USA Technologies (USAT) has kicked off its “Fifth Vend Free” mobile payment and loyalty program for the United States vending industry, this week at the NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas.

The mobile payment and loyalty program will integrate USA Technologies’ installed base of over 100,000 NFC-enabled cashless payment terminals with Isis’ SmartTap mobile commerce technology, for rewards acceptance and redemption.

Under the promotion, announced by USAT and Isis, customers would be eligible to receive free products from vending operators based upon loyalty rewards earned by using the Isis Mobile Wallet to pay for a purchase at a qualifying terminal.

“After a successful pilot with Isis in Salt Lake City and Austin, we are extremely excited to expand via the addition of a loyalty program,” said Stephen P. Herbert chairman and chief executive officer of USA Technologies.

PGI Services, a Salt Lake City vending, coffee and micro market service provider, has been preparing for mobile-based consumer engagement tools to drive traffic to its machines, particularly in areas such as the Salt Lake City airport and business centers.

According to Mike Lawlor, the SVP of business development for cashless payment services company USA Technologies, automated retailing – meaning vending machines – could be a trigger for the broad acceptance of mobile payments.

He added, “Vending is so ubiquitous. It is an everyday, everywhere part of your life, and because of that, it is catalyst for consumer change in behavior.”

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