At the rate technology is advancing, interactive kiosks may soon become commonplace in all industries. It’s already hard to imagine a type of business where touchscreen displays and digital signage wouldn’t contribute to employee productivity and customer or public convenience.

What’s so great about interactive kiosks?

• They are available 24/7.
• It’s cheaper to operate a kiosk than hire another person.
• By allowing clients or customers to help themselves in many ways, sales and service people are freed-up to focus on tasks that require the human touch. That further improves customer service.

That last point is really the key. Customers love self-service. It’s private and personalized. They can look up information, order items, make payments and so on — and they don’t have to interact with a sales person unless they want to. In many retail settings, that makes shoppers more comfortable, encouraging them to stick around longer, and increasing the odds they will spend money. For all entities, offering personalized convenience builds brand reputation and loyalty.

Who’s using kiosks?

Right now, you can find interactive kiosks being used in so many ways and in so many environments, you may not even think of them as “innovative.” ATMs are a good example, as are grocery store self-checkout lines. But there are many more opportunities to take advantage of the benefits of interactive information kiosks:

• Airports use them to display flight schedules and airlines use them to check-in passengers.
• Restaurants use them for self-service ordering.
• Malls, casinos, and other large-footprint operations use them for wayfinding. So do multi-unit settings, such as college campuses and business parks.
• Hospitals and clinics use them to dispense patient information and schedule appointments.
• Municipalities use them to display mass transit maps and schedules, and to sell tickets.
• Hotels, convention centers, and hospitality businesses use them as “virtual concierges” to deliver guest services.
• Retailers incorporate them into displays, allowing shoppers to learn more about products or create their own customized purchase, from individually-tailored CDs to new cars.
• Churches use them to announce upcoming services or special events to the public or share inspirational messages.
• Businesses of all types use them to capture vital customer data and feedback through surveys, email sign-ups, etc.

Interactive kiosks and digital signage are great choices for internal use, too. Companies can disseminate important information or encouraging slogans in the hallways or lunch room. Employees in manufacturing and similar settings can use them to manage inventory and control production scheduling. Need a better way for employees to collaborate on a project, or a memorable way to work one-on-one with a customer? A hot new multi-touch table could be the answer.

With all these advantages, it’s not surprising the Global Interactive Kiosk Market 2015-2019 report forecasts substantial market growth and increased revenue over the next few years, especially at airports and for general vending, and especially within the retail, healthcare and entertainment industries. How will you be using interactive kiosks by 2019?

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, store fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.