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What is a Digital Kiosk?

The word kiosk is of French, Turkish and Persian origin and means pavilion or portico. In business, kiosks are small, stand-alone booths usually located in high-traffic areas. Kiosks can be manned or unmanned and unmanned kiosks can be digital or non-digital.

Digital Kiosk Examples

It’s hard to imagine an airport, movie theater or bank without an interactive kiosk, they are common in our environment. Below are some examples of interactive or self-ordering kiosks for businesses.

1. Information or Directory Kiosk

This is the type of kiosk you see at a mall or theme park. They are interactive touchscreen kiosks used mainly to provide information. They are generally installed in high-density or traffic-flow areas where people can use them for directions and details about the area.

2. Product Promotion Kiosk

This type of kiosk is often used in a retail setting to supply information and give potential customers the opportunity to take advantage of promotions. They are also used in-store to allow customers to order items that are not currently stocked but can be found on the store’s website.

3. Self-Service Kiosk

Self-service kiosks are used to help save time and money for businesses and customers alike. They are used to pay bills, fill out forms, and other simple tasks that can be completed without assistance from a staff member. Some common digital kiosks include self-ordering at restaurants, self-ticketing at movie theatres, and self-check-in at airports.

4. Vending Kiosk

A vending kiosk directly sells a product. Initially developed to issue tickets, their use has expanded to dispensing basic items such as nail polish, makeup, sunscreen, a bouquet of flowers, or high-end cupcakes. The technology they use and the types of products they offer differentiate them from a traditional vending machine.

5 Benefits of Using Digital Kiosks

Whatever business you are in, a digital kiosk can help increase your profitability. Here is a list of the ways a self-ordering kiosk can help your business.

1. Improves Customer Confidence and Buying Experience

A digital kiosk can give your customers detailed information about your services or products. Consumer acceptance of self-service technology is generally high. Customers enjoy the ability to easily find out about product pricing, compare features, and find out if what they want is in stock. Using the latest technology also instills confidence in customers and lets them know that you care about their buying experience.

2. Improves Customer Service

Whether it is offering help or advice, directing customers to the right area of a retail space, or letting customers place their own orders, a digital kiosk can help improve customer service. Not only do they relieve your staff from having to answer the same questions over and over, it also gives them time to handle the more unique questions they are certainly faced with. A happy customer is much more likely to make a purchase and share the positive experience with others.

3. Cuts Wait Times

By using a cashier and a kiosk, you can reduce wait times up to 50%. This will ensure that your customers have a positive experience at your store or restaurant and will be more likely to return.

4. Increases Sales

A kiosk can reduce ordering time, increase order accuracy, and increase checks with effective upselling. They can also offer suggestions based on previous customer behavior.

5. Customer Behavior Data

Whenever a customer uses the digital kiosk, it can collect information and data about their behavior. This priceless information can help you maximize revenue, increase sales, and show the areas of your business that are the most profitable. Many companies pay substantial amounts to collect data on consumer behavior by using questionnaires and surveys. A digital kiosk can do this without the need to interrupt customers.

Today’s customers demand interactive features more than ever when making their purchase decisions. In response to this, businesses are increasingly incorporating kiosk technology into their operations. As you consider the growth of your business, you should be considering the benefits of using a digital kiosk in the current ultra-competitive business environment.