Smart vending machine software is being showcased by SAP Africa at this year’s SAPHILA conference, to be held at Sun City, South Africa, June 9-11.

SAPHILA is a biennial conference for users of German software company SAP’s technology. SAP’s smart vending software collects customer information, provides real-time replenishment analysis and allows operators to receive feedback from social media, the company said.

“SAP will be showcasing its machine-to-machine integration, which supports the four pillars of retail vending,” Zach van der Walt, SAP Africa’s industry solutions architect, said in a statement. He describes these pillars as interactive consumer experience tied in with mobile commerce, real-world supply chain and vending machine support.

Real-time data is accessed in the cloud, allowing vending operators to manage inventory, according to SAP. The software also helps operators provide the right products at the right time by capturing consumer information such as product preference and purchase time. It enables operators to customize couponing and change the look and feel of the vending machine to match the person standing in front of it, the company said.

The software enables consumers to pay by tapping their NFC-enabled phones against an NFC-enabled vending machine. Purchases are linked to customer social profiles allowing operators to gain insight into consumer preferences.

“With SAP Smart Vending and mCommerce, retail vending has evolved to be an always on business that provides real-time data for stock replenishment and marketing,” van der Walt said. “Vending machine assets are better looked after and the consumer experience is improved considerably.”