Top 11 Self-Service Kiosk Applications for Small Businesses and SMEs in 2025
The middle-east market is not just for the MNCs and large business establishments in the domains of banking, finance, aviation, oil and gas etc. In fact, the region also serves as a thriving niche for a plethora of diverse small businesses across various sectors.
The benefits of self-service kiosks are not limited to certain mainstream institutions and businesses like banks, financial institutions, airports, hospitals, large retail outlets, restaurant and fast food chains etc. Even small businesses like car wash outlets, laundries, small cafes and restaurants, and various other service providers can leverage the benefits of kiosk automation.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the same – how small businesses can leverage the benefits of automated kiosk machines.
Expatriate population and multi-language facility
Before I mention the actual benefits, let me highlight the relevance of the expatriate population in many of the GCC countries.
The middle-east countries like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain constitute of multi-cultured and multi-linguistic societies where a significant percentage of the total population is expatriates.
The table above constitutes the data published on the Gulf Labour Markets, Migration and Population website.
Based on the data, the UAE has the highest percentage of expatriate population, closely followed by Qatar. Even Kuwait has a significant percentage of expatriate population.
Based on a PWC study, it is estimated that half of the total population of GCC countries is expatriates, and the number is estimated to be around 30 million.
From the data, it is evident that the majority of the GCC countries have a significant number of expatriate population. Hence, language diversity is a common aspect prevailing in these countries.
Multi-language facility of self-service kiosks - One of the major features of self-service kiosk machines is that they are equipped with multi-language facility. This means, the users can select their most preferred language from a list of languages, so as to initiate kiosk interactions. Hence, language does not become a barrier here.
Therefore, the Multilanguage functionality of self-service kiosks becomes a highly useful feature for a diverse middle-east population. Irrespective of the industry, this feature helps service providers communicate their offerings and services to their target audience seamlessly.
Communication is a highly relevant and crucial aspect of every business transaction and it can either make or break a deal!
1. Self-service kiosks for laundry Businesses
Yes, you read it right! Even small laundry businesses or outlets can automate their services by deploying a self-service laundry kiosk.
Based on a Mordor Intelligence study, the laundry equipment market size for the year 2024 is estimated to be USD 351.37 million. And the value is expected to rise to USD 432.94 million, achieving a growth rate of 5.67%.
In simple words, a well-equipped laundry kiosk helps your customers conduct 24/7, automated laundry. The customer can visit the laundry outlet and perform the preferred washing or drying process without any human intervention. The kiosk machine is loaded with an interactive touchscreen, and other transactional components like payment device, card reader, dispenser, and receipt printer.
Laundry Kiosk operations – Explained
Process and machine selection – The customer selects the desired process, washing or drying, displayed on the kiosk touchscreen and picks the available machine.
Self-service kiosk benefits for laundry operators
How laundry operators can benefit from a laundry kiosk is listed below.
2. Key-drop kiosks for Car detailing business
I’ve furnished a crucial data published by Statista regarding the number of cars in use per 1000 people.
The data shows the percentage increase in number of cars in various GCC countries during the forecast period 2023-2028.
Yes, the statistics indicates a positive trend in the number of cars, and the data is highly favorable for the automotive sector.
Another favorable news comes from the after-sales car market sector. The booming after-sales car market will definitely boost the car wash industry. A recent Mordor Intelligence study supports the claims. According to the study, the market value of the after-sales car market is estimated to be USD 1.39 billion in 2024. By 2029, the value is expected to reach USD 32.03 billion, achieving a growth rate of a staggering 11.9%!
Yes, it’s the right time to invest in the UAE’s automotive sector.
If you are into car detailing business, you know the customer challenges associated with bringing the car to the car detailing center and taking away the vehicle after service completion. Yes, it’s a matter of practical difficulty!
So, how about installing a key-drop and pick up solution where the customers could securely drop their vehicle keys and collect the same after service completion? And that’s what a key-drop kiosk is all about.
The kiosk terminal can be deployed at any convenient spot in the premises of the facility. The greatest advantage of a key-drop kiosk terminal is that customers can visit the facility at their convenience, both to drop off and retrieve their vehicle after service. This significantly reduces the customer waiting time involved in the detailing facility.
The functionality of a key-drop kiosk machine
Key-drop functionality
Pick-up functionality
The customer may arrive at the facility at any convenient time to retrieve the vehicle. The instructions to retrieve the vehicle are as follows.
Your customers need not wait in the long lines, and the drop and pick-up facility offers immense convenience too. The key-drop kiosk improves CX, and thereby, customer satisfaction.
3. Self-service kiosk-assisted car wash outlets
A dedicated car wash center presents a lucrative business opportunity for business owners and entrepreneurs in the middle-east. The rising number of car users, and the peculiar middle-east climate favor car wash centers.
Starting a self-service kiosk-assisted car wash center or integrating a kiosk machine into your existing manned facility can improve the operational efficiency, CX, and thereby revenue.
A typical car wash kiosk is equipped with a touchscreen interface, payment device, receipt printer, card reader etc. to streamline service selection and payment process.
How does an automated car wash work?
The kiosk machine eliminates the interactions with an employee and reduces the waiting time involved in accessing the services. This streamlines the car wash operations to a good extent.
Car wash facilities of various types like Automatic In-Bay or Tunnel Wash facilities can integrate a kiosk machine into their operations. The businesses can even integrate advanced technologies like RFID into the operations to improve CX to the next level.
4. Self-ordering kiosks for QSRs, cafes and coffee shops
Self-ordering kiosks or food ordering kiosks are common in QSR chains and fast-foods outlets. And their benefits are not just confined to the order-taking process alone. They serve as efficient revenue generating and cost-cutting platforms too.
A QSR kiosk is loaded with various components to automate the order-taking task such as an Interactive touchscreen, receipt printer, payment device, customer identification hardware like facial recognition camera etc.
Even small restaurants can leverage the benefits of these versatile machines.
By investing in countertop kiosks, small restaurants can leverage the full potential of the full-sized standalone machines in a cost-effective manner.
Countertop kiosks for small restaurants
The customers can browse through the menu displayed on the kiosk touchscreen, select the preferred meal, perform the required customizations and make the payment, smoothly and securely, via single kiosk machine. Evidently, the kiosk machine becomes an all-in-one customer interaction terminal.
The facility to provide personalised offers to the customers, the cross-selling and upselling benefits, the customer data acquisition feature, loyalty program integration etc., are highly rewarding and beneficial for the restaurant businesses.
You have a lot more to gain from these flexible, automated order-takers.
To read the full benefits of self-service kiosks for restaurants, please visit the link here.
5. Visitor check-in kiosk for hotels
Hotels and lodges in the UAE, and other GCC countries may deploy a self-service hotel check-in kiosk to streamline the routine visitor check-in and check-out tasks.
Similar to automated order-taking in restaurants kiosks, a typical hotel check-in kiosk performs automated visitor check-ins and check-outs. These machines can be installed at any convenient spot in the hotel lobby or in the reception area.
And they are instrumental in improving the guest experience, enhancing the operational efficiency and reducing the operational costs.
The key components of a check-in kiosk are an intuitive touchscreen, payment terminal, document scanner, receipt printer, etc.
The functionality of a hotel check-in kiosk
If you look into the practical side of hotel check-in, one of the greatest benefits of a check-in kiosk is its 24/7, uninterrupted check-in and check-out functionality. Your visitors can arrive and leave at any time, without any human intervention.
All these operations are carried out on a self-service basis without the involvement of a reception or hotel staff.
Convenient guest check-in and checkout, reduced check-in time, reduced congestion in the lobby, improved staffing allocation are some of the crucial benefits of a hotel check-in kiosk.
6. Retail self-service kiosks for retail stores and establishments
A retail self-service kiosk serves as an automated product-browsing and self-checkout platform for retail stores.
The customers can easily order the products and services offered by the retail store by simply accessing the kiosk machine deployed at the entrance, mall corridors or any other convenient spot.
These kiosk machines are payment-integrated, and therefore, they serve as automated mini-stores or mini-branch-outlets that sell various commodities and products without human intervention.
The retail kiosk is integrated with several hardware and software components to facilitate an automated buying experience. The major components are an intuitive touchscreen, payment terminal, receipt printer, card printer, barcode scanner, etc.
How to order a product through a Retail kiosk?
Similar to a fast-food concept, the retail kiosk serves as a “fast-purchase” outlet for customers, expediting the purchase process. The self-service kiosk for retail avoids the long waiting lines and congestions in retail outlets.
Moreover, the retailers can integrate customer loyalty programs, check real-time inventory, and perform upselling and cross selling via the kiosk machine.
The purchase of gift cards and their redemption are common in the UAE. And people make use of these cards in connection with special events, festivals, and for random shopping purposes. And of course, the kiosk machine can handle gift card issuance and redemption too.
7. Patient check-in Kiosks for clinics, health centers
You might have used a patient check-in self-service kiosk in hospital premises for your OP check-ins.
The same convenience and improvements in operational efficiency are achievable in a clinical environment as well.
The patient check-in kiosk takes care of the check-in process with great precision and accuracy on a 24/7 basis. Operating a clinic on a 24/7 basis may not be practical, but you may certainly extend the operations time for the benefit of the patients. Of course, the only prerequisite is that the doctor should be present in the clinic!
The kiosk terminal can be installed at any convenient spot like the entrance or in the lobby of the clinic.
The features of a patient check-in kiosk
A patient check-in kiosk streamlines the operations by reducing the long lines and automating the front-desk-based patient registration task. To add on, patients can access several vital information related to the visit, check-ups etc. And the features are listed below.
How automated consultation works?
Visiting a doctor becomes highly convenient via a self-service patient-booking kiosk. Patients can avoid the long lines and the interactions with reception staff, thereby saving time and maintaining privacy.
Panashi Patient Check-in kiosk (Medical City for Military & Social Services, Oman)
As part of our latest project, Panashi patient check-in kiosk serves the check-in requirements of our esteemed client in healthcare sector. The hospital check-in kiosk is intended to improve the patient check-in experience bypassing human interactions.
This system is designed for patients with pre-booked appointments to confirm their arrival at the facility. Instead of going to the receptionist, patients can use the kiosk either to enter their Electronic Medical Record (EMR) file number or civil ID number on the kiosk touch screen. Or else, they may insert the civil ID card in the card reader.
The kiosk then connects with the backend Hospital Information System (HIS) to retrieve and display the patient’s booking details. Patients can review and confirm their appointments directly at the kiosk. Once confirmed, the Hospital Information System (HIS) automatically queues the patient for the appointment.
The patient check-in kiosk eliminates waiting time at the reception, reduces congestion, and improves the overall patient experience.
The major components of the patient check-in kiosk are a touchscreen interface, thermal printer, card reader, the kiosk application, a dedicated TMS, a kiosk client listener, and a kiosk server.
Telehealth kiosk is the latest trend in the healthcare consultation domain. These kiosks facilitate remote consultation avoiding in-person visits to clinical or hospital facilities. Remote consultation kiosks are highly suitable for remote locations or in places where medical facilities are minimum.
8. Ticketing kiosks for entertainment businesses
In fact, Ticketing kiosks handle24/7 automated ticketing in connection with entertainment programs or events, where manual ticketing may not be a feasible option.
Ticketing kiosks are common in movie houses and shopping malls, because these establishments require uninterrupted ticket issuance with utmost efficiency and accuracy.
These ticket vending kiosk machines offer a high degree of flexibility and convenience for the customers. The customers can book tickets online and once they reach the venue, they can simply scan the QR code or barcode to print the ticket.
Even small entertainment businesses, crowd-pulling fests or events can make use of these self-service kiosks to streamline their operations.
Automated ticket issuance helps to reduce waiting times, and prevent congestion that arise due to inefficient ticketing.
The ticketing kiosk comes equipped with hardware devices like an intuitive touchscreen, payment processing terminal, ticket printing device, barcode/QR scanner, cash and coin acceptor, receipt printer etc.
The ticket issuance process - Explained
The ticket issuance is completed in a very systematic and efficient manner, preventing ticket frauds and other human manipulations.
Apart from the ticket issuance functionality, the event organizers or businesses may integrate loyalty programs into the self-service kiosk system, and thereby enhance the overall revenue.
9. Self-service kiosks for vending machine operators
Vending machines that dispense drinks, snacks, chips, drinking water and other beverages are common in the middle-east, especially in the UAE. Vending machines are suitable for both outdoor and indoor requirements.
The greatest advantage of deploying vending machines is that the operators get real-time information about the inventory and sales, which helps them take well-informed inventory-related decisions. Moreover, if something goes wrong, a remote admin can troubleshoot errors and fix bugs from a remote location, which is extremely helpful for the operators.
According to the research conducted by BlueWeave Consulting, the vending machine market in the UAE is estimated to reach a growth rate of 14.1%, during the forecast period 2023 to 2029. And yes, the market signs are favorable for vending machine operators.
The vending machine is a brilliant integration of several components that work in unison to dispense items based on customer preferences. The integral components are listed below:
Vending machine functionality – Explained
Vending machines come in two types. The glass panel type and touchscreen type. In glass panel type, these machines have glass panels attached to their front side. Therefore, customers can easily view the products displayed, and their codes.
Whereas, in touchscreen or digital type, the product information is displayed on the touchscreen of the kiosk machine.
Here is how touchscreen vending machines dispense items.
24/7, uninterrupted item-dispensation functionality, customer loyalty program integration, remote monitoring facility, upselling opportunities etc. are highly beneficial and rewarding features for shop owners, small retail establishments, restaurants etc.
10. Student kiosks for learning centers, training institutes
Do you run a training institute? Or, are you into education sector?
If you are into facility-based student training, you should certainly consider investing in a student kiosk.
You’ll definitely agree with my take, once you get to know the benefits associated with installing a self-service student kiosk in a training center or institute. Kindly, read on…
Educational institutes and training centers can leverage the benefits of self-service kiosks. The kiosk machine can handle several critical tasks pertaining to a training institute like information dissemination and administration management.
The kiosk machine can be installed in the reception area, entrance or at any other convenient spot that receives the attention of students.
What are the features of a student kiosk?
The feature-packed student kiosks can manage several important tasks related to the daily operations of the training facility. The most important ones are listed below.
The student kiosk streamlines the day-to-day operations of the training institute, reducing the burden on the staff, and serving as a dependable, go-to platform for students.
11. Self-service kiosks for real estate agents
Self-service kiosks serve as an effective communication portal between real estate agents and property owners, tenants or prospective customers. The kiosk is instrumental in automating the day-to-day operations, thereby improving the operational efficiency and enhancing the customer experience. Some of the vital functionalities of the real estate kiosks are furnished below.
9. Self-service kiosks for vending machine operators
Vending machines that dispense drinks, snacks, chips, drinking water and other beverages are common in the middle-east, especially in the UAE. Vending machines are suitable for both outdoor and indoor requirements.
The greatest advantage of deploying vending machines is that the operators get real-time information about the inventory and sales, which helps them take well-informed inventory-related decisions. Moreover, if something goes wrong, a remote admin can troubleshoot errors and fix bugs from a remote location, which is extremely helpful for the operators.
According to the research conducted by BlueWeave Consulting, the vending machine market in the UAE is estimated to reach a growth rate of 14.1%, during the forecast period 2023 to 2029. And yes, the market signs are favorable for vending machine operators.
The vending machine is a brilliant integration of several components that work in unison to dispense items based on customer preferences. The integral components are listed below:
Benefits of self-service kiosk machines
Small businesses enjoy several benefits by deploying automated kiosk machines in their premises. Many of these benefits are common and are applicable to all industries or sectors. And those rewarding benefits are listed below.
The final takeaway
Of course, there is the investment aspect involved. However, the cost efficiency, the improved operational efficiency and the enhanced CX of kiosk automation would soon bring the desired ROI.
The immense versatility and customization benefits of the kiosks help businesses deploy these machines in a wide range of business environments and use-cases. The scalability benefit that they offer supports your future expansion plans. For example: You may start with a single unit and later scale the business by deploying multiple units.
Even your customer mindset and needs are changing with the evolving technology. They demand more control and privacy in the purchase process. A smooth and efficient transaction coupled with personalisation is the KEY to improved customer experience.
Yes, you have a lot to benefit from automating your operations via self-service kiosk deployment.
Panashi FZCO is a renowned and reputed self-service kiosk provider based in Dubai, UAE. And when it comes to kiosk installation, we provide comprehensive technical support and guidance to our clients in the middle-east and Africa.
With just a call or an email citing your requirements, our proactive team is always ready to help.