From all indications, smart markets are a game changer. Driven by AI, featuring the security benefits of vending and the product merchandising power of a micro market, it is no wonder that smart markets are emerging as the next big thing.

In the first part of a two-part episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, Tullio takes a deeper dive. He speaks with many of the entrants into the smart market space, big and small. Each is beginning to find their niche in what is almost certain to become a massive opportunity for everyone involved.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard. This podcast is your scorecard for the micro market game.

Part one features Evan Jarecki from Gimme, Ryan McWhirter of 365 Retail Markets, Elyssa Steiner of Cantaloupe, Yang Yu of Micromart, and Arthur Siller from Evergreen Refreshments.

Part two of this podcast on smart markets will be available on Tuesday, October 15. Part two will include interviews with other smart market providers, including Mike DeLazzer, founder of Redbox, now with Instant Retail Systems, Detlev Goedbloed of Structural Concepts, Fred Kahn at Kooick, Guy Moshe at Shekel and more.

Editor's Note: Many of the interviews in this podcast (which offers a timely post-season baseball theme) were conducted by host Bob Tullio for an article that appeared in Automatic Merchandiser Magazine’s August edition.