As consumers are drawn closer to the digital age in almost every aspect of their lives, interactive kiosks are a natural fit when it comes to ensuring that consumers have access to automated, digital processes when they desire them. Digital kiosks are well known for their ability to improve many aspects of everyday life such as improved checkout times, quicker customer service, and wayfinding. This article will further discuss some of these benefits for both consumers and businesses.
Private and Low-friction
Digital kiosks are well known for their ability to improve the checkout process in a retail environment by allowing consumers to quickly scan items and pay. It is a low-friction transaction and many consumers are flocking to self-checkout in everything from buying groceries to purchasing electronics from Best Buy vending machines. One reason consumers are choosing self-service is because it is private. Purchasing certain items from another human may make some customers uncomfortable. Access to a self-checkout process eliminates this issue.
Another benefit, from the business side, is that when customers do not feel like they are being judged by a human, then people tend to spend more and shop more hedonistically and with lowered inhibitions. This is a benefit for businesses because digital kiosks are proven to lead to larger average check size. Especially in a fast food setting, people will order more items if they do not feel like they are being judged.
Reduced Overhead
Digital kiosks can be deployed in large numbers and over time will be more cost-effective to operate than managing human capital overhead. This benefit allows businesses, especially those in retail, to deploy a large number of kiosk, significantly reduce staffing needs, and increase profits by increasing points-of-sale throughout their profit centers.
24-Hour Profits
Most businesses shut down in the evening because the staffing requirements outpace the potential for revenue during slower hours. However, digital kiosks eliminate the need for human staffing and a business can be operable 24 hours. Though sales are very likely to slow down in off hours, it does not mean that sales will stop entirely, and the potential to increase profits still exists during off-peak hours.
Maintenance
Reputable digital kiosk manufacturers will offer competitive after-sale service, as well as a warranty. In some cases maintenance and software updates can be pushed online without the need for human involvement.
Data Collection
Digital kiosks also provide a unique opportunity to collect data about customer behavior. In a situation where a customer is using a kiosk to browse items, the kiosk will be able to collect information about what items the customer has viewed. This works much differently than in a live retail environment where it is harder to track which items customers are actually looking at in the store. In the end, most retailers must rely on what products the customers actually check out with, and lose the data on what other items were considered but not purchased.
