Vending machines are already an incredibly convenient way for people to stop and grab a quick snack or a drink in the middle of their busy workdays. So even in an age of convenience, as digital transformation hits every conceivable industry, not many thought to apply technological advancements to something as innocuous as a vending machine.
But Tiago Godoi did.
It's the kind of thing you'd expect to see in a sci-fi movie: the ability to walk up to a vending machine, wink at it, and get your favorite soda without having to pull out your wallet. It sounds far-fetched, but the future is here, thanks to innovators like Tiago Godoi, inventor of a vending machine powered by computer vision and facial recognition.
So keep reading to learn more about Godoi, his long history of innovation, and how he's changing the way people grab a snack.
A Modern Take on a Classic Technology
When you think about it, vending machines aren't that convenient at all. You have to scan its shelves to confirm that it even has what you want, dig through your wallet to find a bill that's flat enough, inevitably smooth it out to make sure it works, and then pray to the vending machine gods that it doesn't eat your money and leave you high and dry (literally) as your snack gets stuck on the coils.
Even vending machines that take credit cards aren't that much better. While they eliminate the need to find a pristine dollar bill that the machine is in a good enough mood to take, they introduce another risk: credit card fraud. Unfortunately, it's shockingly easy to install a credit card skimmer on any card reader, leaving your personal information vulnerable to anyone desperate enough to steal from you. And even if there's not a skimmer in sight, stopping in the middle of a busy walkway to pull out your wallet puts you in a rather vulnerable position.
So what if there were a way to get your drink without having to touch your money? What if you could simply open the door, take your snack, and walk away, as your account is automatically billed for whatever you took?
This is where Tiago Godoi and his innovations come in. He's the inventor behind U-Get, a company specializing in smart vending machines. By harnessing the power of the Internet of Things, computer vision, and facial recognition, he's created the vending machine of the future, one that won't eat your money or put your sensitive data at risk.
It works by downloading the companion app, registering your facial data via your phone, and then walking up to any participating vending machine in the country. You look into the camera, get recognized by the facial recognition software, and then remove your drink of choice.
No bills, no credit card skimmers, and no kicking the side of the machine as your snack hangs in limbo.
Tiago Godoi: A Serial Inventor
The man behind these smart vending machines is no stranger to technological genius. Tiago Godoi has been fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation since he was a young man, having founded a software development company at just 16. After earning a degree in Business Administration from the Universidade de São Paulo and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, he spent his early career working for McKinsey & Co., Meta, and Mercado Pago, the third-largest digital bank in Brazil.
But even before creating U-Get, Godoi invented several solutions that leverage modern technology to provide an unprecedented level of convenience for the average consumer. This includes Balizapp, an application designed to help drivers parallel park; SportsToGo, an innovative solution for metropolitan commuters that offers automated shower cabins; and Saxperto, a cash withdrawal network for digital wallet customers that was later accelerated by the Brazilian Central Bank.
As you can see, innovation is what Godoi does best. He lives and breathes it, even taking it home with him and developing prototypes in the living room—all while his children help and cheer him on.
If you asked him to stop, he couldn't if he wanted to. "I'm a serial innovator," he says. "I just can't help it."
U-Get's Commercial Success
U-Get is the pinnacle of Godoi's innovative efforts, and it's the project he's most proud of. It's also earned him incredible success: After pitching it to one of the biggest soft drink providers in the world, the executives fell in love with his solution and had him sign an international exclusivity contract immediately.
Now, with over 400 units deployed and over 30,000 recurring customers, U-Get's smart vending machines have become the preferred choice for many. Their convenience and security make them the smart choice for consumers and the gold standard for modern vending technology moving forward.
Tiago Godoi and the Future of Vending Machines
Thanks to Tiago Godoi's innovations, it's inevitable that the vending industry will quickly move to standardize around this more convenient and safe technology. Although the tech will be commonplace in another ten years, Godoi will forever be able to say that he played a pivotal role in making the stereotypical frustrations that come with traditional vending machines a thing of the past.
