For over 20 years, D8 and Coges have worked hand in hand to push the boundaries of vending payment systems. What started as a simple integration of key-based payments alongside cash has grown into something much more sophisticated. Thanks to Coges’ solutions and their Engine Connect IoT device, D8 now boasts a fully integrated payment and telemetry system.

Facing challenges before telemetry

Can you walk us through some of the main challenges you had with managing your vending machines before telemetry? Were there specific pain points around monitoring, inventory, or maintenance?

“Managing our vending machines was tough before telemetry,” shares Bertrand Korwin, Back Office Manager. “The pandemic hit us hard, and with raw material costs rising, it became obvious we needed to be more agile. Telemetry was a game-changer. It let us roll out pricing campaigns quickly and efficiently, without all the logistical headaches or needing technicians on-site. Now, we can tweak prices remotely for each machine with just a click.”

In just two years, we’ve upgraded over half our fleet with telemetry and connected everything to our ERP. This gives us real-time visibility into sales, helping us better understand what our customers want. Plus, we can spot technical issues before they become problems, monitoring Engine performance remotely, which means we can support our technicians better, cut down on intervention times, and avoid unnecessary trips.

The Nebular management program has been a lifesaver too—its simplicity and clarity make it easy for new team members to get up to speed quickly while helping us stay on top of everything across our network of vending machines.

Innovation and efficiency through collaboration

How has working with Coges helped in terms of innovation and efficiency?

“Working with Coges has completely changed how we think about monitoring and maintaining our machines,” says Benjamin Pradolin, Head of Payment Solutions at D8. “We can now keep an eye on each system remotely, which is a huge step forward for our payment services. With over-the-air updates, we can roll out the latest Coges software across our entire fleet in just a few hours. No more manual updates, which saves us so much time.”

Being able to manage everything from one place—whether it’s issuing free credits, blacklisting, or setting operating hours—has made us much more efficient. “A few years ago, this would’ve sounded like science fiction. Today, it’s our everyday reality, and it’s turned our support team into a proactive, strategic asset,” Pradolin adds with a smile.

Making a difference with telemetry

How has Coges’ telemetry made a difference for D8? Can you highlight any specific areas?

“Our partnership with Coges has been a journey. We’ve watched their products evolve from simple key readers to sophisticated payment and telemetry solutions,” says Bertrand Korwin. “They’ve supported us every step of the way, helping us transition smoothly from key-based payments to apps, credit cards, and now telemetry. We couldn’t have made that leap without their solid technical support.”

Unexpected benefits and synergies

What benefits have come from this collaboration? Any surprises along the way?

“Over time, the Engine has become more than just a payment system—it’s the brain of our vending machines. It helps us meet customer expectations, manage inventory smartly, anticipate stock shortages, and keep an eye on the technical health of our machines,” Korwin explains.

This technology also boosts our internal operations. Our sales team can adapt strategies to match market trends, and our technical team stays on top of system performance and issues. With real-time inventory management, our operations team can launch super-targeted pricing campaigns that respond to customer needs in the moment.

“The potential is huge,” Pradolin adds. “We’re looking forward to integrating Coges cloud platform even more closely with our ERP system. Imagine a world where operators only head out when Coges platform sends an alert, or a technician is automatically dispatched when a fault is detected. That’s the future we’re aiming for.”

Looking ahead, our partnership with Coges is opening up exciting possibilities. We’re gearing up for even more automation to keep things running smoothly and make sure our customers always have the best experience. With Coges by our side, we’re ready to tackle whatever comes next.