Apple Pay, USA Technologies Team Up: Buying At Vending Machines Will Be Quicker, Easier

Getting a bag of chips at a vending machine is going to get quicker and easier.

Self-serve technology company USA Technologies said Thursday it pland to integrate its MORE. loyalty and payroll deduct program with Apple Pay to more than 300,000 machines across the country.

“Following the integration, unattended operators will be able to offer an enhanced experience to their customers using Apple Pay, which is transforming mobile payments with an easy, secure and private way to pay that’s fast and convenient,” said USA Technologies.

Consumers may also benefit from exclusive offers, promos and discounts on future purchases at vending machines linked to USAT’s ePort Connect platform, the company said.

USA Tech will demo the new integration at The Digital Money Forum at CES 2017. The company says it will launch the new technology to select unattended retail locations across the U.S. over the coming months.

How it Works

If you want to go buy a snack at a vending machine, all you have to do is hold up your iPhone or Apple Watch to purchase with Apple Pay. You can also redeem loyalty points if you are participating in USAT’s MORE. program. If you’re not enrolled in the program, you can instantly sign up and have the digital loyalty card automatically added to your Apple Pay account.

Maeve McKenna Duska, USA Technologies’ senior VP of sales and marketing stated:

“By offering MORE. with Apple Pay we are giving consumers a loyalty program that seamlessly integrates with their lifestyle, rewarding them for using the one thing they always have on hand, their iPhone or Apple Watch. We expect the MORE. integration with Apple Pay will not only fuel participation in the unattended loyalty program, but also underscore the ease, security and simplicity of Apple Pay transactions for everyday purchases like those made at vending machines, laundromats, self-serve kiosks, parking and more.”

Apple Pay supports almost all U.S. banks and credit unions, as well as retailers such as BJ’s Wholesale Club and Kohl’s.