A DATA monitoring firm expects to deliver increased profits after coffee drinkers’ caffeine fix provided a boost.

Vianet Group says it is on course to see year-on-year earnings grow as demand for its vending machine technology continues.

The business, based in Stockton, provides apparatus that allows companies greater insight into machines and their need for maintenance, and has a long-term agreement with coffee firm Jacobs Douwe Egberts.

It is also known for iDraught, which seeks to cut pub waste by providing landlords with precise alcohol readings.

James Dickson, chairman, said the equipment was playing a pivotal role in the company’s successes, revealing full-year profits will be ahead of last year’s outturn of £3.02m from continuing operations.

He also said demand from coffee operators will help build on half-year operating profits of £450,000 in its vending solutions division.

Mr Dickson said: “The group expects to again deliver year-on-year profit growth.

“Importantly, there has been overall progress across the core businesses where focus on our medium to long-term prospects, particularly for telemetry and payment solutions for the coffee vending market, is gaining momentum.”

Speaking to The Northern Echo late last year, Vianet bosses said they would go on delivering “more of the same” after its technology garnered greater attention due to its cost-effective offering.

Stewart Darling, chief executive, said: “Historically, vending companies would need to send someone out to see if a machine was working or not and it if was empty or full, and there is a cost to that.

“If a machine broke down it required someone to pick up the phone, but we can now send an alert to someone in real-time.”