CitoSnack: Make existing vending machines more attractive

My Role: My responsibilities included understanding the user, prototyping, wireframing, designing and validation

Team Partner: Marcus Wild

Used Tools: Adobe XD, Illustrator, Photoshop and Google Forms

Duration: 1 Semester

Man buys something from a vending machine

Overview

Pay quickly, easily and without contact. In almost all stores, customers can pay by card as well as with their mobile device.

However, this trend has not yet reached most vending machines, which still seem outdated in our modern society. As part of our elective course in Innovation Management, we focused on developing a modern solution for purchasing at vending machines.

Apple Pay

The Goal

With the help of an easily understandable user interface and RFID payment technology, we wanted to create a simple and engaging interaction. To address the high costs associated with purchasing new vending machines, we planned to offer a retrofit kit.

This kit should be designed to be implemented in existing machines, providing an affordable upgrade.

This approach span class="bold"> saves costs and resources. We want to continue to offer the option of cash payment.

Roadmap

Roadmap von dem Projekt CitoSnack

Analysis

What is important to Germans when paying? What is the most popular form of payment? In addition to the user needs, we also analyzed the market conditions in different countries. Here is a brief insight:

User Needs

Indispensable for payment(%)
75%

Security

69%

Clear overview

59%

Easy to use

34%

Fast payment process

What is easier?

Is a simple payment method(%)
94%

Cash

71%

Debit card

26%

Credit card

Source: bundesbank.de

Analysis results

When asked about the key properties of a payment method, security, clear oversight, ease of use, and a fast payment process were rated as essential.

26% of those surveyed find paying by credit card easy. However, paying with debit cards and cash is rated significantly better. Notably, cash payments are perceived as easier than card payments in general. This suggests there is considerable room for improvement in the card payment process.

There are over 15 million vending machines worldwide, with more than 550,000 in Germany. In 2019, Germany led the world in vending machine sales, generating a total turnover of 2.9 billion euros—a substantial margin above other countries.

Our research revealed significant potential in this market and highlighted several areas for improvement. We also quickly recognized the need for a competent partner company to help retrofit the machines.

Persona

The personas were used to describe the main user groups and represent their behavior based on various characteristics. In creating the personas, we applied the knowledge gathered during the analysis phase to ensure they were meaningful and relevant.

Persona of a card payer
Persona of a cash payer

Paper prototyping

Sketches interface development

Show and test initial ideas quickly, cheaply and easily. Paper prototyping is a powerful tool for gathering first insights.

After we created our prototype, we carried out several "Thinking Aloud Tests" and received important knowledge at a very early stage of the project.

We carried out tests in different phases in order to continuously improve the product and offer the user the best possible usability.

Low fidelity wireframing

Wireframes interface development

Moodboard

Moodbard for the high fidelity design

The aim was to define and showcase the mood and color of our intended product. Describing the character of an interface in words can be very difficult. This is why a mood board is such a powerful tool for conveying the visual vision of a project’s appearance.

The result

After we had completed some important steps within the development phase and clarified questions regarding structure, usability and color, we brought our work and findings together in the screen design.

The screen are represented on a vandal-proof display which is attached directly to a vending machine.

CitoSnack Screendesign Gallery

Our added values

When developing our product, we deliberately went through many iterations to create a well-thought-out and simple interaction.

We contacted various potential partner companies, calculated prices, and examined the product from different angles.

Item Overview Screendesign from CitoSnack
Card icon

Card payment

Pay contactless with your smartphone or with your card. We support various payment options.

Cash icon

Cash payment

Only cash with you? No problem. Pay as it suits you best!

Touch icon

Interaction

Do I put in the money first and then choose the product, or is it the other way around? There are no such questions with us. Enjoy a simple and self-explanatory interaction.

Plus icon

Simply more

With us you don't have to start a new purchase for every item. Buy several items together and pay conveniently as you want.

Beautify icon

New by retrofitting

Vending machine operators do not have to buy a new machine. CitoSnack saves costs and protects the environment.

Item Overview Screendesign from CitoSnack
Article overview
Shopping Cart Screendesign from CitoSnack
Shopping cart
Payment Overview Screendesign from CitoSnack
Choice of payment method
Pay with card Screendesign from CitoSnack
Card payment
Curchase completed Screendesign from CitoSnack
Purchase completed

During the high fidelity prototyping, we regularly adjusted the color composition, layout, shading, symbolism and a few other design elements.

After the changes, we obtained further user feedback and developed a user-centered user interface over the course of the entire screen design process.

Outlook

How can this project continue? In addition to a new interaction, there are various other topics and goals that can be carried out.

If the interface has been realized and the retrofit kit implemented, the next goal can be to network machines. Vending machines could be helpful for refill services and provide information about current stocks and optimal delivery routes.

Implementation in Google Maps could be a real added value for customers. The "Internet of Things" represents the future of vending machines and enables new interaction possibilities in our project.