Self-service kiosks are now the norm, with most organizations installing them for consumers.
However, pairing a kiosk machine with various kiosk peripherals gives it an added advantage. There are plenty of peripherals to choose from, but you should only add what is ideal for your users.
Choosing the ideal kiosk peripherals will go a long way in ensuring user interaction and satisfaction. They will also help help improve the performance of the self-service kiosk.
In this article, we explain essential and advanced kiosk peripherals, and how to successfully integrate them.
What are Kiosk Peripherals?
A self-service kiosk is an interactive device that allows a customer to access services or information.
Kiosk peripherals are hardware devices that a business can add to make a kiosk more functional and user-friendly. The peripherals will vary depending on the type of kiosk and the service it provides.
Card readers, receipt printers, cameras, keyboards, speakers, barcode scanners, and signature pads are some of the most common kiosk peripherals. These peripherals improve the services such as check-out, ticketing, and information distribution.
Essential Kiosk Peripherals
Choosing the perfect kiosk peripherals will depend on user interactions. The types of kiosk peripherals you add should be user-friendly and intuitive. Most users want a kiosk machine where they can complete the whole process.
Printers for Receipts and Tickets
Printing a receipt or ticket provides convenience for customers. A printer makes it easy to print a coupon, ticket, or receipt. Most people want receipts for their purchases as proof that they have made a payment.
Equip the printers with standard-size paper holders and a high-capacity paper roll. That way, your staff won’t have to change the paper rolls often, allowing them to concentrate on other tasks.
Barcode and QR Code Scanners for Quick Data Access
Barcode scanners are essential peripherals for providing efficient and quick services or transactions.
They can read traditional barcodes in self-checkout kiosks for products or tickets in parks, events, or transport hubs. The scanners help with quick product or ID recognition.
Barcode scanners are also necessary for inventory management in stores, warehouses, and kiosks to help track inventory levels.
Airports, hotels, and gyms use scanners for membership cards or boarding passes to facilitate a seamless check-in process. Barcode scanners reduce errors in data entry.
QR code scanners can read the two-dimensional barcodes, which store more information. They are ideal for kiosks that act as contactless payment points. These points are often linked to mobile apps or e-wallets.
QR code scanners act as mobile ticketing for when a user wants to access venues with self-service kiosks. Users visiting museums or public spaces can scan the QR codes in the self-kiosks to get directions or additional content.
Retail kiosks can provide detailed product information, stock levels, and previews for users just by using the QR code.
Touchscreens for User Interaction
Touchscreens enable seamless user interaction and navigation. Just by touching the kiosk’s display, the user can interact directly with its interface.
Users use touchscreens to navigate maps and find directions or access information at the airport or malls. For entertainment, users use a touchscreen to select dates, times, and seat numbers.
Touchscreens are easy to use and require minimal instructions. You won’t need separate input devices like keyboards or mice. Touchscreens have multi-touch capabilities making it easier for users to make complex interactions like swiping.
Cameras for Identity Verification and Interaction
Cameras help with identity verification by capturing videos or images of users. They add a layer of security to kiosk services and transactions.
Cameras are essential in banks, airports, or other secure facilities to help with facial recognition and verify a user’s identity. In event venues, cameras verify identity before granting access to restricted areas.
Retail kiosks that sell age-restricted products like alcohol can use cameras to confirm a user’s age through facial analysis. Cameras automate the identity verification process, reducing manual checks and wait times.
Cameras enhance user interaction by enabling video communication. Users can receive real-time assistance by using cameras for live video chats with remote representatives.
Cameras are essential for capturing user reactions, enabling businesses to gather feedback on products or services depending on user’s reactions.
In entertainment or educational settings, users can interact with virtual elements in kiosks with cameras for augmented reality (AR) experiences.
Live video interactions create a human touch, increasing user trust and satisfaction. Users feel more connected when kiosks offer personalized assistance.
Card Terminals
If a kiosk machine has to handle any financial transaction, then a card terminal is essential. Most organizations and consumers are opting to go cashless.
Card terminals ensure that consumers can pay for their orders or services fast. Modern e-wallet payments and traditional payment methods such as Mastercard and Visa are accepted by card terminals.
Advanced Peripheral Technologies
Basic kiosk essentials are ideal when you want the bare minimum for your device. However, to enhance functionality, security, and interactivity, advanced peripheral technologies are crucial.
Some technologies you should add to kiosk perspective design include fingerprint readers, external screens, speakers, microphones, and geolocation devices.
Fingerprint Readers for Secure Access
Fingerprint readers securely scan fingerprints to verify users. Each user has unique fingerprint data, making it a highly secure access method.
Readers eliminate the need for passwords, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and identity theft. It also makes the process convenient and faster.
Banking kiosks and ATMs use fingerprint readers for secure withdrawals and account access. Corporates install fingerprint readers to control employees’ access to facilities and equipment.
Medical kiosks with fingerprint readers ensure that only authorized personnel can access patient records.
External Screens for Advertising and Information Display
External screens provide additional support for displaying information, while consumers use the main screen for transactions.
It can run advertisements or eye-catching visuals to attract engagement. Businesses can use external screens to generate revenue by running third-party ads.
In transportation hubs such as airports and train stations, external screens show schedules, weather conditions, and real-time travel updates.
The hospitality industry uses external screens to display menu options, advertisements, and promotions while the users interact with the kiosk’s main screen.
Microphones and Speakers for Interactive Communication
Microphones and speakers enable two-way audio communication, facilitating live communication.
These advanced peripherals make kiosks more accessible to a broader audience, including those with impairments. Real-time audio interaction makes communication easier.
Users who might find it challenging to use touchscreens will appreciate kiosks with microphone and speaker peripherals. In educational or training environments, the speakers can play audio instructions or explanations.
Microphones and speakers allow users to have real-time conversations with remote representatives.
Geolocation Devices for Location-Based Services
Geolocation devices (GPS, cell phone towers) enable kiosks to provide information based on a user’s physical location.
The peripherals offer a more personalized experience by delivering only relevant services or content. Users find it helpful when navigating large public places.
In transportation hubs, geolocation devices provide information about nearby services, accommodations, and attractions. Public information kiosks can broadcast location-based safety information and emergency alerts.
Integrating Peripherals with Kiosk Systems
It is essential to carefully integrate the peripherals to overcome challenges related to hardware compatibility, connectivity, and software.
You must ensure the kiosk system supports the peripherals you want to integrate. Some peripherals, such as cameras and external screens, might require additional power. You’ll have to plan for additional power.
Ensuring smooth communication between kiosk software and the peripherals is essential to providing real-time responses, especially in identity verification.
The release of new software often makes it challenging to maintain software compatibility in kiosks. Ensure that you use a software platform that supports multiple peripherals and follow firmware updates.
Poor peripheral management can result in downtimes, resulting in user frustration and operational losses. However, efficient peripheral management ensures that kiosks operate reliably and efficiently.
You should implement real-time monitoring to track the status of each peripheral and identify any issues beforehand. Installing diagnostic software will alert you in case of any peripheral malfunction.
We have kiosk examples with modular slots for peripherals, allowing for easy upgrades or replacements. You can order the same from us. Using scalable kiosks allows for the addition of more peripherals as the need arises.
Having automatic updates for drivers and firmware reduces manual intervention and ensures your kiosks are always running the latest software. You should position kiosk peripherals for optimal user interaction.
The Future of Kiosk Peripherals
Emerging trends and advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) will bring a significant evolution in kiosk peripherals.
Advanced systems, such as biometric readers that use iris scanning and facial recognition, will offer more secure identity verification.
Touchless interactions will make kiosks more hygienic and user-friendly, especially in food services or healthcare. Kiosks will also increasingly rely on voice-based interaction, allowing users to complete transactions without touching the screen.
IoT-enabled kiosks will make it easier to manage and communicate with multiple peripherals more efficiently. It will also be possible to gather data on user interactions, predicting their behavior trends.
AI-powered voice assistants like Alexa enable more natural and responsive interactions between users and kiosks. Speakers can speak to the kiosk and receive spoken responses, making the interactions feel more human-like.
Advanced AI will also make it possible to recognize user emotions through facial analysis and tailoring services.
Conclusion
Kiosk peripherals help in improving the performance of kiosks. Users will love the improved interaction and accessibility. There are different types of peripherals that you can install depending on the services that the kiosk provides.
Fingerprint readers, QR code scanners, cameras, card terminals, microphones, and external displays are some of the common kiosk peripherals. BestKiosk can help in identifying and installing the ideal kiosk peripherals for your business needs.
