admin
Oswell Moyo Business Reporter
THE frustration associated with queueing for a basic service is one thing that a modern consumer does not want. Customers just need a quick convenient service. This is what a Bulawayo entrepreneur Tendai Musvaburi, 36, has brought home through his smart vending machines that dispense beverages to customers automatically upon insertion of a token coin.
The machines are common in developed countries such as the United States, France, United Kingdom and South Africa where customers serve themselves their preferred choice of beverages without any human effort.
Musvaburi has set up two machines at Haddon and Sly and another at the Parkade centre situated at the National Railways of Zimbabwe Building in the city centre.
He said he imported the machines from the United Kingdom at a cost of about $9,000 each after realising that people had difficulties in conducting business transactions due to the language barrier.
The former UK immigrant says the machine is able to perform duties that are traditionally conducted by humans.
This boosts efficiency and productivity, he says.
“After a customer pays for a drink, he is given a token coin which he inserts into the machine. The machines allow him to choose a product of choice, which becomes available by the machine releasing it.
“The beverage falls into an open compartment at the bottom of a door for the customer to pick,” said Musvaburi.
He said during his stay in Britain he discovered that people did not go through the hassle of queueing in order to access beverages.
“They just paid money and got tokens which they inserted into the machine. The machine then ejects their favourite drink,” he added.
Musvaburi said the machine is useful in overcoming the language barrier, which affects business transactions.
“This machine will likely improve business. People are now attracted to Haddon and Sly mall because of the machine which is the first of its kind in Bulawayo,” he said.
Musvaburi said he stayed for more than 18 years in the UK and worked for Peel Food Spark Machines before coming to Zimbabwe to start his small-scale business.
Vending machines are not very common in Zimbabwe and are usually found only at airports and hotels.
They are user friendly and most of them are equipped with spirals to hold products and contain lasers near the access door at the bottom.
If a purchased item does not break the laser beam when falling, the spirals will automatically turn, usually three times to ensure that a product will fall.
Online Reporter