Businesses are always looking to improve service delivery without increased costs. One solution they have turned to in pursuit of this goal is self-service kiosks. These machines ease service delivery by letting customers make requests and process payments without human intervention.
In this article, we will offer a comprehensive guide to self-service kiosks. We will look at what they are, how they work, and the industries that make the most out of using self-service kiosks.
What is a Self-Service Kiosk?
As the name implies, a self-service kiosk is an interactive booth where customers can buy products and services while completing other tasks without the help of company staff. Self service kiosks are usually touchscreen devices. They also come with components that help customers browse various items, place orders, and complete transactions.
These components include hardware and software, which streamlines the customer experience. Examples of hardware components found on self-service kiosks include screens, buttons, and, in some cases, foot pedals. On the other hand, the software components include applications that help customers navigate through the products and services they desire.
Many businesses use self service kiosks as they offer a greater increase in convenience. You can find them at banks, supermarkets, libraries, hospitals, and government agencies.
Benefits of Self-Service Kiosks
In this section of the guide to self-service kiosks, we will cover their benefits so you will understand what your business stands to gain from installing such machines. These benefits include:
Shorter wait times
The biggest benefit of self-service kiosks is that they reduce the amount of wait times that customers have to face before their needs are met. By cutting the need for business staff, self service kiosks allow customers to process their orders. Furthermore, removing business staff also means fewer errors in processing customer orders.
Reducing errors increases processing times and boosts convenience for customers. The benefit of reduced wait times is particularly helpful for businesses with lots of customers. For instance, fast-food restaurants can drastically reduce wait times by providing self-service kiosks.
Higher profits and reduced costs for businesses
As mentioned above, self-service kiosks offer greater workflow efficiency. They also cut down the need for extra employees. This results in lower costs for businesses that use them. Reduced costs also lead to higher profits.
Furthermore, enjoying greater efficiency from self service kiosks allows businesses to serve more customers. This helps them increase revenues and profits.
Improved customer privacy and data security
Many businesses and their customers are more conscious of data security. In a bid to increase safety levels of customer data, companies are now installing self-service kiosks.
This allows users to process orders and make requests without sharing personal information with a third party. For instance, customers of businesses in the financial sector can process orders without sharing sensitive information with employees. This results in higher data security.
Types of Self-Service Kiosks
In this section of the guide to self-service kiosks, we will go over the most common types of these machines.
Bill Payment Kiosks
These kiosks help customers pay bills. Bill payment kiosks can accept cash, cards, and other common methods of settling bills. They are commonly used to pay bills for services like electricity, phone, water, and cable TV.
Many bill payment kiosks offer 24-hour service and are operational throughout the week. This allows them to serve customers with increased convenience. Bill payment kiosks are also particularly useful to customers who have little access to banking services.
Cash-to-card Kiosks
Cash-to-card kiosks help users convert their cash into digital money and put them in their physical or virtual cards they can use at retail stores. These kinds of kiosks reduce cash handling for businesses. It also gives customers the option to use cash while optimizing operations for many companies.
This means businesses do not have to turn away cash-only customers while maintaining high operational efficiency. Cash-to-card kiosks have become very popular following the drive towards cashless economies in many places. Another benefit of such kiosks is that they ease calculating payments for goods and services.
Check-in/checkout Kiosks
These kinds of self service kiosks are mostly found in hotel receptions. They help automate the check-in and checkout process without the need for extra staff. They work by scanning a barcode, which updates the check-in information. Many of these check-in kiosks allow users to complete payments, thus reducing wait times and improving customer service.
Locker Kiosks
Another common type of self-service kiosk is the locker kiosk. These kinds of machines are used for deliveries and drop-off of items. They are common among retail businesses, apartments, and electricity businesses. Locker kiosks can be used for returns. For instance, returning electric appliances for repairs and refunds can be done using locker kiosks.
Self-ordering Kiosks
Self-ordering kiosks are machines that allow customers to place orders with little to no help from business staff. They are commonly found at restaurants, where they allow customers to make purchases and finalize payments. Self-ordering kiosks are particularly helpful because they help reduce the need for extra labor at many businesses.
Queuing Kiosks
These self-service machines stand out because they are used to manage long queues, thus improving the efficiency of operations for many businesses.
Queuing kiosks are popular among businesses that manage long lines of customers during business hours. Queuing kiosks can help customers book appointments. They can also inform users how many people are ahead of them in the queue.
Rental Kiosks
Such kiosks offer more flexibility as businesses can use them for various purposes. These rental kiosks are used to rent items/products like powerbanks, bicycles, baby carts/strollers, and more. For instance, libraries and video stores can use such kiosks to optimize the rental of their goods.
Sports Betting Kiosks
These kinds of kiosks are self-service machines found in the sports industry. They help users to place bets on games easily without dedicated personnel. Sports betting kiosks are common at racing shows, betting houses, cruise ships, and mobile betting hubs.
Ticketing Kiosks
Such kiosks help users purchase tickets easily without the need for live agents. Ticketing kiosks are helpful for events, concerts, and mega-shows. They also automate the ticketing process, allowing businesses to save on costs.
Wayfinding Kiosks
Wayfinding kiosks help users and customers to navigate through a physical space. They can offer directions to particular places or persons. They can also give other informational materials. Wayfinding kiosks are mostly used in shopping malls, museums, and tourist centers.
Uses of Self-service Kiosks
Self-service kiosks offer versatility, convenience, and cost-saving benefits to many businesses. Below is a list of the most common industries/places that regularly use self-service kiosks:
Airports
Airports are always filled with people, making them an ideal ground for many businesses. With such kiosks, brands can market their services at airports with ease. For instance, fast-food restaurants in airports can use self-ordering kiosks for quick orders so customers won’t be late for their flights. Likewise, mega events can sell tickets at airports by using self service kiosks.
Public transportation stations
Self-service kiosks are also commonly used at public transportation stations for various purposes. Businesses can use vending kiosks to boost sales. Transport services can also use ticketing kiosks to ease delivery of their services. Furthermore, wayfinding kiosks can provide directions and other resources to commuters at public transportation stations.
Banks
Banks can also optimize their services by using self-service kiosks. For instance, they can use kiosks for generating ATM cards. They can also use order entry kiosks to attend to customer needs, thus reducing the need for front desk staff.
Retail Stores
Retail stores have the most common uses of self-service kiosks. This is because retail stores can use most self-service kiosks. For instance, retail stores can use locker kiosks for delivery and return services. They can also use vending kiosks to sell snacks and packed food items. Some retail stores also offer bill payment kiosks for subscription services, further boosting service delivery.
Business centers
Business centers can also benefit from the provision of kiosks. For example, they can use full-service ATM kiosks to offer mini-banking services like opening accounts, checking bank balances, and updating customer information. Companies use queuing kiosks to manage long lines of customers at business centers, further streamlining operations.
Casinos
Casino houses can also boost their service delivery by using self-service kiosks. They can use sports betting kiosks to serve more users while reducing money on labor costs.
Shopping Malls
Shopping malls also use various self-service kiosks, especially sports betting, ticketing, and vending machines. Some malls also use cash-to-card kiosks to ease cash handling while streamlining the shopping experience for customers.
Government Offices
Government agencies are also beneficiaries of self service kiosks. Many people use such machines to process sensitive documents without the help of government staff. Self-service kiosks are ideal for government offices as they keep user data safe and secure.
Restaurants
Restaurants also rely on self-service kiosks to help users make orders and process payments. Some restaurants can also increase their range of services by offering sports betting kiosks to their customers. Finally, food delivery is commonly done via locker kiosks that keep meals at optimal conditions.
Components of a Self-Service Kiosk
Keyboard
Kiosks have a keyboard where users can fill in the information, navigate through the services offered, and complete actions.
Screens
Some kiosks come with a touchscreen interface, while others don’t. Kiosks without a touchscreen interface often have physical buttons.
Computers
Kiosks have a computer that processes inputs from users. The software can be configured to meet particular business needs. For instance, rental kiosks can be configured to serve banking customers or ticketing services.
Card Swipes
The card swipe function is crucial, as it lets customers make payments. Some locker kiosks can scan personal access cards like hotel keys or employee access tags.
Biometrics Scanners
Some kiosks can scan biometric information like fingerprints and face IDs. Such kiosks can provide a greater level of security when attending to customers.
Bill Acceptors
Kiosks that will handle some form of payment have bill acceptors.
How to Get a Self-service Kiosk
Before getting a self-service kiosk for your business, there are several factors that should guide your decision-making. These factors include:
Defining your business needs
Getting clear on why your business needs a self-service kiosk will help you make the right choice. As expected, the needs of all businesses are different, so identifying the ways a kiosk will help your brand is particularly helpful.
Finding the right kiosk
There are various kiosk options, and finding the right choice for your company is crucial. Before choosing any kiosk, consider its:
- Hardware components – This ensures that they match your business needs. For instance, self-service kiosks that will provide receipts should have printers.
- Software capabilities: Likewise, the software capabilities of any kiosk you choose should match your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I buy a kiosk?
Owning a kiosk will depend on your brand needs. If you need kiosk services all year round, then buying one will be ideal.
Do self-service kiosks offer data collection?
Many kiosks can collect data on customer behavior, thus helping businesses to make crucial changes. For instance, custom order entry kiosks can help collect information on consumer preferences, thus helping businesses to optimize their operations.
Can self-service kiosks cater to a person with a disability?
Some self-service kiosks can be modified to serve persons with disabilities. For instance, some kiosks come with voice controls. There are also contactless kiosks that users can operate from a phone.
Conclusion: Guide to Self- Service Kiosks
Self-service kiosks are highly rated among businesses because they reduce costs while boosting production. Their versatility makes them particularly attractive among retail stores, hospitals, banks, betting houses, and even government agencies.
Other attractive benefits of using self-service kiosks include higher efficiency, reduced employee costs, and greater autonomy for consumers. Furthermore, they help keep user data safe and secure. This feature makes them particularly attractive for government agencies and hospitals.
Another feature of these self-service kiosks is that they could be modified to fit a company’s budget and business needs.
If you need extra help with finding the best self-service kiosk for your business, you can contact BestKiosk. At BestKiosk, we provide the best custom self-service kiosk solutions to businesses. Reaching out to us today can get you a free quote.
