MIRI: The vending machine business is another opportunity for the local community to boost the economic sector.
According to the general manager of JV Smart Vending Sdn Bhd, Andenson Dato, this product and service-based operations, set up by founder and director of JV Smart Vending, Mohd Afiq Zarith Mohd Izham from Johor Bahru, has diversified the business activities in Sarawak, particularly in Miri.
Afiq started off small by setting up JV Smart Vending Supply & Services in 2019, which was eventually upgraded to JV Smart Vending Sdn Bhd in 2021.
“With three years of experience in the vending machine industry, Afiq decided to open up the business to people interested in venturing into this product and service-based operations without having to abandon their existing business commitments.
“This form of business is still considered new in Borneo because not many companies can supply vending machine services on a big scale,” said Anderson.
What Andenson simply means is that the market potential is still vast in Sarawak.
“This business highlights the concept of self-service and does not require employees to wait at the machine all the time,” he said.
With more vending machines managed by JV Smart Vending Sdn Bhd, Anderson said employment opportunities for the local community will also increase as the company will need more employees to manage and ensure that the vending machines can operate smoothly.
“In Miri alone, there are 36 secondary and primary schools that have potential to place vending machines, 43 government facilities and hospitals, 36 potential factories and 12 IPTA/IPTS where the company can provide vending machine facilities.
“This business is an example of a business with the concept of AI (Artificial Intelligence) that can relate by evolution in retail and services which make our lifestyle easier. We provide unmanned convenient stores which operate 24 hours without any manpower.
“Moreover, the vending machines can be monitored remotely from anywhere. For payment, we using cash and cashless QR payment. In five years we expect 70 per cent of the market to use cashless payment,” Anderson said.
JV Smart Vending’s adoption of a cashless payment system is in line with the government’s effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19 disease as close contacts are avoided.
“In addition, the company also has an effective money and stock collection system to monitor the movement of stock for each vending machine that the company manages,” explained Anderson.
JV Smart Vending started its Miri operations in November last year where Miri Dayak Association president Wilfred Mac officiated at the opening of the company’s branch office.
Some 300 guests were invited to experience first-hand the concept of the evolution of the retail industry, the vending machine business in particular.
At the launching ceremony, the company took the opportunity to present donations to three orphanages.
The launch also saw the appointment of Andenson’s company AB Maju by JV Smart Vending as Borneo’s exclusive sole dealer covering Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan.
