Overview
Creating a platform to monitor vending machines,
manage refill routes, order inventory and display
real time sales data.
Operly is a smart vending management platform that helps operators and managers handling multiple locations monitor machines, plan refill routes, and manage stock in real time. Key features include live inventory tracking, AI-powered refill planning, and a centralized dashboard to streamline operations. The platform aims to reduce wasted trips, prevent stockouts, and boost sales across all locations.
Problem
Operators struggle to track inventory and plan routes efficiently, leading to wasted trips, stockouts and lost of sales. Current tools are outdated, fragmented and lack of real-time data.
Research
In the research, I analyzed competitors, reviewed industry articles and product breakdowns, used AI tools for deep searches and data collection, and transformed the findings into actionable insights. I also spoke with people in the vending industry to better understand their daily challenges and operational needs.
Research
In the research, I analyzed competitors, reviewed industry articles and product breakdowns,
used AI tools for deep searches and data collection, and transformed the findings into actionable insights. I also spoke with people in the vending industry to better understand their daily
challenges and operational needs.
Research
In the research, I analyzed competitors, reviewed industry articles and product breakdowns, used AI tools for deep searches and data collection, and transformed the findings into actionable insights. I also spoke with people in the vending industry to better understand their daily challenges and operational needs.
80
%
80
%
80
%
Struggle to manage day to day operations effectively
Struggle to manage day to day operations effectively
Struggle to manage day to day operations effectively
30
%
30
%
30
%
Still rely on paper based planning for scheduling
Still rely on paper based planning for scheduling
Still rely on paper based planning for scheduling
71
%
71
%
71
%
Use disconnected tools like spreadsheets and apps
Use disconnected tools like spreadsheets and apps
Use disconnected tools like spreadsheets and apps
Pain Points
Pain Points
Pain Points
01. Inefficient Refills Routes
Operators spend too much time and money visiting machines unnecessarily because they don’t have up to date stock information. This leads to wasted trips, higher fuel costs, and inefficiencies that could be avoided with better data.
“I can’t tell which machines need a refill until I get there it’s a guessing game,
and sometimes I drive out for nothing.”
- Independent Vending Owner
02. Separate Tools for Operations
Using separate spreadsheets, apps, and messaging tools creates confusion, increases errors, and slows down daily tasks. Operators lose time moving between systems instead of focusing on serving customers and managing stock effectively.
“I’m switching between maps, inventory lists, and WhatsApp all day—it’s a mess to handle everything this way.”
- Operations Manager
01. Inefficient Refills Routes
Operators spend too much time and money visiting machines unnecessarily because they don’t have up to date stock information. This leads to wasted trips, higher fuel costs, and inefficiencies that could be avoided with better data.
“I can’t tell which machines need a refill until I get there it’s a guessing game, and sometimes I drive out for nothing.”
- Independent Vending Owner
02. Separate Tools for Operations
Using separate spreadsheets, apps, and messaging tools creates confusion, increases errors, and slows down daily tasks. Operators lose time moving between systems instead of focusing on serving customers and managing stock effectively.
“I’m switching between maps, inventory lists, and WhatsApp all day, it’s a mess to handle everything this way.”
- Operations Manager
01. Inefficient Refills Routes
03. Missed Sales
01. Inefficient Refills Routes
Operators spend too much time and money visiting machines unnecessarily because they don’t have up to date stock information. This leads to wasted trips, higher fuel costs, and inefficiencies that could be avoided with better data.
Running out of popular items without knowing causes lost revenue and dissatisfied customers. Without real-time alerts, machines
can stay empty for days, hurting sales and damaging trust with customers who expect stocked machines.
Operators spend too much time and money visiting machines unnecessarily because they don’t have up to date stock information. This leads to wasted trips, higher fuel costs, and inefficiencies that could be avoided with better data.
“I can’t tell which machines need a refill until I get there it’s a guessing game,
and sometimes I drive out for nothing.”
“It hurts sales when a top seller is empty for days because we didn’t know, it leaves a bad impression.”
“I can’t tell which machines need a refill until I get there it’s a guessing game,
and sometimes I drive out for nothing.”
- Regional Manager
- Independent Vending Owner
- Independent Vending Owner
02. Separate Tools for Operations
Using separate spreadsheets, apps, and messaging tools creates confusion, increases errors, and slows down daily tasks. Operators lose time moving between systems instead of focusing on serving customers and managing stock effectively.
“I’m switching between maps, inventory lists, and WhatsApp all day—it’s a mess to handle everything this way.”
- Operations Manager
03. Missed Sales
Running out of popular items without knowing causes lost revenue and dissatisfied customers. Without real-time alerts, machines can stay empty for days, hurting sales and damaging trust with customers who expect stocked machines.
“It hurts sales when a top seller is empty for days because we didn’t know—it leaves a bad impression.”
- Regional Manager
Key Insights Driving the Design
Key Insights Driving the Design
Key Insights Driving the Design
Based on user needs and operational challenges, we defined key areas to guide the design—focusing on efficiency, visibility and workflow.
Based on user needs and operational challenges, we defined key areas to
guide the design, focusing on efficiency, visibility and workflow.
Based on user needs and operational challenges, we defined key areas to guide the design—focusing on efficiency, visibility and workflow.
Keep Machines Stocked and Running
Keep Machines Stocked and Running
Ensure machines are consistently filled and operational by providing operators with real-time stock visibility and smart route planning.
Ensure machines are consistently filled and operational by providing operators with real-time stock visibility and smart route planning.
Smarter Restocking Through Data
Use live sales tracking and AI-powered suggestions to guide restocking decisions, helping managers optimize product selection based on performance.
A Unified Platform
Eliminate inefficiencies caused by tool-switching. Centralizing inventory, routing, and scheduling into one platform streamlines operations.
Smarter Restocking Through Data
Smarter Restocking Through Data
Keep Machines Stocked and Running
Use live sales tracking and AI-powered suggestions to guide restocking decisions, helping managers optimize product selection based on performance.
Use live sales tracking and AI-powered suggestions to guide restocking decisions, helping managers optimize product selection based on performance.
Ensure machines are consistently filled and operational by providing operators with real-time stock visibility and smart route planning.
A Unified Platform
A Unified Platform
Eliminate inefficiencies caused by tool-switching. Centralizing inventory, routing, and scheduling into one platform streamlines operations.
Eliminate inefficiencies caused by tool-switching. Centralizing inventory, routing, and scheduling into one platform streamlines operations.
Design
Design
Design
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
650
650
650
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Central overview of sales, revenue, machine status, and upcoming tasks with smart alerts that prioritize machines running low on stock.
Real time machine monitoring interface showing stock levels, revenue, and active/inactive status supports smart refill decisions.
Real time machine monitoring interface showing stock levels, revenue, and active/inactive status supports smart refill decisions.
Real time machine monitoring interface showing stock levels, revenue, and active/inactive status supports smart refill decisions.
The system builds a route based on machine refill urgency, available drivers, and time slots while calculating the needed supplies for the trip.
The system builds a route based on machine refill urgency, available drivers, and time slots while calculating the needed supplies for the trip.
The system builds a route based on machine refill urgency, available drivers, and time slots while calculating the needed supplies for the trip.
Task calendar for tracking refill, maintenance and inventory routes, shows key details and live route status.
Task calendar for tracking refill, maintenance and inventory routes, shows key details and live route status.
Task calendar for tracking refill, maintenance and inventory routes, shows key details and live route status.
The route page lets you track live progress and view expanded info like stop durations, refill products per machine, required equipment, vehicle, and weather details.
The route page lets you track live progress and view expanded info like stop durations, refill products per machine, required equipment, vehicle, and weather details.
The route page lets you track live progress and view expanded info like stop durations, refill products per machine, required equipment, vehicle, and weather details.
Operly
Operly
Smart vending machines management platform
Smart vending machines management platform
Studies project | 2024
Studies project | 2024
Overview
Creating a platform to monitor vending machines, manage refill routes, order inventory and display
real time sales data.
Operly is a smart vending management platform that helps operators and managers handling multiple locations monitor machines, plan refill routes, and manage stock in real time. Key features include live inventory tracking, AI-powered refill planning, and a centralized dashboard to streamline operations. The platform aims to reduce wasted trips, prevent stockouts, and boost sales across all locations.
Problem
Operators struggle to track inventory and plan routes efficiently, leading to wasted trips, stockouts and lost of sales. Current tools are outdated, fragmented and lack of real-time data.
Operly
Studies project | 2024
Smart vending machines management platform
Overview
Creating a platform to monitor vending machines,
manage refill routes, order inventory and display
real time sales data.
Operly is a smart vending management platform that helps operators and managers handling multiple locations monitor machines, plan refill routes, and manage stock in real time. Key features include live inventory tracking, AI-powered refill planning, and a centralized dashboard to streamline operations. The platform aims to reduce wasted trips, prevent stockouts, and boost sales
across all locations.
Problem
Operators struggle to track inventory and plan routes efficiently, leading to wasted trips, stockouts and lost of sales. Current tools are outdated, fragmented and lack of real-time data.