Ms. Aromorn Sapphathaweetham, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce, revealed that the Department's analysis for July 2025 found that the vending machine business is a business with a continued growth trend, aligning with modern consumer behavior, which prioritizes convenience, 24-hour shopping, and a variety of payment options. Currently, there are 760 juristic persons operating such businesses with registered capital of 5.962 billion baht. The majority are small businesses (S), comprising 724 (95%), with registered capital of 1.8 billion baht. This is followed by medium-sized businesses (M), comprising 30 (3.95%), with registered capital of 2.303 billion baht, and large businesses (L), comprising 6 (0.79%), with registered capital of 1.86 billion baht. In 2024, 86 new businesses were registered, an increase of 31 (56.36%) from 2023, with registered capital of 91.35 million baht. In the first seven months of 2025 (January-July), 13 new businesses were registered, with registered capital of 15.56 million baht.

Director-General Arommon continued, "Vending machine businesses are concentrated in Bangkok and major cities such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, and key economic zones. Locations where vending machines are installed are also important." They are located in easily accessible areas, such as department stores, offices, condominiums, gas stations, train stations, and hospitals. Reasons for choosing to purchase products through vending machines include convenience, time savings, immediate availability, easy product discovery, and a variety of payment options. QR Code payment is the most popular payment method, followed by cash, reflecting Thailand's continued transition to a cashless society.

Finance totaled over 619 million baht, representing 10.38% of total investment in this business. The top three investment countries were Hong Kong (455 million baht), the Cayman Islands (76 million baht), and Austria (27 million baht). The performance of the vending machine business continues to show positive trends. In 2023, revenue reached 7.538 billion baht, generating the highest profit in three years (2022-2024) of 975 million baht. In 2024, revenue reached 10.156 billion baht, a 34.74% increase compared to 2023, with a profit of 10.15 million baht. This clearly reflects the market's potential and expanding demand. Factors contributing to the vending machine business presenting new opportunities for both small and large entrepreneurs include diverse investment options. These include self-funding, franchises, machine rentals, or joint ventures. Furthermore, the investment is low, requiring no staff, generating 24-hour revenue, meeting consumer needs, and providing a channel for businesses to reach customers. Furthermore, it allows for product distribution to new locations. Furthermore, modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital payment systems, and consumer data analytics can enhance competitiveness and differentiate themselves in the market. The Department recommends that businesses adapt to customer needs, prioritizing product quality, implementing promotions or membership systems to encourage repeat purchases, ensuring the availability of vending machines and payment systems, selecting suitable locations, and creating innovative services to meet the diverse needs of Thai consumers, such as healthy food, fresh fruit, and niche products. This will foster sustainable business opportunities in the future," concluded Director-General Arommon.

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