerated Healthy Food Machines, Fresh Food Vending Machines | Temperature-Controlled Preservation, Digital Nutrition Display, Customizable Dispensing Channels |
| Healthcare Systems | 24/7 Pharmacy Kiosks, Medical Supply Dispensers | Dual Authentication (Insurance/Fingerprint), Drug Storage Monitoring, HIS System Integration |
| Industrial Sites | PPE Dispensing Machines, Smart Tool Management Cabinets | Industrial-Grade Durability, RFID Asset Tracking, Multi-Level Access Control |
| Transportation Hubs | Integrated Ticketing Terminals, Cashless Payment Gates | Multilingual Interface, Ticket Processing Core Module (Deployed in 450+ Global Metro Lines) |
| Hospitality & Events | Branded Custom Vending Machines, High-Value Retail Terminals | Modular Design, SaaS Management Platform, 3D Visual Anti-Theft Technology |
| Smart Cities | Palm Vein Recognition Access, AI Service Kiosks, Traffic Optimization Systems | Proprietary Palmprint Algorithm (2024 Innovation Case), Cloud-Native Architecture |
The vending machine industry is advancing toward a $29.2 billion market with a 5.18% annual growth rate, evolving from basic retail to industry-customized solutions. As China’s leading AFC system manufacturer, GRG Intelligent Technology leverages 20 years of expertise to deliver scenario-based smart terminals across 60+ countries:
– In offices, snack machines equipped with the BA-15-00S banknote module boost employee satisfaction by 30%.
-In healthcare, biometric-enabled pharmacy kiosks ensure 24/7 secure medication distribution, reducing labor costs by 45%.
-Industrial RFID tool cabinets increase production efficiency by 12%.
GRG’s deep vertical integration sets it apart:
– A 50,000㎡ production facility enables a monthly output of 7,000 units, supported by MOM systems for small-batch customization.
-22% of R&D staff focus on breakthroughs, from the world’s first metro “Palm Vein Payment” (2023) to AI-driven X-ray liquid detection, backed by 195 patents.
-GRG’s ticketing modules serve 5,200 global transit stations, powering 70% of Tokyo’s automated metro transactions, while hotel vending solutions drive 60% incremental revenue.
With modularity + AI as dual engines, GRG continues to innovate:
-Cloud SaaS enables remote device management.
-3D vision ensures secure high-value retail.
-Industrial designs guarantee reliability in harsh environments.
Precision temperature control for food machines and real-time tool replenishment alerts exemplify GRG’s mission: “Reinventing Scenario Efficiency with Smart Hardware”—the hallmark of its 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Award.