Payment Technology
Cashless
Term from the vending glossary
Cashless payment at vending machines via girocard, credit card, NFC, mobile payment or employee ID. Reduces cash handling and vandalism risk.
Cashless systems at vending machines communicate with the machine controller via the MDB protocol. Modern terminals (e.g. from Nayax, Payter or CPI) support EMV chip, contactless (ISO 14443) and QR-code payment in a single device.
In Europe, the share of cashless vending transactions increased between 2019 and 2023 from under 20 % to over 50 %. Higher transaction fees (0.5–1.5 % + fixed amount) are more than offset by lower cash logistics costs and higher average transaction values.
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Related terms
MDB 4.3Current MDB protocol version (2018) with native cashless support, NFC, and mobile payment. De facto standard in European vending operations.NFCNear Field Communication — contactless radio connection over a few centimetres. Foundation for Tap-to-Pay with card, smartphone or employee badge at the vending machine.Multi-Price SystemPricing logic that enables a machine to charge different prices based on product, time of day, or user group—such as subsidized employee prices verified by credential.Open-Loop PaymentOpen payment system universally accepted — girocard, credit card, NFC, Apple Pay. Opposite of Closed-Loop. Standard in modern vending; enables purchase without prior registration. Requires bank integration and transaction fees (approx. 0.3–1.5% per transaction).Prepaid AccountPrepayment model for vending-machine payment systems: users load a digital balance (via app or loading station) and pay for purchases without real-time bank connection. Reduces transaction costs and enables employer contribution models (e.g. 50% employer contribution).