How Kiosks Are Changing Everything

The first self-service, interactive kiosk was developed and implemented at the University of Illinois in 1977 for easy access to campus information.  By 1991, the first commercial kiosk with internet access was introduced.  Since then, technology has made leaps and bounds.  The rise of technology is allowing consumers and businesses to personally interact less and less.   As we become more accustomed to the power and control that technology allows us, industries that still rely on consumer presence are under pressure to find innovative ways to make the consumer experience more convenient.  Kiosks are becoming the answer for many industries, and for more than just one reason.

Assisted Selling

Kiosks can now serve as a great tool for increasing sales.  Engaging with technology can be an empowering experience for consumers and cause them to be more receptive to additional offers.  When business owners make cross-sell and upsell options a part of their kiosk software, they can leverage the consumer preferences to boost profits.  During busy times, kiosks can even take the place of a helpful employee when consumers need help, ensuring that customers aren’t left unsatisfied.

Personalization

Today’s consumers value a personal experience in retail settings, restaurants, and more.  From ordering meals to paying bills, today’s kiosk technology is giving consumers the ability to make even the most typical experiences their own.  Now, businesses can allow consumers to access product information, customize their purchases, and even take advantage of loyalty programs and stored customer data with the use of the latest kiosk developments.

Speedy Transactions

Kiosks have become essential in keeping lines down and allowing consumers to complete transactions quickly.  Now, there are kiosks that allow consumers to select the products they want and pay for them all in one place, without any help from associates.  The progress that has been seen in the airline industry after the implementation of check-in kiosks is a prime example of the potential benefits available for organizations seeking to automate and speed up consumer interactions.

Streamlining Experience

Industries where the consumer’s experience is often a multi-step process are seeing great success with kiosk technology.  Now, visitors to healthcare facilities can forego the cumbersome paper work processes and complete registrations and even payment transactions on easy-to-use touch screen kiosks.  Kiosk capabilities are allowing better access to customer data and making the connection between consumer and business much stronger.

Mobile Integrations

The opportunity to connect today’s mobile technology with kiosk software is raising the bar for convenience even further.  Now, consumers can begin transactions on their smartphones and complete them at a kiosk, which even further reduces the need for human interaction.  With mobile payments, consumers can even eliminate their need for a credit card, debit card, or cash when using a kiosk.

The Time is Right

The first self-service, interactive kiosk was developed and implemented at the University of Illinois in 1977 for easy access to campus information.  By 1991, the first commercial kiosk with internet access was introduced.  Since then, technology has made leaps and bounds. As technology has continuously evolved, the price to implement even the more advanced kiosk solutions has become more affordable and the potential benefits to business make even more costly implementations worth the investment. With a projected market growth to $2.88 billion by 2022, interactive kiosks are a technological advancement that should not be ignored, no matter what the industry. Consumer expectations and technological capabilities have aligned to make now a great time for business owners to capitalize on kiosk adoption.