Crazy Rich Asian Vending Machines
Recently (13/03/2022), Grace Tahir, the second daughter of Dato Sri Tahir as the 16th richest person in Indonesia in 2021, on her youtube channel showed a unique vending machine in Singapore. Unlike other vending machines that sell canned drinks or snacks, this vending machine actually sells luxury cars from various brands such as BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and many more.
The vending machine is actually a showroom owned by Autobahn Motors in Singapore which is designed like a vending machine. The way it works is the same as an ordinary Vending Machine, prospective buyers simply press the touchscreen of the car they are targeting and within 1-2 minutes the car can be brought home. Vending Machines in Singapore are known to be very unique. In addition to luxury cars, wagyu meat, salmon and even cactus are also provided at Vending Machines in the country.
Vending Machine History
The initial idea of forming a Vending Machine or vending machine can not be separated from the history of Ancient Egypt in the 350th century AD. Alexandria, the Egyptian mathematician at that time made a device for distributing holy water using a lever that was given a weight in the form of a coin to open a valve that could release the flow of holy water and stop if the coin fell. In this modern era, the Vending Machine originated in Queen Elizabeth's country in the 1880s where the machine was used to sell envelopes, brochures and postcards. The way the vending machine works in this modern era is still adopting the previous system where prospective buyers simply enter a coin and then the goods we want will come out according to what we have chosen before.
The current use of Vending Machines can not only use coins but can also use paper money, credit/debit cards and even e-money. This vending machine also experienced developments in terms of functions that varied to countries around the world as we know it today. There is even a research in 2020 that says that in the future 20% of the total Vending Machines in the world can become intelligent machines that know who we are and what we like, very interesting isn't it?
The Socio-Cultural Role of Vending Machines in Singapore
As one of the developed countries in the world, the trend of using Vending Machines in Singapore is not a strange thing. High technology is considered a symbol of progress, wealth, power and prestige. The law "who can master technology will rule the world" must also be familiar to postmodernists. Sociologically, the use of Vending Machines in Singapore's fast-paced life is greatly helped by the existence of this vending machine which is considered practical and does not require long queues like in general kiosks. In addition, the existence of the Vending Machine which operates 24 hours a day is also driven by the characteristics of the Singaporean people who have high work habits so that they are always available whenever they need it.
Market research firm Euromonitor said that Vending Machine revenue in Singapore grew from around S$ 91 million (990 billion rupiah) in 2014 to S$ 104.5 million (1.1 trillion rupiah) in 2019. Vending has become a part of Singaporean society's life.
Luxury Car Vending Machines in Singapore
The term Crazy Rich Asian for a conglomerate from Asia whose wealth is estimated to be endless until seven of his descendants seems familiar to the world community. The country of Singapore, which is predicted to be the home of Crazy Rich Asians, will never be separated from the existence of luxury cars. There, these cars no longer prioritize the function of usability only, but tend to fulfill hobbies and aesthetics. The car retail page, Wapcar, says that many Singaporeans buy luxury cars just for display. Instead of being used on the highway, they make it like a work of art on display in a gallery. The Autobahn Motors company sees this as an attractive opportunity to provide efficiency and convenience in selling their products. In addition to being an attractive opportunity to market products, the creation of a car showroom that soars upwards with a capacity of 60 cars and a height of 148 feet is also an innovation due to the increasingly narrow land area in Singapore.
The existence of a vending machine in Singapore, which is fast-paced, practical and has high working hours has become an inseparable part of people's lives. Along with the development of technology and innovation, this vending machine also does not only sell drinks or snacks but also sells items that look "wow" to some people.
