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Steven King on leading ARKI and the future of automation
In this episode of The Automation and Self-Service Podcast, editor Sandra Carpenter sits down with Steven King, CEO of BlueSky Robotics and Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Emerging Technology at UNC. King is co-hosting and keynoting this year's Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation (ARKI) show in Tampa, where he'll help lead conversations on how automation, AI and robotics are reshaping self-service industries. King shares his perspective on the event's evolution from the Self-Servi...
16 Oct 2025
Classic meets modern: How vending is evolving in the age of AI
Vending has long been a symbol of convenience, from the nostalgic glow of the classic Coke machine to today's sleek, touchscreen models that accept mobile payments and even make product recommendations. In this episode of The Automation and Self-Service Podcast, host Sandra Carpenter, editor of Vending Times and Kiosk Marketplace, sits down with Dale Laszig, a longtime payments industry journalist and content creator who has tracked vending's digital transformation for years. Together, they e...
18 Sept 2025
Keeping kiosks always on: a conversation with Smart Charging Technologies
In the newest episode of the Automation and Self Service Podcast, Sandra Carpenter, editor of Kiosk Marketplace, talks with Micah Larsen, MBA, sales director at Smart Charging Technologies, about one of the most expensive challenges kiosk and vending operators face: downtime.
21 Aug 2025
The future of campus dining? PizzaForno thinks it’s a 24/7 pizza vending machine
On this episode of the Automation and Self Service Podcast, we're diving into one of the hottest trends in food tech: 24/7 pizza vending. My guest is Travis Musser, PizzaForno's West Coast lead, who is spearheading the brand's expansion into Southern California. PizzaForno is North America's first automated pizzeria, serving fresh, high-quality pizzas in just minutes — anytime, day or night. Now the company is making waves on college campuses across Los Angeles, bringing students a late-night...
17 Jul 2025
The automation of eco-friendly cleaning with Mr. Turtle
In this episode of the Automation and Self-Service Podcast, we're exploring an innovative solution tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time: single-use plastic waste. Our guest, Benjamin Arts, co-founder of Mr. Turtle, has launched a "refill revolution" in the cleaning product industry. We discuss how Mr. Turtle's self-service stations are not only making it incredibly easy for consumers to refill their cleaning essentials, but also how they're dramatically reducing pl...
16 Jul 2025
Automated access: Anora Morton, JD on self-service, community impact
On the latest episode of The Automation and Self Service Podcast, I had a fascinating conversation with Anora Morton, JD, about topics that resonate strongly with groundbreaking initiatives like The Nori Project. It recently launched its innovative Japanese-style vending machines in Louisville, Kentucky. These aren't just typical vending units; they're designed to offer hot and cold, chef-crafted meals, significantly improving access to healthy and affordable food, especially in underserved a...
22 May 2025
Expanding unattended retail with Byte Technology
Lee Mokri of Byte Technology discusses expanding unattended retail into healthcare and education with Sandra Carpenter from Vending Times and Kiosk Marketplace in an interview.
20 Mar 2025
ASC w/ Jack Brown
20 Feb 2025
Beyond the kiosk: How AI is reshaping automated retail
The world of retail is rapidly transforming, and at the heart of this change lies the powerful force of artificial intelligence. In a recent conversation with Ray Friedrich, chief strategy officer of East Street Business Advisors, Sandra Carpenter, host of Networld Media Group's Automation and Self Service podcast and editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times, discussed the exciting and sometimes daunting landscape of AI-driven automated retail. The podcast explored how AI is revolutioniz...
23 Jan 2025
Melanie Day: Revolutionizing campus hair care with self-service solutions
In this episode of the Automation and Self Service podcast, we explore the innovative world of campus wellness with Melanie Day, founder of In Living Curls. Day shares her journey of bringing hair care vending machines to Kentucky colleges, including Morehead State University. We discuss the impact of this initiative on student well-being, particularly for students of diverse backgrounds, and explore the challenges and triumphs of introducing this unique self-service solution.Discover how tec...
19 Dec 2024
GRUBBRR: Automating the future of restaurants
GRUBBRR chief revenue officer Parrish Chapman shares insights on leveraging AI and data-driven insights to streamline restaurant operations and boost efficiency, customer satisfaction, and sales.
21 Nov 2024
A fresh perspective on self-service dry-cleaning with Sassan Rahimzadeh
Arya Cleaners' President Sassan Rahimzadeh shares insights into delivering high-quality garment care through customer service, technology integration, and trust-building strategies in self-service dry-cleaning.
26 Sept 2024
Behind the counter: The rise of ammo vending with Grant Magers
In recent months, the availability of ammunition vending machines has sparked significant debate and controversy. From concerns about accessibility to questions about safety, these machines have become a hot topic.To dig deeper into this issue, Vending Times sat down with Grant Magers, the CEO of American Rounds, a company in the development and distribution of ammunition vending machines.Magers discusses the company's stance on safety regulations, addresses the concerns raised by lawmakers a...
22 Aug 2024
Gong cha shares how self service kiosks enhance Gen Z customer experience
This past year, Gong cha, an international bubble tea chain, has seen a surge in self-service kiosk usage across its stores in the Americas.In the inaugural episode of the Automation and Self-Service Podcast, Rebecca Kahn, Gong cha's franchise business leader executive for the U.S. and Canada, shares insight with Kiosk Marketplace Editor Sandra Carpenter on how Gong cha's Gen Z customers interact with kiosks, touching on boosts in sales, personalization and an enhanced customer experience.Thi...
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