How QR vending payments work
A QR label on the machine links the phone to that specific machine. The customer scans, selects, pays in the browser or app, and the machine vends. The transaction is credited through the same MDB channel a coin would use, so reporting stays in one place.
- No card terminal hardware required on the machine
- Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay and stored cards
- Free-vend and discount codes for staff or promotions
- Loyalty and repeat-purchase tracking per machine
Where QR beats a card reader
QR suits low-traffic sites where a $550 reader is hard to justify, staff-benefit machines that need free-vend codes, and promotional placements where you want to track a campaign rather than just take money.
High-traffic public machines still do better with a physical tap reader — the extra seconds of a phone scan matter in a queue.
Frequently asked questions
Do customers need to download an app?
Not usually. Most QR systems open a mobile web page, so the customer can pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay without installing anything.
Can we give staff free vends?
Yes. QR systems support free-vend and discounted codes per person or per group, which is how many employers run subsidised drinks or snacks.
Can I run QR and coins together?
Yes. QR sits alongside coin, note and card acceptance, and all sales report through the same machine controller.
Add phone payments to your machines
We will look at the machine controller and the site traffic and recommend QR, a tap reader, or both.