A kiosk that can be adapted to nearly any type of location can be a tremendous money saver while delivering a great experience.
Businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and the layout of a particular operation is likely to vary based on location.
The floor plan of a retail location in a downtown shopping district, for example, is likely to be much different than the floor plan of that same shop in a suburban shopping mall. A fast-casual restaurant in an airport is likely to take a different shape than a freestanding location in a small town.
There are a number of reasons why that’s the case. The space that’s available at a price the operator is willing to pay will vary from town to town, or even in different areas in the same town. Expected customer traffic or even local preferences are other reasons.
No matter how the floor plan may look, though, there are always certain elements the business operator wants to keep consistent from store to store. That might include brand colors, logos, lighting or even store fixtures. Keeping those elements the same from store to store helps assure customers they’ll get the same level of service no matter what location they may visit.
It’s the same with interactive kiosks. As kiosks increasingly become part of the store plan, it’s important for those kiosks to deliver the same experience no matter what the store layout or where in the operation those kiosks may be located.
Building on consistency
In addition to the importance of brand consistency, there’s also the issue of cost.
The more a component remains standard from location to location, the lower the cost is likely to be. Being able to use the same sign in every location, for example, is likely to cost less that needing several variations for different store layouts. A McDonalds franchise, for example, is virtually the same in California as New York. Consistency keeps their costs down and their branding universal.
Since the capital costs of opening a new location often determine the pace of expansion, anything that can be done to help manage those costs will be welcome.
Nowhere does that apply more than when an interactive kiosk is part of the store package. Retailers may want to incorporate an endless aisle kiosk into their new brick-and-mortar shops, while fast-casual and quick-service food outlets want to achieve the increased revenue and quicker throughput that can be gained by the addition of self-order kiosks.
Depending on the store layout, though, one location may require a freestanding unit, while in another a counter-mounted unit might be the best fit. In still another, space considerations may require the kiosk to be mounted on a wall.
But the need for multiple types of enclosures can quickly drive prices through the roof. That’s especially true if different enclosures require different hardware.
Keeping it simple
When choosing a kiosk for deploying across multiple locations, then, business operators should keep a few factors in mind.
If they require different types of enclosures to accommodate different store layouts, at the very least they should insist those enclosures be able to accommodate the same hardware from kiosk to kiosk. Not only is that likely to keep acquisition costs lower, it will keep maintenance costs down by eliminating the need for technicians to service multiple kiosk designs.
An even better option would be to use a single enclosure style that can be used in nearly any environment.
Olea’s Austin line of kiosks, for example can be deployed in either a wall mount, desktop or freestanding configuration. The Austin was engineered to accommodate optional 15-inch or 22-inch all-in-one computers in either portrait or landscape mode, as well as a pin pad and POS-style receipt printer.
Several useful features have been added since including barcode scanners, digital signage toppers, and ADA Accessibility Devices – all of which are compatible across the three mounting styles.
The wide array of transactional components housed in this sleek, feature-packed kiosk makes it one of the most powerful retail solutions available on the market. Its compact footprint and rugged security complement a variety of environments for companies that seek to improve ROI and user interaction in small spaces or high-traffic areas.
By offering the same style of kiosk in every store design, retailers and restaurant operators can ensure customers enjoy the same brand experience no matter where they are, while at the same time getting the best value for their investment
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure the kiosk you choose provides the flexibility you need is to work with an experienced kiosk vendor who can recommend the best options. Olea Kiosks stands ready to help.
