Step 5 of 5

It's not just convenient

A huge reason Japanese people give for the use of the vending machine is that it is benri or convenient. [Poultron 2018, p 304] Placing a machine near or in a store generates more traffic, meaning potential customers come to the store with the possibility of buying other products. It can also be advantageous for facilities that don’t sell food products, like clothing stores, to place a machine for their customers so they stay for a longer time.

In for example a factory, instead of using a lot of space for a canteen for employees, it’s more efficient, cheaper and cleaner to place a vending machine with lunch items. Although very densely populated, companies in Japan are sometimes understaffed, and automation is the solution for the labor shortage problem.[Ibid, p 306-307]

There are a lot of positives to the machines because they are quick, easy and cheap. Because of this, they suit the modern lifestyle in the Japanese cities. And despite lacking in personal service, they are never unfriendly to the customer.