Did you know that Fastenal has a SmartStore program which sets up vending machines at industrial shops and factories? These vending machines can be stocked with first aid supplies, safety consumables such as goggles and gloves, cutting tools, general MRO supplies, and other such regularly used items.
Fastenal makes a few good selling points for their Smartstore industrial vending system:
- Reduce consumption and shrinkage (e.g. control who has access to what supplies and how much)
- Pay only for vended options (optional program where products are owned by Fastenal until purchased)
- Minimize “walking and waiting” time
- View real-time usage and inventory
- Automatic reordering and replenishing
In addition to traditional styled vending machines, a locker-style distribution unit can be used to dispense larger items such as chemicals, paper goods, hand and power tools, calibrated test equipment, and other such equipment. We imagine that non-consumables such as power tools would have RFID or similar tags to help manage and confirm their return at the end of a shift.
There are of course installation fees, usage fees, and software fees, but this seems like it could be a promising and cost-saving program for industrial work environments.
Sweet, I want one in my shop! Yeah, I know it would probably cost me more then it saved me, but a guy can dream.
I’d like mine stocked with the things I always run out of in the middle of a project like various sized fasteners.
I also like the idea about stocking it with and safety eq. — no more spending 15 minutes trying to figure out where I left my goggles or earmuffs.
that’s a pretty cool idea. Depending on what they put in there, you would have instant access without waiting for a mobile dealer.
I’m still trying to find a downside to such a setup. Fastenal’s site mention a few companies that have put their new SmartStore service to use, such as Waterloo, and the city of Sacramento.
It is said that Waterloo’s glove consumption dropped from $13k to $9k in the first month of use. That’s a lot of gloves!!
I don’t understand why Fastenal would charge the shop to have their machine in their.
I noticed (and was surprised to see) a Proactive vending machine in a shopping mall (the face cleaner for acne). I thought what a great idea.
I could be completely wrong, but I ASSUME proactive pays the mall rental space for the machine, not the other way around.
I’m sure that companies could negotiate different terms and fees depending on their needs and typical purchasing volume.
how much is the annual fee and who can i contact to find out additional info. and is there a demonstration available?
Mike, your best bet is to check out this page and to contact your local Fastenal store for price quotes and demonstration details.
I am currently looking into this. The cost is $1,000 up front to cover freight, installation etc, plus $300.00 annually for web access which is hosted by an outside source. There is also a $2,000 minimum a month sale of anything that Fastenal sells. This does not need to only come out of the machine but it needs to total $2,000 of sales of Fastenal products for each respective month.
I work for Fastenal with this vending program. The local Fastenal stores invests the capital to buy the machines for the custumers leaving only a small fee for the customers which is recouped in months. Fastenal’s large footprint of stores with local service close to most of our customers makes this type of program a perfect fit for Fastenal. We also have vehicles equiped with demo machines available to come and show you the solution at your site. Check out our webpage or email vendingsolutions@fastenal.com with questions
If you need any info on getting a machine fill free to email me.
Thanks
There is a “soft” overall minimum spend of $2000. 00 a month of their products. The “coil” machines do not vend a lot of products very well.
There is a lot of work involved for larger customer on the software side to input and remove employees and change their access codes.
Machines are glitch filled and the salepeople don’t keep them filled.
I know 3 companies (2 smaller shops with about 25 employees each and 1 larger shop with 250 employees) here in the midwest that didn’t pay any additional money to put these in their shops. No monthly fees, no upfront fees and the prices for the items stayed the same.
I guess it’s how well you negoiate a deal