Kiosk Information

A Proven Technology

A kiosk consists of a touch
monitor, a computer, and perhaps a printer and credit card reader or bill
acceptor—all enclosed in a secure housing. Kiosks can deliver information or
they can promote and sell products and services. Most kiosks are located in
public places, such as stores, airports, shopping centre, hotels and corporate
lobbies. They’re also increasingly prevalent in factories and office buildings,
where they afford employees access to benefits information and job postings,
company information, health information etc.

While kiosks have existed
since the late 1970s, it’s only in the past few years that the kiosk market has
taken off. The dramatic increase in kiosk activity is the result of several
factors:

Public acceptance. The popularity of ATMs paved the
way for widespread acceptance of kiosks. The public is more comfortable now
using kiosks in a variety of settings. The use of Touchscreens has enhanced the
popularity of kiosks by making them operable even by people lacking computer
experience.

Pervasive networking
capabilities.
In the past, the only way to update or modify a kiosk application was to
reinstall software at each kiosk. Now advances in network computing make it
possible to update kiosks from a centrally located computer, so it’s easy to
enter price changes, up-to-the-minute product availability, or new interest
rates.

Advances in
multimedia. The
enhanced multimedia capabilities of personal computers have led to the
development of more advanced tools for creating multimedia applications. Kiosk
developers who leverage these tools reduce development costs while increasing
kiosks’ capabilities. Other new technologies, such as signature cards and smart
cards, also have resulted in expanded kiosk solutions.

Internet growth. Increased use of the World Wide Web
has fueled the growth in kiosk installations, with many organizations
installing Internet commerce kiosks that provide users with Internet access and
on-line purchasing capabilities

Increased product
offerings.
By providing Internet commerce access to on-line shopping services, kiosks let
retailers expand inventory without increasing floor space. The results are increased
profits per square foot and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Expanded storefronts
Kiosks make it possible for vendors to expand their reach—and enhance their
profitability—by selling goods and services in locations other than their
storefront. Such kiosks frequently are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.

Improved customer
service; reduced personnel costs
Organizations can provide superior customer service by offering patrons access
to kiosks that answer routine questions or handle routine transactions. These
organizations save on personnel costs by reducing their need for sales clerks
and customer service representatives. Meanwhile, those employees charged with
sales and customer service functions are free to focus their attention on
patrons’ non-routine concerns.

Enhanced product
promotion
Kiosks attract consumer interest and ultimately increase sales by providing
product information customised to each user’s interests and needs.

Easier information
access
Kiosks can dispense information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, minimizing
the need for customer service personnel while increasing overall efficiency.

Greater product customisation
Kiosks that offer customised products and services increase their profitability
by filling a unique market niche.

Types of Kiosks

Like videos and books,
kiosks are communications tools. But kiosks’ interactivity and multimedia
capabilities provide functionality that goes well beyond the static
capabilities of other media. Based on their functions, kiosks generally fit
into one or more of the following categories:

Internet commerce kiosks
Kiosks that connect directly to a business Web site let consumers purchase
products to be delivered to them at a later time. A store equipped with
e-commerce kiosks can increase its product offerings without increasing its
inventory. Clerks, meanwhile, are freed from having to order products from the
catalog or from another store.

Increasingly,
general-purpose Internet-access kiosks are being placed in public areas. Users
who already have Internet access from home or work will use these kiosks on a
convenience basis (in much the same way they use a public telephone and ATM
machines today).

Prime locations: Stores and shopping centers, where
they give consumers access to on-line catalogs. Financial institutions, where
they enable consumers to participate in on-line investment services.

Hotels, airports, and other
public places, where they give the public Internet access

The Kiosk Market Today

The demand for kiosks is
exploding. In 1996 approximately 21,000 kiosks were shipped in the United
States; by 2008 that number is expected to increase drastically in many sectors.
Why? Because declining hardware costs and more sophisticated technologies mean
kiosks can deliver a positive return-on-investment.