Monday morning the route driver fills the candy machine. He'll do the same next week. Monday night the tourist bus from Florida makes an unscheduled stop. Your machine will sit, nearly empty, until next week. How could you know?

Over the last six months, the vending machine in the library basement has needed restocking three times. Regardless, it's part of the weekly route like all the others because who knows when the next three times might be?

People expect vending machines to be ready on demand with fresh snacks, cold drinks, or hot coffee. But there's a catch. If you don't commit time, resources, and labor to continually "making the rounds," the machines could sit empty, broken down, or jammed, losing money and making your customers feel like you don't run a reliable operation. On the other hand, if your service personnel must constantly check machinery that seldom needs service, your fuel and maintenance bills add up and your profits fall.