1 Scope

This document defines OPC UA interfaces for components of Unattended Retail & Coffee Solutions. By using those standardized interfaces, vendors and system integrators can easily combine components from different suppliers to assemble their Unattended Retail & Coffee Solutions.

This specification is marketed under the name EVA SmartLink. The name has been deliberately chosen to reflect the core ambition of the initiative: to create a smart, secure and future-proof link between all components of Unattended Retail, Vending & Coffee Solutions. "Smart" refers to the intelligent, modular architecture enabled by OPC UA; "Link" highlights interoperability, openness and the seamless connection between machine engines, user interfaces, payment systems, pricing services and audit functionalities.

The EVA SmartLink branding provides the industry with a clear, recognisable identity for this open standard, facilitating communication, market adoption and implementation across Europe and beyond. While the technical foundation remains OPC UA, the name EVA SmartLink emphasises its specific application to the unattended retail and vending ecosystem and underlines its role as an industry-driven, vendor-neutral framework designed to foster innovation, flexibility and fair competition. The logo of EVA SmartLink is shown in Figure 1.

OPC Foundation

OPC is the interoperability standard for the secure and reliable exchange of data and information in the industrial automation space and in other industries. It is platform independent and ensures the seamless flow of information among devices from multiple vendors. The OPC Foundation is responsible for the development and maintenance of this standard.

OPC UA is a platform independent service-oriented architecture that integrates all the functionality of the individual OPC Classic specifications into one extensible framework. This multi-layered approach accomplishes the original design specification goals of:

Platform independence: from an embedded microcontroller to cloud-based infrastructure

Secure: encryption, authentication, authorisation, and auditing

Extensible: ability to add new features including transports without affecting existing applications

Comprehensive information modelling capabilities: for defining any model from simple to complex

EVA

The European Vending & Coffee Service Association (EVA) is a not-for-profit organisation established and situated in Brussels since 1994. It represents the interests of the European coffee service and vending industry vis-à-vis the European Institutions and other relevant authorities or bodies. Its membership is composed of national associations and individual companies across Europe. The EVA represents all segments of the coffee service, water dispenser and vending industry: machine and component manufacturers, suppliers of commodities (coffee, ingredients, snacks, cold drinks, cups etc.), and operators.