Latest guidance from W3C on basically closed systems which do not fall under the Open systems that WCAG normally applies to,
Think someone using their desktop at home versus using an ATM.
The accessibility guidelines for closed systems do in fact have references to WCAG (three total) and the US Access Board certainly considers W3C guidelines as one of their foundations for accessibility. The European standards (349) also follow.
These new “guidelines” are not legalistic in nature. They are suggestions and recommendations on what WCAG parameters should be considered when doing “closed systems”.
Oddly enough large format screens such as interactive digital for wayfinding, smart cities, or classroom schools are not detailed.
The working committee deciding all this had no representation from the kiosk or digital signage sector though Phil Day is very accomplished albeit basically NCR ATMs and checkouts (based in Scotland). NCR checkout technology such as that at Walmart or Whole Foods (based in Atlanta) only marginally pass ADA rules. The question then becomes is whether all that is client-driven and for the most part we believe it is. Walmart decides its liability. See ADA – Whole Foods SCO Review – Amazon Accessibility
We are not sure why they spent two years on this just to create a subset of the main WCAG. We also wish regulatory guidelines took the daring step of providing actual real like examples but that is problematic for them. And then you have to wonder about California. ADA is different in California (Braille Label – Braille Decals for ADA Accessibility)
Including mobile is definite plus for sure.
For baseline testing of desktop and mobile accessibility the best option is to have Google do it for you (https://pagespeed.web.dev/). It uses WCAG 2.1 as base.
Definition of closed systems by W3C
self-service transaction machines or kiosks — examples include machines used for retail self-checkout, point of sales (POS) terminals, ticketing and self-check-in, and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
telephony devices such as internet phones, feature phones, smartphones, and phone-enabled tablets
educational devices such as interactive whiteboards and smart boards
entertainment technologies including gaming platforms or consoles, smart TVs, set-top boxes, smart displays, smart speakers, smart watches, and tablets
an ebook reader or standalone ebook software that allows assistive technologies to access all of the user interface controls of the ebook program (open functionality) but does not allow the assistive technologies to access the actual content of book (closed functionality).
medical devices such as digital blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, or other wearable devices
an operating system that makes the user provide login credentials before it allows any assistive technologies to be loaded. The login portion would be closed functionality.
other technology devices, such as printers, displays, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices
On October 8th, 2024, the W3C Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (AGWG) published Guidance on Applying WCAG 2 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT) as a completed W3C Group Note. WCAG2ICT describes how Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) principles, guidelines, and success criteria can be applied to non-web information and communications technologies (ICT), specifically to non-web documents and software. The Note includes guidance for WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 success criteria and glossary terms. For an introduction, see: WCAG2ICT Overview.
Top 5 Reasons Healthcare Embrace Self-Service Kiosks
This guide, published by ImageHOLDERS, explores the key benefits of integrating self-service kiosks into healthcare settings and how they contribute to a more efficient, patient-centric approach.
Patient check-in kiosk technology is a key driver in modern healthcare
In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency is critical, especially in healthcare, where time saved can directly impact patient outcomes.
As healthcare providers strive to deliver better services while reducing operational burdens, self-service kiosks are becoming an increasingly valuable tool. These kiosks offer more than just convenience; they streamline administrative tasks, improve patient engagement, and enhance data accuracy.
Whether you’re managing a small clinic or a large hospital, self-service kiosks can transform the patient experience, enabling healthcare providers to focus on what matters most, delivering quality care.
This guide explores the key benefits of integrating self-service kiosks into healthcare settings and how they contribute to a more efficient, patient-centric approach.
What is a Self-Service Patient Kiosk in Healthcare?
Technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing patient experiences, one such innovation is the self-service patient kiosk, a digital solution designed to automate routine tasks in medical facilities.
These kiosks are interactive touch-screen stations that allow patients to manage various administrative tasks independently, such as checking in for appointments, updating personal information, or making payments.
Self–service kiosks empower patients to take control of their healthcare journey, while freeing up staff to focus on more critical aspects of care delivery.
5 Benefits of Self-Service Kiosks in Healthcare
Self-service patient check-in kiosks offer a range of benefits that directly enhance patient satisfaction in healthcare settings.
Here’s a breakdown of key advantages:
1. Convenience and Speed
Kiosks streamline the check-in process, allowing patients to bypass long queues and tedious paperwork. This faster experience shows patients that their time is valued, which leads to higher satisfaction and a more efficient flow in healthcare facilities.
2. Improved Accuracy
By allowing patients to enter and verify their data, kiosks help reduce administrative errors. This ensures that information such as contact details and medical history is up-to-date and accurate, contributing to smoother care delivery.
3. Enhanced Privacy and Security
Modern kiosks are equipped with privacy safeguards, such as screens that shield personal information from onlookers. This reassures patients about the confidentiality of their data, fostering trust and comfort in healthcare providers.
4. Cost Efficiency and Resource Management
By automating routine administrative tasks, healthcare facilities can reduce operational costs and the need for additional front desk staff. This optimization also frees up existing staff to focus on patient care.
5. 24/7 Access and Multilingual Support
Self-service kiosks can provide round-the-clock availability, allowing patients to check in or manage appointments outside of normal office hours. Many kiosks also offer multilingual support, enhancing accessibility for non-English-speaking patients.
As healthcare providers adopt these technologies, many report significant improvements in patient satisfaction, thanks to the convenience, accuracy, privacy, and overall modern experience that kiosks provide.
Deployment Areas for Patient Check-In Kiosks
Patient check-in kiosks are versatile solutions that can be deployed across a range of healthcare environments, from large hospitals to local clinics and GP surgeries.
In hospitals, kiosks streamline the check-in process for outpatient visits, reducing congestion in busy reception areas.
Clinics and GP surgeries benefit from kiosks by allowing patients to quickly check-in for appointments, verify their information, and update records without relying on administrative staff.
Pharmacies are also adopting these kiosks to facilitate faster prescription pickups and consultations, improving service efficiency. By being integrated into various healthcare settings, patient check-in kiosks enhance operational flow while offering patients a convenient, modern experience.
Hospital Kiosk Design and Implementation
Designing and implementing hospital kiosks requires a user-centric approach, ensuring that the interface is intuitive and accessible to all patients, regardless of their technical skill level.
The kiosk interface should offer clear navigation, large buttons, multilingual support, and assistive technologies to accommodate diverse patient needs. Seamless integration with existing hospital systems, such as electronic health records (EHR) and scheduling software, is crucial for real-time data updates and efficient patient management.
Moreover, compliance with data privacy and security regulations, such as HIPAA, is paramount.
Kiosks must include:
Robust encryption
Secure authentication methods
Privacy features to protect sensitive patient information, ensuring that healthcare providers maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and trust
Patient Self-Check-In Systems and Applications
Patient self-check-in systems are digital solutions that allow patients to manage their registration and administrative tasks independently upon arrival at a healthcare facility. These systems often come equipped with key features such as appointment scheduling, which enables patients to book, confirm, or cancel appointments with minimal assistance.
This reduces the administrative burden on staff and ensures more accurate scheduling, helping to prevent overbooking or missed appointments.
Another valuable feature is insurance verification, where patients can directly enter or update their insurance details, allowing the system to verify coverage in real time.
This streamlines billing processes and minimizes delays in care caused by insurance discrepancies.
By automating these tasks, patient self-check-in systems optimize patient flow, reducing wait times and congestion at reception areas. This efficient management of the check-in process also leads to higher patient satisfaction, as it creates a more seamless and less stressful experience.
Additionally, these systems improve data accuracy and minimize human error, ensuring that healthcare providers have the correct patient information from the outset.
The Impact of Implementing Patient Check-In Kiosks: Enhancing the Healthcare Experience
Overall Patient Experience
By offering convenience, accuracy, and privacy, patient check-in kiosks contribute to a more modern, patient-centric healthcare experience. Patients appreciate healthcare facilities that invest in technology to make their visit easier and more efficient.
The reduced stress of navigating complex administrative tasks and the assurance of data security positively influence how patients perceive the quality of their care. In summary, implementing patient check-in kiosks not only streamlines healthcare operations but also greatly enhances patient satisfaction.
From faster check-ins to secure data handling, kiosks offer a transformative solution that improves the entire healthcare journey.
Ryan Cuthbert, Vice President of Medent said: “Our end users and their customers have received the kiosks well. We have a vast portfolio of solutions and the new kiosk provides an all-in-one solution that functions in various ways, saving time for the receptionist and providing patients a quick way to check-in and feel in control of their journey.”
Our Commitment to Inclusive Self-Service Kiosks
At ImageHOLDERS, we are committed to designing inclusive self-service kiosks that ensure everyone has equal access to technology, regardless of ability.
Our kiosks are built with accessibility at the forefront, aligning with the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means they are designed to accommodate users with a range of physical and cognitive challenges, incorporating features such as adjustable heights, tactile buttons, and screen readers.
The ADA mandates that public accommodations, including healthcare facilities, provide accessible services for individuals with disabilities, and non-compliance can lead to legal repercussions.
By prioritizing accessibility, we not only meet these requirements but also uphold our core belief that technology should be intuitive and effortless for all users. Ensuring inclusivity in our kiosk designs enhances the overall user experience while fostering a more equitable and welcoming environment.
Non-compliance in making kiosks accessible could lead to legal repercussions and fines.
Choosing the Right Kiosk Vendor
Choosing the right kiosk vendor is a crucial step for any organization looking to enhance its services with self-service technology. At ImageHOLDERS, we understand that several factors should guide your vendor selection process.
First, consider cost, it’s important to find a vendor that offers a balance of quality and affordability without compromising on features.
Next, evaluate software compatibility to ensure that the kiosks can seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, such as electronic health records or appointment scheduling platforms.
Finally, assess the level of technical support provided by the vendor; a responsive and knowledgeable support team is essential for troubleshooting and maintenance, ensuring your kiosks operate smoothly over time.
By focusing on these key aspects, organizations can make informed decisions that align with their operational goals and enhance overall efficiency.
FAQs About Patient Self-Service Kiosks
What is a self-service kiosk?
A self-service kiosk is an interactive, digital terminal that allows patients to perform various tasks independently, such as checking in for appointments, updating personal information, scheduling future visits, and making payments. These kiosks enhance the patient experience by reducing wait times and streamlining administrative processes in healthcare settings.
How much do they cost?
The cost of self-service kiosks can vary widely based on factors such as the kiosk’s features, design, and the vendor you choose. On average, the initial investment for a self-service kiosk can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the level of customization and technology integration required.
When designing self-service kiosks for healthcare settings, several considerations are crucial. First, ensure the kiosk is user-friendly, with an intuitive interface that accommodates patients of all ages and tech-savviness.
Accessibility is also vital; kiosks should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by including features like adjustable heights, tactile buttons, and screen readers.
Additionally, consider the kiosk’s integration with existing healthcare systems to ensure seamless data flow and accurate patient information. Finally, the overall aesthetic should be welcoming and aligned with your facility’s branding to create a positive impression for patients.
Tips and warnings
As healthcare providers navigate the demands of modern patient care, self-service kiosks emerge as a transformative tool that enhances efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Here are the key takeaways from this guide:
Convenience and Speed: Kiosks streamline the check-in process, reducing wait times and allowing patients to manage their appointments with ease. This demonstrates respect for patients’ time, contributing to higher satisfaction.
Improved Accuracy: By allowing patients to enter their data directly, kiosks minimize administrative errors and ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date, leading to smoother care delivery.
Enhanced Privacy and Security: Equipped with privacy safeguards, kiosks protect sensitive patient information, fostering trust and confidence in the healthcare provider.
Cost Efficiency and Resource Management: Automating routine tasks helps reduce operational costs and allows staff to focus on delivering quality care rather than administrative duties.
24/7 Access and Multilingual Support: Kiosks provide patients with around-the-clock access to check-in and manage appointments, while also supporting multiple languages to accommodate diverse populations.
Tips and Warnings
While the benefits of implementing self-service kiosks are significant, healthcare providers should consider potential challenges, such as the initial investment costs, the need for proper training for staff and patients, and ongoing maintenance and support requirements. It’s essential to select a vendor that aligns with your organization’s needs and ensures compliance with accessibility standards like the ADA.
By integrating self-service kiosks, healthcare organizations can greatly improve patient experiences, streamline operations, and ultimately focus on what matters most—providing high-quality care.
Transform Your Patient Check-In Experience Today!
Unlock a more efficient and seamless patient check-in process by integrating our custom kiosk solutions, tailored to meet your facility’s unique needs. Discover how our advanced kiosks can revolutionize your healthcare environment—enhancing patient satisfaction, streamlining workflows, and elevating the overall quality of care.
Don’t wait to enhance your patient experience!
Contact us today to learn more and take the first step toward implementing your custom kiosk solution.
Let’s work together to create a healthcare experience that your patients will love!
LG Business Solutions has announced they will begin taking orders for their first Level 3 DC Charger in the United States.
The new fast charger, model LG EVC175SK-PN, has been certified to UL 2594, the UL Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Chain Equipment. The Level 3 DC Charger has a number of dynamic features including load management of multiple chargers, a high resolution 24” LCD touchscreen display, and a liquid cooled CCS/NACs charging cable.
Underscoring LG’s commitment to the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations and expanding business opportunities by creating new revenue streams, additional marketing and income opportunities, and differentiation with competing businesses.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LG TAKING ORDERS FOR LEVEL 3 DC FAST CHARGER, EXPANDING LINEUP FOR GROWING EV INFRASTRUCTURE
New Level 3 DC Charger to Join LG’s Level 2 AC Charger
Offering Commercial Customers Flexibility in Meeting Needs of EV Customers
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Oct. 3, 2024 — Further strengthening its commitment to meet the growing market need for fast, reliable EV vehicle charging solutions, LG Business Solutions USA has begun taking orders for LG’s first Level 3 DC Charger in the United States. The new fast charger, model LG EVD175SK-PN, has been certified to UL 2594, the UL Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.
To be assembled starting this fall at the company’s Fort Worth, Texas EV charging production center, LG’s new stylishly designed Level 3 DC Charger features dynamic load management of multiple chargers, a high resolution 24-inch LCD touch-screen display, and liquid cooled CCS/NACS charging cable. The charger is a stand-type model with a connected Power Bank that provides fast charging up to 175kW. The outdoor LCD touch-screen display can serve multiple functions for various owners and use cases.
“LG continues to invest in the global electrification movement, and the announcement of our first Level 3 DC charger demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide our U.S. commercial customers with solutions that enable them to build out their EV vehicle charging infrastructure,” said LG Business Solutions Senior Vice President Michael Kosla.
For LG commercial customers, the availability of the Level 3 DC chargers opens the door to new business opportunities, according to Kosla. “Together, our Level 2 and Level 3 chargers are creating new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public places to support the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations that create new revenue streams, additional marketing and income opportunities, and differentiation with competing businesses.”
LG’s EV chargers are part of LG Electronics’ broad electrification strategy that empowers customers to convert buildings to more sustainable energy usage, saving money and protecting the environment in the process. LG’s suite of whole home electrification products includes heat-pump-enabled HVAC systems, water heaters and dryers, energy storage systems, and ENERGY STAR® certified smart appliances, including induction ranges and cooktops. To further aid in energy and cost savings, LG’s ThinQ Energy platform allows customers to take control of their home’s energy usage at their fingertips.
LG employs a nationwide network of sales, customer support and technical maintenance professionals that provides LG with a significant advantage over smaller EV charging firms and provides buyers with peace of mind when investing in their privately-owned charging
infrastructure. LG’s Level 2 AC and Level 3 DC chargers also feature trusted LG software to enable integration with other LG infrastructure elements including digital display networks.
For more information on LG’s EV Charger solutions, click here. For images, click here.
About LG Business Solutions USA
The LG Electronics USA Business Solutions division serves commercial customers in the U.S. lodging and hospitality, digital signage, systems integration, healthcare, education, government and industrial markets – with cutting-edge commercial displays, robots and electric vehicle charging stations. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., with its dedicated engineering and customer support team, LG Business Solutions USA delivers business-to-business technology solutions tailored to the particular needs of business environments. Eleven-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $60-billion-plus global force in consumer electronics, home appliances, air solutions and vehicle components. For more information, please visit www.LGSolutions.com.
In Hospitality Breach News Encryption for Payment Processing
hacker attack
New press release from Datacap. The hospitality industry is often targeted by cyberattacks due to the vast amount of sensitive data it handles, including personal identification, credit card information, and health data. Here are some key points or the “whys” regarding data breaches in this sector:
**High Vulnerability:** Up to 31% of hospitality organizations have reported experiencing a data breach, with 89% encountering multiple breaches within a single year.
**Common Attack Methods:** Cybercriminals frequently use social engineering, phishing, and ransomware attacks to penetrate hospitality systems.
**Notable Breaches:** Major hotel chains, such as Marriott International and MGM Resorts International, have faced significant data breaches that affected millions of guests.
**Impact:** Data breaches can lead to severe consequences, including financial losses, reputational damage, legal costs, and regulatory fines.
**Security Measures:** To address these threats, hospitality businesses are implementing robust cybersecurity measures, including PCI-DSS compliance, multi-factor authentication, and endpoint detection and response.
This release summarizes a partnership between Bluefin and Datacap Systems, aimed at providing PCI-Validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) processing for hospitality businesses in the U.S. and Canada. The collaboration seeks to enhance payment security, streamline compliance, and ensure seamless payment experiences for an industry that is particularly susceptible to data breaches. By integrating Bluefin’s P2PE technology with Datacap’s payment solutions, this partnership significantly reduces the compliance burdens and scope of PCI DSS controls in the point-of-sale environment.
Bluefin and Datacap Partner to Deliver PCI-Validated Point-to-Point
Encryption (P2PE) Processing to Hospitality Businesses
October 31, 2024 – Atlanta, GA – Bluefin, a leader in PCI-validated encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data, and Datacap Systems, Inc., a leading hardware and processor-agnostic omnichannel payments provider, announced they are partnering to deliver PCI-Validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) Processing to hospitality businesses across the United States and Canada.
Datacap is Bluefin preferred omnichannel payments provider to the hospitality industry for PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) , reducing a customer’s PCI DSS compliance burden by more than 70% and PCI control scope reduction at the point-of-sale environment by more than 90%. The partnership will help secure and protect payments for the hospitality industry which is highly vulnerable to data breaches: According to industry estimates, up to 31% of hospitality organizations have reported a data breach, and 89% have been affected more than once in a year.
“The Datacap team understands the critical importance of protecting payments and data from compromise across all channels,” said Drew Monroe, Chief Revenue Officer. "By integrating Bluefin’s PCI-validated point-to-point encryption with Datacap’s industry-leading payments solutions we are empowering hospitality providers to benefit from enhanced security, streamlined compliance, and seamless payment experiences.”
“Partnering with Bluefin allows Datacap to offer hospitality ISVs the highest level of security for their merchant’s transactions without compromising the user experience,” said Justin Zeigler, Director of Product at Datacap. “With Bluefin’s PCI-validated P2PE, our partners can confidently focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences while reducing PCI DSS scope and compliance costs.”
Merchants interested in PCI-Validated P2PE should contact their POS reseller to learn how Datacap and Bluefin can help reduce their PCI DSS compliance burden and PCI control scope.
About Bluefin
Bluefin is the recognized integrated payments leader in encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data. Our product suite includes solutions for contactless, face-to-face, call center, mobile, Ecommerce and unattended payments and data in the healthcare, higher education, government and nonprofit industries. The company’s 300 global partners serve 35,000 connected enterprise and software clients operating in 60 countries. Bluefin is a Participating Organization (PO) of the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) and is headquartered in Atlanta.
About Datacap Systems
Datacap builds industry-standard payment solutions for Point of Sale providers to meet the needs of merchants in any market. Security-centric solutions for virtually all processing platforms route through dozens of pre-certified devices from leading OEMs – all via a universal payments integration, empowering merchants to create a unified payments experience across brick and mortar, online, mobile and unattended applications. As the only channel-centric and processor-agnostic payments provider in the industry, Datacap is the ideal partner for any POS provider that’s serious about building a solution that will scale to address the needs of virtually any merchant, regardless of market or payment
processing platform. If your Point of Sale application isn’t yet integrated to Datacap, contact us to get started today! https://datacapsystems.com/contact-us/
Lots of news items this week. Also an update on how lacking AI graphic generation is. This one is from Copilot. Pretty bad.
ACRELEC America — Check out Thibaud Denolle‘s latest article in Aviation Pros! He discusses our collaboration with SSP Group plc Nordics at Arlanda Airport, where we’ve introduced self-service kiosks and self-checkout units to enhance traveler dining experiences. This hybrid model removes the dilemma of ‘Kiosk or SCO,’ giving customers the choice and flexibility to browse, grab, scan and go—or both! ✨ This innovation reduces wait times, boosts operational efficiency, and provides data insights for optimizing resources. The Future of Airport Dining: Embracing Technology for Enhanced Traveler Experience by Thibaud Denolle
ACRELEC America — this time Accessibility. Exciting Update from ACRELEC Did you know? Our latest kiosk software update is packed with powerful features:
✅ Improved Accessibility: We now natively support Stormpad-based navigation for the visually impaired, making our kiosks even more accessible!✅ Feature-Rich Framework: Our off-the-shelf framework is a perfect match for brands with high marketing expectations and ambitious roadmaps. Easily integrate complex loyalty and gift card systems!
✅ Hardware Reliability: Our kiosks are built to last! Plus, we support 3rd-party hardware, so even if you didn’t start with us, we’ve got you covered.
AcquireDigital — LinkedIn article — Digital Innovation in Attractions: Building Smarter Guest Experiences Through Intelligent Communication
Big news is Olea Kiosks pulled the string and hired Eric Nebola as VP Sales. Eric began at KIOSK Information Systems. Used to come in my office to talk way back then. He lives close by so maybe we share a coffee.
Dot Inc. accessibility — Alison Long from RNIB is on the team there now. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have experts like Mazi Zarrehparvar and Alison Long on our team. Thanks to their knowledge and experience, our technology is advancing rapidly.”
Be sure and stop by our IAAPA Booth! — Top news — We are thrilled to announce that Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation completed their merger on July 1, 2024, creating the largest and most diverse amusement park operator in North America. Our combined company now operates under the Six Flags name and trades under the ticker symbol FUN on the NYSE.
We are now poised to deliver our guests unparalleled fun, excitement and memories that last a lifetime. The new Six Flags boasts an impressive portfolio of 42 parks, including some of the most beloved amusement parks and water parks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This extensive network allows us to reach more guests than ever before, offering unique and immersive experiences that cater to all ages and entertainment preferences.
Yahoo News — Conceptually, adding more parks together in a combined entity should generate value beyond cost cutting via regional diversification, a more stable balance sheet, stronger season pass sales, combining IP and brand rights, streamlining best practices, and other incremental upsells/cross sells.
That’s the big merger news
Meanwhile In the kiosk news
It looks like Six Flags has a new exclusive provider for ticketing kiosks. We were wondering why Pyramid was insistent on IAAPA tradeshow and now we know.
Ticketing kiosks are bread and butter units for kiosk manufacturers. But Amusement parks are much more than rides and tickets.
The number of restaurants in a Six Flags park can vary depending on the specific location, but typically, a Six Flags park will have around 20 to 30 dining options. These can range from full-service restaurants to quick-service stands and snack kiosks, offering a variety of foods like burgers, pizza, salads, and sweet treats.
Below is the nice letter from Six Flags to Pyramid
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 1000 Ballpark Way, Suite 400 Arlington, TX 76011
June 27th, 2024
To Whom It May Concern,
I am pleased to share my experience with Zahdan ELZahdan and his team at Pyramid North America Inc. Pyramid’s technology hardware solutions have greatly improved our business operations and guest experience. Their seamless integration of kiosk solutions and consultative business approach has exceeded our expectations.
Pyramid’s self-service kiosks have streamlined our workflow, increasing efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The intuitive design and functionality of the kiosk’s food ordering process have enhanced our guest experience. Our team has embraced the kiosk solution, transforming our daily tasks and improving customer engagement.
The support team at Pyramid deserves special commendation. They are experts in their field and genuinely invested in our success. Whenever we encountered a challenge or had a question, they responded promptly with clear, actionable solutions. Their commitment to customer satisfaction is commendable.
Pyramid consistently demonstrates a forward-thinking approach, sharing best practices and strategies, and recommending the right software solutions partner to ensure our success with our digital strategy. This level of engagement and desire for Six Flags’ success has provided us with a valuable competitive edge.
In conclusion, partnering with Pyramid has been a great decision for our business. Their technology has modernized our operations and improved our overall performance and profitability. I recommend Pyramid North America Inc. to any company looking to enhance their capabilities and achieve greater success in today’s digital landscape.
Best Regards,
Omar Jacques Omran
CTO, Six Flags
Worth noting
Special commendation expressed by CTO to the support team at Pyramid. Easy to build and deliver, but what about the speed and level of support before and after the sale? It helps to have large team behind you committed to your success. Pyramid demonstrates that with Diebold and McDonalds. Now they demonstrate with Six Flags.
Six Flags Cedar Fair Photo Gallery
Four self-order kiosks are lined up against a wall displaying hamburger images, reminiscent of an amusement park setup. Above them, a large sign reads SELF-ORDER KIOSKS with red arrows pointing to the kiosks and smaller text saying ORDER HERE!—a scene not unlike something youd find at Six Flags.
A letter on Six Flags letterhead dated June 27, 2024, commends Pyramid North America Inc. for revolutionizing business operations through innovative technology solutions. Signed by Omar Jacques Omran, CTO of Six Flags.
six flags kiosks
Resources and Background
History — Six Flags has done these for years. We did ticketing kiosks for Six Flags way back when at KIOSK. We built the kiosk but then assisted Accesso with the application. Specifically it either a Datacard or Magicard device and I custom contracted a .NET wrapper for them to use since the particular printer didn’t support .NET (more than one way to achieve objective). Six Flags was much like Greyhound but biggest problem with Greyhound is that often the bus terminals were located near or underneath concrete freeways (think Houston). Getting reliable 3G connection required extra work.
PYRAMID is Proud to Announce Our Newest Partnership with Six Flags
Six Flags, one of the largest amusement park operators in the United States, awards PYRAMID as the partner of choice for self-ordering kiosks.
As part of this digital transformation, Six Flags is currently rolling out the FLEX21.5 Self-Checkout and the PASSPORT 27, with more to come (stay tuned!!).
Omar Jacques Omran, CTO of Six Flags, shared some comments on the partnership, mentioning that “…PYRAMID’s self-service kiosks have streamlined our workflow, increasing efficiency, productivity, and profitability.”
PYRAMID is thrilled to be chosen as the sole hardware provider of self-service solutions (i.e. kiosks) for Six Flags and is excited for what the future holds.
Omar went on to say “…partnering with PYRAMID has been a great decision for our business. Their technology has modernized our operations and improved our overall performance and profitability”.
Interested in learning more about some of the exciting things we’re doing with Six Flags, or any of our products? Just let me know and we’d be happy to set up a quick call to answer any questions you might have!
See full article at Retail Systems — Nice quote — The bigger the payment bro, the grander the spoken lies to induce merchants into signing their absolutely trash payments agreement. Legacy payments companies (Worldpay, Global, Fiserv, Shift4) are the worst offenders.
Payment Processors – Shift4 is really Shaft4?
Thanks to Jordan at Reforming Retail. Nice article. If you are interested in the full picture when it comes to payments, subscribe to Jordan is our very strong recommendation. We have no financial relationship. RR simply grants us permission to provide education and information via their articles.
Note that the kiosk association will be at FSTEC Sept #1009 just across from Toast (humorously used as metaphor below in the article for Shift4 marketing tactics).
Summary
The article discusses how Shift4 should rebrand to Shaft4 to align with their alleged merchant abuse practices.
It mentions instances where Shift4 is accused of mistreating multiple merchants, not just one.
There is irony highlighted in Shift4‘s marketing tactics, especially in relation to another company called Toast.
The merchant support team at Shift4 is available 24/7 to assist merchants.
The potential impact on Shift4‘s business due to the loss of merchant or software partner relationships is also mentioned.
This are the key points of the article regarding Shift4 and their practices related to merchant abuse.
We see kiosks after kiosks after interactive digital every day. Some good and some bad. Here are top picks for July 2024. Note too that in January 2025 we are awarding our Top Kiosk Design Award. It is open to any and all companies.
Top Picks for July
click for full kiosk EK
#1KIOSK Information Systems released new EK-series. This model it seems to us has at least one mission in business and that is to cut into the Wallaby share by “touchscreen provider” Elo. We jokingly call it the Elo Killer. Elo has always had an unique position in the self-service ecosystem. Easy to do when you are top quality. KIS doesn’t use Elo touchscreens anymore (used to use thousands via Dell and for Dell maybe still does). Nice description –ready to order, accessible price point, SMB and less required quantity. We like it. We are making it an official candidate for Top Kiosk Design awards at NRF. Nice accessibility and low cost without going ultra cheap. Plus world class support for services and software. Hard to beat that.
#2 Acrelec — Their latest published kiosk model is the K27 and it is a very nice kiosk. The new design we saw in July was for a major amusement park in France. If you think of something on spider legs such as Samsung’s, the design for France was inverted and with two screens. Basically a square base with two touchscreens mounted on top with a couple of inches of separation. Quite the design and we can understand the client wishing to keep it under wraps for now. Eventually it will fully deploy and subject to public photo. Official candidate for Top Kiosk Design
#3 Olea Kiosks — nice video of new Hotel Check-in key encoder. The branding artwork is outstanding and very striking. With hotels often the biggest challenge is customizing the check-in kiosk to the PMS being used. Not unlike customizing to payment processor. Official candidate for Top Kiosk Design
Modular Kiosk – the EK by KIOSK Information Systems
The sleek modular design of the EK kiosk makes it a popular choice for a variety of uses and industries. Retailers, food service, healthcare, and more can deploy the EK kiosk for a range of
self-service applications.
Get a demo and try!
Ready-to-Order Flexibility
In the retail sector, the EK kiosk can be used for self-checkout, buy online/pickup in store, and product advertising and display. For quick service restaurants, the EK shines as an ordering and payment platform. And for healthcare and other corporate campuses, the EK is an excellent platform for simple check-in and wayfinding.
The EK kiosk can be paired with the software of your choice or deployers can opt to utilize KIOSK’s in-house software team for a custom self-service solution. Additional applications from Kiosk Integration Exchange partners add capabilities such as facial recognition, video conferencing, and passive digital advertising.
With ready-to-order availability and an accessible price point, the EK is a smart option for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a lower order quantity.
Standard Components:
• Proximity Sensor
• Camera
• Printer
Optional Components:
• Status indicator
• Wifi or 4G/LTE communication
• Barcode scanner
• EMV payment device bracket
• Fingerprint sensor
An interview with old friend and workmate John Bryant. Back when I lived in Minnesota. He has seen a lot over the years and has “survived” much like me (Craig). Big wins and big losses. It’s like winning your first deal with Walmart and two years later you realize you didn’t make much money and “survived Walmart”. Every one does it at least once.
Anyway, I have my bias so instead of writing my opinions and best guesses it seems much more educational to get a different viewpoint on cash, and from someone who spends a good chunk of the time on cash. A viewpoint from Europe and Dimana with SelfPay is included as well. So without further ado I give you,
Deal Maker • Business Development Generalist. Driving growth by forging partnerships. ATMs, Kiosks, iOT in Casino Gaming, Retail, Manufacturing. Overcoming obstacles, and bringing deals to fruition. Prior Lake, MN
Background includes strategic organizational consulting, product development and operational execution; growing and directing both private and publicly traded financial technology companies. 30 year career driving growth through corporate finance and top line revenue growth mergers and acquisitions. A focused knowledge of payments & technology trends in retail, commercial and tribal casino gaming. Incubation of start up technology businesses. Turnaround and capital funding services.
How is the ATM industry in the US faring these days John. Who are the big players?
The industry, as a whole, has been in a “status quo” mode meaning the market is mature. OEMs focus on maintaining strong relationships with existing customers and leveraging those relationships to secure repeat business. Long term loyalty with OEMs such as Triton, Genmega and Hyosung, that are adept at adapting their hardware designs to meet the specific needs of emerging markets IMHO still very strong.
McDonald’s Cash Kiosk in MSP airport and latest McD upgrade circa 2024. Not only McDonalds but rumor is Burger King is looking hard at cash.
Retail ATMs needing EPP, OS and ADA adjustments and upgrades remain the big points of service and revenue for the ISO and VAR.
I’ve worked with several Fintech firms that are deep into continuously developing products to
stay ahead of the latest demands for security and regulatory compliance.
I’m currently assisting one Vegas gaming related firm on external security boards with geolocation tech that alert when there is tampering and theft.
While the manufacturers and their software partners continue to seek the next “killer app” to potentially drive more wholesale ATM replacement (recycling, ITMs, etc…) the vast majority of users simply want fast access to cash.
Cardtronics, Payment Alliance International, Cord Financial, and Paramount Management Group lead the pack
How much market share do the ISOs hold these days in your best guess
50% are ISO owned and 50% are bank-owned
How much market share do the ISOs hold these days in your best guess
50%are ISO owned and 50% are bank-owned
Have the banks been investing in tech and if so what? Digital signage?
There has been increased branch automation with Interactive Teller Machines (ITM) extending banking hours and improving efficiencies by handling more complex transactions. Communication at the ITM between the bank customers via video conferencing direct to a main bank teller. Hyosung and Atleos machines have proven to be very robust with note acceptors and recyclers handling more complex transactions like account opening. Digital signage is not within my sphere, but I see touch points and what appear to be strategies for engagement and marketing to customers entering my local Wings Credit Union.
There was a big rise in Bitcoin ATMs a few years back. Any progress there?
I’m familiar with Bitcoin Depot as friends and former associates.
Cash recycler from Crane?
Bitcoin Depot is deploying mostly Genmega Universal Kiosks and due to acquisition of Cole Kepro assets they did some buyout of Bitcoin of America and CoinCloud hardware. Bitcoin Depot has over 10k machines in grocery retail and convenience stores. They remain in growth mode and expect to deploy another several hundred machines before the end of Q4/24. Other companies have unfortunately had struggles with AML issues and other regulatory compliance issues and Bitcoin Depot is looking to acquire the majority of these failed projects.
Any comment on Asia, South America, Middle East and Europe?
What I know from contract manufacturing in Taiwan and business travels to the other continents/countries is that’s it’s a mixed landscape out there. Digital payment methods (e.g., mobile wallets, credit/debit cards) are increasingly popular, in China, South Korea, and Japan influenced by economies, technology infrastructure, and government policies.
I do now that in the International markets where “tap & go” has been adopted, eliminating the need for PIN or signature credit under $100, the usage of cash at bistros, cafes, and the espresso house is prevalent. It’s now mostly debit & credit. The broad adoption of NFC means that the younger generation don’t even carry cards anymore – it’s all done on their phones. The use of cash and ATMs varies widely across Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Europe, impacted by economic, cultural, and technological factors. Cash will remain dominant in areas with limited digital infrastructure and ATM usage will continue to decline in those tech-savvy areas due with widespread digital infrastructure.
In some areas, inflation and economic instability make cash more practical for daily transactions.
Gulf countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are pushing for cashless economies with advanced banking and digital payment infrastructure, but in contrast, cash is still crucial in less affluent or rural areas.
For many reasons, too large to guess on, including size and complexity, the U.S. is a decade behind the rest of the world. Magnetic stripe fallback is still ubiquitous. As more NFC is adopted here in the US, the use of ATMs and cash will continue to fall, although I don’t see an “all digital” future here in the US anytime soon.
What/where does cash get used for?
The short answer is purchases under $60 (bars & coffee shops), gifts and personal usage. As a store of value ($100 bills mostly).
Many people still prefer or rely on cash for a variety of reasons.
Do you pay for services like haircuts, lawn mowing, housecleaning with digital payment methods? Not likely. Many cash users choose simplicity and many elderly may prefer not to participate in the digital world.
Think about the Crowdstrike debacle. What if there was a larger system failure of crashed networks?
Contactless payments surged hard during the pandemic, further pushing the trend of carrying less or no cash, but it obviously remains a crucial component of everyday life for the unbanked and people in rural areas that need more accessibility.
Editor Note: Generally I always use cash with small business to escape the Visa/MC equation [see who came out ahead in last legislation]. Notably if I am in a chain restaurant I am more likely to use a standard credit card.
Alimony and DMV seem to be last bastions of cash. Venmo and others seem to be eating into the under/non banked segment cash always points at. Comments?
Venmo and other digital wallets do provide some solutions for the unbanked and underbanked populations, but they don’t fully solve the problem. Here’s a breakdown of how they impact these groups:
Venmo and similar services can be more accessible if individuals have smartphones and internet access. They offer a way to receive, hold, and transfer funds without a traditional bank account, which can be highly beneficial.
Not everyone in the unbanked population has consistent access to smartphones or reliable internet, limiting their usability.
I use Cash App for cash back and loyalty discounts. Many of these apps will mitigate the challenges faced by the unbanked and underbanked, but they don’t entirely solve financial access problems.
Any prognosis on marijuana vending and cash?
MJ is still primarily an “all cash” business from seed to sale. I worked some with Fintech/ATM groups that needed approved cannabis-friendly bank sponsorship agreements that took time in discovery and negotiations. They also needed $100M + in vault cash agreements to deploy ATMs that needed to be serviced by cash in transit armored cars. One particular California-based Fintech found workarounds by developing POS hardware on a Linux-based platform with open APIs. They are coding the POS transaction as an ATM transaction which is essentially illegal, but overall overlooked by the Networks. The networks often turn the other cheek on these types of vice transactions as they are highly profitable and maybe not as risky as previously predicted. MasterCard is however announcing and attempting to curtail some activity by shutting down many of the reverse ATM products i
What about vending, food dispense?
Vending machines and food dispensing systems have evolved, adapting to modern payment methods.
Most modern vending machines accept card payments, particularly contactless transactions.
Systems like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay are increasingly supported at vending machines.
Scanning a QR code to make a payment via a mobile app is on the horizon, but vending machines still accept coins and bills to cater to a broader audience.
So is cash on the rise in use? Tell me that I am dismissing it too quick.
The usage of cash is generally flattening out.
Definitely not on the rise in usage over digital, but cash is still a necessity for a multitude of reasons. As NFC is adopted on a broader scale by those that choose those methods of usage at the POS, the use of ATMs and cash will continue to fall, although I don’t see an “all digital” future here.
Digital Wallets, NFC cards and pay-by- phone tech is unmatched by cash transactions. It’s quick, more convenient and the younger generations were the early adopters that preferred not to be tied to the cash ecosystem.
Interesting that some foreign governments are actively promoting cashless economies to reduce corruption, improve tax collection, and enhance transparency.
And Another Viewpoint from a Cash Handling Kiosk Manufacturer, SelfPay out of Romania
dimana selfpay
Cash is big for us too, this is what our business is about, giving the clients the freedom of payment options – in Romania, we operate 11 000 kiosks for payment of 300+ services, predominantly cash (www.selfpay.com). People want to control their spending, to have privacy and choice of payment, this is what our self-service delivers.
Gambling is a huge industry in Romania, monthly we process cca 26 Mio Euro top-ups of in e-money which are in general used in the gambling and gaming industry. If fact SelfPay enables about 70-80% of the e-money transactions. Last year we have processed 250 Mio Euro in e-money transactions, this year we expect to reach 300 Mio. In our opinion self-service payments kiosks have a remarkable potential for any country.
In Europe Bitcoin and any crypto is dealt mostly on-line, as this assures compliance/KYC/AML. It is expected the MICA legislation to regulate the industry. The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) institutes uniform EU market rules for crypto-assets. The regulation covers crypto-assets that are not currently regulated by existing financial services legislation. This will allow the regulation bodies to have clear requirements towards the market players.
About Dimana
As a Director at SelfPay am contributing the company growth by creating and managing partners relationship for the International development of the company, as well as for the mobile application SelfPay Now.
Market Growth: Over 217,000 self-checkout devices were delivered worldwide last year, an increase of 17,000 from the previous year.
Top Suppliers: NCR Voyix remains the largest supplier, though its market share has decreased. Diebold Nixdorf has overtaken Toshiba to become the second largest supplier.
Major Clients: Diebold Nixdorf has secured major clients like Aldi Süd and Rossmann, while 4POS has gained significant market share with clients like Lidl and Rewe Group.
Regional Leaders: Chinese suppliers HiStone and CCL Technology maintain a strong presence, with HiStone leading in its home market.
Full ADA Patient Check In and in particular motorized height-adjust are rare but Olea seems to be perfecting it. Couple that with all the latest in assistive technology such as tactility and braille and you have a 100% compliant solution. Everybody has an ADA compliant solution but to what degree is the question. This unit will be on display at the huge EPIC UGM in Madison next week. [Editors Note: Older mechanical designed units are subject to going out of adjustment.Frank Mayer was the first to go that route. Frank Mayer always did and does nice designs for sure.]
Commentary
From Frank Olea — The Chicago has finally broken cover! We’ve added so many ADA and convenience features to this line of kiosks. There’s a desktop, freestanding and this bad boy the height adjustable. Our goal is to always get better at what we do. I’m proud that we’ve actually added features that used to be options and brought the price point down, who does that? I promise to post a painted pic, this was during prototyping.
From James Walker— I could not be more excited about the results of the work the Olea Kiosks team put into this product. The Chicago is a better value proposition. It addresses access better than any kiosk on the market, and it enables our client partners to be prepared for advancements in software & changes in ADA regulations for years to come. We listened to what our customers wanted. We worked hard, and it’s finally here. We can’t wait to show it off at Epic UGM next week! Come see Daniel and I in the exhibit hall.
See the link for more information, and of course you may reach out to me directly: https://lnkd.in/gkqzpZRq
Originally published on Retail Systems — In the not-so-distant past, a trip to the grocery store involved casually chatting with a cashier as they scanned your items and packed your bags. Today, an impersonal yet efficient self-checkout machine is replacing familiar interaction. As these sleek, touchscreen hybrid POS kiosks become a standard fixture in retail environments, one can’t help but ponder: Are we witnessing a revolution in shopping convenience, or are we unknowingly stepping into an era of heightened surveillance?
Update 9/24 — Curbing theft at Walmart Self Checkout — Walmart (WMT) has quietly rolled out a new feature at its stores that is beneficial for paying customers, but bad news for thieves.
In a recent TikTok video, which has amassed over 200,000 views, a Walmart customer showed herself scanning Great Value items through a self-checkout machine at Walmart without using a barcode.
The rise of self-checkout systems has undoubtedly streamlined the shopping experience, allowing customers to bypass long lines and take control of their transactions. However, behind the facade of convenience lies a much more complex narrative. These machines are equipped with sophisticated technology designed not only to assist but also to monitor. From weight sensors to AI-driven cameras, the self-checkout is far from a simple tool; it’s a multifaceted device that collects data and observes behavior. As we dive deeper into this phenomenon, we’ll uncover how this shift reshapes our retail experience and consider whether the trade-off between convenience and privacy is worth it. From Walmart see Walmart Goes Interactive and Looks like Lidar – Retail Systems
In the bustling digital era where efficiency trumps tradition, the shopping experience is transforming significantly. Picture this: you’re in a grocery store, and instead of waiting in long lines for a cashier, you stroll over to a sleek, touchscreen kiosk. You scan your items, bag them yourself, and complete the transaction in minutes. Self-checkout stations are popping up everywhere, from local supermarkets to big-box retailers, revolutionizing how we purchase everyday goods. It’s not just about speed and convenience; it’s about control and independence.
Self-checkout systems empower consumers, allowing them to manage their transactions at their own pace. But is there more to this technological marvel than meets the eye? While self-checkout promises unparalleled convenience and reduces the hassle of human error, it also opens up a labyrinth of concerns around privacy and surveillance. Each beep of the scanner and click of the button feeds into a vast data collection network, quietly amassing insights about our shopping habits, preferences, and even our behavioral patterns. As we embrace this modernized shopping method, it’s crucial to delve deeper into its dual nature, weighing the convenience it brings against the potential risks of increased monitoring. Join us as we explore the intricate balance between ease and oversight in the age of self-checkout, peeling back the layers to uncover what truly lies beneath this digital innovation.
Self Checkout Deployers
The major deployers of self-checkout systems vary across different industries and regions. In the retail sector, major players like Walmart, Target, and Kroger have heavily invested in self-checkout technology to enhance customer experience and streamline the checkout process. Additionally, fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Panera Bread have adopted self-order kiosks to expedite service and reduce customer wait times. And to repurpose employees. In the hospitality industry, hotels like Marriott and Hilton have integrated self-check-in kiosks to offer guests a quick and seamless check-in experience. Furthermore, airports worldwide have implemented self-service check-in and bag drop kiosks to facilitate a smoother travel experience for passengers. Overall, the deployment of self-checkout systems continues to grow across various sectors, driven by the demand for convenience and efficiency in today’s fast-paced world.
Key Points in Self Check-out
The shift towards self-checkout systems in various industries is a significant trend that offers benefits and raises concerns. Let’s take a closer look at some key points to consider:
1. **Convenience and Efficiency**: Self-checkout systems undeniably provide convenience and efficiency for both customers and businesses. They reduce waiting times, offer control over transactions, and streamline the checkout process, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.
2. Data Collection and Privacy Concerns: On the other hand, the advanced technology integrated into self-checkout systems raises questions about data collection and privacy. These machines gather information about shopping habits, preferences, and behaviors, potentially leading to concerns about surveillance and data security. The potential risks of increased monitoring should make us all more cautious and aware of the data we’re sharing.
3. **Industry Adoption**: Major retailers, fast-food chains, hotels, and airports are increasingly adopting self-checkout systems to meet the demands for speed and convenience in today’s fast-paced world. This widespread adoption indicates a shift towards a more self-service-oriented approach in various sectors.
4. **Technological Advancements**: Tech companies specializing in self-checkout solutions constantly evolve their offerings to incorporate features like mobile payment integration, barcode scanning technology, and AI-driven customer support. These advancements aim to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction further.
5. Balancing Convenience and Privacy: The growing popularity of self-checkout systems necessitates a careful balance between convenience and privacy. It is crucial for businesses and consumers to be aware of the trade-offs involved and actively address concerns related to data protection and surveillance. This balance is not just a consideration; it’s a necessity in the age of self-checkout.
In conclusion, the rise of self-checkout systems represents a significant evolution in the retail and service industries, driven by the desire for enhanced convenience and efficiency. While these systems offer undeniable benefits, increasing reliance on advanced technology raises essential data privacy and surveillance considerations. Finding a balance between convenience and privacy will be necessary as we navigate the implications of this digital transformation in the way we shop and interact with businesses.
I struggle with moves like this to find new revenue streams. Kroger is piloting gaming machines in several stores in the Atlanta area, with questionable results. Kroger’s corporate stance is that the machines are walled off from main store areas, and some profits donated to Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs. Sounds reasonable. But local communities are angry. Citizens from one Atlanta county are pushing local lawmakers to force removal of these machines. On a recent visit I noted the machines were only partly walled off and in full view of everyone at Kroger check-out. And while the machines technically don’t pay out in cash, they do pay out credit that is loaded onto a VISA gift card which is pretty close to cash.
kroger gaming kiosk
Consumers are not in favor of digital gaming machines in retail stores. Extensive surveys over the past 2 years show over 70% of consumers consider these games equivalent to gambling, too accessible to kids, and that they increase crime and make shoppers and employees feel less safe. While I understand the use of these machines in convenience stores, which have different consumer drivers, the neighborhood grocery store needs to be strictly PG. The whole premise of grocery shopping is that food is how consumers show their family love, entertain friends and care for their own wellbeing. Gaming machines send an entirely different message. If Kroger’s ultimate goal is to drive their home delivery business then this move might not matter as much. But given that the average cost of labor and delivery for home delivery is over 50% higher than the cost for an in-store shopper to fill their own basket, this seems like a questionable gamble (pun intended) that will undermine rather than boost company profit margins. Things that make you go “hmmmmm”. hashtag#topretailexpert; AAG Consulting Group
Visit DeAnn or at least follow her to stay informed
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Video https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/1448880 — Kroger is facing outrage from some South Fulton residents for installing coin-operated amusement machines in its store on Old National Highway. Those living in the area accuse Kroger of targeting residents in the low-income area in order to generate revenue. Kroger maintains the machines, which dispense prizes in lieu of cash, are part of a pilot program and provide an enjoyable experience.
2023 saw three merger-and-acquisition (M&A) deals that had notable impacts on the U.S. convenience store industry in terms of size and scope of individual companies.
The first was Houston-based bp’s pickup of Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters of America Inc. (TA) for $1.3 billion. The deal added 280-plus locations to bp’s network, complementing its existing off-highway convenience and mobility business.
The second was Lawrenceville, Ga.-based Majors Management Inc.’s purchase of roughly 200 MAPCO Express sites from a subsidiary of COPEC, a South America-based retail company. The two-part sale of MAPCO saw Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. take 112 of the convenience and fuel sites, with the remaining locations from MAPCO’s 300-plus-store network going to Majors Management.
The third was Salt Lake City-based Maverik — Adventure’s First Stop’s acquisition of Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go LC. The purchase added 400-plus convenience stores to Maverik’s network, more than doubling the retailer’s store count.
Because of these three deals, the 2024 Convenience Store News Top 100 ranking looks a little different compared to last year, as bp moved up the ranks to No. 5 (from No. 31 in 2023), Maverik jumped to No. 11 (from No. 16 last year), and Majors Management climbed to No. 19 (from No. 46 in 2023).
Still, with the exception of bp cracking into the top five, the companies atop this year’s list are a carbon copy of last year. Capturing the top five spots on the 2024 Top 100 are Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. with 12,577 stores; Couche-Tard with 5,851 stores; Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s General Stores Inc. with 2,663 stores; Westborough, Mass.- based EG America with 1,568 stores; and bp with 1,540 stores, according to TDLinx, which partners with CSNews for this annual report.
Rounding out the top 10 are Richmond, Va.-based GPM Investments LLC (1,515 stores); El Dorado, Ark.-based Murphy USA Inc. (1,133 stores); Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip Corp. (1,060 stores); Media, Pa.-based Wawa Inc. (1,050 stores); and La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip Inc. (858 stores).
Editors Note — As of 2024, there are approximately 1 million convenience stores globally. Among the top convenience store chains, 7-Eleven Inc. leads with 12,577 stores, followed by Couche-Tard with 5,851 stores, Casey’s General Stores Inc. with 2,663 stores, EG America with 1,568 stores, and bp with 1,540 stores. These numbers reflect the scale of convenience retail across various countries and regions.
Seems to be a popular topic considering as far as major retail goes it is generally referencing less than 10 stores. You see nice “grabby” headlines when you search and then the articles opens with example of two or three stores removing out of thousands. Retail Dive for example. It’s popularity is due to traffic audience tendencies and catering to that audience in order to gain higher advertising rates. To a large extent most of the audience is media in fact and irrelevant to a buying audience. A buying audience might be small grocer wanting to compare problems with NCR versus Fujitsu. Both of those companies have big clouds over their heads in one way or another.
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The usual questions are:
Why are stores removing self-checkout? — looks like 10 in Walmart (thousands of store). Dollar General is but they are an outlier and dollar is in their name.
Will self checkouts go away? — not a chance. More and different classes and technology. Walmart has at least 5 classes of just SCO + two of assisted. Last year they had one.
How does Walmart detect theft at self-checkout? — there are cameras, lidar, barcodes, scales and people. The latest Walmart self checkouts are tougher than the NCR
What is the problem with self-checkout? — Generally it suffers from PR problem. People being replaced by machine and having the option of scanning themselves. The NBC story dragged out the bunch of bananas assuming we are a bunch of monkeys.
Is Walmart bringing back cashiers? – only for temporary periods like Christmas to handle burst traffic. Its also good PR
NBC News does a hatchet job basically in search of headlines — The initial “setting the table” is the title “Major retailers are backtracking on self-checkout”. They then point to Dollar General. If you research at all you will get numbers ranging from 12,000 to 3000 to 300. This is what the NBC reporter used for data. Bigger numbers are best.
Let’s check on how many stores they have. Looks like they just hit 20,000 stores.
From May 10-Q SEC Filing — We have continued to experience significantly higher inventory shrink. Although we continue to take actions designed to reduce shrink, we anticipate it will continue to materially pressure our financial results in 2024. To address shrink challenges, as well as to enhance the overall customer and associate experience in our stores, we continue to implement and refine our self-checkout strategy, including limiting self-checkout to transactions of five items or fewer, and converted some or all self-checkout registers to assisted checkout options in approximately 12,000 stores. Further, we have invested in retail labor as discussed below and we are implementing plans designed to improve store manager turnover rates.
The inventory and the customer demographics for Dollar General are very different than primary retail like Walmart and Target
Terrible story. We refuse to hyperlink it — https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/major-retailers-are-backtracking-self-checkout-rcna160234
Walmart removes some self-checkout lanes from its branches. The list of locations where self-checkout lanes are being removed now includes Shrewsbury, Missouri, Cleveland, Ohio and Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to a Daily Express U.S. report.
According to the report, many retailers are reducing the number of self-checkouts as a response to an increase in shoplifting. The news outlet claims that self-checkout thefts are five times more likely than traditional cashier checkout theft.
Niel Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told the news outlet: “Theft rates at self-checkouts are reasonably high both because of deliberate actions and accidental mistakes. Forcing more customers to use manned checkouts resolves a lot of these issues and saves retailers money.”
“As part of our announced plans for additional investments and improvements to facilities across the country, we’ve decided to remove self-checkout lanes and replace them with staffed lanes at select locations,” Brian K. Little, a spokesperson for Walmart, told Supermarket News.
The decision was based on several factors, including feedback from employees and customers, shopping patterns, and business needs in the area, he said.
“We believe the changes will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service,” Little said.
Last year Walmart said it had removed self-checkout from three stores in Albuquerque.
The company has previously stated that it has no plans for the widespread removal of the service, and Little said the company had no additional news to report about changes in its checkout lanes.
Earlier this year Dollar General said it was removing self-checkout from 300 stores, and scaling it back at other locations, due in part to high levels of theft. Customers are now limited to a maximum of five items in the self-checkout lanes.
Target and Schnucks also both recently said they had changed their self-checkout policies to a maximum of 10 items per customer. Kroger also recently added traditional checkout lanes at a store in Dallas where it had been offering self-checkout exclusively, according to local reports.
Costco, meanwhile, said it added more personnel to its self-checkout areas after discovering that non-members were using the self-checkouts using the membership cards of other individuals.
Hard to break out shoplifting from fraud at Walmart Self Checkout. People walk in with big empty backpacks and walk out with full packs. I don’t think they went thru self-checkout. The numbers are always in Billions and they have certainly helped Walmart keep prices high. Pandemic kind of ran out of gas. Hard to find decent reporting as most media outlets are totally beholden to their advertisers and advertisers expect constantly increasing audience. Still its a pretty Good article on The Street on Walmart ending its theft check.
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Excerpt:
While not many Americans admit to stealing via self-checkout, those who do don’t necessarily plan to stop. 15% of self-checkout users confess to purposely stealing. While 60% of those who have stolen felt remorseful and 33% say they’ve been caught, 44% say they’ll likely do it again. Although 79% of self-checkout users diligently ensure each item scans, 21% admit to accidentally taking an item — and guilt didn’t get the better of the 61% who kept it anyway.
Summary
Key takeaways from the web page about self-checkout and theft prevention:
Self-Checkout and Labor Costs: Retailers use self-checkout to reduce labor costs, but it also leads to theft issues.
Theft at Self-Checkout: Some customers intentionally steal items by not scanning them, while others make honest errors.
Challenges and Alternatives: Retailers face challenges in enforcing theft prevention, and some are exploring other solutions like item limits or hybrid systems.
Current Stores — 10,600 across the world
Overall, self-checkout theft remains a concern, and retailers are seeking ways to address it.
Estimates for theft at Walmart self-checkouts vary, but here are some key points based on real-time information:
According to a recent Lending Tree survey of 2,000 Americans, theft at self-checkouts is a real issue, and individuals who engage in it are likely to repeat the behavior.
Walmart has faced losses from retail theft, with estimates of 3 2021, 3billion in 2021,6.1 billion in 2022, and $6.5 billion in 2023.
It is challenging to provide an accurate count of how many people steal at Walmart self-checkouts, as highlighted by a security guard’s perspective on Quora.
Reuters reported that Walmart may lose as much as $3 billion annually due to shoplifting, particularly at self-checkout
RFID to the Rescue?
In theory, the manual process of checking receipts can be automated, since every item Walmart (WMT) sells must have an RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag.
“Suppliers are required to attach RFID tags to each individual product. These tags contain unique identifiers and essential information about the product,” Avery Dennison says, explaining Walmart’s policy. “Suppliers must provide accurate and up-to-date data related to the product. This ensures that Walmart has real-time visibility into inventory levels.”
That technology could be used to check whether customers have paid for every item with which they leave a store. It’s the same technology at the base of Amazon Go stores, where customers don’t have to check out at all. They enter using the Amazon app with a credit card on file, pick up what they want and leave.
Theft Numbers That Cannot Be Trusted?
Retail group made a huge reporting mistake from TheStreet
Theft numbers are part of what the industry calls shrink. Some shrink is shoplifting, some is organized retail crime, some comes from employee theft, and items also can be lost in less nefarious ways. An April report from NRF, showed that organized retail crime was a massive part of overall shrink for retailers.
“In the original report, dedicated to organized retail crimeand conducted with risk, compliance, investigations and monitoring firm K2 Integrity, the group had said that shrink was $94.5 billion in 2021, ‘nearly half of which was attributable to” organized retail crime, Retail Dive reported.
The problem is that the data used also included shrink from process errors and inventory loss that had nothing to do with crime as well as theft. So, after Retail Dive questioned the data, the NRF updated the report.
Comments
Our door greeters let people in all day carrying huge empty backpacks, then let them leave with them stuffed full. Its so hard to get someone to come when you do have an issue…..i called a code white twice one day with zero response… the person got tired of waiting and left. It just seems like nobody gives a crap…….
Financial Impact on Walmart
That’s a ton of shoplifting going on. Must be somewhat of a drag on earnings right? Apparently not and ditto for Costco. Target not so hot…
Walmart theft results
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Costco Wholesale Corporation
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Smash And Grab
One of the most popular TV media clips are of people doing a “Smash and Grab” and in particular in California. A few years back Californians reduced those crimes from felonies to misdemeanors but it appears the pendulum may swing back the other way.
Smash-and-Grab Robberies in California: The state has seen a surge in smash-and-grab robberies, where large groups or individuals rush into stores and steal goods1. Since November 18, there have been 11 such incidents in Los Angeles alone, resulting in over $330,000 worth of stolen goods.
Response and Advocacy: Retailers and prosecutors are calling for stronger shoplifting laws3. A congressional bill introduced in 2020 aims to require verification of third-party sellers on online marketplaces to combat organized retail crime.
Impact and Political Debate: Critics blame progressive policies like Proposition 47 for the rise in thefts. Retailers are feeling the impact, with some stores closing due to crime spikes.
Current Laws and Convictions: California law allows prosecution for organized retail theft if someone works with at least one other person to steal items for sale. Convictions can result from flash mobs or more sophisticated crime networks.
Self-checkout solutions have been around for decades. However, advancements in technology, changes in consumer behavior, rising costs, and labor shortages have all led to more adoption in recent years. A 2022 study found that self-checkout is the dominant form of checkout for grocery stores, accounting for 55 percent of transactions.
Lately, though, retailers have announced they’re starting to pull back. Those headlines reveal that despite self-checkout’s potential, chains like Costco, Wegmans, and Walmart are moving away from these solutions due to challenges that impact both the customer experience and the bottom line.
Self-Checkout Challenges
The first issue with self-checkout is customer experience. One study spearheaded by Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business found that consumers may be more likely to remain loyal when a business offers assisted checkout services, especially in grocery stores. However, the study was based on the perceived effort of the checkout process. When shoppers viewed the extra effort in self-checkout as a rewarding experience, their loyalty matched that of regular checkout shoppers.
Another issue is reliability. Machines with clunky user interfaces make it difficult for consumers to accurately identify products, particularly produce or bulk foods, weigh them when necessary, and scan efficiently. Additionally, medication or alcohol purchases that require age verification can significantly slow down the checkout process as consumers wait for employee assistance.
Furthermore, studies are finding that companies with self-checkout solutions have a shrinkage rate of 4 percent– more than double the industry average. Another survey found that 15 percent of self-checkout users admitted to stealing, and 44 percent planned to do it again.
Lately, though, retailers have announced they’re starting to pull back. Those headlines reveal that despite self-checkout’s potential, chains like Costco, Wegmans, and Walmart are moving away from these solutions due to challenges that impact both the customer experience and the bottom line.
Are Self-checkouts Worth Saving?
While retailers and grocers may see self-checkout as a problem to eliminate, ISVs and VARs should see the challenge of improving it as an opportunity. Although feedback may indicate that consumers demand changes, the data shows that many arestill using self-checkouts. When given the choice, 73 percent of consumers prefer them over waiting in line, and they are the go-to system for 85 percent of Gen Z.
Another reason not to give up on self-checkout is that labor shortages continue, with retail struggling with a large number of job openings since 2020. Merchants need to find ways to operate with less staff. They also need to adapt to rising labor costs, especially in states that have enacted laws to boost baseline pay over the federal minimum wage rates.
Self-checkout, if done right, delivers a viable solution that meets customers’ expectations for autonomy and a fast, efficient experience and that eases retailers’ staffing and labor cost issues.
How to Improve Self-Checkout Experiences
To design a self-checkout solution that delivers the features and functionality that retailers need, solutions providers need to do the following:
Understand the Customer Journey The optimal self-checkout experience starts by understanding the customer journey at your client’s business. It isn’t the same for a big box store as it is for a grocery store. Merchants need help tailoring the experience to their specific vertical and customer base. These factors will help determine the right solution. For example, the number and size of items consumers scan will impact whether barcode readers should be embedded, handheld, or both. In some situations, RFID readers will enhance shopper experiences. Focus on removing barriers, like difficult lookups, for items that shoppers must weigh.
Prototype If a self-checkout solution isn’t user-friendly and intuitive, even consumers who prefer them won’t use them. Furthermore, your clients may turn to your competitor for a better solution. Testing a self-checkout design with a merchant’s customer base is key to implementing a winning solution. Also, ensure merchants can easily integrate self-checkout solutions into their IT environments and manage them centrally.
UX Design and Accessibility Because self-checkout users are consumers and not store employees, solutions providers need to take a different approach to UX. Solutions must be designed so anyone, without training, can use them easily. That includes shoppers with disabilities, such as mobility challenges and vision impairments. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) offer guidance on ensuring accessibility. Consider touchscreen size, height, text-to-speech, and other assistive technologies when designing your self-checkout solution.
Design with Security While shrinkage is a real challenge for retailers when it comes to self-checkout solutions, remember that the right technology can mitigate risk. Solutions with intelligent image recognition can identify an item without even having to scan it. This helps address shoppers who may have forgotten to scan an item, or with an intention to commit fraud or theft. Additionally, AI-enabled fraud detection software can compare transaction data with historical records (like real-time inventory numbers) and flag potential instances of theft, scanning errors, or fraud.
Put Humans in the Loop While self-checkouts’ aim to help address labor shortages, they shouldn’t replace employees. Instead, they should allow them to be more productive and assist more customers. Make it easy for employees to be available to intervene when a customer is encountering a barrier to their self-checkout experience. Also, provide easy ways for both customers and employees to continue to provide feedback regarding their self-checkout experience, and work with your retailers to continue to optimize the solution over time.
Optimize Unattended Payments
Self-checkout technology can’t provide consumers with a fast, convenient, friction-free experience without incorporating modern payment technology. When optimizing a self-checkout solution design, include an unattended payment solution that’s:
Processor-agnostic to give merchants options and agility
Secure, meeting all PCI standards for payment security
A true omnichannel solution where all payment data can be managed from a single platform
Create a Brighter Future
Self-checkout technology may be experiencing a setback, but ISVs and VARs can address challenges and deliver solutions that enhance both the customer and merchant experience.
To learn more about the unattended payment solution you need for the next-gen self-checkout solution you’re bringing to market, contact us.
LG BRINGS HOME RECORD-SETTING 15 INFOCOMM 2024 AWARDS FOR PRODUCT INNOVATION
Broad range of recognition across product categories and channels underscores LG’s ability to provide customers with impactful real-world solutions
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.. July 1, 2024 ––LG Business Solutions received a fifteen awards for product innovation at InfoComm 2024, setting a record for the industry-leading manufacturer and marketer of cutting-edge commercial displays, projectors, notebook computers, medical monitors, robots and electric vehicle charging stations.
Covering a range of vertical market and product categories – from direct-view LED displays and projectors to digital signage screens and EV chargers – LG received awards from AVIXA, the Audiovisual Integrated Experience Association that produces the annual commercial AV trade show, and from seven leading trade media organizations.
InfoComm Best of Show 2024: AV TechnologyLG Business Cloud
“We are honored with the industry recognition for the breakthrough innovations we introduced and demonstrated throughout this year’s InfoComm trade show,” said LG Business Solutions USA’s Head of Marketing Dave Bacher. “Even more meaningful to us was the response we received from our partners and customers across every channel we serve. These awards are a testament to LG’s ongoing commitment to innovate at the highest levels across all product categories for all customers.”
LG brought a show-stopping array of more than 40 innovative commercial digital displays, ad-enabled EV chargers, laptops, projectors, system management software and much more to InfoComm 2024.
For more information on LG’s presence at InfoComm, click here. For images, click here. For video, click here.
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About LG Business Solutions USA
The LG Electronics USA Business Solutions division serves commercial customers in the U.S. lodging and hospitality, digital signage, systems integration, healthcare, education, government and industrial markets – with cutting-edge commercial displays, robots and electric vehicle charging stations. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., with its dedicated engineering and customer support team, LG Business Solutions USA delivers business-to-business technology solutions tailored to the particular needs of business environments. Eleven-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $60-billion-plus global force in consumer electronics, home appliances, air solutions and vehicle components. For more information, please visitwww.LGSolutions.com.
Selling ammo in grocery stores??? What’s more crucial in retail — profits, or revenue? This is the chicken/egg struggle that retailers have precariously balanced for decades. Obviously, you can’t have one without the other. Until recently, grocery retail has erred on the side of the customer when exploring ideas. But this past year has seen the winds shift. Kroger is testing video gaming machines in select stores. Now Fresh Value grocery stores across Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Colorado are testing vending machines for gun ammunition.
Although these machines use ID scanners and facial recognition before authorizing a transaction, this radically changes the store environment that customers must navigate, often with children in tow. One can argue that shoppers can opt for home delivery if they don’t like the store environment. But this only worsens profit margins for retailers. A recent report from McKinsey quantifies the average operating cost to sell $100 of groceries to an in-store shopper at $7, whereas fulfilling an online order costs the retailer $13 — nearly double the in-store cost. As tech evolves over time this cost gap will come down, but it will take several years. To offset today’s higher cost of delivery grocers are desperately seeking new revenue streams that will kick in quickly, rather than waiting on the longer term results of refining in-store experiences.
Grocers have tried in-store partnerships to build revenue, but found they don’t grow high/fast enough, even if shoppers loved them, such as Hy-Vee’s partnership with DSW. So the chicken/egg conundrum intensifies. To a grocery retailer, nothing is more profitable than a loyal in-store shopper. But to compete in today’s market, home delivery is a necessary revenue driver. Succeeding at both online and offline retail is getting a lot harder, especially for large public companies under shareholder pressure, but for long term survival you need both, especially in grocery. hashtag#topretailexpert; AAG Consulting Group
Talk to DeAnn Campbell at AAG — Retail strategy expert with 20 years of experience helping companies improve bottom line profitability through better online and offline inter-operability, customer and employee experiences, and integrating the right in-store technology
Doesn’t appear any tactile, audio or braille instructions. Blind people should be able to pay with their face. Missed the boat here a bit for such a tech sensitive company.
A new version of Flippy is expected to roll out next month.
Bachir Kharraja, Miso’s chief technology officer, said during the webinar that one of the challenges of the current version of Flippy was its size. There’s not enough space in some quick-service kitchens to install the equipment as Flippy is “a little too big,” he said.
That’s why Miso is “shrinking the size of the unit,” he said.
Abbitt told Food on Demand that the changes are the most material improvements made to Flippy since the bot switched its focus to frying.
“It’s expected to be half the size, take half as long to install, and be twice as fast,” she said. “It will also provide a treasure trove of critical data to restaurant operators, and will feature massive improvements in Miso’s proprietary AI and machine learning, an innovative vision system, new hardware and software design, and a more intuitive user experience.”
Hull said during the webinar that Flippy can bring about $20,000 of positive monthly profit for restaurants.
To date, nearly 36,000 investors have invested more than $129 million in Miso Robotics.
Summary
CaliExpress by Flippy, the world’s first fully autonomous restaurant
Overview: CaliExpress, operated by Miso Robotics in Pasadena, California, showcases the possibilities of an all-robotics restaurant. It aims to reduce labor costs by using robots for cooking and food preparation.
Technology: The restaurant features kiosks powered by PopID, allowing customers to pay with their face. The menu includes a variety of items cooked by robots, including burgers, fries, and chicken.
Robotic Chefs: Flippy, the star of CaliExpress, manages fryers and can fry about 250 pounds of fries per hour. Miso Robotics plans to debut an upgraded version of Flippy that is smaller and faster.
Innovation: CaliExpress also serves as an innovation showroom, featuring other robots like Tuffy, a food runner, and Chippy, a fry bot. The restaurant demonstrates the future of food automation.
This restaurant exemplifies how automation is transforming the fast-food industry, providing reliable and efficient solutions for labor-intensive tasks.
NRA Chicago is proving to have a very high interest in robotic waiter and service robots. Automation is the mantra. Along with AI Assist of course.
Key players in this emerging market include Appetronix Inc, Euphotic Labs, Home Tech Innovation Inc, Hyper Food Robotics Ltd, Kitchen Robotics, Miso Robotics, Moley Robotics, Nala Robotics Inc, Robo Arete Co Ltd, and Thermomix. These companies are at the forefront, developing and deploying advanced robotic solutions that are transforming the way food is prepared, cooked, and served in professional and domestic kitchens.
We’ve included the GuideBot by LG Business. Autonomous Guiding Service in Virtually any Facility — The CLOi GuideBot promptly informs visitors with facility information upon request and conveniently escorts visitors to their desired location.
General retail is approximately $7K for just the robot. Software can be extra monthly support.
Orionstar
Click for full size – Orionstar food delivery robot for restaurants
At Orionstar, we pride ourselves on having five key advantages:
Most Advanced Chip: Our robots are powered by the Qualcomm 8-core processor, which ensures superior development capabilities.
The Easiest Robot OS for Extra Development: We offer a user-friendly robot operating system that allows for seamless customization and development.
The Most Powerful AI Voice Capability: Our robots possess exceptional AI voice capabilities, enabling natural and engaging interactions.
Restaurant Robot Multiple Solutions: including Smart Positioning Solution, Smart Summon Solution, and Multi-Robot Cooperation Solution.
Service-Oriented Sales Strategy: We prioritize the health of our partners’ businesses and offer comprehensive pre-sales and after-sales support.
Our restaurant robot is very competitive on the market. Now the best selling market is Japan and Korea, we are the top 1 brand in these two markets.
Suzhou Alpha Robotics Co.,Ltd. was founded in 2006. It is a high-tech enterprise focusing on the R&D, production and sales of commercial service robots and has more than 300 independent patent intellectual property rights and masters core technologies such as Robot Chassis, Algorithms, and Deep learning.
Info
Products include AI Service Robot, Delivery Robot, Hotel Delivery Robot, Unmanned Vehicle and Vacuum Cleaner Robot
Alpha Robotics is one of the main makers of “National Standard for Food Delivery Service Robots” (GBT37395- 2019). Alpha Robotics has 5 main products series：AI servic robots, Delivery robots,Unmanned Vehicle, Vacuum Cleaner Robot and Disinfection Robots.
They are mainly used in nine areas: catering services, hotel services, new retail, government services, education services, medical services, public services, financial services, exhibition halls and other scenarios.
Suzhou Alpha Robotics Co.,Ltd has four R&D centres in Suzhou,Shanghai and Tokyo and nearly 30,000 square meters of production bases in East and North China. Alpha Robotics is one of the largest service robot manufacturers in China. The products have been certified by the European Union CE, American FCC, Japan Telec and other professional certifications.Alpharobotics exported to 70 countries and regions, offering more than 8000 well-known customers services worldwide, and leading global sales.
LG RSCGD20 CLOi GuideBot with Guiding Services, Mobile Advertising, Security Monitoring, and Dedicated CMS
Autonomous Guiding Service in Virtually any Facility
The CLOi GuideBot promptly informs visitors with facility information upon request and conveniently escorts visitors to their desired location. With a dedicated content management system (CMS), you can easily update the CLOi GuideBot with new menu items, services, or other types of information.
Synchronize the Guidebot with an existing signage solution to enable time-based promotions or display advertisements for nearby stores based on the Guidebot’s location
For Museums — Optional Docent Capabilities
CLOi GuideBot can act as a docent for art galleries and museums, guiding visitors to artworks before playing related audio-visual commentary whilst providing accompanied touch screen interaction. Touch screen interaction and voice recognition technologies allow the GuideBot to respond to visitor questions.
Autonomous Security Patrol
Users can manually set a patrol route and schedule for on-site security purposes, which can improve security staff productivity with remote monitoring capabilities.
From NRF 2024 – We just got back from NRF and AI robotic restaurant stuff was all over the show floor. Robotic pizza for example. One of our favorite aspects of AI is overhead cameras in the kitchen to monitor food preparation. Also table usage. Here is our wrap on recent robotic restaurant news
Success story in Pizza (by Korean) — 50 sq feet, $4K a day, AI powered smart topping . Started as food truck in South Korea. Recently raised $50M. Cinema, Cstores and more transitory locations. Third largest chain in Singapore now —
Robotic automation research reports are starting to cover the automation in South Korea — Key players in this emerging market include Appetronix Inc, Euphotic Labs, Home Tech Innovation Inc, Hyper Food Robotics Ltd, Kitchen Robotics, Miso Robotics, Moley Robotics, Nala Robotics Inc, Robo Arete Co Ltd, and Thermomix. These companies are at the forefront, developing and deploying advanced robotic solutions that are transforming the way food is prepared, cooked, and served in professional and domestic kitchens.
Sodexo selects ART to introduce robotic kiosks in US facilities — Sodexo has partnered with Automated Retail Technologies (ART) to introduce thousands of hot food robotic kiosks across its facilities in the US.
Uber Eats and Mitsubishi in Japan delivery robot — 1. Pan of delivery robot of Uber Eats moving on the sidewalk in Nihonbashi, Tokyo 2. Various of delivery robot moving on the sidewalk 3. Mid of person ordering food on a smartphone for demonstration 4. Wide of delivery robot starting delivery 5. Various of delivery robot moving on the sidewalk 6. Pan of a media conference 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese), Alvin Oo, Director of Market Operations of Uber Eats Japan:
Rivalry Tech partnering with RoboEatz — RoboEatz is known for its autonomous robotic kitchen system, which prepares high-quality dishes efficiently and consistently for health care organizations, businesses, higher education institutions and quick-service restaurants. Rivalry Tech will couple RoboEatz’s system with its user interface, known as myEATZ, that’s currently in use at several Houston Methodist Hospitals, the TMC Innovation Factory, and in resorts, hospitals, office buildings, and more, according to the company’s website.
Market Leader Chef Robotics Surpasses 10M Meals in Production Using AI-Enabled Robots — Consider that it took Chef 314 days to get to 1M meals in production, 100 days to reach 2M, an additional 21 days to get to 3M, and only 18 additional days to get to 4M.
5 Things to Know About Kernel, the New Restaurant From the Founder of Chipotle — You can’t just walk in and get food. What’s so unusual about Kernel? It shaves down the number of workers per shop to three instead of, say, 10. It features a robot arm that prepares up to 1000 individual items a day. And it blows past current notions of hospitality with the shop’s method of ordering and pick up.
The Robot Report — According to A3, North American companies purchased 31,159 robots in 2023, compared with 44,196 ordered in 2022 and 39,708 in 2021. These 2023 robot orders were divided almost equally among automotive (15,723 robots sold) and non-automotive companies (15,436 robots sold). This represented a 34% drop in sales to automotive OEMs and automotive suppliers over 2022 and a 25% total decrease in all other industries. A3 will show the latest technologies at Automate in Chicago from May 6 to 9, 2024. It will feature more than 750 exhibitors of everything from robotics and motion control to machine vision and artificial intelligence for a variety of industries and applications. “While robotic sales were down over the year, 2023 ended with both an increase over the previous quarter and a nearly equal number of sales from automotive and non-automotive companies,” noted Burnstein. “Both are promising signs that more industries are becoming increasingly comfortable with automation overall.”
See our NRF 2024 review and writeup. The show was terrific. Check out our photo gallery. The line at the pizza ordering kiosk to order the robotic pizza was very long.
From Tim Tang — “The most impressive thing that I saw at NRF 2024 for restaurants was the bartaco dine-in restaurant experience with Amazon Pay and OneDine. This initiative demonstrated an intimate understanding and sensitivity to the guest experience while creatively solving a common industry tech debt challenge of legacy POS through an innovative collaboration with market leading technologies. With rising operational costs, an ongoing labor shortage and shrinking customer wallet, the restaurant industry will need this type of thoughtful operational execution to thrive.”
Craig K — Robotics were something to see though the details are still being worked out (food source, etc). On the kiosk side it was good to see Samsung kiosks adding accessibility finally. POS and mobile POS for employees and customers was EVERYWHERE. Payment systems as well. AI was overblown and almost trite. theroboburger.com
Adam your robotic bartender — A dozen Adam robots have been deployed nationwide so far, in venues such as the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Los Angeles, the Cloutea boba shop at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and the Botbar Coffee chain. Adam also gets rented out for parties and conferences.A complete Adam with a custom setup table and equipment sells for $180,000, though Casella says they’re experimenting with other pricing models and partnerships.
How Restaurants Are Embracing Robots — All the big chain restaurants are testing and installing AI-infused robotics — mainly in the back of the house, but also in customer-facing roles, both tableside and at the drive-thru. We tend to think a lot of testing is going on, but that is about it.
Aniai is bringing a burger-cooking robot to restaurants with $12M — Aniai, a startup that has built a burger-grilling robot, Alpha Grill, said today it has raised $12 million, bringing its total raise to $15 million. The money will go toward launching its first manufacturing facility, Factory One, in South Korea. The firm will also be deploying a cloud-based AI software platform for the robot called Alpha Cloud. Robot adoption in the restaurant business is becoming popular as it can help restaurants address their high pain points like labor shortages, and rising wage issues. Robotics enables restaurants to save 30% to 70% of labor costs, and restaurants could replace more than 80% of restaurant positions with robots, according to a research report.
Raising the Bar:Empower Field at Mile High Secures Top Spot in Zippin’s Highest Sales per Event Award — Drink Mkt 103 is one of nine at the venue and has seen impressive sales since opening in 2019. This year, in partnership with Zippin, IDmission, and Aramark, the store further revolutionized the fan experience by integrating Digital ID Verification and eliminating manual ID checks for alcoholic purchases. In a world where efficiency and convenience reign supreme, combining checkout-free technology and digital identification proved to be a game-changer. Fans can zip through Drink Mkt 103 even faster than before, as evidenced by the store’s performance this year. The integration is now rolled out across all Zippin-powered stores at Empower Field.
Food Assembly — Chef Robotics Raises $14.75M To Automate Food Assembly in Commercial Kitchens. From Techcrunch: Rajat Bhageria tells TechCrunch that Chef distinguishes itself from the likes of Miso by focusing on food assembly, rather than cooking specifically. The company is also touting ChefOS, the underlying software driving its robot arm’s decisions. “[F]ood is very highly dimensional: depending on how you prep the ingredients (e.g., julienned onions vs chopped), cook the ingredients (e.g., sauteed, baked, broiled), store the ingredients (e.g., cooked, room temp, frozen), the material properties radically differ,” the company notes.
Super article on NY Times on Food Delivery. Marc Lore, the entrepreneur behind Diapers.com and Jet.com, would like to disrupt food delivery. But he really wants to build a brand that actually lasts.
Summary
Marc Lore’s Ventures: Marc Lore, known for founding Diapers.com and Jet.com, has invested in various projects since leaving Walmart.com in 2021, including a nuclear fusion start-up and plans for a new city.
Wonder Startup: Lore’s latest venture, Wonder, aims to revolutionize food delivery with a focus on quality and speed, starting with cooking vans in New Jersey suburbs and expanding to physical locations.
Growth and Investment: After a $350 million capital raise, Lore took over as CEO of Wonder, with personal investments over $200 million and plans for an IPO targeting a $30 billion valuation12.
Operational Strategy: Wonder’s approach involves electric equipment for cooking, centralized food prep, and a goal to limit delivery zones to within 10 minutes for efficiency and quality control.
What we liked
Abandoned the meals on wheels (not enough parking it turned out)
Went to kitchens
10 locations, bought Blue Apron
Nestle $100M
Deal with Walmart to go into four stores
Aiming for $30B valuation
Chipotle took 30 years
locations where customers can order, pick up, and, at least in theory, dine in at some tables.
No gas — all electric (using 3 pieces of equipment for all)
“Lightly trained labor”
delivery orders make up around 10 percent of all restaurant transactions, according to the food service consultancy Technomic; a 2021 poll conducted by Gallup showed that three-quarters of respondents ordered delivery at least once a month, with 14 percent ordering more than once a week.
The Amazon story on diapers is great
Fast fine category — $7 burgers and $11 burritos, but also a $26 pork chop, $34 steaks, and other items in the “fast fine” category.
Nice video of prototype McDonalds Voice Order. Imagine 3 of these side by side in a NYC McDonalds. Ambient noise level in a restaurant can easily hit 80 db (Noisy Planet NIH). This prototype Kiosk ordering has 99% accuracy because a human is in the loop on every order…
Accents, dialects and languages are TBD but here is response.
It’s a nice demo albeit not a real restaurant with the typical ambient noise.
Correct and the “only reason” why we have 99% accuracy is because we have a human on every call… we have AI which is glorified speech to text to expedite responses, our killer AI application is “Always Indian.” 🙂
The usual questions regarding accents, dialects, languages along with noise come into play.
Mumble, yell, talk quiet, rev your engine, order from a stadium… it doesn’t matter as long as the human can hear otherwise they’ll ask to repeat or “speak up.” AI cannot do this…
Our automated agent training module has 11 accents where they must take 10,000 orders or have accuracy of 98%+ before going live.
The average noise level in a McDonald’s restaurant can vary, but it is generally quite loud. According to a report by Noisy Planet, noise levels in restaurants can average 80 decibels (dBA) or higher, which is significantly louder than a typical conversation at about 60 dBA1. This level of noise can make it difficult for patrons to have conversations and may even pose a risk to hearing over prolonged exposure. It’s recommended to use earplugs or earmuffs in loud environments to protect your hearing.
From QSR AI
Over the last 5-years, QSR AI has taken restaurant orders with a “Human in the Loop” who presses a button when the AI fails (15% of the time) with approximately 99% accuracy. Less than 1% of our calls are transferred to a live person for order completion.
We’ve challenged ConverseNow, Arria/Ping, and DoorDash to a $5,000,000 accuracy challenge if they surpass our performance. Predictably, they haven’t taken us up on the challenge.
Actineon – Actineon is the market leader in high-performance and customizable computers for kiosks, micro-markets, edge, digital signage, AI, virtual medicine, and research. Beyond customization, Actineon can offer full stack development – incorporating expertise from all required engineering disciplines, including systems, software, electrical, electronics, mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, and test. Global sourcing, a broad and deep supply chain, and multi-sourcing allow Actineon to ship products with minimal lead times. We offer solutions integrating the latest technology that provides value to the healthcare and IT industry.
SelfPay — Since 2009, we develop and operate a global Network of Automated Payment Stations and Digital Channels offering all kinds of Payments to millions of consumers every year.
Do you have your website registered with GSC Google? It’s free and Google is happy to analyze. It’s primary focus is mobile. If you ever use Google Adwords then you better have a good mobile site. 60% of your traffic will be mobile. Typically for a kiosk information site like kioskindustry.org the ratio is somewhat reversed. Say last 7 days this site did 500,000 requests. 150,000 of those will be mobile.
We spend a lot of time with Google and GSC on our websites. Reasons we use Google GSC include:
Traffic — most traffic is going to come from Google. Think 95%. I use LinkedIn quite a bit and have 6000 followers. I post on 50 groups. In 7 days I might get 100 visitors. With Bing I get 500. With Google? Over 4000…
When I worked one of my tasks was to qualify the serious, maybe serious and the “jokers”. The jokers I would always refer to competitors to waste their time (I feel bad about that now…). Spend most of your time on accounts with the most potential is good advice.
We average around 25,000 impressions a month on LinkedIn but generally, for traffic, its super-minor and we use it mostly as endorphin hit for our supporters. For some reason they like it and you don’t argue with a good client (unless they ask you to).
Other items — Identifying what topics are of interest – our top topic for last three months is “Walmart Replacing Self-Checkout“. Google Trends can give you an idea.
We generally use several sources for this including Adwords and Trends
Updated content (pages and posts) should be re-indexed once you modify or update them. If there is an error or new additional info then you want Google to have the latest copy.
Performance – Google prefers faster sites — you can check your Core Web Vitals here. Google also notes them in GSC.
Accessibility – pagespeed dev is a quick check of how your site measures in desktop and in mobile iteration as far as Google’s baselines for accessibility (not a bad standard to keep in mind). Another “second look” is GT Metrix. They display nice waterfall. For ADA we like Accessibility Insights built-in free function that Microsoft includes with Edge for quick scan. GSC does it too.
Another tip is to use Google programmable search engine. You can see that on our homepage and it is ad-free Google search to see what Google sees when it looks at your site(s).
We should note that as there is no ecommerce on the site, we do not use Google Analytics except maybe during tradeshow campaigns. GA imposes a speed penalty and there really isn’t any actionable data for a kiosk information site.
Google Search Console: What is GSC & How to Use it to Improve SEO:
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that helps website owners and marketers track, analyze, maintain, and fix their websites.
It provides data on how your website performs in search engine results pages (SERPs), customer experience, ROI, and organic traffic.
Key features include tracking impressions, average ranking, highest-traffic pages, CTR, indexing, backlinks, and usability issues.
To get started, add and verify your website in GSC, explore different sections, and use the data to optimize your site for better performance.
Try this for searching google — https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14&tbs=li:1
The &s is your search term
On both browsers, you probably can’t edit the existing Google listing, so you’ll need to create a new search shortcut, call it Google Web, and use https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 as the URL.
Our method for killing AI search is defaulting to the new “web” search filter, which Google recently launched as a way to search the web without Google’s alpha-quality AI junk. It’s actually pretty nice, showing only the traditional 10 blue links, giving you a clean (well, other than the ads), uncluttered results page that looks like it’s from 2011. Sadly, Google’s UI doesn’t have a way to make “web” search the default, and switching to it means digging through the “more” options drop-down after you do a search, so it’s a few clicks deep.
While you’re in here messing around with Google’s URL parameters, another one you might want to add is “&tbs=li:1”. This will automatically trigger “verbatim” search, which makes Google use your exact search inputs instead of fuzzy searching everything, ignoring some words, replacing words with synonyms, and generally doing whatever it can to water down your search input. If you’re a Google novice, the default fuzzy search is fine, but if you’re an expert that has honed your Google Fu skills since the good old days, the fuzzy search is just annoying. It’s just a default, so if you ever find yourself with zero results, hitting the “tools” button will still let you switch between “verbatim” and “all results.”
Defaulting to “web” search will let you use Google with only the 10 blue links, and while that feels like rolling the interface back to 2011, keep in mind you’re still not rolling back Google’s search results quality to 2011. You’re still going to be using a search engine that feels like it has completely surrendered to SEO spammers. So, while this Band-Aid solution is interesting, things are getting so bad that the real recommendation is probably to switch to something other than Google at this point. We all need to find another search engine that values the web and tries to search it. As opposed to Google, which increasingly seems like it’s trying to sacrifice the web at the altar of AI.
Nice Summary
On the other hand, you can use Search Console for:
Making sure your pages are indexed in Google search
Fixing usability issues
Seeing which other websites link to your site (backlinks)
Seeing the search queries (keywords) visitors used to find your website
Market Data Research for McDonald’s and Other Restaurants
Report on restaurant market research and kiosks worldwide by Dataos (RBR). Much better than the usual internet scrapes for the Indian datamarts like Research & Markets. They actually contacted us and we provided input on McDonald’s and Burger King. Wendy’s too. Other research conpanies do not canvas people so kudos to Datos/RBR
It’s pretty clear though the bias is “Not the US” as the central theme. Certainly Acrelec has McDonalds but the franchise option is not always executed. We have never seen kiosks in Burger King or KFC here in the US. Pretty much all drive thru.
As far as Acrelec goes it is important to note they are software as much as hardware. Not common knowledge but we know they have over 30K software licenses in play and they are close to announcing more.
McDonald’s is actually more ROW (40K restaurants) than US (14000 restaurants). And worth noting 700 of those in US are owned by McDonalds. The others are franchisees. Other McDonalds players which seems to be not noted would be the Verifone/Zivelo original along with Evoke in UK.
McDonalds splits its supply chain fairly evenly into multiple suppliers (DN, Verifone, Acrelec, Evoke and Coates to name notables). In the US Coates made the first investment followed later by Acrelec. Worth noting Verifone/Zivelo is rumored to be withdrawing from the market (mostly US). Verifone was pitching PO it wanted to dispose of.
Meanwhile, how to save on menu board software. Do old school. McDonalds down the street.
We recently toured just completed new “counterless” McDonald’s (no menu boards above a short counter) here in Colorado. Also the drive thru menu boards are facing directly into the sun. We saw menu board failures in California and Coates screens. These are also Coates screens and we’ll see if they learned anything (or went cheap)
And the “Diebold” kiosks are Pyramid of Germany white labeled. Nice of Datos to include that nugget from us in their report (with zero credit I might add).
Our take:
Doesn’t appear Datos/RBR is going to offer any insight on US Market.
Very very pricey report. Will be out of date in a week?
How much longer will McDonald’s use the big standup totem kiosks with 32 inch monitors? Here is a new 2024 iteration of McDonalds in Denver with basically no counter, no menu boards and only a row of ordering kiosks
How much longer before they go voice order? Here is a 2024 demo of McDonalds voice order being tested.
When will McDonalds start utilizing the walls. They are already removing drinks and condiment stations
Worth noting — 65% of sales at McDonalds is thru Drive Thru. Chick-Fil-A is the same (and drive-thrus getting bigger)
Meanwhile here is summary of article
Market Growth and Competition:
Over 345,000 self-ordering kiosks were installed globally by June 2023
The market is competitive, with around 180 hardware and software vendors working with QSR chains
Acrelec leads the hardware market, supplying McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC
Other players include HiStone, Taiyun, Coates Group, Elo, and Diebold Nixdorf.
Global and Local Vendors:
International players like Samsung and LG, along with local suppliers, compete for kiosk business
China’s CCL Technology and Taiwan’s Posiflex have a growing presence in Europe and the Middle East
Brazil’s Videosoft and Poland’s M4B also work with QSR chains
Nearly 55,000 self-ordering kiosks were delivered in the year to June 2023, with an increasing number of hardware and software suppliers entering the market
New players enter the kiosk business to meet unprecedented demand
Global investment in self-ordering kiosks by quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains is increasing strongly, with more than 345,000 installed as of June 2023, according to Global Self-Ordering Kiosks, the latest study by RBR Data Services, a division of Datos Insights. The market is becoming even more competitive, with around 180 hardware and software vendors working with clients from global fast-food giants to independents.
Acrelec leads the global kiosk hardware market
restaurant market research
Self-service and digital technology firm Acrelec has the largest share of the self-ordering kiosk market. The French manufacturer accounts for 16% of global hardware shipments, supplying McDonald’s and other leading QSR firms such as Burger King and KFC. Many of its customers also use kiosk software from Acrelec.
Chinese hardware suppliers HiStone and Taiyun both have a strong foothold in their home market, delivering to local QSR chain Dicos and McDonald’s respectively. Meanwhile, Australia’s Coates Group supplies kiosk hardware to McDonald’s and other customers across a range of Asian countries, from India to South Korea.
US-based Elo is the largest hardware vendor to the Americas region, counting Taco Bell as well as a vast number of small and medium-sized chains among its clients. Diebold Nixdorf also has a strong presence in the region, supplying kiosks manufactured by German firm Pyramid to McDonald’s in the US and Canada.
International and local vendors compete for kiosk business
Global Self-Ordering Kiosks 2024 shows that a wide range of suppliers have entered the kiosk business in recent years. These include Korean electronics giants Samsung and LG, with the former’s hardware deployed in its home market and internationally. Elsewhere, China’s CCL Technology and Taiwan’s Posiflex have a growing presence in Europe and the Middle East.
Local suppliers are also competing with international firms for new business. Vendors including Brazil’s Videosoft and Poland’s M4B are working with QSR chains in their home markets and beyond.
Restaurants work with a vast range of software suppliers to modernise technology
Many restaurant chains and independents have deployed self-ordering kiosks alongside mobile ordering and other channels as part of a wider software-led digital transformation strategy. With software vendors much in demand, the market is increasingly fragmented.
McDonald’s has developed an in-house solution to run on its kiosks, however, many QSR brands use third-party software suppliers; these include China’s Rydeen, Sixun and Shiji Group, which supply both local chains and global brands in their home market. US firms Tillster, which works with Burger King in many countries, GRUBBRR and Bite all partner with a range of different hardware firms for kiosks.
As demand for the technology continues to grow among restaurant chains of all sizes, the global kiosk market presents considerable opportunities to international, regional and local suppliers of both hardware and software, with RBR Data Services forecasting the number of kiosks shipped globally to reach 130,000 by 2028.
Notes to editors
About RBR Data Services
RBR Data Services provides clients with independent and reliable data and insights through published research, consulting and bespoke data services. Our global research covers the cards and payments, retail technology and banking automation sectors and is used by the leading market participants, analysts and regulators as the authoritative source of industry and competitor benchmark data. For any questions about this release, please contact [email protected].
About Datos Insights
Datos Insights delivers the most comprehensive and industry-specific data and advice to the companies trusted to protect and grow the world’s assets, and to the technology and service providers who support them. Staffed by experienced industry executives, researchers, and consultants, we support the world’s most progressive banks, insurers, investment firms, and technology companies through a mix of insights and advisory subscriptions, data services, custom projects and consulting, conferences, and executive councils.
The information and data within this press release are the copyright of Datos Insights, and may only be quoted with appropriate attribution to RBR Data Services, a division of Datos Insights. The information is provided free of charge and may not be resold.
It was good to see new patient check-in kiosk at the Little Clinic in King Soopers the other day. Kroger has always been a leader in technology having installed DMVNow kiosks and these patient check-in kiosks. Good illustration of the blending of two verticals (Grocery and Healthcare).
My King Soopers used to have an Elo AIO countertop but for some reason it never really seemed to communicate “Start Here” like this new pedestal does (Wallabye). Sometimes pedestals work better albeit they might cost a few hundred dollars more. Better to work and create happier customers (and increase loyalty)
Couple of notes about this one:
Started in Georgia and going out to all locations.
We talked to the medical people there and asked the usual questions
How many customers use the kiosk — All of them
How do they use the kiosk?
Many schedule appointment on web and get qr code that they then scan at the kiosk to check in
Some schedule right them (walk in)
Do they help you? — YES, all the usual requisite information is already gathered and collated. We can focus on the patient health concern.
Is the Storm device working? — we tested and YES
Do people use it — YES
Who does the app? — we think web app special for Little Clinic
What’s the biggest complaint? — some say it is too short
Any improvements you would suggest? — Yes, add a tilt mechanism to the touchscreen
Is it ok to turn it off and watch it boot up – YES — employee quickly did that
Fast boot up and Android. No big surprise there. Elois a leader in Android
Background
The Little Clinic operates 225 locations, providing immediate medical care inside select grocery stores. These clinics are staffed by licensed and Board-certified healthcare providers. It’s a convenient option for those seeking accessible and affordable healthcare services.
As of the latest available data, there are 3,242 Kroger-owned stores in the United States. Kroger operates under various banners, and these stores are spread across multiple states, predominantly in the Midwestern and Southern regions. The state with the most Kroger stores is California, with 303 locations
One of the big shows often attended is HITEC. Some of our members with be there including KIOSK.
Key Benefits Include
Increased guest satisfaction with lower wait times and greater convenience tied to check-in and check-out transactions
Secure, PCI compliant payment transactions
24/7 access to guest services including meal purchases, extra room keys, and on-demand check-out folio
Health safeguard with autonomous check-in and check-out,eliminating need for person-to-person contact
Permanent automation platform to alleviate ongoing hospitality
labor shortages common among hotel operators
Produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), a global nonprofit hospitality association, HITEC gives attendees access to the latest hospitality technology, industry experts, essential education and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines.This makes HITEC the largest non-profit show of its kind.
Resources
Contact KIOSK Sales Director Joe Sawicki at jsawicki@kiosk.com to schedule a meeting.
Ariane Systems Hacked 2024 — Ariane Systems self check-in systems installed at thousands of hotels worldwide are vulnerable to a kiosk mode bypass flaw that could allow access to guests’ personal information and the keys for other rooms.
The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) is the world’s largest and longest-running hospitality technology event. Produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), it provides attendees with access to the latest hospitality technology, industry experts, essential education, and resources to improve company bottom lines. Here are some key points about HITEC:
Event Details:
Date: June 24-27, 2024
Location: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C., USA
Attendees: Hospitality professionals, executive decision-makers, and industry investors from over 60 countries.
Exhibition: Over 325 companies showcase innovative solutions in the hospitality technology space.
Education Sessions: Curated by experts, covering technology’s role in hospitality1.
Event App:
The HITEC 2024 Event App, sponsored by Ireckonu, provides comprehensive information about the event, including the education program, speakers, exhibitors, and networking opportunities.
Community Support:
HITEC has partnered with Shasta Cloud for the 2024 HITEC Helps Initiative, supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Donations help provide food for the local community in Charlotte.
Exhibit Opportunities:
Companies can showcase their innovations by becoming exhibitors at HITEC, connecting with industry leaders and elevating their brands2.
Whether you’re interested in cutting-edge technology, networking, or educational sessions, HITEC offers a valuable experience for hospitality professionals.
The Future of User Session Security with FaceLock™ in Our Spring Newsletter!
FaceLock AI will be a significant part of the City of Santa Rosa and the CO projects
We’re excited to share the latest advancements transforming self-service technology. We invite you to explore these feature highlights of our Spring 2024 Newsletter — the introduction of FaceLock™, a cutting-edge security enhancement to our Zamok Kiosk Management Software and Kiosk FormFlow.
FaceLock?
FaceLock utilizes sophisticated facial detection technology to enhance the security and efficiency of user sessions at kiosks. This cutting-edge technology ensures that all Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is immediately erased once your session ends, safeguarding your privacy and aligning with the highest AI ethics standards.
Inside the Newsletter:
Detailed Insight into FaceLock: Understand the technology behind FaceLock and how it secures user data and improves operational efficiency.
Benefits for Your Business: Discover how FaceLock can reduce liability, enhance customer trust, and streamline operations.
Customer Stories and Feedback: Read about how businesses like yours are already benefiting from FaceLock.
Kiosk FormFlow: Simplifying Complex Processes
This feature optimizes the design and sequence of forms, ensuring a smooth, intuitive journey from start to finish. It makes complex form completion simple, minimizes errors and enhances user satisfaction with instructions and step-by-step processes. No more handwritten forms! Receive your legal PDF typed out as an email attachment.
Our goal is to provide you with innovative solutions that meet your needs and anticipate future challenges in the digital landscape. This newsletter edition is packed with information to keep you informed and one step ahead.
We appreciate your continued support and interest in Advanced Kiosks. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us at 603-865-1000.
Heather Smith
Sales Associate
Advanced Kiosks – The leader in Self-Service Technology
P: 603-865-1000
134 Hall Street, Unit F, Concord, NH 03301
E: [email protected]
Restaurant Accessibility Works for Customers and Business
Nice point — An important first step for restaurants is to consider the ADA the baseline and the bare minimum, Knackstedt said. It may be a new way of thinking for some operators. But all operators, ultimately, have the same goal: to offer great hospitality to all.
Here’s a summary of the key points:
Inclusive Design at Starbucks: The new Starbucks at Union Market in Washington D.C. is designed with the Inclusive Spaces Framework, featuring accessible paths, power-operated doors, and an easy-to-read order status board, making the store welcoming for all customers, including those with disabilities.
Beyond ADA Compliance: The store goes beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, showcasing how accessible design benefits everyone, not just individuals with disabilities.
Accessible Technology: Starbucks’ POS system with voice recognition and screen magnification, along with McDonald’s updated kiosks with audio navigation and magnifying mode, exemplify technology that enhances accessibility for all customers.
Consultation and Proactivity: Restaurants are encouraged to view accessibility as a standard business practice, seek expert advice, and involve the disability community to create spaces that are welcoming to everyone.
Matt Ater, vice president of business development at Vispero, an accessibility consulting firm and an assistive technology provider for the visually impaired, has encountered such technology. Take mobile credit card readers. “Why does a blind person have to ask a waiter to do their own tips or, from a security perspective, put in your pin?” he said.
But his biggest concern is the rapid growth of kiosks. They’re used to streamline service and help alleviate bottlenecks when restaurants are short on employees. However, they can be challenging to navigate for some people with disabilities or people who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the technology.
Through Vispero, Ater, who is blind, works with restaurants and other retailers to ensure their kiosks are accessible to all. Over the past few years, McDonald’s, a client, has updated many of its kiosks to include features like audio navigation, magnifying mode, and pictures.
PYRAMID is excited to announce the development of our newest innovation:
PYRAMID Transparent OLED Kiosk
Featuring an ultra-thin, ultra-clear and crisp display like no other, this marks a giant leap into the next generation of captivating and eye-catching self-ordering technology that helps draw customers.
Our brand-new kiosk fits unobtrusively and seamlessly into any store or restaurant environment, without compromising its openness and design. Thanks to the transparent touchscreen, the Transparent OLED Kiosk is a great choice for spaces of all sizes, especially for smaller spaces where traditional displays obstruct views.
We are incredibly excited to showcase this emerging technology (as well as our cost efficient SWIFT) at the upcoming NRA show – you can find us in Booth # 8013 and Booth # 5536.
Interested in learning more about the Transparent Kiosk, or any of our other products? Just let me know and we’d be happy to set up a quick call to answer any questions you might have!
About Pyramid Computer: Pyramid Computer is a leading developer of IT solutions for medium and large enterprises, focusing on digital automation with clients and partners.
Product Portfolio: The company offers a range of products under three brands: AKHET®, FAYTECH®, and POLYTOUCH®, including touch devices, kiosks, IPCs, and servers.
Global Reach: Pyramid Computer has a strong global partnership network and invites new partners to collaborate.
Contact Information: The company is based in Freiburg, Germany, and provides a contact email ([email protected]) for inquiries.
For more detailed information, you can explore the specific sections of the website.
Exposing Olo Part 3: Dropping 40% of Olo’s Enterprise Value into Wisely
From retailsystems — Both McDonalds and Five Guys Burgers and Fries compete on a daily basis to offer the public hamburgers and fries. In 2014, McDonald’s spent more than $988 million on advertising. Five Guys Burgers and Fries, in the same year, spent exactly $0. Continuing analysis of Olo by Reforming Retail.
Here’s a summary of the key points:
Olo’s Acquisition of Wisely: Olo spent 40% of its enterprise value to acquire Wisely, a restaurant marketing tool, but the acquisition has not been successful in generating the expected revenue1.
Management Decisions: The article criticizes Olo’s management for poor decision-making and execution post-acquisition, leading to underperformance and shareholder dissatisfaction.
Technical Challenges: There were technical issues between Wisely and Olo, particularly with payment token data integration, which hindered Wisely’s effectiveness.
Comparison with PAR: The article contrasts Olo’s acquisition of Wisely with PAR’s acquisition of Punchh, highlighting PAR’s better management and transparent reporting leading to revenue growth.
RR provides an in-depth analysis of Olo’s business decisions and their impact on the company’s performance.
Let’s look at a totally different acquisition in the same, terrible restaurant industry: PAR acquired Punchh, a loyalty marketing platform in mid-2021 and since then Punchh has more than doubled revenue to $64M, representing a 29% IRR (we can ascertain this because PAR reports business lines separately and transparently).
This points to the biggest culprit being Olo’s management, both in their decisions on what assets to acquire, and post-acquisition execution (or lack thereof).
The second red flag was/is the legitimate technical hiccup between Wisely and Olo.
WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 13, 2024 (APnews and PR Newswire)— This week the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago starts. Booth 5536 (near Square and Toast) will have 6 different demos from the Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA). See the Clover POS kiosk integrated with digital menus. Also a Square kiosk with that same integration. Both of those will demonstrate the new configurable AI Assist for increased upsell. ROI data based on the already current deployments is available. AI which isn’t just just up and coming, but up and running.
A transparent OLED self order kiosk by Pyramid is being introduced along with their new low cost Swift 24 kiosk. The Swift can be upgraded later to a 32 inch touchscreen which is notable. TPGi will show their JAWS Kiosk. This is the same accessibility software used by McDonalds, the SSA and others.
Preview of InfoComm 2024 – See 22Miles, Peerless-AV, LG Business and Panasonic to name some. It’s the biggest AV show of the year (along with ISE in Barcelona)
New and used parts on kiosk marketplace by SuzoHapp. Also we provide latest pricing on robot servers ($5000) and electronic lockers.
Contact [email protected] with questions. From Kiosk Industry and Kiosk Manufacturer Association.
About Kiosk Industry
Kiosk Industry is the source for opinions, insights, news, and market trends for self-service kiosks, digital signage, POS, and more. Learn from the experts. We are a “co-op” of over 500 companies.
Our mission is to inform and educate. Accessibility, ADA, PCI, UL are some of our focus points. Join us for informative Q&A webinars and weekly emails. Learn more at: https://kma.global/
NCR goes all in as reseller for Samsung and GRUBBRR in its Aloha POS business. In 2023 Samsung announced their new Windows-based kiosk and you could see it coming then. Enterprise IT people are not big fans of Linux derivative Tizen (Active Directory/etc). And last year 50% of the NCR booth at NRA was GRUBBRR. Still, change does not come easy with a large mega like Samsung or NCR. We’ll see how the omission of accessible options for their kiosks plays out in the legal liability space. BusinessWire announcement and post on Sixteen Nine
Excerpts: “Digital technologies like the interactive Aloha Kiosk by NCR Voyix provide a better experience for the customer and less stress on the staff,” said Benny Tadele, EVP & president of NCR Voyix, Restaurants. “The Aloha Kiosk is integrated with the NCR Voyix Commerce Platform, enabling a seamless flow of data and the ability to unlock unique omnichannel ordering experiences for our customers.”
From the announcement:
Two-thirds of Americans surveyed said they would prefer to use a self-service kiosk rather than a human-run checkout. This is positive news for restaurant operators, considering the U.S. Department of Labor predicts an average of 2.6 million job openings within food service operations from 2022 to 2032. In addition, fast food restaurants in California with at least 60 locations nationwide must pay employees a minimum of $20 an hour, and other states are considering similar wage requirements.
kiosk market research
“With escalating costs, a shrinking labor force and the desire to provide multiple options for guest ordering and engagement, solutions like the Aloha Kiosk by NCR Voyix make perfect sense for the restaurant industry as they increase efficiencies and empower brands to do more with less,” says Tadele.
NCR has been struggling for the last few years. That’s one reason they split out the ATMs and renamed the Retail financial side. They also let a lot of people go to cut costs. Self-checkout at customers like Walmart have been “in flux” and the historically strong NCR service division is looking over its shoulders these days. We ran the numbers on SCO recently.
The last couple of years have seen NCR and Diebold modify their stance opting to no longer develop specific hardware solutions (SelfServe and Beetle e.g.) and adopt the reseller with service model. Much of that change can be traced to most POS systems being cloud-based. Estimates in 2024 are close to 80%. Service and software have always been the recurring revenue gift that keeps on giving. The initial hardware is relatively insignificant in cost.
To an extent they both engender images of the Titanic and the eventual ultimate end to a voyage….
Some market data
NCR Stock Performance
Aloha POS has market share of 2.57% in pos-systems market. Generally 80% of the customers are US-based. Aloha POS competes with 208 competitor tools in the pos-systems category. The top alternatives for Aloha POS pos-systems tool are Square with 28.80%, Toast with 25.98%, Lightspeed with 8.40% market share.
Notes
The Aloha POS system’s starter plan begins at $0 per month with a payment processing fee of 2.99% + $0.15 per transaction. The premium plan starts at $175 per month with a lower processing fee.
The POS terminal is generally employee-facing. It is hardware and software. It is transactional but it can also be informational. Consider digital menus and messaging, for example, digital advertising and branding. Simply put — Point-of-sale (POS) systems are all types of solutions that allow businesses to process customer payments and manage sales data. POS systems are used in various industries, including retail, hospitality, and healthcare. POS systems components? A cash register, a receipt printer, and a card reader. They may also include additional features such as inventory management, customer loyalty programs, and e-commerce integration.
POS Terminal covers the widest possible range of verticals:
Point Of Sale Market Report – POS Survey – This week, RestaurantOwner.com released its 2022 POS Survey Report. The survey asked over 800 independent restaurant owners to rate and comment on their POS systems’ installation and operational costs, system and contract characteristics, and their satisfaction with POS features and support.
POS Clover Customer Self-Order Kiosk Case Study – Customer Self-Order Kiosk Case Study Complete case study on the positive impact that customer ordering kiosks provide to a relatively small retail shop.
Wendy’s POS System Case Study – Touch Screen POS – Wendy’s POS System Case Study In the self-service world, the employee is an absolute critical component for success. Equipping employees with reliable and training them to easy-to-use technology becomes extremely important.
Examining ADA lawsuits on point of sale devices – Redbox’s recent settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that its video rental kiosks in California were not accessible to the blind provides a good example of the potential exposure businesses face.
Point-of-sale (POS) systems are software and hardware solutions that allow businesses to process customer payments and manage sales data. POS systems can be used in a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
POS systems typically include a cash register, a receipt printer, and a card reader. They may also include additional features such as inventory management, customer loyalty programs, and e-commerce integration.
POS systems can help businesses improve their efficiency and profitability. They can automate tasks such as order processing and inventory tracking, which can free up employees to focus on other tasks. POS systems can also help businesses track sales data, which can be used to make informed business decisions.
There are many different POS systems available on the market, so businesses should carefully consider their needs before choosing a system. Factors to consider include the size of the business, the industry, and the desired features.
Here are some of the benefits of using a POS system:
Increased efficiency: POS systems can help businesses streamline their operations and save time.
Improved accuracy: POS systems can help businesses reduce errors in order processing and inventory tracking.
Increased security: POS systems can help businesses protect customer data and prevent fraud.
Enhanced customer service: POS systems can help businesses provide a better customer experience by streamlining the checkout process and offering loyalty programs.
If you are looking for a way to improve your business’s efficiency, accuracy, and security, then a POS system is a worthwhile investment.
Here are some of the most popular POS systems on the market:
Square
Shopify POS
Lightspeed POS
Toast
Clover
Revel Systems
NCR Silver
AccuPOS
ShopKeep
These systems offer a variety of features and pricing options, so you can choose the one that best meets your needs.
