Automated, digital and customer-friendly: SECO technologies optimise Emma's farm shop.
Running a small business in agriculture today means juggling tradition with modern expectations. Customers want fresh, local products - but they also want the convenience of cashless payments, real-time availability, and 24/7 access. That’s where SECO's technology steps in to lend a hand. In this blog post, we follow Emma, a farmer who took the leap from a part-time farm shop to a fully automated vending solution. Thanks to SECO’s KarL4 card payment system and Clea Vend telemetry, she not only simplified her day-to-day operations but also offered her customers a smoother, more flexible experience. Let’s take a closer look at how these smart technologies transformed Emma’s farm—and how they can do the same for yours.
The first rays of sunshine touch the treetops around Emma's farm. The cock crows over the barns and the cows moo in their stalls. For years, Emma had the same morning routine: henhouse, cowshed, pasture, fields. But for the past few months, another stop has been added to her route. She walks to the farm entrance and proudly looks at her latest achievement: her own fully automated farm shop. Two inviting vending machines equipped with the latest technology from SECO are now on display in an open summerhouse. The black KarL4 card reader gleams in the rising sun.
From a small farm shop to a modern solution
Previously, Emma had a small farm shop in the old barn next to her home, where she sold fruit, vegetables, eggs and milk. But the shop meant extra work for her, and she couldn't spare much time in her stressful everyday life to keep it running. As a result, she was only able to open it two afternoons a week - much to the disappointment of her customers. Time and again, she heard from some of them that they couldn't make it in during regular opening hours.
The automated farm shop
Emma needed a solution quickly. She remembered how a customer had once told her about vending machines for farm produce. A vending machine? On her farm? Emma was skeptical. But the time savings convinced her: the vending machine is open around the clock and Emma no longer has to interrupt her work to serve customers - after all, they serve themselves at a vending machine.
Emma decided to give it a chance: Without further ado, two vending machines were delivered and installed in front of her yard. She sorts egg cartons into the top compartments every day, vegetables and fruit fit into the middle compartments and the bottom compartments offer space for milk bottles. The vending machines are also equipped with integrated refrigeration to keep food fresh for longer. Each item is lovingly labeled with a small description: ‘Eggs from happy hens’ or ‘Tomatoes fresh from the field.’
But a few weeks ago there was the first problem. The vending machines only had a coin and note slot and did not allow card payments. At first Emma thought nothing of it, until one day a customer marched across the farm and came to Emma in the cowshed. She asked Emma if the old farm shop was still there. No, the farm shop in the old barn had been replaced by the vending machines, Emma replied proudly. But that's a shame, at least you could still pay by card in the farm shop, said the customer. That's right, thought Emma. She used to have a card reader next to her till. Now you can only pay with cash at the machines. Emma hadn't thought about that. A solution had to be found!
SECO's technology for the modern farm shop
Fortunately, Emma quickly found the perfect alternative: cashless payment with KarL4 from SECO, which now allows her customers to pay by debit and credit card. The card reader and the associated Clea Vend telemetry were her saviour. The technology was installed in the machines within a few days and Emma and her customers have been reaping the benefits ever since: Payments are faster and Emma is happy about more sales.
Every morning, she checks the Clea Vend telemetry and looks at the previous day's sales. With just a few clicks, she has all the figures at a glance: Which products have sold best? Which shelves need to be restocked? Are there any problems? ‘Finally, no more tedious calculations and manual logs,’ Emma cheers in her mind. Clea Vend does the work for her and saves the analyses securely.
Find out more about Clea for vending
From cash to digital: payment made easy with KarL4
The switch from cash-only payments to integrated card payments with KarL4 has revolutionized the processing of payments at Emma's vending machines. Your customers can now simply hold their girocard up to the payment terminal and buy their favorite product without having to enter their PIN. This is also easy with a smartphone or smartwatch. No more small changes, no more counting the day's takings in the evening - simply record everything digitally.
A village in transition: enthusiasm for modern technology
Her customers are delighted. After just a few days, Emma receives positive feedback about the vending machines and the card terminal. Walkers pass by with their dogs, joggers and cyclists stop, and drivers park right next to the shop to help themselves to the vending machines.
Emma watches the hustle and bustle from afar and has to smile. At first, she was worried that the technology would put people off. But the opposite is the case. The vending machine is well-frequented every day - around the clock.
Progress on the farm with SECO technologies
As the day draws to a close, Emma makes her usual round of the farm. As always, her last stop is the fully automated farm shop with SECO technologies at the entrance, which she now looks at proudly. The investment has definitely paid off - not only financially but also emotionally. As well as being a modern source of income, the vending machines are also a sign that tradition and progress can go together wonderfully.
The chickens cluck quietly in the background. Emma leaves two filled vending machines behind her and walks back into the house, satisfied.
Conclusion: Smart solutions from SECO make Emma's everyday life easier
With Clea Vend telemetry and the KarL4 card payment system from SECO, Emma has turned her farm into a modern success story. Tradition remains intact, while technology makes her everyday life easier and delights her customers. For Emma, one thing is clear: this investment was more than just practical - it was the ideal step towards the future.
You too can benefit from our innovative solutions for your vending machines!