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High Tech Vending Machines Transform IT Support At Facebook

Posted by Soulskill on from the my-mouse-got-stuck-against-the-glass dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "While getting power cords, replacement keyboards, and other sundry computer accessories to employees who need them sounds easy enough, at many companies the process requires filling out order forms that can take IT departments days to fulfill. That's why Facebook CIO Tim Campos decided to take a more user-friendly approach to this common problem, installing custom-made vending machines around the Facebook campus that dispense computer accessories instead of snacks and sodas. When Facebook engineers spill coffee on their keyboard (a common mishap), they head to a nearby vending machine instead of hitting up their IT guy or just grabbing a replacement from a nearby cabinet. They swipe their badge, key in their selection and voila — a brand new keyboard drops down for them to take. According to Campos, they've reduced the cost of managing replacement accessories by about 35%. While products found in the vending machines are free, items are clearly marked with price tags so employees can see the retail value of each accessory they take. The new vending machines also require all employees to swipe their badge before making a selection. That means each and every power cord, keyboard and screen wipe they take can be traced back to their name, ensuring that the system won't be abused. 'I like the assumption that employees will do the right thing,' writes Alexis Madrigal. 'The swipe means that everyone's requests are tracked and I'm sure some algorithm somewhere is constantly sorting the data to see if anyone has pulled 10 sets of headphones out of the system.'"

6 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Same Typical Vending Problems? by Molochi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Model M keyboards were removed from the machines because they don't need to be replaced that often.

    --
    "The Adobe Updater must update itself before it can check for updates. Would you like to update the Adobe Updater now?"
  2. You keep using that word... by niftydude · · Score: 3, Insightful

    'I like the assumption that employees will do the right thing,' writes Alexis Madrigal. 'The swipe means that everyone's requests are tracked and I'm sure some algorithm somewhere is constantly sorting the data to see if anyone has pulled 10 sets of headphones out of the system.'

    I do not think that the word "assumption" means what Alexis thinks it means.

    --
    You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
  3. Common mishap? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When Facebook engineers spill coffee on their keyboard (a common mishap),

    I've been a system programmer/administrator for over 25 years and routinely eat and drink at my desk and have *never* spilled anything on my equipment - computer or otherwise. What kind of monkeys do they hire at Facebook?

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Common mishap? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm guessing my example of killing a keyboard or mouse every 5-10 years is more representative. Assuming a 10,000 person campus, that would be 1-2000 peripherals zapped a year. About 2000 hours in a standard business year, so every hour or two somebody is looking for a new peripheral.

      The law of large numbers turns rare occurrences in the life of any single person into an every day hassle.

  4. Re:Intel has had these for years by frglrock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So has Facebook apparently. The first article has the timestamp: "July 6, 2011: 8:55 AM ET"

    The point the author of the second article, some two years later, seems to be making is that they actually trust their employees.

  5. Re:This is *Facebook* people, you're missing it by supersat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You might be joking, but they already implemented this years ago on the office keg: http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/27/facebook-buzz/