Automation and Self-Service Podcast

In this episode of The Automation and Self-Service Podcast, editor Sandra Carpenter sits down with Steven King, CEO of BlueSky Robotics and Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Emerging Technology at UNC. King is co-hosting and keynoting this year's Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation (ARKI) show in Tampa, where he'll help lead conversations on how automation, AI and robotics are...

Vending has long been a symbol of convenience, from the nostalgic glow of the classic Coke machine to today's sleek, touchscreen models that accept mobile payments and even make product recommendations. In this episode of The Automation and Self-Service Podcast, host Sandra Carpenter, editor of Vending Times and Kiosk Marketplace, sits down with Dale Laszig, a longtime payments industry journ...

 In the newest episode of the Automation and Self Service Podcast, Sandra Carpenter, editor of Kiosk Marketplace, talks with Micah Larsen, MBA, sales director at Smart Charging Technologies, about one of the most expensive challenges kiosk and vending operators face: downtime. 

On this episode of the Automation and Self Service Podcast, we're diving into one of the hottest trends in food tech: 24/7 pizza vending. My guest is Travis Musser, PizzaForno's West Coast lead, who is spearheading the brand's expansion into Southern California. PizzaForno is North America's first automated pizzeria, serving fresh, high-quality pizzas in just minutes — anytime,...

In this episode of the Automation and Self-Service Podcast, we're exploring an innovative solution tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time: single-use plastic waste. Our guest, Benjamin Arts, co-founder of Mr. Turtle, has launched a "refill revolution" in the cleaning product industry. We discuss how Mr. Turtle's self-service stations are not only makin...

On the latest episode of The Automation and Self Service Podcast, I had a fascinating conversation with Anora Morton, JD, about topics that resonate strongly with groundbreaking initiatives like The Nori Project. It recently launched its innovative Japanese-style vending machines in Louisville, Kentucky. These aren't just typical vending units; they're designed to offer hot and cold, che...

On this episode of the Automation and Self Service Podcast, we're discussing the evolving world of smart kiosks and automated retail. This episode features a conversation with Sandra Carpenter, editor of Vending Times and Kiosk Marketplace , and Lee Mokri, Founder and VP of Sales at Byte Technology . Discover how Byte's versatile technology is expanding unattended retail beyond tradition...

In this episode of The Automation and Self-Service Podcast Sandra Carpenter, editor of Vending Times, and Jack Brown, CEO of Legacy Ventures Group, discuss the company's "unbundled" vending packages. Brown's model aims to increase accessibility to vending business ownership, particularly for veterans, women and other underrepresented entrepreneurs, by offering flexible entry po...

The world of retail is rapidly transforming, and at the heart of this change lies the powerful force of artificial intelligence. In a recent conversation with Ray Friedrich, chief strategy officer of East Street Business Advisors, Sandra Carpenter, host of Networld Media Group 's Automation and Self Service podcast and editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times , discussed the exciting and...

In this episode of the Automation and Self Service podcast, we explore the innovative world of campus wellness with Melanie Day, founder of In Living Curls. Day shares her journey of bringing hair care vending machines to Kentucky colleges, including Morehead State University . We discuss the impact of this initiative on student well-being, particularly for students of diverse backgrounds, and exp...

In this episode of the Automation & Self-Service Podcast, host Sandra Carpenter explores the world of restaurant automation with Parrish Chapman, chief revenue officer of GRUBBRR. GRUBBRR is a provider of self-ordering technology that streamlines restaurant operations and improves customer experiences. By leveraging AI and data-driven insights, GRUBBRR helps businesses increase efficiency, boo...

In this episode of the Automation and Self-Service Podcast, Kiosk Marketplace Editor Sandra Carpenter talks with Sassan Rahimzadeh, president of Arya Cleaners. They discussed the history of self-service in the dry cleaning industry, exploring the challenges and opportunities that have shaped the sector. Rahimzadeh shared insights into Arya Cleaners' approach to customer service, technology in...

In recent months, the availability of ammunition vending machines has sparked significant debate and controversy . From concerns about accessibility to questions about safety, these machines have become a hot topic. To dig deeper into this issue, Vending Times sat down with Grant Magers, the CEO of American Rounds, a company in the development and distribution of ammunition vending machines. Mager...

This past year, Gong cha, an international bubble tea chain, has seen a surge in self-service kiosk usage across its stores in the Americas. In the inaugural episode of the Automation and Self-Service Podcast, Rebecca Kahn, Gong cha's franchise business leader executive for the U.S. and Canada, shares insight with Kiosk Marketplace Editor Sandra Carpenter on how Gong cha's Gen Z customer...