VT Inc., formerly Automated Vending Technologies, recently announced that it has partnered with Plano, Texas-based Rug Doctor Inc. to develop "the world's first self-service carpet cleaning system automated rent-and-return kiosk center, patent pending."
Rug Doctor, the carpet cleaning system company, has already launched a 27-unit pilot program, called Rug Doctor Rapid Rents, which provides a "quick, efficient and user friendly way to rent and return the best carpet cleaning systems in America," the company said.
Just last summer Disneyland started deploying self-service kiosks for renting strollers, and bicycle-rental kiosks are spreading like weeds. Along with Zipcar-type services, self-service car-rental kiosks and the rise of self-checkout library kiosks, how long before all rentals are handled via kiosk or smartphone? Is the car-rental clerk job about to go the way of the dodo?
Rug Doctor teamed with Corona, California-based AVT to develop the self-service system that allows customers to rent and return the carpet cleaning machines through a touchscreen-based kiosk center without involving store personnel.
"The new Rug Doctor kiosk features an intuitive graphical user interface, cashless payment, alert notifications, real-time activity, and eye-catching graphics, and is a refreshing way to speed up the entire rent-and-return process in a dynamic and hassle-free manner," Rug Doctor CEO Tim Wall said. "After a successful pilot program in several test markets, we are now in a position to expand our automated centers where it makes sense for our retail partners and Rug Doctor."
AVT founder Shannon Illingworth said that the new self-service system makes it easier and more likely for big-box retailers to host the carpet cleaner-rentals than before, when in-store personnel had to devote copious amounts of time to renting out the carpet cleaners to customers.
"The response is just gigantic," he said. "That's why they're trying to roll them out so quickly. They're pushing to get these machines in stores now."
AVT Inc. today announced that, effective June 27 and following the successful implementation the pilot program, it has entered into a development and manufacturing agreement with Rug Doctor Inc., a Delaware corporation. The agreement has a two-year term and contemplates AVT exclusively manufacturing up to approximately 2,000 patent-pending, automated self-service carpet cleaning system rental-and-return kiosks during the first year of the agreement.
"We've had an overwhelming response with the machines," Illingworth said. "They're seeing a lot of activity, and it keeps going up and up and up and it hasn't leveled out."
And what's next for AVT?
The company already has churned out ink cartridge kiosks and self-service milk and butter dispensing kiosks, Illingworth said, and is currently working with a company on a self-service propane tank exchange.
A new growth industry is changing the retail experience forever. This industry represents billions in untapped revenue for retailers who have the vision to see where consumers want to go.
The Vending Times Census of the Industry estimates that the potential for this industry is over $42 billion per year
This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that large retailers need to reduce pilferage and increase brand awareness, plus expand points of distribution. The solution is our automated product dispensing centers. AVT's systems will enhance the way retailers deliver the shopping experience to their customers, while automating the point of purchase - thereby lowering overhead expenses and reducing product shrinkage.
AVT's product line includes the high-end Premium Retail Environments (PREs). These new ultra-premium products can replace a retail store or expand an existing store, and currently include systems such as: The Airport, The Cosmetic Store, The Premium Hotel, The University, and The Premium Store Front.
Several of the systems feature a revolutionary robotic arm capable of dispensing up to 150 different items in an architecturally striking environment. Using upscale materials that include glass walls and polished woods, these visually appealing units allow consumers to view the variety of chic products and marvel at the fascinating automated dispensing process.
With the addition of the Premium Retail Environments to their product line, AVT is able to offer viable solutions for increased revenue and efficiency to almost any retailer of any size.
