Soap, sanitizer and lotion refill units management and tracking

A method for managing containers of soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:

• providing a first container of soap, sanitizer or lotion;
• providing a first processor, a first memory, and first wireless communications circuitry;
• providing a second container of soap, sanitizer or lotion;
• providing a second processor, a second memory and second wireless communications circuitry;
• providing a master station;
• the master station having
• a master station processor;
• a master station memory;
• master station wireless communications circuitry;
• providing logic stored in one or more of the first memory, the second memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the first container;
• providing logic stored in one or more of the first memory, the second memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the soap, sanitizer, or lotion in the second container;
• providing logic stored in one or more of the first memory, the dispenser memory, and the master station memory for determining an expected depletion date for the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the first container as a function of one or more usage rates for the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the first container;
• providing logic stored in one of the first memory, the second memory, and the master station memory determining an expected depletion date for the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the second container as a function of one or more usage rates for the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the second container;
• and
• providing logic stored in one or more of the first memory, the second memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to move the first container prior to the expected depletion date of the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the first container and to move the second container prior to the expected depletion date of the soap, sanitizer or lotion in the second container.

A method of proactively managing soap, sanitizer or lotion products in a dispensing system comprising:

• establishing a communications link between a dispenser and a refill unit containing soap, sanitizer, or lotion;
• obtaining data indicative of an expiration date for the soap, sanitizer or the lotion;
• determining whether the expiration date is approaching;
• if the expiration date is approaching, provide a notification that the expiration date is approaching;
• determining whether the current date is after the expiration date;
• and
• preventing the dispenser from dispensing the soap, sanitizer of lotion of the current date is after the expiration date.