At Automat-e, our teams are continually improving our vending solutions to meet real market needs. Assembled in Canada, our locker systems keep evolving to deliver a cutting-edge, easy-to-operate solution for everyday use. In this article, discover our latest innovationsāand whatās coming soon to take our solutions even further.
Continuous Innovation for Smarter, More Efficient Automated Retail š
At Automat-e, innovation is one of our core values, because automated retail evolves quickly ā and so do your needs.
Continuously innovating means delivering equipment that is reliable and high-performing, and simple to operate, able to adapt to many everyday use cases. Itās also our way of anticipating the challenges of automated retail.
In short, innovation guides every decision we make to advance our connected locker solutions, today and tomorrow.
When Our Customers Drive Automat-e Innovation in Automated Retail š¤
At Automat-e, innovations are built in the field, through conversations with our customers, real-world feedback, and day-to-day discussions.
These insights help us identify what truly matters in daily operations: what saves time, what reassures, what simplifies management, and what improves the customer experience. By listening closely to real needs, we set priorities and develop improvements designed for our customers.
Our teams at the centre of automated retail innovation š§āš§
If Automat-e innovates so much, itās also because our teams carry this high standard every day. Behind every improvement, thereās rigorous internal work: analyzing a challenge, exploring options, choosing the best ones, then testing and refining.
Our teams also monitor the market and source the most reliable materials and suppliers to maintain long-term quality.
This in-house expertise helps us move our solutions forward in a consistent, practical way ā for automated retail that is more robust and more efficient.
Optimize Your Retail Space with Automat-e Innovations in Automated Distribution š
To save time during restocking, our teams have developed highly practical solutions to optimize sales space and reduce replenishment time. Our first innovation, the double-sale locker, makes it possible to sell two products from a single sales compartment. When the product at the front of the locker is sold, the hatch located in the middle opens, making the product at the back available for purchase. This option is available on a 21-locker module and allows you to offer up to 42 products at the same time.
To take sales-space optimization even further, we created the rotating tray:Ā here, one locker can offer three products at once, enabling up to 54 sales within a single module. After each sale, the tray rotates to bring the next product into the dispensing position.
Simplify the Purchase Journey: Automat-e Innovation for Automated Distribution ā
Beyond restocking, Automat-e innovates to make purchasing simpler and more reassuring in vending machines. Our software ergonomics expert works relentlessly to simplify, streamline, and optimize our applications: the self-service kiosk interface for consumers and locker managers, the remote management software, the mobile app, and more.
The goal: a smooth experience thatās immediately clearāeven for users discovering this technology for the first time. That means improvements that make the customer journey easier (selection, payment, pickup), reduce friction, and build trust at the moment of purchase.
By making automated distribution more intuitive and accessible, our innovations help operators convert more customersā¦ and encourage them to come back.
Expand Use Cases with Freezing, Thanks to Automat-e Automated Distribution āļø
Automat-e is truly expanding whatās possible in automated distribution. After dry goods and fresh products, our latest innovationāthe frozen lockerānow makes it possible to offer a wider range of products in your connected locker system: artisan ice creams, frozen meats, ready meals, or any other product that needs to be kept frozen.
For operators, itās an opportunity to develop new use cases and new points of saleāwithout opening-hour constraintsāwhile preserving product quality.
Reliability and Durability: Automat-e Innovation Serving Automated Distribution š
Innovating also means strengthening long-term reliability. At Automat-e, we innovate with high standards for components and continuous improvements to materials. Weāve upgraded sealing with a new gasket that improves door performance and helps optimize energy consumption.
Weāve also developed an air-blowing strip to reduce condensation on glass surfaces, preserving product visibility and improving comfort of use.
These upgrades make automated distribution more robust, more stable, and more enjoyableāfor operators and customers alike.
Digital Innovation: Barcode Kit and Digital Labeling for Automated Distribution š²
To go beyond the mechanical side, our teams also focused on how connected lockers are managed. The barcode kit makes day-to-day operations easier. Using a barcode scanner, you can restock your vending unit in record time, reduce manual handling, and limit the risk of human error. Scanāand itās restocked!
At the same time, the electronic label improves customer information: clearer display, better-presented product details (price, name, useful information), and easier updates when a reference changes or an offer evolves.
The result: automated distribution thatās smoother to operate, easier for buyers to understand, and simpler to adapt as needs change.
Looking Ahead: Whatās Next for Automat-e Innovation in Automated Distribution š§
At Automat-e, innovation doesnāt stop at a single featureāitās an ongoing momentum. Our roadmap is built around one simple idea: delivering improvements that bring immediate, real-world value.
Our upcoming innovations follow the same approach: they will strengthen existing use cases, open up new ones, and support operators in a Canadian market thatās rapidly evolving.
Because every project is different, our ambition remains the same: to move automated distribution forward with practical, proven solutions designed to last.
Do you have an automated distribution project in Canada? Letās talkāAutomat-e supports you from the initial idea through to installation. Contact us for a demo and a tailored assessment of your needs.
