Kiosks are self-service points designed to provide information to users or facilitate specific transactions.
From restaurants to city buildings to retail stores, kiosk technology is inspiring businesses to discover new channels to improve sales, expand product and service offerings, and connect with customers.
Kiosk machines play essential roles in transportation, banking, and other sectors. Kiosk solutions have new features that make them even more accessible, adaptable, and efficient.
So, what do you need to know about the latest kiosk trends? Read this article to learn about the new trends in the world of kiosks.
Overview of Kiosk Technology
Kiosks are digital solutions that organizations and businesses use to enable customer engagement in a fun and exciting way.
These stand-alone machines can be designed for different purposes, depending on certain factors. Self-service kiosks are mostly suited for train stations, airports, malls, and other busy locations.
Current Self-Service Kiosks Trends
Kiosks are becoming smarter with each passing day. This section breaks down the current trends in self-service kiosks, explaining some of their newest and most remarkable features.
Interactive Touchscreen Displays
The touchscreen display is a significant component of a digital kiosk. It allows users to navigate and complete various transactions seamlessly on the kiosk.
With interactive kiosk software, people can complete various tasks on their own. Touchscreen displays can be customized and personalized to suit different business needs.
In addition, self-service kiosks are equipped with touchscreen displays of different sizes, all designed to ensure maximum customer engagement and seamless user experience.
The touchscreen of a kiosk can also provide important information to users.
Mobile Devices Integration
The growth of mobile devices is also visible in kiosk designs. Newer digital kiosks are designed to work with mobile devices, allowing consumers to interact with kiosk machines through their smartphones or mobile devices.
The inclusion of mobile integration features on digital kiosks became more popular after 2019. Moreover, for safety and convenience, many consumers prefer using kiosks that can connect to mobile devices.
Personalized User Experiences
Customer loyalty can be gained through ensuring efficient and personalized experiences for customers. Self-service kiosks guarantee better customer relationship management through personalized experience options.
Kiosks are supposed to have touchscreen designs that appeal to their customers. For instance, using purchase history to recommend menu items is a practical way to ensure a personalized experience for users.
Manufacturers understand how this works in the kiosk industry, so they have equipped the latest kiosks with advanced features to ensure personalized user experience.
Such features make digital kiosks suitable for a broad category of users.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are contributing to digital kiosk advancements. AI-equipped kiosks use data from user interactions to improve the kiosk’s functions.
This has made it possible for the recent self-service kiosks to make product and service recommendations based on consumer preferences.
As reported by a well-respected site, over 50% of brands that use AI-backed digital kiosks recorded an unprecedented increase in customer satisfaction and engagement.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are influential factors that enhance user experience and sales.
Advanced Biometric Authentication
The most recent kiosk designs boast advanced biometric authentication and enhanced security features for ID verification.
Advanced biometric authentication features let users quickly and securely access kiosk solutions.
These machines use fingerprints and other biometric data to verify and protect user accounts on digital kiosks.
Eco-friendly Materials and Design
Kiosk manufacturers understand that businesses constantly seek new ways to make their activities more sustainable.
That is why the most successful kiosk products are known for their eco-friendly materials and designs. With an eco-friendly design, the latest kiosks can be used in various environments without harming such places.
Emerging Technologies in Kiosk Systems
Understanding the new technologies that shape the kiosk ecosystem is necessary to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of kiosk solutions. The following technologies are already making their mark in self-service kiosks.
Antimicrobial Coatings on Digital Screens
Cleanliness is also an important factor that should be considered when managing kiosks.
An emerging technology in kiosks involves applying antimicrobial coatings to digital screens. These antimicrobial coatings are necessary to destroy bacteria and germs that can grow on the surface.
Antimicrobial screen coatings help protect users from germs while preventing fingerprints, glare, and scratches.
Most manufacturers also apply antimicrobial paints to the kiosk exterior, offering lasting protection against viral and bacterial transmission.
Outdoor High-brightness Display Screens
Kiosk producers are also moving their LCD screens a step higher. High-brightness display screens are gradually becoming the order of the day.
High-brightness screens are easier and more straightforward to interact with. They are suitable for more environments where regular display screens won’t suffice.
So, if you seek a reliable kiosk type, look for machines fitted with high-brightness liquid crystal display monitors.
Smart City Advertising Kiosks
Smart city advertising kiosks enhance urban living via services like public service directories, wayfinding, and local business advertisements.
Such kiosks can be used to display wayfinding maps, service changes, detours, and updated information on bus schedules.
This kiosk technology helps to transform city navigation and communication significantly. Smart city advertising kiosks are perfect for street corners, public squares, bus stations, and other locations that serve as muster points for people.
Emerging Trends in Kiosk Applications
Kiosk applications cut across various industries. Highlighted below are the most common applications of kiosk devices in different sectors:
Retail and Hospitality Industries
In the hospitality sector, self-service kiosks can be used to manage checking in and checking out of guests.
They are also used to improve guest experience, generate more revenue, and create personalized offerings for guests. Digital kiosks let hotel guests indicate their amenities and room preferences.
In retailing, kiosks can be used for ordering & payment, product display and advertising, ticketing, electronic reservation, and other business scenarios.
Healthcare and Medical Services
Self-service kiosks can be customized for healthcare facilities and hospitals. A digital kiosk can let patients independently view their medical records and schedule appointments when the kiosk is connected to a hospital database.
Self-service kiosks can help hospital authorities regulate patient flows, manage queues effectively, and provide access to medical records.
These machines can also include payment options to guarantee an improved patient experience.
Public Transport and Smart Cities
Smart city kiosks provide visitors, citizens, and passers-by quick access to urban services and vital information.
Equipped with a display, self-service kiosks let users search and discover important information stress-free. These kiosks can be used to manage payments for various city services like public transportation and parking.
Benefits of New Kiosk Technologies
New kiosk technologies provide users with several benefits. Those benefits are discussed below:
Increased Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction
Digital kiosks are designed to enhance customer satisfaction in many ways. This can be achieved by ensuring shorter waiting times, increased convenience, and a more personalized user experience.
Self-service kiosks reduce the chances of human errors thanks to their accurate data entry system.
With special ordering features, digital kiosks ensure there’s no misunderstanding between staff and customers. This translates to improved accuracy in order management.
Better Safety and Hygiene
Kiosks can be used to deliver information and safety guidelines. They reduce the need for personal contact by offering features such as mask distribution and temperature checks.
Kiosks were used to promote social distancing during the pandemic in 2019.
Can Function in Different Environments
Self-service kiosks possess features that make them suitable for different environments. These kiosks can be customized for various business scenarios.
They can be scaled down or up, making them ideal for small, medium, and large-scale businesses.
Future Directions in Kiosk Technology
The future of kiosk technology looks bright when you consider how these machines have evolved. Some areas of interest include:
Internet-of-Things Device Integration
Digital kiosks hope to be compatible with more external devices to increase the scope of their operations. This has positively impacted the shopping and payment experience in the retail sector.
Manufacturers are upgrading digital kiosk designs to communicate smoothly with almost all external devices.
Expanding into Healthcare and Education
Self-service kiosks are also gradually gaining ground in the healthcare and education sectors. In the education sector, digital kiosks ensure easy information access, registration process, and campus navigation for students.
In healthcare, kiosk technologies are finetuning check-ins, information management, and appointment scheduling.
With the help of kiosk solutions, the education and healthcare sectors can reduce their cost of operations, improve service delivery, and give priority to user experience.
Conclusion
Digital kiosks can enhance customer experience and improve business operations. Kiosk technology is transforming businesses worldwide in several ways.
Businesses and brands are implementing different kiosk solutions based on their needs.
Manufacturers are also expanding kiosk features to work with technologies like internet-of-things and artificial intelligence for higher efficiency.
If you want a digital kiosk tailored to your business needs, please contact us; our professionals will help you with the perfect kiosk solution.
