A place that evokes convivial gatherings, new ideas and relaxing breaks: a workplace drink dispenser is so much more than a practical device that quenches thirst. If you want to bring one to the workplace, you're presented with a wide range of options. Do you choose a classic, but energy-hungry device? Or a durable, healthy all-in-one solution? Before you buy or rent a drink dispenser, pause to consider these five questions.

1. What time investment do you have for a drink dispenser?

Classic refill systems often add a hidden but time-consuming task to your office manager's package. For a soda machine, for example, your multitasker regularly hangs up the phone to place new orders or report technical problems. An old-fashioned refrigerator isn't much better. That solution seems simple, but someone has to refill it several times a month with disposable bottles and cans. Consumption by consumption, the longest lasting drinks carefully stored in the back. And don't forget the waste, because collecting those disposable containers again takes precious time.

To bet on maximum efficiency and productivity, look for a time-saving alternative. If you choose the Dripl Refill Point, an all-in-one drink dispenser that combines flat and sparkling water with healthy soft drinks, you can fill the entire unit with new flavours in ten minutes. Such a smart system sends you a reminder when you're almost through your supply of flavour concentrates and CO2. Moreover, you'll see when it's time for a technical maintenance that Dripl will automatically arrange for you.

2. The health of your employees is important, right?

Gradually, the monopoly of traditional soft drinks in the workplace is coming to an end. With good reason, because employees who maintain a healthy eating and drinking pattern have more energy, are more productive and concentrate better. Moreover, that pattern results in less absenteeism and a more positive image. No doubt that it pays to invest in healthy drinks.

Does the question arise: what healthy choices do you fill your beverage vending machine with? The famous nutrition triangle that recommends foods only includes (tap) water. Although you might as well opt for flavoured water, more nutritious than traditional soft drinks and less boring than water alone. Dripl's Refill Point has room for 4 flavoured concentrates in addition to the basic option of flat and sparkling water. Those concentrates contain only natural ingredients and are free of added sugars. Moreover, their main ingredients make them functional drinks with added health benefits.

3. How sustainable do you want to go in your choice?

Like any business, you probably set green goals first. No matter how small the initiative may seem, the kind of drink dispenser you buy or rent can make a difference in that. See:

• Energy:
  A classic drink dispenser consumes a huge amount of energy. It runs all day and night, even when the unit is half empty. Dripl's Refill Point is a sustainable all-in-one system that saves energy by cooling only when you tap a drink.
  
  And it doesn't stop at the form, because the contents also consume energy. Did you know that soft drinks are 80% water? That means unnecessary water transport, which releases a large amount of CO2. With the Refill Point connected to the water supply, you avoid that problem.
  
  
• Waste:
  Classic appliances filled with bottles and cans produce a towering mountain of waste. Much of that plastic waste ends up in the sea, 8 million tons annually. Imagine: that's a full truck of garbage every minute. And that doesn't just disappear: it takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the sea, and 200 years for an aluminum can. Dripl's Refill Point produces no waste and encourages the use of reusable bottles. 

The choice of drink dispenser reflects the place of sustainability on your priority list. Worth reflecting on because companies that improve their sustainability approach score 40% better on employee retention. 

4. How much space do you provide for a drink dispenser?

The water cooler, soda machine and refrigerator standing fraternally side by side: a recognizable image, right? All too often, the beverage supply for employees takes up half the kitchen. Not to mention the storage space needed for bottles and cans.

This no longer has to be the case. One square meter is sufficient for a vending machine that serves water and healthy drinks. Add a coffee machine for hot beverage lovers and you'll have enough space left over to add a cozy touch to your kitchen or coffee corner. Moreover, you avoid lugging around, because for such an all-in-example, a few boxes of flavour concentrates and CO2 bottles will suffice. In quantity and weight, this is much less than bottles and cans. 

5. What about the price tag?

How much do you spend to buy or rent a drink dispenser? The price formulas are endless and depend on your needs. Pay attention to the maintenance cost and whether it is included. Many soft drink vending machines don't, but Dripl does.

And factor the long term into your cost picture. Because if you offer water and healthy sodas together, you no longer need a separate water cooler and soda machine. That makes individual consumption cheaper in the end.

Time to test!

Curious about one of these economical all-in-one drink dispensers? Meet Dripl's Refill Point, an energy-efficient and packaging-free one. The dispenser filters and cools tap water, adds effervescence and mixes it with a natural flavour concentrate. As tasty as soda and yet healthier. Moreover, it requires little space and limited maintenance is not only quick but also easy. And a special plus: at a glance you can calculate how much packaging your company can save.

Want to know more or try out the Refill Point? Request your trial period!