As the Internet spreads out to more businesses, even gasoline station air machines are getting the web treatment.
Eagle Coin Air, based in the Houston suburb of Katy, TX, owns and operates 85 public-serving air-pressure machines at automobile service stations, using the web to monitor the revenue intake and maintenance of each machine.
The web makes it possible to monitor a large number of machines to overcome their biggest potential problem of malfunctioning, says owner Gary Pierce. “The web tells how much money each machine is making and if there’s a problem,” he says.
Each machine brings in about $250 a month, which Eagle Coin Air splits with the service station owner. After deducting about $10 a month in maintenance, Eagle Coin Air earns $115 a month per machine, for a about 45%, Pierce says. “The machines get an ROI in less than two years,” he says.
The machines cost about $1,800 each. Pierce installs $400 web-based software from Houston-based Protel Inc. in each one. The total cost per machine including installation comes to about $2,300.
Pierce also owns and operates Box Office Video, which so far operates one web-based DVD rental kiosk in a convenience store.
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