Advanced training in vending by Vendland

Vendland group of companies is one of the prominent distributors of vending equipment and vending operators in Russia. Today the group shows itself as, perhaps, the only company in the sector engaged in regular activities directed at enlightenment and popularization of vending. During a rather short period of time they carried out about a dozen workshops, aimed first at the company’s clients, and later – at all interested. We addressed Alexander Maysov, the President of the Group, asking him to share his two-years experience of conducting the teaching seminars. 

Vending Business. Alexander Victorovich, how did it happen that the idea of the workshops came to your mind?

Alexander Maysov. The first of our workshops took place two years ago. I must admit it was not a result of some specific illumination. It was rather prosy, and there were some favourable circumstances: a kind of business rather new in Russia, but developing dynamically; partner companies, acting in the sector; the questions emerging in their minds in the process of their development. Observing those, we decided to conduct our first seminar called “Vending technology”. We spoke there, going into details, about kinds of vending dispensers, where, how and which of them should by applied; special attention was paid to the protocols of interaction between the payment systems and the vending machines and to the principles they are based on. Of course today many people know the difference between M&B and Exe, but a pair of years ago a rare operator knew the meaning of those letter. In any case, the participants were very pleased; we received a lot of positive response. The benefit they acquired was so evident, that in a rather sport time we felt sure such workshops should be conducted regularly. A little later they became open for anyone.

Vending Business. How do you choose your subjects or topics?

Alexander Maysov. Firstly, we carry constant monitoring of options and interests basing on questionnaires; secondary, we take into account a lot of questions addressed to our managers and service technicians. Well, and thirdly, we understand the time is not standing idle, new technologies are emerging and developing, legal and competition environment in which business acting undergoes changes, and dynamic reaction to all these changes increases your chances to success. Additionally, there are some hot problems which ought to be followed.

Vending Business. One of those problems must be legal regulation of vending, since that was the subject of one of the last workshops of yours, wasn’t it?

Alexander Maysov. Yes, sure. The question could be considered one of the most actual. There was a great interest for the subject; the seminar was attended by representatives of mare than 30 companies from the different regions of Russia. To treat all the aspects of the legal field we invited to the workshop experts from a known consulting  company, who proceeded a heap of information, studied many court cases and suggested to the participants optimal legal and fiscal models of vending activities. By the way, during the last month the legal field of the vending business underwent some our sector; I mean the least letter from the Ministry of Finances about applications of control cash devices and the draft law on small scale business which is to be introduced and was mentioned recently by Dmitry Medvedev.

Vending Business. What were the topics of the other workshops?

Alexander Maysov. There were workshops devoted to the service management of vending machines, including prophylactics and repairs, and to the payment systems. Depending on the subject, we invited speakers from different companies. Questions from the audience were answered by representatives of Coinco, NRI, Necta, Cash Code, Paulig, Vendland was represented mainly by its service centre engineers. During the two years the events we are discussing acquired a definite way of realization. Besides the official part, a great interest was paid to the unofficial one. All the seminars were ended with contacts, during which the participants get answers to their questions not only from the speakers but from their vending colleagues as well. And the share of the unofficial time grows from event to event. Vending Business. Did you ever regret you were sharing your secrets with the competitors?

Alexander Maysov. We are proud the greatest players of the market are interested in the seminars.

It coincides with my sincere desire to create open and civilized field both for partnerships and competition relations; I’m sure the business as a whole) will benefit. And let us recollect an ancient wisdom about a filled vessel: if the vessel is full, it’s impossible to add something to it. if we don’t share our knowledge and experience with the people ,  we’ll have no stimulus for acquiring new knowledge and perfection.

Vending Business. What subject is planned to discuss the next?  Alexander Maysov. It was not long ago that we started the preparation for the seminar on optimization of vending chains. We’re going to treat there a widest specter of problems. Among them there will be: location of vending machines, regulations of the operator’s work order, optimizations of his movement routes, control of efficiency of the operator work, etc. also we’ll demonstrate some applied programs, that can be a useful instrument for solving financial, account and management problems. This seminar is to differ somewhat from the number of the participants, broadcasting it in the selective mode. Thus all our operators, including those who are present many hundreds kilometers from Moscow, will be able to take part in the seminar without leaving their desks. It will be enough to switch to their WEBpager at the appointed time. So it will be a sort of an On-line conference; we possess some experience in conducting such events. To those who will not be able to be present we’ll suggest the electronic version of the event.

 Vending Business. Thank you for the interview and wish you success in your business. Alexander Maysov. Thanks for your interest. You’ll be welcome at our workshops.

02.07.2008