About this episode

The episode discusses technology and support solutions at the 2026 NAMA Show that are essential for the vending industry.

After exploring smart market innovation in Part 1, Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch’s coverage of the 2026 NAMA Show shifts the focus from hardware to something just as critical: The technology, infrastructure and support systems that are powering the industry forward. Back on the convention floor in Los Angeles, contributing editor Bob Tullio continues the conversation with a wide range of suppliers and operators. The first of our 2026 NAMA Show podcast episodes looked at what’s new, trending and eye-catching. This episode is about what makes it all work. AI continues to dominate the conversation with a focus on loss prevention and operational efficiency. Suppliers are leveraging increasingly sophisticated analytics, computer vision and cloud-based tools to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: micro market theft. Technology is enabling growth and protecting it.At the same time, digital media platforms are transforming micro markets into dynamic retail environments, helping operators tell their story, promote products and drive incremental sales.Even in a show dominated by AI and automation, there’s a strong reminder that not every solution needs to be…

People in this episode

Host: Bob Tullio

Topics covered

• technology
• support systems
• AI
• operational efficiency
• micro market theft
• digital media platforms
• OCS channel innovation

Keywords

• NAMA Show
• technology
• AI
• micro markets
• operational efficiency
• loss prevention
• digital media
• vending industry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Automatic Merchandiser, VendingMarketWatch, NAMA

Places: Los Angeles

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