Basic to Super-advanced: The Evolution of Kiosk Machines and their Use-Cases

2. Banking sector digital banking kiosk machine

Banking self-service kiosks are widely deployed in banking facilities and institutions. Banking customers can easily perform a plethora of banking transactions via self-service kiosk machines eliminating the interaction with a teller or an agent. Banking kiosk are meticulously designed to automate banking transactions, reduce customer wait times, and improve the overall operational efficiency. In the recent years, we’ve witnessed the transformation of an ordinary banking kiosk into a more interactive and capable “box branch” – Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) that facilitates live video chat with a banking personnel.

How does a self-service banking kiosk work?

A typical banking self-service kiosk comes loaded with necessary hardware components to automate banking transactions like touchscreen interface, card reader, thermal printer, cash acceptor and dispenser, cheque scanner, cheque book printer, card printer, biometric scanner, etc.

The services range from KYC, account opening to the instant issuance of personalized debit cards.

• Customer identification - The customer approaches the banking kiosk. Upon inserting the bank card or via biometric scanning or approving via mobile app, the kiosk identifies the customer.
• Selection of service - The customer can now select the desired service displayed on the kiosk touchscreen.
• Processing time – When the customer selects the desired service, the kiosk processes the service request/transaction. The transaction could be a simple account information update or balance enquiry or more complex cash deposit or withdrawal.
• Confirmation – When the transaction is complete, the kiosk issues a transaction conformation message, either in the digital or print format.
• Transaction completion – Upon receiving the receipt, the customer can retrieve the card and collect the dispensed cash, if any.

Benefits of a banking self-service kiosk

The benefits of self-service automation of banking services are mentioned below.

• Improved operational efficiency - reduced customer wait times, fast and efficient transactions offer improved operational efficiency.
• Improved accessibility- the banking kiosks serve as a perfect alternative to the conventional brick-and-mortar branch. These kiosks can be deployed at places where the construction of brick-and-mortar branch is not feasible.
• 24/7 banking – the kiosk remains operational 24/7, hence customers get the opportunity to perform transactions outside banking hours.
• Reduced operational expenses – By deploying self-service banking kiosks, banks can save the operational expenses involved in the day-to-day functioning of a brick-and-mortar branch such as rents, utility bills etc.
• Improved CX – reduced wait times, efficient transactions, convenient banking hours, secure transactions – all contribute towards improved CX.

3. Remittance kiosk machine for money exchange providers

A remittance kiosk or money exchange kiosk automates the tasks carried out by the conventional money exchange houses. A registered customer can make use of the remittance kiosk to transfer money from his/her account to the beneficiary account with ease, thereby, eliminating manual intervention. As a matter of fact, the customers needn’t have to visit the crowded money exchange houses and stand in the long lines to transfer money. Money exchange kiosks can be deployed at airports, shopping malls, hotels and labour camps.

How does a remittance kiosk work?

A remittance kiosk is integrated with all the necessary hardware components to streamline the remittance process. Usually, remittance kiosks are loaded with a touchscreen interface, card reader, cash depositor, cash dispenser, receipt printer, biometric scanner etc.

• The customer approaches the remittance kiosk machine and selects the remittance option.
• The kiosk identifies the customer through biometric scanning or card or OTP.
• The kiosk displays the beneficiaries linked to the customer's account.
• The customer selects a beneficiary from the list of beneficiaries. The beneficiary details are displayed on the kiosk.
• The customer enters the amount to remit.
• The system displays the calculated rate for the remittance.
• The customer chooses either cash or card payment.
• If cash payment is chosen, the system checks the availability of dispensing cash for change. If there is not enough cash, the customer must either provide the exact amount or choose card payment.
• Upon successful completion, the kiosk prints the receipt or shares it electronically.

What are the benefits of a remittance kiosks?

Self-service automation of money exchange services offers following benefits:

• 24/7 functionality - A self-service kiosk operates 24/7, offering outright convenience for customers.
• Improved operational efficiency - reduced wait times, automated money transfer, improves the operational efficiency.
• Secure money transfers – Money exchange kiosks provide highly efficient and secure money transfers. The data encryption ensures the safety of customer data.
• Improved transaction accuracy – The kiosk machine serves as a perfect alternative to the conventional money exchange tellers. Reduced human error results in improved transaction accuracy.
• Cost savings – the money exchange service provider can cut cost on rent, utility bills and employee expenses.

4. Insurance self-service kiosk machine for Insurance sector

Through self-service kiosk automation, an insurance company can sell their policy via a self-service kiosk. A self-service insurance kiosk performs most of the tasks performed by the conventional insurance agencies like selling and renewal of policies, compliance and KYC, payment processing etc. The kiosk serves as an automated insurance sales point that requires least human intervention. You may deploy an insurance kiosk at busy locales, airports and shopping malls.

How does an insurance kiosk work?

The insurance kiosk is loaded with hardware components like touchscreen, document scanner, receipt printer, document printer, biometric scanner etc.

• 1. Customer authentication - the customer approaches the kiosk machine and provides the necessary information like policy number, username and password, or undergoes a biometric authentication.
• 2. Customer verification - The kiosk verifies customer information by connecting to the backend system and presents the policy-related data of the customer via the kiosk touchscreen.
• 3. Access services - The customer can now access the services displayed on the kiosk screen. Some of the services offered by Insurance kiosks include:
  • Access or view policy-related information. (This includes a plethora of relevant information like policy due-date, premium amount, terms and condition etc.)
  • Renewal of the policy
  • Submission of insurance claims with necessary proofs or reports. (Document scanner helps customer to scan and upload the necessary documents)
  • Claim tracking
• 4. Payment - Customers can make use of diverse payment options to perform service-related payments like card payment, contactless payments like apple pay and google pay, cashless payment, cash payments etc.
• 5. Receipt issuance – After successful payment, the kiosk issues the payment receipt in electronic or print format.
• 6. Collect document – if necessary, the customer may print the required policy-related documents via the kiosk or sent the document to his/her personal email.
• 7. Completion of transaction

Benefits of Insurance kiosk

• Improved operational efficiency - By reducing wait times and by providing fast and efficient services, the insurance provider enjoys improved operational efficiency.
• Reduced operational expenses - through self-service kiosk automation, the insurance provider can cut down the operational expenses like office rent, utility bills etc.
• 24/7 services – the kiosk remains operational 24/7 and offers services seamlessly without human intervention.
• Improved Customer CX – added customer convenience, reduced wait times, impeccable service, drastically improves CX.

5. Telecom self-service kiosk machine (SSM) for telecom industry

Self-service telecom kiosks provide a quick, convenient, and secure way to handle the telecom needs of the customers. Telecom self-service kiosk machines serves as an effective platform to stay ahead in the competitive telecom sector. A fully-equipped telecom self-service machine can automate most of the services offered by the conventional customer service points.

Key features of a telecom self-service machine

• 24/7 functionality - The telecom kiosk remains operational 24/7 which adds to the convenience of the users.
• SIM Card Services - Customers can easily perform sim card issuance, service activation/deactivation, replacements and plan upgrades via the telecom kiosk.
• Top-Ups and Recharges - the regular top-ups and recharges can be easily executed via the kiosk terminal.
• Multi-language facility
• KYC processing
• E-wallet services
• Bill payments
• KYC processing

Benefit of a telecom kiosk

• Remote monitoring facility- telecom service providers may deploy a telecom kiosk at remote locations where operating a physical customer sales point is not feasible. Under these circumstances, telecom providers can track the performance of the system remotely from a different location.
• Reduced customer wait times - Your customers appreciate, fast and efficient services and they hate to stand in long lines.
• Improved customer service – the customers get a one-stop solution for their telecom needs.
• Reduced operational cost – Compared to the traditional telecom customer sales point, the operational expenses of a telecom kiosk are far less.
• Easy relocation – if situation demands, you may easily relocate the kiosk to high footfall regions.

6. Government self-service kiosk machine for government sector

Self-service e-Government kiosks bridge the gap between government institutions and the general public. The citizens can make use of the government kiosks to access government services, government-owned websites, policy-related matters, updates etc.

Government kiosks can offer services related to a single department or local body or integrate the services offered by multiple departments into a single Kiosk system.

Services offered by e-Government kiosks

Self-service government kiosks offer a wide range of services for citizens like issuance of documents, renewal of certificates or ID cards, information dissemination, payment processing, and a lot more. Government departments like police department, RTA, postal department, land and municipality bodies etc. can leverage the e-government kiosks to improve their services to the public.

Benefits of Government Kiosks

• Streamlined transactions - The public can perform various government transactions easily and efficiently without standing in long lines.
• Improved accessibility - Government services become more accessible to citizens, particularly in underserved areas or locales.
• Improved convenience - Tasks like license renewal, payment of taxes and fines can be accomplished easily via kiosk terminals. Citizens need not depend on human intervention.
• Informed citizens - By receiving relevant information on policy and service-related matters on a time-bound manner, the citizens become well-informed, responsible and updated.
• Multi-lingual facility A multi-lingual and multi-cultural society (as in the case of UAE) can easily access vital information via self-service kiosks.
• Reduced expenses Governments can save significant costs on office space rents, staffing requirements etc.
• Avoids cash payment Citizens can avoid cash payments at government institutions which helps to curtail bribery and other illegal practices.

7. Retail mall kiosk machine for retail industry

A Retail kiosk can a be fantastic add-on to the customer’s overall shopping experience. The kiosk allows customers to quickly checkout, dispense shopping gifts cards, vouchers or prepaid cards and is ideal for the retail sector.

How does a retail kiosk work?

A retail kiosk or mall kiosk allows customers to perform checkouts quickly and dispense their gifts cards without having to wait in the long lines. Here is how it works.

• The customers need to access the kiosk machine and select their preferred gift card from the list of options.
• Come up with a personal message for the gift card.
• Make the payment for the selected card. You’ve diverse payment options like card, cardless, cash, mobile payments etc.
• Dispense the card.

Benefits of a retail kiosk

• Fast and efficient checkout functionality
• Attract customers, more sales - Implementing a retail kiosk or gift card kiosk is a wonderful strategy to attract customers to you retail outlet. The increased footfall can be turned into sales.
• Easy relocation The retail kiosk can be relocated to any other location, if situation demands.
• Versatile utility A retail kiosk can be installed in malls, airports, special events, exhibitions and in high-traffic locations.
• Multi-lingual facility A multi-lingual and multi-cultural society (as in the case of UAE) can easily access vital information via self-service kiosks.
• Convenience the customers can print the gift card in a couple of minutes easily without any human intervention.
• Remote monitoring facility You may track the performance of the retail kiosk remotely from a different location and perform live updates, and provide offers to improve user interaction.
• 24/7 functionality the kiosk remains operational 24/7, hence the customers can print gift cards at their convenience.

8. HR self-service kiosk machine for Corporate sector

An HR kiosk is widely used in the corporate sector to streamline HR operations. An HR kiosk machine bridges the gap between the HR personnel and employees. The employees can make use of the HR kiosk/Employee self-service kiosk to access a wide range of HR functions without directly interacting with HR personnel. This also helps the HR professionals in reducing their day-to-day work-load.

The self-service HR kiosk can be installed at any location within the premises of a company, such as the entrance or in the lobby area, whichever is more convenient.

Features of an HR kiosk

The important HR functions are listed below.

• Information access - the employees can access a plethora of information related to the company, the HR policy, rules and regulations and many more.
• Employee payroll and compensation Employees can access their payroll-related information via the Employee kiosk.
• Leave management Leave application process become highly convenient via the HR self-service kiosks. To add on, the employees can check the status of the leave application, and verify balance leaves.
• Employee benefits Employees can easily access benefits-related information via HR Kiosks like Employee Health Insurance, etc.
• Access documents HR kiosks are equipped with document printers which can be used to download and print vital documents and application forms.
• Employee training Employees can register themselves for training programs via the HR kiosk.
• Instant issuance of pay slips and salary certificates.
• Employee self-service – update personal info, contact details etc.
• Video conferencing option with HR executive.

Benefits

The HR kiosk is beneficial for HR personnel, the employees and the establishment, as a whole. Some of the major benefits are shared below.

• Employee empowerment – the employee enjoys far better control in managing and accessing HR functions. This results in a more satisfied employee.
• Streamline HR operations - the systematic and efficient operations streamline HR operations. Employee on-boarding and profile management become much simplified through HR kiosk automation.
• Reduced HR workload The HR Kiosk solution also reduces the work-load of HR professionals to a great extent, as the employees need not depend on the HR for each and every task.
• Reduced expenses self-service kiosk automation helps to reduce administration and operational expenses.
• Multi-lingual facility A multi-lingual and multi-cultural society (as in the case of UAE) can easily access vital information via self-service kiosks.
• Highest data security top-notch employee authentication features protects the sensitive employee data.

9. Patient check-in kiosk for Healthcare sector

A patient check-in or hospital kiosk is an excellent solution to streamline the day-to-day hospital operations. A patient check-in kiosk reduces the patient waiting time considerably by automating the patient check-in process. Hospital kiosks are usually installed at hospital reception areas or in the front lobby to provide easy access to the patients.

Here are some of the functionalities of a Hospital Kiosk.

• Self-service patient registration A new patient can access the hospital kiosk machine and do the patient registration process easily.
• Patient check-in Patients with appointments scheduled via mobile app or phone can easily check in by approaching the kiosk upon arrival at the hospital. This streamlined process eliminates the need for queues, significantly enhancing the overall patient experience
• Appointment booking – Booking appointments, rescheduling, and cancellations can be done via the kiosk terminal. The facility also helps to reduce the burden on the hospital staff.
• Payment processing patients need not have to stand in the long line to pay their bills. The kiosk terminal takes care of payments related to doctor visits, service-related payments etc.
• Information dissemination the kiosk serves as an information or help portal for both patients and visitors. The visitors can access a wide range of information related to the hospital like the care offered, doctor availability, specializations, etc.
• Wayfinding functionality The kiosk terminal also serves as an excellent wayfinding solution helping the patients as well as the visitors.
• Access medical history of patients the patients can easily access medical history and test results and even make a request for certificates.
• Visitor management – The hospital kiosk also helps to improve the visitor experience by providing relevant information related to patient rooms, visiting time etc. Visitors may even print visiting badges via the kiosk machine.

Benefits of a hospital kiosk

The benefits of hospital kiosks are listed below.

• Enhances patient experience patients can perform several time-consuming tasks like registration, check-in, payments, information access etc. via the kiosk terminal. This enhances the overall patient/visitor experience.
• Reduces administrative burden - self-service kiosk automation helps to reduce the burden on the hospital staff.
• Reduced staffing recruitments the hospital management need not hire or maintain staff to manage the monotonous and unproductive reception tasks.
• Improved hospital workflow Streamlined, time-bound operations improve the hospital workflow.

10. Cinema ticketing kiosks for Entertainment industry

Cinema or Movie kiosks for entertainment sector basically stands for automated ticket issuance. These self-service machines are widely deployed at movie houses, malls and other entertainment venues. The customers can purchase movie tickets by paying cash or card. Besides those who buy tickets online or via mobile app can print the tickets from the cinema kiosks. In addition to ticket issuance, movie kiosks are equipped with a number of additional capabilities to enhance the overall CX.

Other functionalities

• The moviegoers can easily collect reward programs via the kiosk machine.
• Collect reward points
• Make food and beverage-related payments.

Benefits of Movie/Entertainment kiosk

The benefits of hospital kiosks are listed below.

• Get rid of long lineups at counters - Movie kiosks or Cinema kiosks handle the whole ticket booking and purchase process. In just a few minutes, patrons can go through the list of movies displayed on the kiosk touchscreen. They can effortlessly choose their preferred movie as well as the quantity of tickets they wish to purchase along with their favorite dishes.
• Better concession service: moviegoers may place and receive their orders in the shortest amount of time possible. Once the order is entered via the kiosk touchscreen, the customer can proceed to the concession stand.
• Better staff allocation: The entertainment house may reassign staff members to roles that are more productive.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction - Quick and easy ticket purchases, a smooth ordering procedure, and quicker services all contribute towards better customer satisfaction.

11. Charity kiosk machines for non-profits

Charity kiosk is an interactive kiosk terminal that supports the fundraising initiatives of nonprofit organizations. A charity kiosk machine effectively conveys the purpose of the fundraising campaigns via the interactive kiosk screen through interactive videos, puzzles, slideshows etc. The interactive content helps to attract the attention of the public and conveys the campaign purpose in an easily understandable and engaging manner.

Charity or donation kiosks can be deployed at any convenient location with sufficient footfall like shopping malls, busy junctions, airports etc.

Benefits of donation kiosks

Donations kiosks offer several rewarding benefits to the organizers. Some of them are mentioned below.

• Efficient and secure donation collection – A charity kiosk serves as an efficient and secure platform to collect donations for various causes.
• Quick donation – People can donate money by simply taping their card, thanks to the NFC technology integrated into the Panashi Kiosks.
• Campaign based donation: Donors can contribute based on the campaigns such as children’s wellbeing, War, Food and Water etc.
• Diverse payment modes – A donation kiosk is equipped with diverse payment options like cash, card, cardless and mobile payments which makes the donation process highly convenient.
• 24/7 donation campaign – the 24/7 functionality of the kiosks facilitates 24/7 campaigns.
• Remote monitoring - the organisation can track the performance of the campaign remotely from a different location, and gather real-time insights about the same.
• Multi-language facility – With kiosk’s multi-language feature, the organizers can effectively communicate the purpose of the campaign with the potential donors.
• Easy relocation – The donation kiosk can be easily relocated to high-footfall locales for improved engagements.

Benefits of Movie/Entertainment kiosk

The benefits of hospital kiosks are listed below.

• Get rid of long lineups at counters - Movie kiosks or Cinema kiosks handle the whole ticket booking and purchase process. In just a few minutes, patrons can go through the list of movies displayed on the kiosk touchscreen. They can effortlessly choose their preferred movie as well as the quantity of tickets they wish to purchase along with their favorite dishes.
• Better concession service: moviegoers may place and receive their orders in the shortest amount of time possible. Once the order is entered via the kiosk touchscreen, the customer can proceed to the concession stand.
• Better staff allocation: The entertainment house may reassign staff members to roles that are more productive.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction - Quick and easy ticket purchases, a smooth ordering procedure, and quicker services all contribute towards better customer satisfaction.

Factors behind diversifying and innovating self-service use-case scenarios

There are several driving factors behind the diversification of self-service use-case scenarios. And, of course, one of the vital factors are technological innovation. Understanding those factors is vital for service providers who are already into self-service kiosk-assisted services and for others who would like to invest in the technology in the near future. Here are they!

Technological innovation

• Internet of Things (IoT) – IoT facilitates improved device integrations that helps you to connect kiosk terminals to other systems. This enhances real-time data integrations and improves remote tracking which becomes useful in managing the inventory in retail sector and for gathering customer data.
• Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning – AI and ML are instrumental in improving the overall CX for a wide range of industries like hospitality, retail, etc. AI-driven kiosks are capable of creating personalised customer experiences, make advance predictions related to customer requirements, and automating intricate tasks.
• Biometric authentication Industries like healthcare and retail make use of facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to improve convenience and enhance security.
• Cloud computing – Cloud computing technology enables kiosk machines to handle and analyse large and complex data on real-time basis.
• RFID – RFID kiosks integrate RFID technology into a self-service kiosk machine and are employed in retail, healthcare industries for information-gathering, access-control, check-outs etc.

Changing customer expectations

• Convenience first Fast and efficient service coupled with 24/7 functionality have become the norm nowadays. Standing in the long lines for hours have become a thing of the past. Yes, customers are increasingly gravitating towards convenience. And they expect utmost convenience in whatever they engage.
• Freedom, control and privacy – Customers would like to perform transactions at their own pace, with maximum control and minimum human intervention.
• Improved UX Self-service kiosk machines have the capability to offer interactive experiences for customers across wide range of industries. Personalised customer experiences, customer loyalty programs, providing special offers based on previous purchases and interactions – all these factors improve customer UX.

Cost considerations

• Reduced staffing requirements By automating the monotonous and unproductive tasks like payment processing and front-office responsibilities, the service providers can reduce their staffing requirements. Reduced staffing requirements also bring down the operational expense.
• Improved operational efficiency – Service providers want their systems to operate at their maximum efficiency. By reducing human errors, automating monotonous tasks, improving transaction speed and accuracy, self-service kiosks improve the overall operational efficiency.
• Scalable business Kiosk terminals are perfectly suitable for business expansion initiatives. Service providers can easily add a kiosk terminal to an existing network and operate the machines simultaneously from different location.

Gen Z preferences

• A tech-savvy Gen Z population long for technology and they are highly comfortable with technology-driven system and solutions. The demand for instant gratification and the preference for personalised, omnichannel experiences are common among the Gen Z. Gen Z folks prefer flexible, 24/7 services that give them the freedom and control to do their transactions at their own pace and comfort. “Freedom to choose” is one of the striking aspects of the Gen Z population. And no wonder, they are called as “Digital Natives”.
• And self-service kiosk machines serve as a complete package solution that satisfy these Gen Z preferences.
• What’s the Big Data website states that 30% of the total world population comprises of the Gen Z. And they also reveal that by 2025, the Gen Z would make up 27% of the global workforce.
• To add on, the Gen Z numbers are growing worldwide!

Competition

To stay ahead of the intense competition, businesses make use of advanced kiosk solutions or integrate advanced technology into the kiosk terminal. This give them a competitive edge in their respective domains and also helps them offer improved services to their customers. Moreover, fast and efficient services coupled with top-notch CX aids in Customer retention.

You can expect more and more self-service kiosk use-case diversification in the years to come. The facts and considerations furnished above substantiate the same. Even global changes and events can have an impact or become a catalyst in this diversification process. So, let’s hope for the best.

Extended use-case scenarios of self-service kiosk machines

1) Robotic Kiosk in restaurants

Have you been to any restaurant where the dishes are prepared by robots? Automated robotic baristas can prepare and serve coffee to the customers in a couple of minutes. Robots cafes are already trending in countries like Japan. A futuristic concept called “Robot café”, is right now transforming the conventional restaurant dining experience. Yes, cute-looking robots have taken the control of restaurants and they prepare meals, handle serving and even give company for the visitors!

Robotic kiosk are sophisticated self-service kiosk machines that make use of robotic technology to carry out various operations independently without human intervention or support. The technology helps restaurant owners to streamline restaurant operations and enhance customer services.

The robot named Pepper deployed in the restaurant named Pepper Parlor in Tokyo, Japan performs multiple restaurant tasks like greeting and chatting with customers, table sharing etc.

Robotic kiosk - functionality

With the help of highly sophisticated robotic arms, Robotics kiosks perform various sophisticated operations with accurate precision. The robot kiosk performs tasks like dispensing of ingredients, preparing drinks and dishes like burger, coffee etc. and serving the dishes to the customers. Some of the robots are fantastic entertainers as they can sing and even dance for the customers. A “robotainment” indeed!

Benefits

Robotic kiosks have the potential to fully transform the conventional restaurant experiences.

• Bring down labour cost – The robot takes over the monotonous order-taking task which helps the restaurants to save on labour expenses.
• Reduce human errors – Restaurants can bring down human errors while order-taking.
• Improved Customer Experience fast and efficient operations, reduced human errors,
• Extended operational time – The robotic order-takers do not care whether it’s day or night. Hence, your restaurant can extent the operational time.
• Attract customers – Robotic servers or baristas in restaurants is a new and innovative concept. You may effectively market this futuristic restaurant experience across websites and various social media platforms and attract more customers

2) Drive-thru kiosks for car wash businesses

A drive-thru self-service kiosk machine can expedite and streamline the operations of your car wash business. Most of the modern car wash facilities make use of self-service technology owing to the obvious advantage of 24/7 operations. Self-service automation reduces customer wait times and improves the overall efficiency of the car wash facility.

How does a car wash kiosk work?

Increased wait times and lack of qualified staff can slow down the operations in a car wash. A self-service kiosk eliminates these scenarios. The customers need to follow certain basic instructions. And here are they.

• The customer can drive to the kiosk terminal and access the list of services displayed on the kiosk screen.
• After selecting the preferred service, the customer can make the payment for the same via the kiosk interface.
• After the payment is verified, the customer needs to follow the instructions provided by the kiosk terminal, and may take the car to the car wash bay.
• The cleaning process is usually carried out by automated systems.
• When the cleaning process gets completed, the customer is notified about the same, and the customer is allowed to leave.

See, how simple and convenient the entire process is!

Benefits

The major benefits are furnished below.

• Reduces customer wait times Self-service kiosk automation significantly reduces customer wait times.
• Enhanced operational efficiency The automated, systematic and flawless operations help to improve operational efficiency of the car wash facility.
• Gather customer data and insights the car wash businesses can collect vital customer data based on customer service-preferences, behaviour patterns, frequency of visits etc. The data can be used to implement customer loyalty programs.
• Reduced labour expenses Greeting the customers and collecting payments are highly monotonous and therefore can be automated.
• 24/7 operations – A self-service kiosk-assisted car wash can operate 24/7 which adds convenience to your customers.
• Attract more customers – fast and efficient services, reduced wait times, dedicated loyalty programs – all these aspects help to attract more customers to your facility.

3) Key-drop kiosk for automotive sector

A key-drop kiosk provides key-drop and pick-up services for a wide range of automotive-related services. Your customers would appreciate, if you could provide after-hours or 24/7 services as they find it highly convenient. Whether you provide a detailed car service or a car wash or even a tire-detailing, there is huge scope for key-drop facilities.

How does a key-drop kiosk work?

The customers can straight away access the key-drop kiosk machine after entering the premises of the service provider.

• Enter vehicle details like the make, model and year of manufacture along with license number etc. via the kiosk screen.
• Select the type of service needed from the list of services displayed on the kiosk screen.
• Drop off the key in the secure drop box integrated into the kiosk. Immediately, an instant email will be sent to the service center citing the customer information and requirement.
• When the service gets completed, the customer receives a notification (service ID) via email or SMS.
• Now the customer can visit the car service outlet at a convenient time to retrieve the vehicle.

Key pick-up process

• Once the customer returns to retrieve the vehicle, the person should enter the service ID on the kiosk touchscreen.
• Now, the customer can access the service order. The service order displays the service costs. (If needed, the customer can arrange a call back via the kiosk terminal)
• After reviewing the service order, the customer can proceed towards payment.
• Once the payment is approved, the kiosk terminal dispenses the key through the key pick-up box.

Benefits of a key-drop kiosk

• Improved operational efficiency the key-drop kiosk solution offers efficient and uninterrupted service reducing human errors. This improves operational efficiency of the service provider.
• Collect loyalty programs the service providers may collect customer information like emails, phone number, preferences, number of service-related visits, etc. The gathered information can be used to implement customer loyalty programs.
• Improved customer convenience The 24/7 functionality of the self-service key-drop facility offers much convenience to the customers. The customers can make visits to the service provider after office-hours, or even late at night. Similarly, the any-time pick-up facility offers much relief to the customers as they can retrieve the vehicle at their preferred, convenient time.
• Secure key-drop and pick-up The self-service key-drop facility offers top-notch security in connection with key storage. Customers needn’t worry about unpleasant scenarios like theft or misplacement.

4) RFID kiosks for retail sector

RFID kiosks or RFID technology-assisted kiosks are employed in several industries for a wide range of applications due to their versatility. RFID technology makes use electromagnetic waves to access information from tagged objects. The RFID system involves RFID reader and RFID tags. The data retrieval process takes places as a result of the interaction of electromagnetic wave signals between the RFID reader and RFID tags. RFID kiosks and systems are used in retail, healthcare, libraries (education), transportation, and many other sectors.

How RFID is used in retail sector?

3 use-case scenarios of RFID technology in retail sector are mentioned below.

• You might have used a RFID-integrated self-checkout kiosk terminal in large retail stores and outlets. The customers can scan the RFID-tagged items at the kiosk machine and perform the payment conveniently without any human intervention.
• The same technology helps customers gather a plethora of information regarding the products or items with a single scan.
• Another use-case scenario of the technology in retail sector is connected with managing the retail inventory. The retail stores can track and manage their inventory real-time eliminating human errors and other stock-related inconsistencies.

Benefits of RFID kiosks

• Convenient checkout RFID self-checkout kiosks facilitate fast and convenient self-checkout for customers.
• Improved operational efficiency fast checkouts, reduced customer wait times, improved workflow due to effective inventory tracking – all these aspects are contributing factors for improved operational efficiency.
• Saves labour cost The retail stores need not hire billing staff as the kiosk facilitates self-checkout. This reflects in labour cost savings.
• Information gathering the customers can gather relevant and legitimate information like product specifications, quantity, date of expiry etc. in a matter of seconds.
• Improved Customer Experience all the above-mentioned factors improve the overall CX.

To Conclude

On a concluding note, let us have a look at an important statistic.

Based on the research conducted by Arizton Advisory & Intelligence, in 2022, the global self-service kiosk market value was $26.4 billion. As of 2028, the value is forecasted to rise to $43.6 billion, achieving a growth rate of 8.71%.

Enhanced operational efficiency, improved CX and reduced expenses are the three major deciding factors that fuel the adoption of self-service kiosks in the global market.

Self-service kiosk machines are becoming more secure, easy to use, and able to integrate with other digital solutions as technology develops, opening the door for cutting-edge uses like biometric authentication, AI-powered customer support, etc.

Businesses can employ self-service kiosks to maintain competitiveness and satisfy the ever-evolving needs of today's tech-savvy customers by adapting the emerging use-case applications.

Investing in these versatile machines not only streamlines operations but also creates a more convenient and engaging customer experience, laying the groundwork for future expansion and innovation.