Question for vending operators — software pricing and what would actually be worth paying for
I am working on something in the vending operator software space and I would value the community's honest perspective before I commit to pricing decisions.
The current options seem to fall into two camps. Enterprise platforms like Cantaloupe Seed that charge per machine and add up fast as you scale. Legacy tools like VendSoft that are cheaper but missing capabilities a modern operator actually needs — real CRM, commission tracking that handles refunds correctly, AI-driven insights, financial intelligence beyond basic reports.
I am building something that fits in between. Operator-side business management. Flat rate per operator regardless of fleet size, so the software cost does not scale with your machine count. Full CRM, full commission tracking, real financial management, AI insights, route management, and an operator community built into the platform.
Three honest questions for anyone willing to share:
What do you currently pay per month across all your vending software, and what do you wish it did that it does not?
For a platform that did everything I described, flat rate per operator, what monthly price would feel obviously fair? What price would feel too high to bother evaluating? What price would feel suspiciously cheap?
What is the one thing you wish someone would build that nobody has built yet?
I am not selling anything in this post. I do not have anything to sell yet. I am asking for your perspective so I can build something operators actually want instead of guessing at it from outside. Any answer, short or long, is appreciated.
Will read every reply. Thanks!