Vending Machine Servicer - Career Advice - Retail and Hospitality

Business Machine Mechanic

Vending machine servicers fill, maintain, repair and machines that dispense drinks, snacks, meals, confectionery, tickets, protective facemasks and hand sanitizers. Vending Machine Attendants stock and maintain vending and amusement machines and collect money from coin boxes. FutureGrowthModerate

Vending machines are convenient and people can use their spare coins to buy just about anything, from chocolates, chips, tissues, drinks, sandwiches, toys, CDs, medications and even personal care items.

The vending industry still continues to grow because of the convenience and variety of products on offer and a healthy vending machine in Australia is now one of the fastest growing tends.

ANZSCO ID: 8997

Alternative names: Vending Machine Technician, Vending Machine Refiller, Vending Machine Attendant,

Specialisations: Poker Machine Attendant

Knowledge, skills and attributes

To become a vending machine servicer, you would need:

problem-solving skills
to enjoy practical and manual activities
good hand-eye coordination
mechanical aptitude
literacy and numeracy skills.

Calculating
(Source: Parlevel)

Duties & Tasks

As a vending machine servicer, you would:

replenish vending machine contents
keep up to date with new technologies and learn about individual vending machines
perform routine maintenance to keep vending machines in good working condition
fix minor faults when a vending machine fails
repair or replace damaged parts, including refrigeration components and worn bearings and cogs by soldering cracked or broken housings and replacing broken or faulty parts, then reassembling the machine to test that it works
reassemble machines to test that they work before putting them back into service.
loading, unloading and transporting stock and equipment
replenishing vending machines with stock
clearing money from machines, accounting for money collected, and checking monitoring systems
keeping stock records, and machine maintenance and repair records
may test vending machines' dispensing, coin-handling, electrical, refrigeration, carbonation and ice-making systems
may adjust and repair vending machines and replace defective mechanical and electrical parts using hand tools and soldering-irons

Working conditions

In a full-time job you would usually work a standard number of hours per week. You may need to work shifts, or be part of an on-call roster, as vending machines are used, and break down, at all hours. They will often be mobile and move to different locations each day in response to breakdown calls, or to perform on-site maintenance. They may also work in a workshop performing maintenance or repairs on vending machines that have either broken down or been returned from on-site lease.With the increasing complexity of vending machine technologies, an understanding of electrical, electronic and computer hardware and software systems is often required. The latest equipment has electronic payments systems incorporated and higher level skills in communications and security technologies apply.

Vending machine servicers work indoors or outdoors. Machines are usually installed under cover. You would need to be mobile and move to different locations during the day to fill and service machines. You would need a current drivers' licence.

Since COVID-19, all Vending Machine Servicers need to be very conscious of hygiene.

New products
Since COVID-19, vending machines are now delivering face masks and hand sanitizers as a product.
(Source: Hivery)

Tools and technologies

Mobile, keys or biometric keys, screwdriver, electrical tape, soldering-irons

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a vending machine servicer without formal qualifications. You would get some training on the job.

Your employment prospects may be improved if you have a VET qualification in Electrical Machine Repair or Appliance Service. Entry to some of these courses may require you to have gained an apprenticeship position.

To do repair work on electrical, refrigeration or cabling parts or components of vending machines requires the appropriate training and licence(s).

Did You Know?

Vending in Australia

In early 2019, a local start-up, Grabox [taken over by Crunchbase], tapped into the growing popularity of rideshare services in Australia with the launch of the country’s first ever in-car vending machines. The slimline machines, which are attached to the centre console of the vehicle, offer snacks, soft drinks and other items. Transactions are cashless, with passengers paying via digital wallet. There are no installation costs for the driver, who receives a percentage on every item sold.
(Source: Market Research)

Business Machine Mechanics install, maintain and repair electronic business equipment such as multi-function devices, photocopiers, scanners, fax machines and electronic cash registers and other electronic commercial and office machines. They may also undertake networking of devices.

ANZSCO ID: 342311

Alternative names: Equipment Technician, Business Equipment Technician, Business Equipment Serviceperson, Office Equipment Technician or Office Machine Technician

Specialisations: Photocopier Technician

Computer Hardware Service Technician - installs, maintains, adjusts and repairs computer hardware and related equipment, such as disk drives, printers, visual display units, CD-ROMs, DVD drives and interfacing equipment.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

To become a business equipment technician, you would need:

good problem-solving skills
enjoy working with electrical, electronic and mechanical systems
enjoy solving practical problems
good hand-eye coordination
good eyesight (may be corrected) and normal colour vision
excellent knowledge of the equipment you are working on
good technical and practical mechanical skills
the ability to work quickly and under pressure
customer service skills
good communication skills
attention to detail
the ability to follow technical diagrams and manuals.

Business Machine Mechanic
(Source: Your Career)

Duties and Tasks

Examines and tests machines, equipment, instruments and control systems to diagnose faults.
Adjusts, repairs and replaces worn or defective parts and wiring to maintain machines, equipment and instruments.
Reassembles, test operates and adjusts equipment.
Advises users of correct operating procedures to prevent malfunctions.
Monitors radio traffic as well as transmitting and receiving voice messages.
Installs electronic instruments and control systems.
Applies knowledge of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic principles in commissioning and maintaining control systems
Carry out regular inspections and maintenance of machines to prevent breakdowns
Read and interpret technical drawings and service manuals
Talk to machine operators to assess faults
Troubleshoot faults in a machine’s hardware, software and components
Find faults in electrical and electronic machines by using special instruments such as voltmeters, resistance meters and oscilloscopes, and repair or replace faulty parts or wiring
Repair or replace faulty parts or wiring
Clean dirt and debris from internal parts
Reassemble machines and test to determine if they are working properly
Advise users in correct operating procedures to prevent breakdowns
Understand and advise on warranty administration and extensions.
Keep accurate records and documentation as required

Working conditions

In a full-time role, you would normally work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. You may need to be on call to deal with out-of-hours problems. You could work for business machine and equipment manufacturing, sales, hire or servicing firms. You would be based at an office, but you would travel from job to job. You would need a current drivers' licence.

Business equipment technicians work in repair workshops or travel to clients' offices.

They may need to lift heavy equipment.

Tools and technologies

A business machine mechanic may use: spanners; wrenches; Allen keys; screw drivers; vernier and calliper gauges; taps and dies; assorted drifts, punches and chisels; hammers; drills; pullers and extractors and diagnostic tools, such as ammeter/voltmeter. Compressors may be used to power machines and air tools to minimise risk of fire.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Business Machine Mechanic without formal qualifications if you are able to demonstrate your technical competency to employers. However, a certificate III in business equipment servicing is usually required. To become a business equipment technician you would usually have to complete a traineeship in Business Equipment Servicing. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.

Employment Opportunities

Employment growth for business equipment technicians is expected to approximate the average for all occupations. Changing technology stimulates the need for new business equipment such as computers, scanners, electronic document management centres and payments processing equipment but also reduces the existence of other equipment such as fax machines and photocopiers.

Business equipment technicians work for business machine and equipment manufacturing, sales, hire or service firms. They may also work for independent providers of machine maintenance service.

Depending on the employing company, business equipment technicians may also enter into electronics work or other mechanical servicing occupations. They may also move to the sales side of a business machine company. Promotion to service management and training is possible, and technicians may transfer to computer servicing.

Technicians with electronics qualifications ad experience will likely have relatively stronger employment prospects.

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