Here is a round-up of innovative uses of vending machines from around the world, compiled by Trendwatching.com. These are all great examples of service design. How, you ask, since they are all selling products? Service design comes into play in the methods in which they have chosen to “get” products to customers. That delivery is, in and of itself, a service supporting the product. In most cases this is about delivering the product to the right customers in the right place at the right time. And in doing so, cutting out a whole chain of middlemen, resellers, and wholesalers. (Is that good or bad? Depends on what role you currently play in that chain!)

This is also another example of technology prices continuing to fall, which make it financially feasible to distribute via vending machines or self-service kiosks. That technology is applied to not only the “machine” itself, but also it’s wired or wireless connection back to headquarters to let it’s owners know when it’s time to restock or fix the machine.  Which of these would you use?

• Barcelona company Lof (short for ‘Lo Fresco’) has developed a range of vending machines that only dispense healthy food, from prepared fruit and ready meals to gazpacho soup.
• Redbox specializes in the vending of DVDs via self-service kiosks. Redbox kiosks are located throughout the US in fast food restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores and convenience stores, leasing out DVDs from USD 1 per night.
• Launched earlier this year, US based U*tique bills itself as the world’s first interactive, automated luxury store for “life’s little emergencies and indulgences”. Debuting at Los Angeles retailer Fred Segal, U*tique lets consumers learn about selected luxury and personal-care products and have them dispensed with a swipe of their credit card. Only 50 products are available at any given time, and all have been handpicked by product specialists with backgrounds in global beauty, trend-hunting and innovation. The technology features a touch-screen interface, interactive LED lighting design, and a behind-the-scenes robot that delivers products from secure storage into consumers’ hands.
• German farm ‘Peter-und-Paul-Hof’ has begun selling its fresh produce in vending machines. The specially designed Regiomat machines sell milk, eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns and communities.
• The Standard Hotel chain in the US has introduced a retail concept by placing vending machines stocked with designer swimming trunks in their hotels. Quiksilver and André Balazs’ have partnered to fill the vending machines in the New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Miami hotels.
• Bike manufacturer Trek set up a prototype Trek Stop Cycling Convenience Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Located outside (and operated by) bike shop Machinery Row, the Trek Stop is a convenience center for cyclists. The vending machine is stocked with bicycle products such as spare tubes, patches, tire levers and more, along with food and cold drinks.
• InstyMeds have developed vending machines to dispense medication. The machines are designed to be placed in doctors’ offices, clinics, emergency rooms and other healthcare facilities. Each holds 100 of some of the most often used medications, ranging from pills to drops to creams and so forth.
• Last year, US Electronics retailer Best Buy installed vending machines at 14 major US airports as part of a successful pilot program for the company’s new Best Buy express kiosks. The kiosks are large vending machines that carry cell phone and computer accessories, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, gaming devices, travel adapters, and other items that are likely to appeal to customers on the go.
• Kosher Vending Industries in the US operates “Hot Nosh” vending machines that deliver hot kosher meals in 90 seconds. The company originally launched with more than 50 locations in New York City and has expanded nationwide through partnering agreements and regional licensing.

And we particularly like this one, which solves a very specific problem, in very specific places…

• Two British companies now sell their version of portable ballet flats in vending machines at nightclubs: Rollasoles sell for about GBP 5 and come in four colors: Hi Ho Silver, Gold Digger, Back to Black and Pink. Afterheels are similar rollable ballet flats which have the added feature of being recyclable.