PepsiCo introduces social vending machine

Bangalore: Taking its decades-old battle with Coca-Cola to a new high, PepsiCo is unveiling a "social vending machine" that will allow users to carry out "random acts of refreshment." The technology allows Pepsi drinkers to buy each other drinks remotely. Now users can give a beverage gift by entering the recipient's name, mobile phone number and a personalized text message or video. It's delivered with a system code and instructions to redeem it at any PepsiCo social vending system. It also offers the recipient to thank the original sender with a gift of their own or paying it forward and gifting a beverage to another friend. Further, it allows personalization of the gift with a short video recorded right at the machine. "Our vision is to use innovative technology to empower consumers and create new ways for them to engage with our brands, their social networks and each other at the point of purchase," said Mikel Durham, Chief Innovation Officer at PepsiCo Foodservice. "Social Vending extends our consumers' social networks beyond the confines of their own devices and transforms a static, transaction-oriented experience into something fun and exciting they'll want to return to, again and again," said Durham. The social vending system was conceived by PepsiCo's newly formed Equipment Innovation group. The design and UI were created in collaboration with Milwaukee, WI based DCI Marketing and Protagonist, located in Venice Beach, CA. The company said it plans to introduce the prototype of the social vending machine at a trade show this week in Chicago.