Vending Machines Get "Smart" With 46-Inch Touchscreens

NEW YORK CITY (CBS) --  As long as it keeps your favorite food and drink in stock, and actually delivers the item that you've paid for, you're probably satisfied with your nearest vending machine.

But as with most relationships, you might be tempted by a new model with a lot more "smarts."

KYW tech editor Ian Bush reports it's being shown off this week at the National Retail Federation's convention in New York City.

Oreos. Chips Ahoy. Sour Patch Kids.

If you love scarfing down such snacks, you might be unswayed by nutritional information, but Microsoft and snackmaker Mondelez have come up with a vending machine that has a 46-inch touchscreen to show you that and more.

The Diji-Touch displays products and alerts restockers when inventory is low.

"It tells them where a particular product is hotter than in another vending machine location," Microsoft's Rebecca Needham explained.

And Needham says it allows brands to offer free products in exchange for playing a game or another promotion.

But there's no need for an expensive new machine.

Existing ones can be fitted with a Windows 10 touch device to do most of the same things.

"Provides the same analytics that the company can get on the back-end. It also makes it more interactive for the consumer or the shopper. But it's the addition of the low-cost device that makes that happen," Needham said.

For more information on new "smart" vending machines, click here.