Kiosk, in its modern incarnation, stands as an innovative and cutting-edge display solution used by companies worldwide to improve customer service and enhance sales performance. Historically, a kiosk used to be simply a small kiosk open on all sides, typically common in Persia, India, and the Middle East, common among street vendors in local markets. Today, kiosks are available in various sizes, designs, function and form, catering to just about any need imaginable. From interactive educational and marketing tools to food ticket machines and ticket selling points at theme parks, kiosks have come a long way since their humble beginnings.
With a kiosk, customers can gain access to services, answer basic questions, gather financial information, check in at a kiosk, or pay with a credit card or debit card, among other services. kiosk services have come a long way since they were first developed for the early market, namely the poor, less fortunate. In those days, kiosk transactions were simple and could take only a few moments. In fact, kiosks were originally developed to provide fast, easy access to check-in and security services in airports. In more recent years, kiosks have been adapted to serve as information kiosks displaying promos, maps, tickets, discounts, and more.
As technology has evolved and kiosks have become commonplace in many retail environments, kiosk development services have branched out to include self-service kiosks in shopping malls and airports. Self-service kiosks offer consumers many options when it comes to browsing through products, registering new purchases, or otherwise interacting with the kiosk and its services. With many self-service kiosks, consumers can pay with a plastic card or debit card, listen to music and television, watch a movie, download and upload content, play games, register baby sitters, request gift items, enter personal data, surf the web, and more. These are all services that consumers can use on their own without being at a kiosk.
Kiosk vendors also typically provide an interactive kiosk that can be used by adults (with adult consent, of course), children, or teens. These kiosks include features such as: touch screen displays, animated banners and pop-up windows, information kiosks, and stand-alone kiosks. Touch screen displays allow a kiosk to display text, images, or both onto a screen. In an animated banner frame, visitors can interact with a graphic image while it is shown on the kiosk’s monitor. A stand-alone kiosk provides a fully interactive experience allowing customers to conduct business, enter information, or make purchases without leaving the kiosk. Interactive kiosks provide the ultimate in point-of-sale convenience as they allow customers to browse through multiple pages, search for specific items, enter product information, or make other selections.
Self-service kiosks are intended to improve the customer experience while shopping or entering information at kiosk locations. They can be used by customers themselves to find products, register and obtain coupons, pay with debit or credit cards, or enter information into online forms. Most self-service kiosks provide the same basic services, but the level of service and flexibility differs according to type. They may offer quick search and enter search features; allow for multi-touch input; allow for data entered via touchscreens, swiping, or other methods; have access to commonly used media such as barcodes, prices, dates, times, and other information; and have secure payment and checkout systems.
manned kiosk options provide customers with an automated, live demonstration of the check-in process. They typically allow for supervised, real-time access to a store or kiosk location. This type of kiosk includes a sign-roller system that rolls people through a security checkpoint. Many of these automated kiosks are monitored by video surveillance cameras in order to ensure that the process is completed safely and properly.
Interactive information kiosks (IKEs) are also commonly found at retail establishments. An IKE is a fully automated kiosk that provides information about a participating store or kiosk. These interactive devices may include a computer screen with touch-screens or other input devices that integrate with voice recognition software. Interactive IKEs usually run on a single operating system, making it easier for kiosk vendors to provide information about a location.
Kiosks represent a relatively new concept in the retail environment. Although kiosks are quite useful in many applications, their role at trade shows and other exhibits remains a relatively recent development. While kiosks represent a good opportunity for vendors to showcase new technologies and to attract new customers, they are also a complex solution for a retailer. Depending on your needs and on what you are trying to accomplish, a kiosk might work well for you. However, before choosing a kiosk, it is important to know what type of kiosk would best meet your company’s needs. This will ensure that you select the most appropriate interactive kiosk for your display.