88.3% of vending-machine users want cashless; 48.5% skipped a purchase at cash-only machines
MP Solution, a cashless-payment provider, surveyed 600 people aged 15–69 who use drink vending machines at least monthly. 88.3% want some form of cashless payment, and 48.5% had given up on a purchase in the past six months because a machine took only cash. At QR-only machines, 40.0% of cashless users abandoned the purchase.
Key points
- 88.3% want cashless payment; 48.5% gave up on a cash-only machine in the past six months
- 78.5% of cashless users want at least one tap-to-pay method (QR payments: 53.2%)
- If their preferred method is unsupported, 57.3% go elsewhere; 74.7% do not buy at that machine
Background
The online survey ran August 10–14, 2026, and was conducted by a company that sells cashless payment services for unattended machines. Respondents are vending-machine users, so the figures are not for all restaurant or retail customers.
What matters most is the speed of “just tapping” (36.2%) and support for the payment method they normally use (30.9%). At QR-only machines, 55.9% of tap-to-pay users gave up.
What it means for shops
Beyond vending machines, unattended shops, retail corners and small stores may also lose sales through unsupported payment methods. Convenience such as simply tapping, not only the range of methods, is becoming a reason customers choose where to buy.
What shops should do
- List the payment methods you accept and check support for transit IC cards, card tap-to-pay and QR payments
🔒 3 more action items for subscribers
Summaries are written by Seiichi Studio based on the original releases. Always check the source for the exact details.