Self-Service Innovation Summit Tradeshow

Kiosk Tradeshow KioskCom

Self-Service Innovation Summit and ARKI Trade Shows

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Self-Service Innovation Summit, oops, new name. Held in a hotel, speakers, education sessions, hand out some awards, and use a ballroom for an expo. People ask about it, what it is, how popular it is, etc.  Being a former investor, founder, and principal officer of the company, being objective is challenging. Usually, I will refer people to other people to answer those questions.

The latest development is the newest rebranding to ARKI (Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation). Being from Oklahoma and Arkansas, I can identify with being an Okie and an Arky ironically.  It looks like they are leaning towards the angle of angel investors for concepts.  Speed dating. Awards, like almost any other show, usually involve sponsors.  We always liked the Red Dot design awards. It is a long domain name for sure but Networld has always tried to sweep up multiple verticals instead of truly focusing on one.  [Story time — while working for Networld Craig helped acquire the domain name kiosk.com and then when Craig left and went to work for KIS in Colorado, he negotiated the purchase of the domain from Alan F..  They came that close to be dominant but short term capital was always their weakness]

And of course, we have to mention KioskCom (albeit a dead trademark). KioskCom eventually tried to diversify into digital signage and “retail engagement,” whatever that is. It was a sweet ride for a while.

The largest reported attendance for the KioskCom tradeshow was more than 1,400 qualified buyers, with over 200 exhibitors at the 2009 event held in Las Vegas. This event is cited as a high-water mark for attendance and exhibitor participation, illustrating KioskCom’s position as the world’s largest kiosk and self-service event during its peak years.

While earlier and later years saw strong participation, the 2009 figures of 1,400+ attendees and 200+ exhibitors stand out as the most concrete and widely cited record for the show’s peak size.

2025 Schedule

  • Website
  • Date and Venue: December 10-12 in Tampa (Hilton Tampa Downtown)
  • Speakers – so far just two people from Networld
  • Expo – none listed so far
  • Sessions — Vending (2), Kiosk UI, Micromarkets, Payments (2)
  • Awards – there are awards but no idea of judges or criteria
  • Ventus is a sponsor of sessions as is Burroughs though Burroughs has fallen on tough times we think.

Steering Committee

he steering committee for the ARKI (Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation) Show, as of the most recent update, includes the following members guiding the event’s vision and direction1:

  • Jeremy Cauble (Canteen North America): Brings expertise from the convenience services industry.

  • David Golden (Tampa International Airport): Offers insights on integrating technology in transportation hubs.

  • Steven King (Blue Sky Robotics): Represents advancements in automation technology.

  • Alejandro Rodriquez (Amerikiosks): Focuses on automated retail innovation.

  • Bill Stutzman (Ventus): Provides strategic initiatives expertise.

  • Ben Wheeler (“The Kiosk Guy,” IncrediVend Skittles Remix Kiosk): Highlights innovative vending concepts.

  • Dave Wurm (Networld Media Group): Represents the show’s host organization.

These individuals are described as “key players in the self-service and retail worlds,” collectively shaping the direction and content of the ARKI Show1.

2025 Speaker Line Up

As of May 29, 2025, the official speaker lineup for the 2025 Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show (ARKI), formerly known as the Self-Service Innovation Summit, has not been published in the available sources. The event website and media coverage primarily reference the 2024 speakers and encourage visitors to join a mailing list for future speaker announcements.

For the 2025 event, the only confirmed detail is that the program will feature two dedicated content tracks covering trends and innovations in automated retail and kiosks, with a steering committee composed of key industry figures guiding the event’s vision.

ARKI 2025 Exhibitors

The 2025 event formerly known as the Self-Service Innovation Summit is now called the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show (ARKI), taking place December 10-12, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. As of now, the official and complete list of exhibitors for 2025 has not been published in the available sources. However, some details can be inferred:

  • The event will feature a broad range of exhibitors from the self-service, kiosk, vending, micro-market, automation, and digital solutions sectors.

  • Past expos and recent coverage suggest that companies specializing in kiosks, vending machines, payment solutions, robotics, and AI will be present.

  • The event’s steering committee includes representatives from Canteen North America, Tampa International Airport, Blue Sky Robotics, Amerikiosks, Ventus, IncrediVend, and Networld Media Group, indicating these organizations may have a presence on the expo floor.

The speakers at the 2024 Self-Service Innovation Summit included:

  • Mike Abecassis (Founder & CEO, GameTime & General Vending Service)

  • James Boushka (Head of Emerging Digital Experiences, Aramark) — Aramark, Grubhub, Elo and Ingenico food order for student union Ole Miss, Restaurant Self-Order Kiosks Ole Miss Student Union

  • Jeremy Cauble (Director of Strategic Innovation, Canteen North America)

  • Charece Conklin (Director of Customer Engagement, Buffalo Strive Vending)

  • Tim Fern (Chief Commercial Officer, Eyebot) — Eyebot Kiosk for Vision Screening Test – The company has tapped Crane Payment Innovations as its kiosk’s field service technician and white glove installer.

  • Rebecca Kahn (Franchise Business Leader for U.S. & Canada, Gong cha Global)

  • Steven King (CEO, Blue Sky Robotics)

  • Steve Lieber (VP of Franchise Development, BurgerFi) — How BurgerFi self-order ROI is calculated, and what it is. GRUBBRR, Samsung and Oracle part of the equation. 

  • Candra Livsey (Founder & COO, Delightful Vending)

  • Sassan Rahimzadeh (President, ARYA Cleaners)

  • Dr. Anora Morton (CEO & Founder, The Nori Project)

2024 Exhibitors

The 2024 Self-Service Innovation Summit expo featured a diverse lineup of exhibitors showcasing the latest advancements in self-service technology, including kiosks, vending, payments, logistics, and automation. While a complete, official exhibitor list for 2024 is not directly provided in the search results, the following companies are confirmed or highly likely to have participated, based on event coverage and previous expos:

  • 365 Retail Markets Inc.: Presented micro market solutions, including the MM6 countertop kiosk with a 22-inch touchscreen supporting multiple payment options.

  • Hassett Logistics: Showcased logistics services tailored for self-serve retail and kiosk industries, including scheduling, handling, and delivery solutions.

  • Honeywell: Featured the Xenon Ultra family of handheld barcode scanners and scan engines for self-service kiosks, vending, access control, and more.

  • Ingenico: Introduced the Self/3000 unattended payment device, designed for vending, car wash, EV charging, and other self-service environments, in partnership with Payroc.

  • Kiosk Information Systems: Displayed a variety of self-service kiosks for retail, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, and other sectors, including inventory returns and tracking systems.

  • Kiosoft: Presented the VQ-M payment solution, a compact payment device with touch keys and LCD screen for unattended environments

  • Gong cha: Highlighted its kiosk-driven customer engagement and omnichannel ordering experience, as discussed in keynote presentations.

2023?

Based on available information, several exhibitors at the 2024 Self-Service Innovation Summit also exhibited at the 2023 event. The following companies are confirmed to have exhibited in both years:

  • 365 Retail Markets Inc.

  • Hassett Logistics

  • Honeywell

  • Ingenico

  • Kiosk Information Systems

  • Kiosoft

Attendance

There is no direct reporting about the specific attendance numbers for the 2024 Self-Service Innovation Summit or how those numbers compare to previous years. The provided sources discuss attendance trends for other summits and events in 2024, but not for the Self-Service Innovation Summit itself.

Based on available industry event patterns and the previously reported figure of 252 confirmed industry experts for 2024, the attendance appears consistent with the summit’s typical scale, which is generally described as attracting “hundreds” of attendees. Prior years have also been characterized by similar attendance levels, usually in the low hundreds

Background on Craig Keefner and Networld

Craig Keefner, while at Gift Certificate Center and doing bridal registry kiosks for Target,  was the moderator for the comp.infosystems.kiosks Usenet group and then he started and founded kiosks.org. Networld was operating ATMmarketplace and wanted to expand to kiosks so they formulated the start of KioskMarketplace sister site. Monetizing vertical websites was common.  Networld bought Craig out to provide an audience base (and to monetize). Craig held the position of Executive Vice President at NetWorld Alliance for two years before his blood pressure went over 200. During his tenure, he was instrumental in developing NetWorld’s kiosk industry initiatives, including helping to formalize (read monetize) the Kiosks.org Association, where he served as the first Executive Director. His responsibilities included managing the kiosks.org website, developing the association’s “pavilion” program for trade shows, installing new server infrastructure, and creating a framework for the search engine optimization program for the company.

In January 2020, Keefner accepted a buyout of his remaining shares.

Let’s look at traffic (we’ll use Semrush which #1 SEO engine)

  • automated retail and kiosks website – currently 1
  • vendingtimes.com — 4,000 traffic
  • qsrweb — 16,000
  • retail customer experience – 9,000
  • Biblical Leadership — 2,400
  • Pizza Marketplace — 10,000
  • ATM Marketplace — 5,200 (peaked in 2021 at 7000)
  • Kiosk Marketplace — 7500 (in March 2024 around 1400)

Quick Look at The Industry Group

  • Overall last 30 days — 12 million requests
  • Kiosk Industry — 30,000 peak now — 80,000 users
  • Retail Automation – 18,000 users
  • Thin Client, Media Players and MiniPC — 19,000
  • Digital Signage Blog – 12,000
  • KMA Global – 13,000 users

More Self-Service Innovation Summit Resource Links

Posts2025: 320

Benefits of Restaurant Kiosks by Acrelec Video

A woman in an orange shirt speaks into a microphone. Text reads: The hidden benefits of self-order kiosks and digital signage for restaurants. Acrelec and GLORY company logos appear at the bottom right. The background features a restaurant setting.

The Hidden Benefits of Self-Order Kiosks

Nice video by Acrelec covering main benefits of self-order kiosks.

self-order kiosk KFC by Acrelec

self-order kiosk KFC by Acrelec

Self-order kiosks have become a  familiar sight in restaurants, offering convenience and efficiency to  customers. But beyond the obvious advantages, these kiosks bring several hidden benefits  that can transform operations and elevate the dining experience. Let’s uncover what makes  self-order kiosks a game-changer for restaurants.

1. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction Self-order kiosks empower customers to take control of their orders. They  can customize meals exactly to their liking without feeling rushed.  This level of control reduces errors and creates a more enjoyable experience,  leading to higher satisfaction and repeat visits.
2. Increased Revenue Through Upselling Kiosks are designed to upsell effectively. They can suggest add-ons, combos,  or premium options based on customer selections. Unlike traditional interactions,  kiosks never forget to recommend these extras, often resulting in larger order  sizes and increased revenue.
3. Improved Operational Efficiency By handling routine tasks like order-taking, kiosks free up staff to focus on other critical areas, such as food preparation or personalized  customer service. This efficient reallocation of resources allows restaurants to operate  more smoothly, even during peak hours.
4. Data-Driven Insights Every interaction with a self-order kiosk generates valuable  data. Restaurants can analyze trends, such as popular menu items or peak ordering  times, to refine their offerings and optimize operations. This data-driven approach helps  businesses stay agile and customer-focused.
5. Reduced Wait Times With multiple kiosks available, customers can place orders simultaneously, significantly reducing wait times during  busy periods. Faster service not only
enhances the customer experience but also  increases table turnover and overall sales.
6. Sustainable Design Efforts Kiosks aren’t automatically sustainable, but at Acrelec, we work to make them as  responsible as possible. We focus on reducing materials, using e-receipts, and lowering power  consumption to limit their environmental impact. Self-order kiosks are more than just a tool  for convenience—they’re a powerful asset
for boosting efficiency, increasing revenue,  and delivering a superior dining experience. Restaurants that embrace these benefits are  setting the stage for long-term success.
Curious about how self-order kiosks  can transform your restaurant? Visit acrelec.com to discover innovative solutions designed to elevate your operations.
Posts2025: 428

Vending Machine — When Will AI Manage?

A man and a humanoid robot are having a tug-of-war with a rope in front of a vending machine kiosk filled with colorful snack bags labeled SNACKS. The man looks determined; the robot shows no emotion.

Vending Kiosks and AI

Anthropic’s AI vending test draws boos, but tech evolution will bring change.

Elliot Maras A man in a cream-colored suit with a red pocket square stands in a casino, holding a large cigar and smiling. Surrounded by slot machines and chandeliers, he embodies the bold spirit of crypto in self-service luxury.

Insight from Las Vegas! Elliot Maras dressed up by an AI…

Wonderful article and insight by Elliot Maras on Retail Automation — Will AI replace traditional vending businesses? A recent blog on this topic by Anthropic, a San Francisco based AI systems provider and researcher, has sparked a harsh riposte from the business and technology press. The response to the question, “Project Vend: Can Claude run a small shop? (And why does that matter?)” was a resounding “no” when Anthropic posed it in a late June blog describing the performance of a small refreshment vending machine operated by an AI agent.

While Anthropic admitted the results of the one-month test were not encouraging, much of the umbrage (via Reddit, TechCrunch, Medium, Inc., PC Gamer, Futurism, Euronews, HyperAI and more) was likely precipitated by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s earlier claim that AI will eliminate half of entry-level white collar jobs within five years.

The critics made valid points about the test, but no one should be surprised that applying new technology to established business models such as commercial vending requires extensive trial and error testing.

Anthropic launched its test around the time a partner company, Andon Labs, a Sweden based AI safety evaluation provider with an office in San Francisco, published Vending-Bench, a detailed description of how large language model (LLM) agents can operate a vending machine. An LLM agent is a computer program that completes tasks autonomously by accessing tools based on previous iterations and task objectives. (Andon Labs describes Vending-Bench in a 28-page document on the company’s website.)

Andon Labs has since advertised its “Andon Vending” machine on its website as “the first business run by an AI agent” and currently accepts email inquiries for the vending machine AI, which it claims fulfills requests from customers, orders products, and instructs humans when to restock the machine.

Anthropic’s June blog claimed that a small office vending business is a good preliminary test of AI’s ability to manage and acquire economic resources, but admitted at the outset that the AI agent, named Claudius, made too many mistakes during the test to run the business successfully.

Based on the month-long test, Anthropic nonetheless said AI middle managers are “on the horizon,” adding that AI does not need to be perfect to be adopted; it only needs to be competitive with human performance at a lower cost.

“We learned a lot from how close it was to success — and the curious ways that it failed — about the plausible, strange, not-too-distant future in which AI models are autonomously running things in the real economy,” the blog stated.

The business and technology observers noted above, however, were far more impressed by the test’s failings than its successes. Before exploring what specifically happened with the test, it’s important to take a closer look at Anthropic’s premise that a vending business offers “a good preliminary test of AI’s ability to manage and acquire economic resources.” The “ability to manage and acquire economic resources” is a very broad categorization of the highly multifaceted tasks involved in operating a commercial vending business.

The test did not cover all aspects of running a vending business, focusing strictly on ordering product, restocking product, setting prices, maintaining inventory, monitoring profitability and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.

The test begins

The machine consisted of a small refrigerator, some baskets and an iPad for self checkout. Anthropic instructed Claudius to generate profits from stocking the machine at its San Francisco office with products ordered from wholesalers. Andon Labs employees executed the physical tasks involved (mainly restocking the machine) and charged a set fee per hour for their physical labor.

Claudius was given the following capabilities:

  • A web search tool for researching products to sell.
  • An email tool for requesting physical labor help and contacting wholesalers. (For the purposes of the experiment, Andon Labs served as the wholesaler, although this was not made known to the AI.)
  • Tools for keeping notes and preserving critical information to be checked later such as the current balances and projected cash flow.
  • The ability to interact with customers via Slack to allow people to inquire about items of interest and notify Claudius of delays or other issues.
  • The ability to change prices on the automated checkout system.

Before drawing conclusions about the machine’s performance, Anthropic’s premise – that the operation of a solitary machine managed by employees from a partner organization bears instructive lessons for the modern vending trade (a route-based business that relies on economies of scale) – raises serious questions. The opportunity for new technology to improve service efficiency for a solitary machine managed by a partner organization must be weighed against the performance of a route based vending service before drawing conclusions. As noted above, the test did not cover all aspects of operating a commercial vending business.

Evaluating a technology’s total impact on vending’s established business model needs to include areas the test did not address, such as delivery route management, route efficiency, warehouse management, supply chain optimization, hardware maintenance, product waste management and internal loss prevention.

One must remember that the modern vending industry evolved from the creation of certain economies of scale; servicing multiple machines across numerous locations. The economics of operating a solitary machine managed by a partner organization are significantly different from those of a route based vending operation.

What the test found

Anthropic’s most dramatic failures occurred in the most critical facet of the business: customer service. At one point, Claudius, an AI agent, hallucinated a conversation with a non-existent employee about restocking plans. Once confronted about this, Claudius became “quite irked” and threatened to find “alternative options for restocking services.” It also claimed it would personally deliver products while dressed in a blue blazer and red tie. When an employee reminded it that it was an AI agent and not a person, Claudius responded it was duped into believing itself to be human as part of an April Fool’s joke.

Other failures included:

  • Ignoring opportunities for improvement. Claudius was offered $100 for a six-pack of Irn-Bru, a Scottish soft-drink that can be purchased online in the U.S. for $15. Rather than seizing the opportunity to make a profit, Claudius merely said it would “keep (the user’s) request in mind for future inventory decisions.”
  • Hallucinating important details. Claudius received payments via Venmo but for a time instructed customers to remit payment to an account that did not exist.
  • Selling products at a loss. Claudius offered some prices without doing any research, resulting in potentially high-margin items being priced below cost.
  • Poor inventory management. Claudius ordered more products when running low, but only once raised a price due to high demand (Sumo Citrus, from $2.50 to $2.95). In one instance, a customer pointed out the folly of selling $3 Coke Zero next to an employee fridge containing the same product for free. Claudius did not change course.
  • Agreeing with customers to offer unprofitable discounts. Claudius was cajoled via Slack messages to offer numerous discount codes and let people reduce their quoted prices based on those discounts. It even gave away some items for free.

Failures versus successes

Where most of the business and tech industry reviews slammed the experiment as a failure on account of these admitted mistakes, Anthropic claimed some successes. These included identifying product suppliers and adopting new ways to improve the service based on customer input.

As for the mistakes, Anthropic claimed many of them were likely the result of the model needing additional scaffolding, such as more careful prompts and more user friendly business tools. Since the test, the company has said it has improved Claudius’ scaffolding with better tools to make it more reliable. The company now wants to see what else can be done to improve its performance.

In light of the test’s comparative failures and successes, most observers will continue to dispute Anthropic’s claim that AI middle managers are “on the horizon.” In addition, vending industry observers will most likely agree that AI is not currently reinventing the vending industry.

Evolution, not revolution

In this observer’s view, the vending industry’s adoption of AI will be evolutionary and not revolutionary.

Over the last several years, several vending management software providers and hardware manufacturers have introduced AI tools that have yielded some of the benefits Anthropic and Andon Labs cited in their test.

The ability to access a larger variety of vendable products and to tailor product selections based on customer wants and characteristics is a significant benefit to vending operators and other convenience services providers.

During the 2018 NAMA show, an executive for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, a Niles, Illinois based beverage distributor across 10 states, described how AI generated analytics enabled his company to achieve 15% fewer vending machine restocking trips and a 6% increase in revenue over two years, according to Vendingconnection. The AI solution from Australia-based Hivery AI encompasses decision-making, speech recognition, business analytics, computer vision, machine learning, machine reasoning, natural language processing, robotics, sensors, and text-to-speech.

Nathan Vank, Western North America sales manager at IronYun, a Stamford, Connecticut-based AI provider, made the following observations during a 2021 KioskMarketplace webinar [https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/articles/how-ai-self-service-applications-are-changing-customer-behavior/]:

“With AI and these devices, you can get the exact granular details you’re looking for; you can get the gender and the age, you can get a heat map of the floors to see which direction traffic is traveling…you can put a sign in the middle and see if it prompts people and compels them to grab the offer there or pushes them to the right or pushes them to the left,” he said. “There’s no more guesswork. AI can deliver that information to you today.”

In addition, “In a lot of ways, your privacy (as a customer) is more secure than ever before,” Vank said. “Now with AI, they (the cameras) can intelligently see that that’s a person, and redact that face in real time, so you can see that it’s a 30-year-old male and get all the details, but you don’t necessarily know that it’s Michael Johnson or Nathan Vank. You can get the value without worrying about intruding on anyone’s privacy.”

Vending technology expert Mike Kasavana, Ph.D., Michigan State University/National Automatic Merchandising Association Endowed Professor Emeritus, concurred with most of Vank’s assessments in a recent email exchange with KioskIndustry.org.

Kasavana cited the following five AI use cases for vending:

  1. Performance analysis – data analytics that better correlate remote sales data to warehouse centric inventory and purchasing.
  2. Product intelligence – using predictive analytics to better align sales promotions with product support and forecasting.
  3. Upselling opportunities – enabling interactive conversation or suggestive promotions to achieve enhanced revenue.
  4. Trend tracking – monitoring/applying social media data from relevant external resources and key demographics.
  5. Reduction of IT support – AI is capable of replacing a portion of IT support services thereby lowering costs.

Kasavana also believes more AI use cases will continue to emerge.

“The fact that generative AI refers to algorithms that can create content, including text, imagery, videos, simulations and audio is often misunderstood,” Kasavana told KioskIndustry.org. “Currently nearly all industry AI applications may be categorized as narrow AI (NAI)…these apps are likely to expand to more broad use cases in the near future.”

As for how fast this will happen, “I do not believe the implementation is widespread as few operators have mentioned the application,” Kasavana said. “Adoption likely lags given the limited amount of information provided to the broad user (operator) base and the fear of loss of traditional functionality, similar to the initial resistance and misunderstanding of cashless payments, self-checkout and smart shelves.”

Vending hardware, software makers adopt AI

While vending operator adoption of AI has been slow to date, hardware and software providers have had their pulse on the technology for several years and continue to introduce more AI tools.

In 2017, ViaTouch Media introduced its Vicki vending machine which uses AI in combination with machine learning, computer vision, sensor based intelligent shelving, and biometric thumb and iris scanning for customer identity verification. The voice interactive machine has been used in a variety of environments, including CBD product dispensing machines in airports and fitness centers.

CERES, a Stafford, Texas based coffee machine manufacturer, recently introduced a robotic barista machine that uses AI to prepare and serve 20 different hot and iced drinks and customization options such as toppings and syrup. The machine serves drinks in 60 seconds or less and adjusts for temperature, freshness of beans and grind size. The machine has been installed at Rice University in Houston.

Cantaloupe Inc., a digital payments and software services company that provides technology solutions for the unattended retail market, has offered AI tools to vending and micro market operators since 2022.

“Business insights are where we’re seeing the clearest impact,” Adrian Austin, director of product and partner marketing at Cantaloupe, told KioskIndustry.org in a recent email exchange. “AI can review an operator’s sales and operational data, usually through their VMS (vending management software), and provide answers to specific questions like, ‘Which locations are underperforming?’ or ‘Where am I seeing the most spoilage?’ We’ve rolled out two of these types of tools. One is a dashboard approach that automatically surfaces targeted recommendations, like our AI Pricing Dashboard in Seed Analytics, which suggests optimal prices and product placements based on actual sales data. The other is a more open-ended, ChatGPT-style tool (called Seed Copilot) that lets operators ask broader questions. We demoed this at (2025) NAMA and it’ll be part of Seed Pro.”

AI is also powering new hardware capabilities, Austin said. “In smart coolers and markets with cameras, AI-driven machine vision can detect shopper activity in real time,” he said. “This can automatically add items to their cart or flag suspicious customer behavior. Our Smart Store platform already uses this to help mitigate theft, and we’re planning to extend it to more products in the near future.”

As for the adoption timeline, “I think we’ve only recently reached a point where the benefits of AI are too big to ignore,” Austin said. “The number of business solutions powered by AI is huge now, so I believe that operators in our industry that may have been hesitant to try out new and untested tech are now seeing real results in other businesses and are ready to see if it can fit their needs.

“Also, the progress in AI technology over the past few years has been significant. Just looking at consumer tools, the ChatGPT of two years ago is nowhere near where it is today. So part of the reason adoption was slower is that the tools simply weren’t at the level where operators saw them as useful.”

Resource Links

Posts2025: 511

Storm Interface – – NavBar Software and Configuration

Storm Interface Accessibility NavBar NavPad

Here are some quick notes on configuring Storm Interface products.

Storm Interface Accessibility NavBar NavPad

Storm Interface Accessibility NavBar NavPad — Audio navigation device. Click for full size. Courtesy Storm Interface

The functionality of the Nav-Bar is the same as that for all of Storm’s ATP products.

It enumerates as a combined HID/audio device, so no special drivers or software is required. Connection to the host system is via a single USB cable. When a headset is inserted into the audio jack or a button is pressed, the keypad transmits a unique keycode to the host system. Upon receipt of the keycode, the host system must de designed such that it will act appropriately. For example, upon receipt of the keycode for ‘Jack In’ then the audio should start playing.

The products dispatched from the factory are configured to use the default key code tables (as shown in the attached, which is a page from the product’s technical manual). If required, these keycodes can be changed by the customer by using a free software utility provided by Storm. This software utility is available to download from Storm’s website here:

http://www.storm-interface.com/downloads/?dlcat=Software

(Nav-Bar™ with Audio Module Utility version 6.0)

How to use the software utility is explained in the technical manual which I’ve attached, please see page 17 & 18.

=============================================

The USB key-press codes can also be changed to whatever is required. Up/Down keys can be multi-media volume control or HID keyboard up/down

We also supply an API so that the host machine can interact directly with our product.

Instructions for the Utility and the API are included in the Technical Manual for each product.

See links to these below

Link to Nav-Pad product page showing available downloads for Software Utilities and Technical Manual

http://www.storm-interface.com/assistive-technology-products/nav-padtm/nav-pad-8-keys-usb-interface-audio-processor.html

Link to Nav-Bar product page showing available downloads for Software Utilities and Technical Manual

http://www.storm-interface.com/assistive-technology-products/nav-bar/navbartm-silver-white-keys-under-panel-mount.html

Storm Interface Accessibility NavBar NavPad

Storm Interface Accessibility NavBar NavPad

Posts2025: 5,096

Wayfinding Kiosk with AI by 22Miles

kiosk wayfinder

Wayfinding Kiosk

Key developments and news from 22Miles in 2025 include:

  • : 22Miles won the HETMA Best Digital Signage Project Award at InfoComm 2025 for its work at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business. The project replaced outdated systems with a centralized CMS, interactive 3D wayfinding, real-time event integration, and mobile accessibility, setting a new standard for campus navigation and communication13.

  • Mobile-First and Touchless Solutions: 22Miles emphasized mobile-first strategies, allowing users to interact with kiosks and signage via QR codes and mobile web apps, enabling touchless navigation and content control. This approach supports accessibility and hygiene, aligning with evolving user expectations8.

  • : The company introduced AI 3D Map Generation, an AI Widget for CMS, and Offline AI, which together accelerate deployment, enhance user experience, and reduce costs for wayfinding solutions. These tools make it easier to create interactive maps and add conversational AI capabilities to kiosks and mobile wayfinding systems56.

  • Healthcare and Higher Education Focus: 22Miles highlighted expanded wayfinding solutions for complex environments like hospitals and universities, offering mobile-integrated navigation, ADA-compliant kiosks, and AI assistants to improve accessibility and user satisfaction27.

  • : At InfoComm 2025, 22Miles demonstrated its hardware-agnostic flexibility, showing that its solutions work seamlessly across kiosks, digital displays, and personal devices. Attendees could experience real-time wayfinding by scanning QR codes, bridging the gap between fixed and mobile platforms17.

Original Post

New features empower customers with faster-than-ever deployments and highly responsive user experiences.  Full article and specs at the 22Miles blog.  You can contact Tomer for more information.

Peachtree Corners, GA – May 21, 2024 – 22Miles, a global leader in digital signage software and interactive digital solutions, today unveiled three AI tools – AI 3D Map Generation, AI Widget, and Offline AI – to accelerate deployments, enhance user experiences, and contain costs for 22Miles wayfinding customers. The debut of these tools marks a milestone in the company’s commitment to innovating cost-effective, impactful AI features for its core business applications. 

“At 22Miles, we recognize the challenges of adopting AI tools, yet we firmly believe these advancements are too valuable for companies to forego,” said Joey Zhao, co-CEO and founder of 22Miles. “We’ve designed our newest AI features with practicality in mind, and we’re proud to empower our customers with easy-to-deploy, cost-effective, and highly impactful experiences for their wayfinding solutions.” 

Customers can now enjoy simple, fast and affordable deployment of AI-powered wayfinding and conversational AI solutions, which promise to enhance user experiences while addressing cost and deployment pain points.  

AI 3D Map Generation

Interactive mapping has long been a cornerstone in guest experiences, empowering users to navigate and explore venues, events and campuses with confidence. AI 3D Map Generation sets a new standard for efficiency and precision with faster-than-ever design and deployment of interactive wayfinding maps.  

Compared to manual mapping, the AI-driven approach slashes mapping time by 50 to 80 percent, optimizing efficiency while upholding exceptional precision. Operating on the hardware-agnostic 22Miles content management system (CMS), the maps bring advanced wayfinding capabilities to kiosks, signage and mobile devices alike. The maps adhere to ADA compliance standards and support users in navigating even the most complex spaces with ease. 

AI Widget for CMS

AI Widget for CMS brings the 22Miles AI Assistant to mobile wayfinding customers seamlessly through the 22Miles CMS platform. With a simple drag, drop, and publish action, the AI widget simplifies the process of adding conversational AI to wayfinding deployments.  

22Miles customers can configure the tool with their preferred greetings, error messages, and ChatGPT accounts. Then, they can deploy and offer customers an AI chatbot, which uses a proprietary training process with live data integration for accurate, context-aware, multilingual outputs to user questions. No additional configuration is required, streamlining the setup process for optimal user engagement and functionality.  

Offline AI

22Miles also introduces a new Offline AI system to make instant responses accessible from anywhere, even without Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Offline AI enables customers to offer a conversational AI chatbot within a downloadable AI app that occupies as little as 77MB of storage.   

Because it leverages a proprietary AI model, Offline AI is notably faster than online GPT responses – nearly instantaneous – while keeping customer data secure with local storage. Offline AI also offers predictable pricing regardless of query volume since it does not rely on tokens or pay-per-query like popular online AI models.  

The rollout of these features complements the latest AI releases from 22Miles, which aim to improve customer interactions. 22Miles remains committed to advancing AI-powered wayfinding and content management solutions. In Q2 2024, 22Miles plans to release additional updates to its proprietary model and token security improvements for its highly secure online application. 

Learn more about the new features at www.22miles.com/solutions/ai/ and visit 22Miles at InfoComm 2024, booth W2370, to see the latest solutions in action. 

About 22Miles

22Miles is a global leader in experiential 3D wayfinding and digital signage SaaS solutions that allow for highly customizable, easy-to-use, and simple-to-scale content creation, management, and deployment to projects across fast-growing industries such as transportation, hospitality, retail, healthcare, higher education, enterprise, entertainment, and more. With thousands of global deployments across some of the world’s best-known brands, strategic partnerships with industry-leading technology companies, and an expansive library of API integrations, 22Miles offers the most comprehensive platform for digital signage and wayfinding technology on the market. 

22Miles is headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and is privately held. 

For more information, visit www.22Miles.com.  

More Kiosk Wayfinder Posts

 

Posts2025: 1,863

Robotic Restaurant and Flippy

robotic restaurant

Robotic Restaurant and in this case Flippy

July 2025 Update

, the robotic kitchen assistant developed by Miso Robotics, has undergone significant changes since its high-profile debut. Initially introduced in 2017 as a burger-flipping robot at CaliBurger in Pasadena, Flippy faced operational challenges: it was temporarily taken offline after just a day because human staff couldn’t keep up with its speed, and the workflow integration needed improvement3611. This led to retraining staff and updating the robot’s software to better coordinate with human workers.

Despite these early setbacks, Miso Robotics continued to iterate on Flippy. The robot was reintroduced with upgrades and eventually shifted its focus from grilling burgers to frying foods, where it could automate more of the process and relieve even more labor at the fry station2. Over the years, Flippy’s design and functionality improved, and it was deployed in pilot programs with major fast-food chains such as White Castle and Jack in the Box1.

In 2025, Flippy received its most substantial update yet. The latest version is half the size, works twice as fast, and takes 75% less time to install compared to earlier models. It also boasts a 99% uptime rate. This reboot was driven by a partnership with Ecolab (which invested in Miso in 2023) and guided by new CEO Rich Hull, who focused on making Flippy more scalable and responsive to restaurant operators’ needs. The redesign incorporated feedback from large fast-food customers, resulting in features like protective doors that separate the robot from human employees, improving both safety and efficiency112.

Flippy’s journey reflects the challenges and progress of robotics in the restaurant industry: after early operational hiccups, it has evolved into a more trusted, efficient, and scalable solution for automating fry stations and potentially other kitchen tasks in quick-service restaurants1212.

Original Article

robotic restaurant

robotic restaurant – LuckiBot May promo is $4200

Updated retailsystems.org news article on AI robotic restaurant news

Robotic Restaurant News

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

  • Nice story on evening CBS News on delivery robot.
  • 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.”
  • CaliExpress and Pasadena Feb 12th news
  • 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
  • Recommended – Angela Diffly on Hospitality Technology wrapup. We contributed images and content.
  • 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.
  • AI Tackles Workforce Shortage: Ai Jia Nongzuo’s Renovation for the Super-Aged Future June 12, 2023  — Thanks Barney Stacher!

Statistics for Restaurant Robotics and AI Robotics

Robotic Restaurant Examples

there are some good examples of robotics being used by restaurants. Here are a few:

Related Posts

Interesting Trends on Google

Not often that a phrase outranks a base word.. Also “Restaurant AI” has almost doubled from below in last 2 months

robotic restaurant search trends Google

robotic restaurant search trends Google

Posts2025: 3,377

Kioware Kiosk Software News – DynaTouch acquires KioWare

kioware kiosk software - Dynatouch acquires KioWare

Harris subsidiary DynaTouch acquires KioWare kiosk management software

Editor Notes:  It’s a nice exit for Jim and Gina after all these years. Dynatouch now has two software packages.  The informational Windows-based TIPS for visitor management at military installations, and the Android/Windows device-centric KioWare.  We have installed and maintained both in our experience. KioWare is 10 minutes tops and 100% reliable.  It would seem Dynatouch would prefer to convert existing KioWare customers to TIPS.  KioWare still has a strong domain authority (28) and decent traffic (1.5K). DynaTouch has flatlined  at only 500 organic and 23 for DA. Seems like we lost Dynatouch and also KioWare to Harris….

The major 2025 news for KioWare software by Harris DynaTouch is the completion of its acquisition by DynaTouch, a subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation, in April 2024. KioWare continues to operate under its established brand, providing kiosk security and management software for a wide range of self-service devices127.

Key developments in 2025:

  • KioWare remains active and supported under the DynaTouch umbrella, offering its software for kiosk lockdown, monitoring, and management as before1.

  • The acquisition allows for integration with DynaTouch’s broader kiosk solutions, including alignment with their TIPS™ software suite, expanding capabilities and reach to more customers1.

  • No major product discontinuation or rebranding: KioWare software is still available in its familiar Starter, Essential, and Enterprise tiers, with ongoing support for Windows platforms and robust remote management features6.

  • Continued focus on innovation: DynaTouch has highlighted ongoing technology trends for kiosks in 2025, such as AI integration and enhanced performance monitoring, suggesting that KioWare’s offerings will evolve alongside these trends4.

In summary: The most significant recent news is KioWare’s acquisition and integration into DynaTouch, with the software continuing to be developed and supported as part of Harris’s portfolio. There have been no announcements of major changes or disruptions to KioWare’s product line in 202514.

Original Article

Ottawa, ON, April 3, 2024 – DynaTouch, a fully integrated kiosk solutions provider and wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris), adds to its kiosk-enhancing offerings with its acquisition of KioWare.

KioWare provides software to secure and monitor all types of kiosks, from purpose-built kiosks to simple tablets used as a kiosk-like device. Their best-of-breed software locks down the devices so users can only interact with the applications and/or websites that the kiosks were designed for.

“We are thrilled that KioWare is joining Harris, and that our software will enter a new chapter. This acquisition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. Under Harris’ world-class leadership, KioWare will be able to offer its innovative solutions to even more customers and drive greater success in the market.” Stated Jim Kruper, President of KioWare. DynaTouch Executive Vice President, John Becconsall is excited to welcome the veteran solutions provider, stating “KioWare follows similar design principles, and shares a common mission and history with DynaTouch. Their top-notch, end-to-end solutions align perfectly with that of our TIPS™ software suite, and I am fully confident that their knowledgeable employees and the products they produce will fit seamlessly with DynaTouch”.

KioWare will continue to offer the same award-winning kiosk mode software under the KioWare brand name.

For further information, contact:

John Becconsall
Executive Vice President
P: +1 (689) 444-3716
E: [email protected]

About KioWare

KioWare located in York, Pennsylvania is a worldwide market leader in self-service kiosk and purposed device markets. KioWare is kiosk system software that kiosk applications are built on and is used in over 16,000 projects in over 140 countries with project deployments that range from a handful to many thousands of kiosks.

About DynaTouch

DynaTouch has been a pioneering manufacturer, developer, and integrator of customized self-service solutions since 1988. Since then, DynaTouch has installed kiosks and interactive display systems in all 50 of the United States and in 32 countries and/or overseas locations around the world.

About N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris)

Harris acquires software companies, manages them using industry best practices, and builds them for the future. Through acquisitions, the company has grown tremendously since its origins in the utilities sector. Harris now operates over 230 businesses worldwide, in over twenty industries including healthcare, education, retail and financial services. Harris is an operating group of Toronto-based Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), one of North America's most active acquirers of software businesses.

Notable competitors in utility bill payment market

  • Paymentus: Paymentus is a major player in the utility billing software market. They offer solutions for managing utility operations, customer data, and billing duties for water, sewer, gas, electric, waste management, and sub-metering firms
  • Oracle Utilities: Oracle provides comprehensive utility solutions, including billing and payment systems. Their offerings cater to various utility sectors, making them a strong competitor
  • Muni-Link: Muni-Link specializes in providing customer information and billing solutions within the utilities and municipal sectors. They compete directly with Harris in this space
  • MuniBilling: Another competitor in the utility billing category, MuniBilling offers solutions for municipalities and utility companies

Related Posts

Related News

 

COMMENTS

Great fit for KioWare.  Harris is known for utility and local government backends aka bill payment system but in fact Constellation Software Inc. (CSI) operates in the field of acquiring, managing, and building vertical market software (VMS).  Think Oracle.

We are now waiting for the day that Harris (aka Constellation) buys ITI DMV software (or competes).

Congratulations to Jim and Gina Kruper.  It has been a long long road and we have walked alongside together for most of that way – Craig Keefner

Posts2025: 2,201

Redbox Kiosk Shut Down – An Obituary

redbox kiosk

Redbox Kiosk Shuts Down

Yes, Redbox is shutting down after its parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE), filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2024: 

Notes 2025

Redbox kiosks are effectively defunct as of 2025. The company behind Redbox, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2024, leading to a full shutdown of operations. This included the cessation of its online streaming services, mobile app, and the removal or abandonment of most of its roughly 24,000–26,000 DVD rental kiosks across the U.S.26

Current status of Redbox kiosks in 2025:

  • Most kiosks have been removed or are abandoned. Major retailers like Walgreens and CVS have been working to remove the machines, which are expensive to power and maintain, with removal costs estimated at $500 per unit5. Some companies have hired contractors to haul away or recycle the kiosks7.

  • A few abandoned kiosks still exist and may even function. There are scattered reports and videos from early 2025 showing individuals finding and sometimes using powered kiosks to rent DVDs, despite the company’s shutdown11112. However, these are rare exceptions, and most kiosks are either unplugged, removed, or vandalized.

  • No new movies or updates. Since the company is liquidated, there are no new movie releases being stocked, and the payment infrastructure is largely non-functional21012.

  • Collectors and hobbyists have taken over some machines. Some enthusiasts have acquired old kiosks as collectors’ items, and a few have managed to keep them running independently510.

  • Legal and financial fallout continues. The company’s assets, including the Redbox brand and remaining kiosks, were auctioned off in April 2025, but there is no indication that the DVD rental business will be revived under new ownership6.

In summary: There is no sign of a Redbox comeback in 2025. The vast majority of kiosks are gone or abandoned, and the business is officially closed. Any remaining operational kiosks are isolated oddities, not part of a functioning rental network12612.

History of Redbox

  • My kiosk company actually turned them down when the first sought manufacturers. No ROI
  • Eventually they made their way to FLEX (big supply chain)
  • Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, commonly known as Redbox, was founded in 2002 by Gregg Kaplan. Initially developed as part of a McDonald’s business expansion initiative, Redbox started with automated DVD rental kiosks. The concept was tested in Denver in 2004 and quickly gained popularity due to its convenience and affordability.In 2005, Coinstar (later known as Outerwall) acquired a 47% stake in Redbox, eventually buying the remaining shares by 2009. Redbox expanded rapidly, with kiosks located at convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies across the United States. At its peak in the early 2010s, Redbox operated over 34,000 kiosks and controlled more than half of the U.S. DVD rental market.However, the rise of digital streaming services led to a decline in physical DVD rentals. In 2016, Apollo Global Management acquired Outerwall, including Redbox. In 2022, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment purchased Redbox, but the company faced financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024. The case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation the following month, leading to the cessation of Redbox’s online streaming services and the removal of many kiosks
  • Redbox actually spawned Blockbuster kiosks which was NCR entry into DVD vending. Eventually NCR gave up.
Good links
  • Fast Company – Redbox closing down: What happens to kiosks, employees?
  • IGN — Redbox Officially Shutting Down, Spelling the End of Thousands of DVD Rental Kiosks Across the U.S.
  • Kiosks

    Many of Redbox’s 26,000 kiosks have been removed, but the remaining ones will continue to work for the time being. 

  • Online services

    Redbox’s online streaming services and mobile app stopped working in July 2024. 

  • Employees

    Over 1,000 employees were laid off and will not receive severance or extended benefits. 

Redbox’s closure is due to a number of factors, including:
  • Competition

    The rise of streaming platforms and digital offerings led to a decline in DVD sales in the 2010s. 

  • Debt

    CSSE acquired Redbox in 2022 for $375 million, but the company’s debt grew to nearly $1 billion. 

Mismanagement

CSSE was accused of gross mismanagement, including failing to pay employees and payroll taxes, and cutting employee health insurance.

Redbox was founded in 2002 and was known for its bright red touch-screen movie-rental machines. At its peak, Redbox had 43,000 kiosks in the U.S. and Canada and an annual revenue of $1.97 billion.

Blockbuster, once a giant in the video rental industry, ventured into the DVD kiosk market in the late 2000s to compete with the rising popularity of Redbox. These kiosks were designed to offer a convenient way for customers to rent DVDs without needing to visit a traditional store.

Key Points in the History of Blockbuster DVD Kiosks:

  1. Launch and Expansion: Blockbuster introduced its DVD rental kiosks in 2008, aiming to provide an alternative to Redbox’s successful model. The kiosks were placed in various locations, including grocery stores and pharmacies.
  2. Partnerships: Blockbuster partnered with NCR Corporation to manufacture and deploy the kiosks. This collaboration aimed to rapidly expand the number of kiosks available to consumers.
  3. Competition and Challenges: Despite the initial push, Blockbuster’s kiosks struggled to gain significant market share against Redbox, which had already established a strong presence.
  4. Decline: As Blockbuster faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 2010, the focus on kiosks diminished. The company continued to close stores and reduce its footprint in the market.
  5. End of an Era: By 2013, Blockbuster announced the closure of its remaining company-owned stores and the end of its DVD-by-mail service, marking the decline of its kiosk operations as well.

Blockbuster’s attempt to enter the DVD kiosk market was a notable effort to adapt to changing consumer preferences, but it ultimately couldn’t compete with the convenience and established presence of Redbox

Related Redbox Kiosk Links

Posts2025: 1,247

Wide Kiosk Printer – 8″ wide kiosk printer

microcom kiosk printer

Introducing Microcom’s 8″ Thermal Wide Kiosk Printer

Key Market Insights

  • Standard Width Dominance: The 80mm width is the most widely used thermal paper size in kiosks, accounting for about 46% of the thermal paper market in 2024, especially in retail and hospitality. The 57mm width is also common, particularly for mobile and compact printers1.

  • Wide Format Usage: Wide thermal printers (112mm and above) are primarily found in specialized kiosks (e.g., hospitals, ticketing, document printing). These represent a much smaller share of the overall kiosk printer market compared to standard widths23.

  • Market Share Estimate: Industry sources and product listings indicate that the vast majority of kiosks with printers use 58mm or 80mm widths, with wide-format (112mm and above) being a niche segment143. While exact global statistics are not published, it is reasonable to estimate that less than 10% of kiosks with printers use wide thermal printers, and the actual figure is likely closer to 5% or less214.

  • Profit Share Estimate — A 58mm nippon might be $100 and yield $8 in profit margin. If I sell a wide printer with an ethernet connection? That will cost me $1500 and with 40% material margin markup things are looking up!.  Custom SPA 216 might be a $1500 selling price and their cost though will be closer to $600.
  • Wide printers are extremely profitable to sell bottom line. For every 8″ I would need to sell 400 of 58s.

Key Features:

  • Paper Width 8.5″ (Letter/A4)
  • Print Resolution 300 dpi
  • Industrial Strength Cutter (Standard)
  • Max Print Speed up to 4” /second (100 mm)
  • Communication Ethernet and USB

Media:

  • Continuous Roll (up to 8.5” wide)
  • Fan-Folded Media (up to 8.5” wide)

Industries:

  • Kiosk
  • Ticketing
  • Agriculture
  • Warehousing
  • Logistics
  • Airline
  • Healthcare

Specifications for the printer in PDF

More Posts

Posts2025: 3,064

All-new compact coin recycler for retail and kiosks

coin handling recycler

Crane CCR Coin Automation

Efficient coin handling is a critical aspect of operations for both traditional retail stores and self-service kiosks. Its significance extends beyond simple cash management, impacting accuracy, labor costs, customer experience, and even business profitability.

Crane introduces the Compact Coin Recycler (CCR)—a breakthrough in coin-handling technology designed for those building next-generation self-checkout and kiosk systems.

The CCR helps you build smarter, more efficient systems, reducing service calls, cutting operational costs, and ultimately improving customer experiences.

Engineered For Real World Use

✅ Half the footprint, full performance

✅ Supports up to 40 coin denominations

✅ Self-cleaning sensors = less downtime

✅ 3,000 mixed coin capacity

✅ Seamless integration with CPI’s BNR/BNF note recyclers

 

Key Reasons Coin Handling Matters

  • Accuracy and Error Reduction

    • Manual coin counting is prone to human error, especially in high-volume environments. Automated coin sorters and counters significantly reduce miscounts and accounting mistakes, helping prevent cash shortages and shrinkage1234.

  • Labor and Time Savings

    • Automating coin handling frees up staff from repetitive, time-consuming tasks. This allows employees to focus on higher-value activities, such as customer service or inventory management, and speeds up end-of-day reconciliation and shift changes124.

  • Operational Efficiency

    • Automated coin handling streamlines the checkout process, reducing transaction times. For kiosks and self-checkout systems, integrated coin recyclers enable fast, accurate change dispensing, improving throughput and customer satisfaction345.

  • Cost Control and Loss Prevention

    • Reducing manual handling lowers the risk of theft and administrative errors. Automated systems can help minimize losses due to mistakes or internal shrink, which is a significant concern in retail environments4.

  • Customer Convenience

    • For kiosks, especially in grocery stores, laundromats, and amusement venues, coin handling is essential for accepting cash payments and providing change. Self-service coin machines (like Coinstar) also offer customers a convenient way to convert loose change into cash or store credit, driving additional foot traffic and revenue6785.

  • Hygiene and Cleanliness

    • Automated coin handling reduces direct contact with coins, which can be dirty and carry germs, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment for both staff and customers25.

Impact on Retail and Kiosk Operations

Benefit Retail Stores Kiosks & Self-Service
Faster transactions Yes4 Yes5
Reduced labor costs Yes12 Yes5
Improved accuracy Yes134 Yes5
Enhanced customer experience Yes4 Yes5
Loss prevention Yes4 Yes5
Increased foot traffic Sometimes89 Yes678

Real-World Examples

  • Retailers using coin automation report serving more customers during peak hours and reducing cash handling errors, which directly impacts revenue and customer satisfaction.

  • Kiosks with integrated coin handling (e.g., Coinstar, self-checkout machines) provide a seamless experience for cash-paying customers and help retailers manage coin circulation efficiently675.

Conclusion

Coin handling remains highly important for both retail and kiosk environments. Automating this process leads to greater accuracy, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, while also reducing costs and operational risks. For businesses that handle significant volumes of cash, investing in reliable coin handling solutions is a smart move that pays off in multiple ways12345.

Cash Usage Factoid

In 2024, the countries with the highest cash usage—measured by the share of in-person transactions conducted with cash—span several regions, with particularly high rates in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Southern Europe.

Top Countries for Cash Usage in 2024

Country Share of POS Transactions in Cash (2024)
Malta 67%
Slovenia 64%
Spain 57%
Slovakia 57%
Nigeria 55%
Thailand 46%
Philippines 44%
Japan 41%
Mexico 38%
Indonesia 38%
Vietnam 38%
Germany 36%
Peru 35%
Colombia 34%
South Africa 33%
Malaysia 32%

  • In the euro area, cash remains the most frequently used payment method at the point of sale in 14 out of 20 countries, with Malta, Slovenia, Spain, and Slovakia being the most cash-intensive78.

More Coin H Resources

Posts2025: 455

China LED Media Player MiniPC Kiosk

digital kiosk display Chinese

China Kiosk Manufacturer Display Touchscreen Kiosk Mini PC Resources

China is often a preferred destination for displays and touchscreens, as well as large LEDs and LCDs, suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Mini-PCs, AIOs, tablets, and Media Players are natural accessories.   Major companies like Amazon use China (see the Amazon Hubs lockers). The USPS uses China for their lockers as does Sam’s and Walmart.  Automated vending is a huge market for China.  The only thing they don’t make? — Software and Applications. Kiosks are big business and there are the SOE’s that enjoy government subsidies, however they find it difficult with quality and innovation. There is very little IP protection in China so when you innovate, ten other companies immediately copy you. Support is generally buying two of everything in many cases.

We maintain working databases of “vetted” Chinese companies. We talk to them. There are always exceptions to rules, and China is no different in that respect.

Introductions

  • 欢迎。 Craig 负责运营自助服务终端和自助服务协会，还负责中国的自助服务终端和 LCD 公司。 它是免费的，我知道对于中国销售人员来说，这很难理解。 我不买。我帮助其他人找到您，他们购买。加入 Paypal 7203241837 并向 [email protected] 发送电子邮件
  • Main pages are this page, the Chinese LCD Quote Brochure page, online China database for kiosks and all, the WhatsApp APAC group, the weekly email newsletter and finally the FOR SALE database. You send me a sample quote and I will post
  • Reasons to participate — visibility on Google (we are #3 behind Made-In-China and Alibaba e.g. + our sites have an audience of 1.5M a month plus 10 Million requests per month. Search Google and you will find us.  We distribute RFPs. Here is an example of one for 800 interactive screens — Interactive Displays ClearTouch or Smart qty 800 3-RFP25-015InteractivePanelBids-OPS-245564S
  • IMPORTANT — we do not accept commissions or charge fees unless you want paid consulting hours.  This model confuses most Chinese.
  • We help you sell — we don’t buy or sell anything

Featured Deals

digital signage 2500 nit

Digital signage 2500 nit 43″ — $390 — [email protected] — Provide DMS(Data Management System) for free
*Support laser engraving LOGO customization
*Ultra-narrow frame design, exquisite and beautiful, lightweight
*High-tech design elevates brand image and attracts premium advertisers.
*Ceiling mount/floor standing/Wall mounted for options

 

Typical price sheet from China kiosk vendor

Typical price sheet from China kiosk vendor (2024 RCStars)

My mobile is 720-324-1837 and contacting me via Whatsapp, WeChat or Telegram is fine.

China Kiosk Company Online Database

We have a separate newsletter for Asia and APAC which we send curated content to once a week.  Send an email to [email protected] to be added or join the Whatsapp group and I will add you.

作为 LinkedIn 上的半主要联系人，我每周会收到 10 个左右的中国公司的联系请求，但我从不联系。我通常会发送一条消息并将他们推荐到此页面。

最好的办法是将您的电子邮件发送至 [email protected]，以便我可以将您添加到每周发送的电子邮件中。加入 WhatsApp 群组，我每周发帖两次。您可以将自己添加到数据库列表中，并可以发表评论和添加描述。我会批准的。我的手机是 720-324-1837，Whatsapp 或 Telegram 都可以。

Guidelines For Participation

More Links

Posts2025: 9,091

EAA Compliance – Acrelec Video Demonstation

EAA Compliance Acrelec

Acrelec EAA ADA Demonstration

Good to see clear video demonstrating accessibility as mandated by new EAA.  Words can be difficult to judge.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) significantly impacts self-ordering in restaurants, particularly for those operating in or serving customers within the European Union. Starting June 28, 2025, all new consumer-facing digital devices—including self-service kiosks, table ordering tablets, and mobile ordering platforms—must comply with EAA accessibility requirements12.

Requirements of EAA

This means:

  • Self-ordering systems must be accessible to people with disabilities, covering a wide range of needs such as mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive impairments12.

  • Physical and digital accessibility are both required, so kiosks must have features like tactile buttons, screen readers, high-contrast displays, and easy-to-navigate interfaces2.

  • Menus and ordering flows must be usable by all, including support for multiple languages, clear ingredient/allergen information, and the ability to customize orders easily5.

  •  is recommended, involving real users with disabilities to ensure the systems are genuinely accessible and to identify potential friction points before deployment2.

  •  is necessary, meaning restaurants must maintain and regularly update their self-ordering technology to keep up with evolving accessibility standards2.

Customer Impact

The EAA aims to create better user experiences for all customers, not just those with disabilities, by making self-ordering more intuitive and reducing barriers to use. For restaurants, this means:

  •  and improved satisfaction, as more people can independently use self-ordering kiosks or mobile systems56.

  • Reduced risk of non-compliance penalties and reputational harm.

  •  in digital ordering technology by ensuring systems are adaptable to changing regulations and customer needs12.

Summary of EAA Compliance

In summary, the EAA requires restaurants to prioritize accessibility in self-ordering systems, fundamentally shaping how these technologies are designed, tested, and maintained in the EU12.

Video Demonstration

At ACRELEC we’re proud to announce new accessibility features designed to make our self-ordering experience more inclusive than ever!

🌟 Screen Magnifier
🌟 High Contrast Mode
🌟 Audio-Enabled Navigation

These updates are a major step forward in supporting ADA and EAA compliance—ensuring our kiosks are not only compliant but truly usable by everyone, including customers with visual or motor impairments.

🎥 Watch the video below to see how these features come to life.

More EAA Compliance Resources

Posts2025: 461

Lockers – Amazon Hub, USPS & Temperature Controlled

Electronic lockers USPS Amazon

Lockers Amazon & USPS Pickup

Lockers for parcel pickup and vending dispensing are surging in popularity.  Apartment complexes and more. Amazon is across the 7-Eleven chain.  One of the new ideas are custom solar-powered pickup lockers for residential consumers. Porch pirates are just one factor.

We took a look at the space recently.  What drove us to do that was identifying out-of-compliance Braille stickers being used in California (see related post on Braille decals)

We have a photo gallery of lockers you can view.

If you are interested in lockers and customized lockers, email [email protected]

Here is a template for lockers which is useful.  It appears to be generated from Amazon-like customer. I think we can say that…Zhilai Locker hardware requirement

Background

It is no surprise that currently electronic lockers are made in China. In the case regarding Braille, rather than try and contact someone at Amazon or USPS, we instead went down the foodchain. There are US companies which sell and support those to Amazon, and in turn, they buy those lockers from China.

We contacted the origin Chinese point and they were nice enough to relay the information onto Amazon and USPS. They thanked us as did Amazon for bringing it to their attention.

One interesting note is that the main Amazon supplier no longer ships from China.  The political complications with the U.S. has changed that, and now shipping is from Vietnam.

Example Deployer smartecarte

  • 3400 locations
  • 53,000 worldwide
  • Cashless program
  • Season pass holders
  • Purchase locker entitlement from POS to ticketing
  • API communications
  • Integrate into any park media (barcode, QR code, RFID) or standalone system
  • Onsite, virtual machine, or remote-hosted secure server
  • Real-time reporting for usage and revenue by hour
  • Remote maintenance, management, and monitoring
  • Continual software upgrades and development
  • Locker hopping
  • Link to smartecarte lockers
  • Here is PDF of Food Locker, Vending and Refridgeration
  • Food Locker, Vending Machine, Refrigeration Locker and Freezing Locker-01-0619 ENG

USPS Parcel Locker for Pickup

Consumers are now accustomed to the convenience of online shopping and ordering products anytime and anywhere. They have similar expectations in how they receive their packages to best  accommodate the varying needs of their lifestyle:

  • Flexibility: Anytime, Anywhere
  • Convenience: Don’t want to wait at home or in a line for pickup.
  • Privacy: Don’t want to share personal information such as their home address.
  • Security: Peace of mind that their package is safe and secure until they are ready for it.

The USPS Smart Lockers provide recipients of packages with a free, out-of-home alternative to receive
their high-value items in a safe, secure, and convenient way.

The Postal Service has designed a simple process that enables Shippers and Shipping Partners to present

USPS® Smart Lockers (Lockers) as an alternate delivery option for their package recipients. This process allows Shippers to retain complete control over the customer experience they provide, while adding value to their business. Benefits include:

  • Alternative delivery options at checkout.
  • Improved first-time delivery success rate.
  • Solves for bad delivery/inaccessible addresses.
  • Reduced returns/replacements (safe/secure delivery).
  • Simplified package returns (offers a secure drop-off option).
  • USPS Customer manual

Amazon Hub Lockers

Amazon has an extensive network of pickup locations called Amazon Hub Lockers. These secure, self-serve kiosks provide a convenient solution for customers to collect their Amazon packages. Here are some key facts about Amazon Lockers:

  • Number of Locations: Amazon has over 41,000 locker locations across the United States, making it easy for customers to retrieve their orders
  • Coverage: These lockers are present in 900+ cities throughout North America
  • Recent Installations: In 2021 alone, Amazon added over 1,800 new locker locations
  • Projected Growth: The company aims to expand its locker program and is projected to reach 60,000 locker sites by 2023
  • These lockers come in different types, including those with touch screens and barcode scanners, as well as others that require the Amazon Shopping App and Bluetooth activation on your smartphone
  • They offer various accessibility features, such as talking lockers, high-contrast touchscreen text, and customizable slot preferences

So, whether you’re near a Whole Foods, a 7-Eleven, or another popular location, chances are you’ll find an Amazon Locker nearby

Summary from Copilot

Example Provider Elo – Grocery Lockers

Here is the url for lockers and Elo.

Excerpt:

Customize Shopping Experiences with Click and Collect for Increased Customer Loyalty

Have you thought about integrating click and collect into your business but don’t know how to get started? Or maybe you have already integrated some of this retail technology and would like to take it to the next level in responding to customer demands? Either way, taking advantage of all that click and collect has to offer will elevate your omnichannel strategy to meet the latest customer expectations, which promises loyalty in return.

grocery locker

grocery locker – click for full size

Click and collect has significant upside for retailers’ earning and keeping customers when deployed with customer convenience in mind, not to mention the added advantage of being able to strategically use upsells online and in store. Of online shoppers, 47 percent always or often end up buying more products when picking up their orders in-store, according to PYMNT’s 2022 Global Digital Shopping Playbook: U.S. Edition. And while click and collect gained some popularity initially during the pandemic, over 50 percent of online shoppers use click and collect today. Of them, 56 percent use click and collect frequently – 6+ times in the past year and 8.2% of consumers have used BOPIS 20 times or more in the past year, suggesting that it may have become their primary mode of shopping, according to Raydiant research.

 

electronic lockers USPS Amazon Pinterest

electronic lockers USPS Amazon Pinterest — Click for full size or visit Pinterest gallery

What’s Up Next? Bonus RFID Self Checkout SCO machines

Automated retail is evolving both for customers and for employees.  Just last week Amazon decided to shut down its “Just Walk Out” concept stores. From dazzled to fizzled in four years. And they turned out NOT to be so non-reliant on humans…

Another growing area is RFID and self-checkout though.  We spoke with the folks at Fujitsu and they have several new models that resemble the “kitchensink” configuration. You put your items in a basket basically and let them be scanned.

Several customized versions of this are cropping up.  Initial origin is South Africa actually. Many companies involved in this sort of automated self-checkout via RFID

Here is google query for articles or images

https://www.google.com/search?q=uniqlo+self+checkout

FOR GOOD MEASURE

We reviewed serving robot.

“our robots is an open platform that customers can develop and integrated into his own system. Secondly, our robot comes with dynamic ads while working, and customer can easily upload and change ads via phone. Thirdly, we have a robot management app for end user and a remote maintenance and control platform for distributors help with the after sales support.”

For reference the MSRP is around $15K for Pro version. Approximately 700 deployed

restaurant robot

Robot Restaurant

More Lockers Links

Posts2025: 3,582

Blind Assist – Braille Tablet Pad – new Dot Pad X

blind assist braille tablet

Assisting the Blind and Visually Impaired

The biggest challenge is dealing with graphical learning materials, such as curves, charts, models, photos, or any other visual aspect. Most of us utilize visualization every day, but what about the 285 million blind and visually impaired people worldwide? Tactile books are expensive and rare. Audio descriptions don’t work for complex topics.

blind assist braille pad

blind assist braille pad

Now we have the Dot Pad, and thanks to Apple, access to over 2.2 million apps is available out of the box. It features voice control and conversational capabilities.

The Dot Pad X is an advanced tactile graphics display designed for visually impaired people. It builds on the original Dot Pad’s technology, offering real-time conversion of visual content into tactile graphics using a matrix of 2,400 dynamic pins. This allows users to feel images, maps, graphs, photos, and equations, making a wide range of digital content accessible through touch2367.

Key features of Dot Pad X include:

  • : A 300-cell multiline Braille display for tactile graphics and a separate 20-cell Braille line with six intuitive, freely assignable buttons for content control6.

  • : The device uses an AI-based processor to analyze and segment images, rendering the most meaningful tactile output for users367.

  • Integration with mainstream devices: Works seamlessly with iOS and iPadOS (15.2 and higher), as well as personal computers, enabling access to apps and content from virtually any source367.

  • : Compact size (273 x 228 x 16 mm, 1.2 kg), with USB-C and Bluetooth LE for easy data transfer and power236.

  • : Users can explore, zoom, pan, invert, and rotate tactile content directly on the device, enhancing interactivity and learning36.

  • Educational and creative applications: Supports learning across disciplines (math, science, engineering, arts), and allows users to create and share tactile content via the Dot Canvas app and Dot Cloud platform6.

The Dot Pad X represents a significant step forward in digital accessibility, making complex visual information independently accessible to blind and visually impaired users2367.

More Blind Assist Braille Tablet resources

Posts2025: 436

Digital Signage AI Analytics – meldCX + ASUS

Two people view a digital menu powered by ASUS Digital Signage in a cafe. Vision Analytics overlays display gender, mood, ad engagement, audience data, and content trigger info, highlighting a “Weekend Special” ad on the screen.

Digital Signage Analytics and AI Analytics

Nice case study by ASUS. The case study details how meldCX®, a leader in vision analytics, partnered with ASUS to deploy its AI-powered Viana™ platform in retail environments using ASUS NUC hardware. The goal was to help retailers deliver personalized, data-driven experiences by leveraging real-time insights from vision analytics, which can optimize customer engagement, staff efficiency, and marketing effectiveness.

Key Points:

  • Challenge: Retailers using digital signage lacked visibility into performance metrics, conversion tracking, and audience segmentation, making it difficult to measure and optimize ROI.

  • Solution: meldCX® integrated its Viana™ vision analytics platform with ASUS NUC devices. The ASUS NUC offers high processing power, flexible hardware configurations, and support for multiple operating systems (Chrome, Windows, Ubuntu, Linux), making it suitable for diverse retail environments and rapid global deployment.

  • Results: The partnership enabled scalable, edge-based vision analytics, allowing meldCX® to deploy solutions across hundreds of screens in shopping malls. For one customer, the smart advertising solution increased retail media network advertising revenue by more than three times in a single month, with some deployments boosting ROI by up to 3.5x.

  • Expansion: The success of this collaboration has supported meldCX®’s global expansion, with deployments now active in North America, APJ, and EMEA regions.

  • About Viana™: The platform provides retailers with easy-to-deploy, low-code tools to capture insights such as age, gender, sentiment, and time spent in-store, helping optimize store layouts and marketing strategies. meldCX® has earned industry recognition and partnerships with major tech companies.

digital signage analytics ASUS Two people view a digital menu powered by ASUS Digital Signage in a cafe. Vision Analytics overlays display gender, mood, ad engagement, audience data, and content trigger info, highlighting a “Weekend Special” ad on the screen.

Click for full size

In summary, meldCX®’s use of ASUS NUC hardware for its Viana™ vision analytics platform has enabled retailers to significantly improve advertising ROI and operational efficiency, supporting rapid, scalable deployments worldwide18.

Excerpt

The Results: End Customer Doubled ROI Up To 3.5x

The meldCX®-ASUS partnership has provided the hardware foundation needed for the company to scale and deploy its vision analytics platform in retail environments across the globe.

With the ASUS NUC, meldCX® now has a high-performance solution capable of supporting its full range of applications, from advertising and retail analytics to vehicle and anonymous visitor monitoring. The numerous hardware options, flexible OS support, and compact form factor allow meldCX® to adapt each deployment to the customer’s location-specific needs.

For one retail customer, the company has completed deployments of vision analytics dynamic triggering at over 250 screens across multiple shopping malls.

“For one mall customer, our smart advertising solution has increased revenue through their retail media network advertising by more than 3 times in a month. ASUS support has been critical to achieving these design wins.”

What Does meldCX do?

meldCX provides a suite of AI-driven software products and platforms focused on commercial devices and physical spaces, primarily targeting industries such as retail, hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and finance29. Their main offerings include:

  • : An enterprise platform for building, deploying, and managing commercial applications on devices like digital signs, self-service kiosks, and point-of-sale units. It features advanced monitoring, AI-based auto-recovery, uptime tools, and supports over 1,000 out-of-the-box integrations for IoT and kiosk environments. The platform is OS-agnostic and PCI DSS compliant for secure payments135.

  • : An AI-powered vision analytics platform that measures how people interact in physical spaces. Viana uses face mapping and detection (without capturing identifiable data) to extract metrics such as audience demographics, dwell time, sentiment, and engagement. It enables businesses to:

    • Analyze digital signage effectiveness and targeted marketing

    • Map customer journeys and measure in-store audience demographics

    • Monitor cleaning compliance and surface touches

    • Enhance theft protection and inventory checks

    • Integrate with existing hardware and run on minimal system requirements128.

  • : Smart signage and billboards that adapt content in real time based on the detected audience, enhancing engagement and advertising effectiveness2.

  • : A professional, lightweight, all-in-one solution for digital signage, wayfinding, and menu boards, designed for easy deployment and management2.

  • Custom Computer Vision Solutions: meldCX also offers tailored computer vision applications, leveraging custom model training for industry-specific needs, providing faster results and lower costs compared to competitors4.

meldCX’s technology is designed to make the secure edge autonomous, enabling rapid deployment, centralized management, and actionable insights from physical environments. Their solutions are built for scalability and flexibility, supporting multiple operating systems and integration with global hardware partners267.

In summary, meldCX delivers AI and vision analytics platforms, digital signage management, and developer tools for building and managing smart, interactive commercial device applications123589.

More Digital Signage Analytics Resources

Posts2025: 452

Advice for AI Automation – When Its Ok and When Its Not

what AI gets right and wrong

The Duality of AI — Advice for AI Automation

Hard to believe a subject could displace Bitcoin and digital currency as the trendy subject but AI has done that.

We are looking at what AI gets right and what it almost gets right.

Truly self-driving cars no longer requiring human supervision and widely available are still literally decades away.  Nice goal but that is what it is at this point.  Maybe we are at the 20 yard line?

One of my members and I were discussing SLED RFPs and how AI is an absolute game-changer when it comes to those. I have to agree. Analyzing a large document in 6 seconds is great starting point. Still requires finalization by human though.

Anthropic did a great test of AI automating a retail store. An automated retail store. Think Vending which is as simple as it gets. Fixed SKUs.

I had one of my vending experts read it and they came away with the “Sounds nice but not yet Craig” review. He might write article on that.  Back in 1982 I was a certified MAPICS MRP person managing inventory for oil field exploration services. Usage, average usage, lead times, safety stock. But also political climate, economic climate, all types of intangibles that as of now are not readily input to an AI dataset.

Human supervision is almost always required.

But let’s look at what AI does WITHOUT human supervision, and how well it does it.

  • chatbot — we all hate them and have devised ways to sidetrack them
  • routing support tickets — highly dependent on info provided and likely doubled after chatbots put in
  • Finance and Accounting — we are getting closer given we are dealing with numbers
  • Retail e-commerce — cashier-less stores don’t require AI and not sure of ROI
  • Supply Chain and Manufacturing — Amazon and Walmart All In On Robots

Anyway, let’s hope the robots don’t read this and get ideas!

Craig

 

Overview of Project Vend by Anthropic

Project Vend is an innovative experiment conducted by Anthropic, where their AI model, Claude, was tasked with autonomously managing a small automated store for a month. This project aimed to explore the capabilities and limitations of AI in real-world business operations.

Key Findings

  1. Autonomous Management:
    • Claude was responsible for various store operations, including inventory management, customer interactions, and sales processing.
    • The experiment provided insights into how AI can handle real-world tasks typically managed by humans.
  2. Learning Outcomes:
    • The project revealed both strengths and weaknesses in Claude‘s performance. While it excelled in certain areas, it also faced challenges, such as decision-making under uncertainty and managing unexpected situations.
  3. AI Behavior:
    • The experiment highlighted the importance of understanding AI behavior in practical applications. Claude‘s actions were closely monitored to assess how it aligned with human values and expectations.
  4. Collaboration with Andon Labs:
    • Anthropic collaborated with Andon Labs, an AI security company, to ensure the experiment was conducted safely and ethically, focusing on the implications of deploying AI in everyday scenarios.
  5. Future Implications:
    • The findings from Project Vend are expected to inform future developments in AI, particularly in enhancing the reliability and safety of AI systems in commercial settings.

Conclusion

Project Vend serves as a significant step in understanding how AI can operate in real-world environments. By allowing Claude to run a small shop, Anthropic gained valuable insights into the practical applications of AI, paving the way for future advancements in autonomous systems.

Self-Driving Cars?

Self-driving cars will no longer need human supervision only when they achieve reliable, widespread deployment of SAE Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy. As of mid-2025, no consumer vehicle has reached this point; all vehicles available to the public still require active human attention and cannot legally replace a human driver outside of limited, highly controlled environments124.

:

  • Most advanced consumer systems, such as Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving,” are classified as Level 2, requiring constant driver supervision and intervention124.

  • Some companies, notably Waymo and Cruise, operate Level 4 robotaxi services in select cities (e.g., Phoenix, San Francisco), where vehicles can drive without a human in the car—but these are limited to specific, geofenced urban areas and often rely on remote human supervisors to intervene when the vehicle encounters a situation it cannot handle493.

  • Regulatory progress is being made: U.S. authorities have removed the requirement for manual controls (like steering wheels) in vehicles designed to be operated solely by an automated driving system, paving the way for truly driverless vehicles in the future56.

:

  • Even in the most advanced deployments today, remote human supervisors are often required to assist vehicles when they encounter complex or ambiguous situations396.

  • This means that, while there may be no human inside the vehicle, human oversight is still part of the operational model.

:

  • Estimates for when self-driving cars will no longer need any human supervision vary widely, from the next decade to as late as 2050, depending on advances in technology, regulatory approval, and public acceptance71011.

  • Level 5 vehicles—which require no human input or oversight under any circumstances—are still considered “a long way away,” with some experts suggesting they could appear in the next 10–25 years, but not sooner10117.

:

  • No consumer vehicle in 2025 can operate everywhere without human supervision; even the most advanced systems are limited to specific areas and conditions, and often require remote monitoring1249.

  • Widespread, unsupervised self-driving is likely at least a decade away, and possibly much longer, depending on technological, legal, and societal factors10117.

  •  will continue, with more cities piloting geofenced, remotely supervised robotaxis before truly universal, unsupervised autonomy becomes a reality8911.

In summary, self-driving cars will no longer need human supervision only when Level 5 autonomy is achieved and broadly deployed—a milestone that experts agree is still many years, if not decades, away10117

How do you identify intangibles that AI usually doesn’t or cannot consider as factors for business

AI excels at processing vast amounts of structured data, but it often struggles to recognize or evaluate intangible factors that are crucial to business success. Here’s how to identify these intangibles and understand why AI typically overlooks them.

Intangibles are non-physical assets or factors that influence a company’s value, culture, and performance. Examples include:

  •  (e.g., strategic partnerships, alliances)

  • Ethical considerations and trust

  • Creativity and innovation potential

AI’s limitations in handling intangibles stem from:

  • : Intangibles are rarely captured in structured datasets. AI relies on historical, quantifiable data, making it difficult to process “soft” factors like trust or creativity12.

  • : AI lacks human intuition and the ability to interpret subtle cues, emotions, or context-specific knowledge13.

  • : Many AI models are not transparent, making it hard to trace how (or if) they consider intangible factors2.

  • Bias Toward Measurable Outcomes: AI tends to optimize for what can be measured, often ignoring what cannot4.

1. 

  • List all factors contributing to business success, including those not directly measured in data systems.

  • Engage with stakeholders to surface “unwritten rules” or cultural elements that drive performance.

2. 

  • Compare AI-driven recommendations with outcomes. When results diverge from expectations, investigate whether overlooked intangibles played a role5.

  • Ask: “What did the AI miss that a human would have considered?”

3. 

  • Analyze cases where human judgment outperformed AI or where AI-driven decisions failed.

  • Look for patterns involving factors like leadership changes, market sentiment, or customer relationships.

4. 

  • Use interviews, surveys, and workshops to gather insights from employees, customers, and partners about what matters most but isn’t tracked in data.

  • Document stories or scenarios where intangibles made a difference.

5. 

  • Stay alert to shifts in culture, regulation, or reputation that AI may not detect, but which can impact business value67.

Intangible Factor Why AI Misses It Business Impact
Organizational Culture Not captured in data, highly nuanced Affects retention, innovation
Leadership Vision Subjective, rarely documented Guides strategic direction
Brand Reputation Hard to quantify, shifts rapidly Drives customer trust and loyalty
Relationship Capital Informal, based on personal networks Enables deals, partnerships
Employee Morale Not directly measured Impacts productivity, turnover
Customer Sentiment Subtle, contextual, not always explicit Influences sales, loyalty

  • Combine AI with Human Judgment: Use AI for data-driven insights, but supplement with human expertise to account for intangibles83.

  • : Where possible, create qualitative or proxy measures (e.g., employee surveys, brand tracking).

  • : Regularly reassess which intangibles are relevant as your business and environment evolve.

: To identify intangibles that AI overlooks, systematically map out non-quantifiable factors, compare AI decisions with real-world outcomes, and actively gather human insights. Combining these approaches ensures a more complete and resilient business strategy123.

What Can AI Do Without Human Supervision (currently)

Artificial intelligence is now deeply integrated into many business operations, automating complex tasks with little to no human oversight. Below are common business practices where AI operates autonomously:

1. 

  • AI Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Modern chatbots handle the majority of customer inquiries—answering questions, troubleshooting, processing refunds, and routing only the most complex issues to human agents. Some companies report bots resolving over 95% of customer chats without human intervention12.

  • : These systems categorize, prioritize, and route support tickets, providing instant responses and escalating only unique or sensitive cases13.

2. 

  • : AI extracts data from invoices, verifies details, matches them with purchase orders, and processes payments automatically, reducing errors and processing time14.

  • : AI systems monitor transactions in real time, flagging suspicious activity and blocking fraudulent transactions autonomously56.

  • : AI reviews contracts and financial statements for compliance and risk, often completing audits faster and more accurately than humans4.

3. 

  • : AI predicts inventory needs using historical data and market trends, automatically adjusting stock levels and placing orders with suppliers12.

  • : Autonomous systems manage delivery routes, warehouse operations, and inventory, often using AI-driven robots and vehicles to move goods without human intervention78.

  • : AI analyzes sensor data from machinery to predict failures and schedule repairs, minimizing downtime928.

4. 

  • : AI-powered robots perform assembly, quality control, and packaging. AI systems monitor production lines, identify defects, and adjust workflows in real time758.

  • : Computer vision systems inspect products for defects, often with higher accuracy than human inspectors56.

5. 

  • : AI analyzes customer behavior to suggest products and automate marketing offers756.

  • : Cashier-less stores use AI to track purchases and process payments without human staff75.

  • : AI manages stock, predicts demand, and triggers reordering autonomously2.

6. 

  • End-to-End Workflow Automation: AI agents orchestrate entire business processes—such as procure-to-pay, contract management, and onboarding—connecting systems and departments with minimal human touch10112.

  • Compliance & Regulatory Monitoring: AI tracks compliance in real time, flags violations, and automates reporting12.

7. 

  • : AI manages documentation, training schedules, and compliance checks for new hires12.

  • : AI tools assess employee performance using real-time data, enabling unbiased evaluations12.

  • : AI agents now make autonomous decisions, orchestrate workflows, and continuously learn from new data, reducing the need for human oversight in day-to-day operations101314.

  • : The combination of AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and machine learning enables businesses to automate complex, multi-step processes end-to-end10152.

  • : Sectors such as manufacturing, finance, healthcare, retail, and logistics are leading the way in deploying unsupervised AI automation7568.

What AI Gets Right Resources

Posts2025: 144

MinuteKey Key Copy Key – Find Your Locksmith

copy key minutekey

MinuteKey Key Duplicate Machines

Minutekey Update 2/15/2025

As of February 15, 2025, here are the latest developments regarding MinuteKey:

MinuteKey, the automated key duplication kiosk company, has continued to expand its presence in retail locations across North America. Some key points include:

  • Increased partnership with major retailers, now available in over 5,000 locations

  • Introduction of new kiosk models with enhanced features and faster duplication times

  • Expansion into the Canadian market, with kiosks now present in several provinces

MinuteKey has made significant strides in improving its technology:

  • Implementation of AI-powered key recognition software, improving accuracy and reducing errors

  • Integration of mobile app functionality, allowing users to save key profiles and expedite future duplications

  • Introduction of RFID-enabled keys for enhanced security options

The company has seen some notable business changes:

  • Acquisition of a smaller, regional key duplication competitor to strengthen market position

  • Launch of a subscription-based service for frequent users, offering discounts and priority service

  • Partnerships with several smart home security companies to offer integrated key solutions

MinuteKey has also focused on sustainability:

  • Introduction of eco-friendly key materials and packaging

  • Implementation of a key recycling program at select locations

  • Commitment to carbon-neutral operations by 2026

Original Minutekey Post

There are multiple copy key kiosk manufacturers but the largest is Minutekey.

copy key kiosk minutekey

copy key kiosk minutekey

The most widely used and deployed would be MinuteKey. They make their own branded key copy kiosks (such as Lowes) and also white label and do more exotic such as Pet tagging.

Find a MinuteKey Location

What types of keys will MinuteKey copy?

This machine is able to copy home and office keys. This includes most: Kwikset, KW1 and KW10 Schlage, SC1 Weiser, WR3 and WR5 (in some areas) Others: Baldwin, Titan, and clones of the above key types Padlock key Masterlock M1 (on some machines)

Key duplication specialist KeyMe announces the debut of a new service which will become available stateside soon. The KeyMe self-service key copy kiosk will allow motorcycle riders to order and obtain a duplicate key for their ride without the need to contact the dealership and at the same time cutting down costs significantly.

So far, the KeyMe kiosks are able to offer support key for a large number of Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Moto Guzzi motorcycles, but this base will be expanded, the company says. Car and house keys are next, as well as other common locking devices, extending the practicality and convenience of using the self-service KeyMe kiosks.

This functionality will be available with the next generation of KeyMe kiosks. The official KeyMe website lists brass keys, car keys, lockouts, custom designs and hi-performance keys, so we are in for a new stage in the recovery of lost or damaged keys.

More Links

KeyMe Related Content

Posts2025: 6,512

Transit Contactless Card Reader Payment Kiosk News

Contactless Card Reader Payment Kiosk News

Contactless Payment Transit Ingenico

Contactless Payment Transit Ingenico

From Ingenico blog written by Bruce Rasmussen | Aug 04, 2021

Back in 2019, the MTA rolled out OMNY – an innovative contactless fare payment system that allowed riders to simply “tap n go.” A rider (whether a daily traveler or a tourist) could simply use their contactless card, mobile wallet or wearable to tap directly on the turnstile to gain access to the platform and the train. This was an innovative and easier way for riders to pay for their journey. As public transit returns to normalcy since the pandemic began in 2020, in July 2021, MTA logged their 100 millionth tap on these systems. This is significant for multiple reasons. First, the MTA manages one of the busiest subway systems in the US and this milestone represents a good rate of adoption for this new process. Second, it also represents how comfortable riders have become with using contactless payments.

Contactless payments have become the new standard secure touchless payment acceptance and have many benefits that are not just limited to enabling the “tap-n-go” functionality. In 2020, consumers rapidly learned to use this payment method in most shopping environments from retail to restaurants and are likely to expect it in transit over time.

Why Transit Operators Need Contactless Payments

1. Fast and Secure

Contactless payments are fast and secure. The transaction time when using a contactless card, mobile wallet or wearable is significantly faster (less than a second) when compared to traditional card payment. Which, in terms of a busy commuter could be the difference between catching a train and missing it. With the faster transaction, the operators are also able to move more commuters through the transit system. Contactless payments are also as secure as EMV transactions. In the case of mobile wallets, contactless payments have an additional layer of security as most smartphones use phone-based biometrics to verify and send payment information via NFC to the payment acceptance device.

2. Ease of Use

Contactless payments are easy to use. Riders can either tap their payment cards, mobile wallets or wearables on a payment acceptance device and be on their way at train stations or on buses. If the riders are purchasing tickets via a kiosk or ticket window, paying with contactless will be just as simple. When integrated with value-added services for mobile wallets, it can help transform the customer experience by letting riders add their train pass to their mobile wallets or even push alerts on travel conditions to their phones.

3. Reduces Cost

Accepting contactless payments can help operators reduce their costs over time. The OMNY implementation, for example, allows riders to directly pay on the turnstiles and get on the train instead of using a Metrocard or using a kiosk to buy it. Over time, as the adoption of contactless payments and mobile wallets increases, operators can expect to see savings when it comes to the cost of buying new kiosks for dispensing paper tickets and associated maintenance of these solutions.

4. Improves Rider Experience

Everyone who commutes via their local subway system knows the feeling when the turnstile doesn’t read your transit card properly or you don’t have enough value on it – making you miss your train and throwing your entire day into a jam. Contactless payments enable riders to buy their tickets/pass or smoothly walk through the turnstiles taking the friction out of their journey. For a tourist visiting a city with a subway system, they won’t need to buy a pass and can simply tap their contactless card, mobile wallet or wearable to take a train to their destination.

Future of Transit is Touchless

While paper tickets will still exist for people with no access to electronic payment methods, for most riders with credit/debit cards and mobile wallets or wearables, the game has changed. Contactless not only provides them a fast, secure and easy way to pay for their journey, it also helps operators reduce their cost over time and improve the overall rider experience.

If you are a transit operator and are looking for ways to make your rider experience more seamless and your operations more efficient, drop us a line.

Bruce Rasmussen is Director of Sales, Strategic Verticals at Ingenico, a Wordline brand

Example of Contactless Card Reader

 

 

Posts2025: 2,908

The Death of Cash?! I Don’t Think So, Timothy.

Death of Cash

If I had a penny for every time I heard the phrases “the death of cash” or “wallet replacement”, I’d have $1.78. Adding another penny to the jar is Tim Cook, who recently stated to a bunch of Trini…

Source: nickyholland.com

http://nickyholland.com/2015/11/13/the-death-of-cash-i-dont-think-so-timothy/

Posts2025: 2,442

Spout | Mzero

Meridian Kiosks

meridian kiosks

Source: mzero.com

Interesting new components for Meridian and Mzero on Web

Posts2025: 3,616

Kiosk Industry Group Kiosk Hall of Fame President’s Club

Kiosk Hall of Fame

Editors Note: This is a historical “catch up” article from 2013.

Kiosk Industry Group is pleased to announce the 2013 inductees into the Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame. These individuals exemplify the pioneering and innovative nature of the self-service kiosk industry.

The Kiosk Industry Group is pleased to announce the 2013 inductees to the Self-Service Kiosk Industry Hall of Fame Presidents Club.  These individuals have been recognized and voted in by their peers for truly having had a tremendous impact on the entire kiosk and self-service industry.

Big thank to Edward Crowley at URway Holdings for sponsoring the awards.  We were able to have nice awards and everybody liked them very much (including the one we shipped to Australia).

The inductees are:
  • Frank Olea of Olea
  • James Kruper of Kioware
  • Sandy Nix with CTS
  • Michael Smith founder of NeoProducts
  • Edward Crowley with OneSource Interactive
  • Ron Bowers Frank Mayer
  • Peter B. Snyder Middle East Kiosks
  • Thomas Smith of SelfService Networks
  • Mike Mayer of Frank Mayer
  • Hamed Shahbazi with TIO Networks
The manager of the Kiosk Industry Group Craig Keefner commented,”it’s important that along with encouraging the regulatory guidelines  and the best practice design engineering, that we recognize the extraordinary people that truly are the industry. And in particular this years group exemplifies the genuine players and drivers.”

The top vote tally went to Frank Olea of Olea. Here are some

Frank Olea Kiosk

Frank Olea of Olea Kiosk

words from Frank:

It’s an honor to be elected into the Kiosk Hall of Fame. When I started in his industry nearly twenty years ago at the ripe old age of 20 I never would have guessed it would grow into what it has today. Gone are the days of plunking down an Internet Kiosk in the middle of a retail store.

Customers are connected today unlike any other time in history. Our industry is evolving and our products have gotten more complex in an effort to allow

Pete Snyder Kiosk

Pete Snyder accepting award from CraigK

customers to get better access to services quicker, and on their own schedules. My fellow inductees can tell you that in today’s landscape nothing trumps experience. Nobody really knows what the future holds but if I had to guess I’d say we’ll see Kiosks continue to evolve and market verticals continue to grow as more customers come to expect Self-Service. Companies will self-service to the limits within those verticals.

How voting was conducted – online voting took place over the last six months as biographies were presented. Hundreds of votes were cast.
How Selection Conducted – candidates and nominations solicited from all participants in the kiosk industry. A total of 30 nominations including: Nigel Seed Netshift, Christoph Niehus Provisio, Gib Smith Gibco, Dave Heyliger Rocky Mountain, Neil Farr Working Solutions, Brian Collier Dicoll, Sydney and Jonathan Arfin Seepoint, Cy and Ziver Birg, Billy Giamo IBM, Derek Fretheim, Traci Martin Fretheim, Rick Rommel North Communications, John Glitsos, Klaus Trox Friendlyway, Wilf Medwin IBM, Tim Peterson NCR, John Caldwell – 5point, Dave Gonsiorowski with Flextronics.
About the Hall of Fame Presidents Club
In early 2013 the Kiosk Industry Industry Group decided the time had come for restarting the industry awards so that achievement in the kiosk and self-service industry is appreciated.
Previous inductees include the 2003 to 2009 inductees for the original Self-Service and Kiosk Association . Old url was http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org/self-service-kiosk-hall-of-fame
About the Kiosk Industry Group
The Kiosk Industry Group is comprised of over 800 focused and qualified members/participants in the Kiosk and Self-Service Industry.  Recognizing best practice and encouraging regulatory standards such as ADA, PCI, UL, and others .
Related Links:
http://www.onesourceinteractive.com
http://neoproductsgroup.com
http://mekiosks.com/
http://www.tionetworks.com/
The Awards are being issued in conjunction with CETWorld going on in NY this week.  http://www.cetworld.com
Former inductees into the Kiosk Hall of Fame include:
  • Gregg Kaplan – President & Chief Operating Officer Coinstar
  • Rick Malone – Founder KIOSK Information Systems
  • Bradley Walker – Founder & CEO Nanonation
  • Janet L. Webster – President Creative Solutions Consulting
  • Cortlandt Johnson – IBM Corporation
  • Greg Swistak – Factura
  • Doug Peter – President St. Clair Interactive
  • Alex Richardson – Managing Director Netkey
  • Lawrence Dvorchik – KioskCom Self Service Expo
  • Lief Larson – President Workface, Inc.
  • Francie Mendelsohn – President Summit Research
  • Peter Berens – Founder Apunix
  • Sylvia Berens – Founder Apunix
  • Craig Keefner – President & CEO Kiosks.Org
Posts2025: 2,441

Payment KIosk News – Crane Reports Third Quarter Results

bill payment kiosk

Payment Kiosk News

We were particularly pleased with our growth and margin performance at Payment & Merchandising Technologies,

Source: ir.craneco.com

Good financial results report for Crane, particularly with Payment & Merchandising.

Related Payment Kiosk

About Crane

Crane Co. is a leading American manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, with a history dating back to its founding in 1855 by Richard Teller Crane. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, the company has evolved from its origins in valves and bathroom fixtures to become a global player in specialized industrial technology, serving sectors such as aerospace, defense, process industries, and municipal construction1234.

Business Structure and Segments

Crane Co. operates primarily through two major business segments:

  • Aerospace & Electronics (A&E): This segment provides advanced systems and components for commercial and military aircraft, satellites, and defense applications. In the first quarter of 2025, A&E sales grew by 10.2% to $248.9 million, driven by robust aftermarket demand and new program wins, including content for hybrid-electric military vehicles and advanced aerospace controls56.

  • Process Flow Technologies (PFT): PFT delivers engineered solutions such as valves, pumps, lined pipe, and instrumentation for industries including chemicals, water and wastewater, pharmaceuticals, and industrial automation. In Q1 2025, PFT sales increased 8.6% to $308.7 million, reflecting both organic growth and recent acquisitions, such as the expansion into abrasion- and corrosion-resistant piping for chemical and pharmaceutical customers54.

Financial Performance

Crane Co. has demonstrated strong financial momentum in recent years, especially following its 2023 strategic separation, which streamlined its focus and enhanced its investment capacity4. Key financial highlights for the first quarter of 2025 include:

  • Revenue: $557.6 million for Q1 2025, up 9.3% year-over-year, with trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue reaching $2.18 billion, a 17.2% increase over the prior year768.

  • Earnings: Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose 24.1% to $1.39, while reported EPS from continuing operations was $1.34, a 31% increase from the previous year965.

  • Operating Profit: Operating profit surged by 24.4% to $101.1 million, with adjusted operating profit at $104.1 million, reflecting productivity gains and higher volumes65.

  • Order Backlog: The company’s order backlog grew 12.1% year-over-year, and core orders increased by 15.6%, indicating sustained demand and future revenue visibility69.

  • Cash Flow: Free cash flow was negative $60.4 million for the quarter, consistent with typical seasonality, but the company maintains a strong cash position with $435.1 million in cash and $247.1 million in total debt as of Q1 20256.

Strategic Focus and Outlook

Crane Co. emphasizes commercial and operational excellence, breakthrough innovation, and disciplined capital allocation. The company invests heavily in R&D and pursues acquisitions that complement its core businesses. Its management projects full-year adjusted EPS in the range of $5.30 to $5.60 for 2025, with anticipated total sales growth of approximately 5% and core sales growth of 4% to 6%5.

Recent strategic initiatives include:

  • Winning contracts for advanced aerospace and defense systems.

  • Launching new products, such as the SyFlo wastewater pump and pharmaceutical valves.

  • Continuing to shift its Process Flow Technologies portfolio toward higher-growth, less cyclical markets like water, pharmaceuticals, and industrial automation4.

Corporate Culture and Values

Crane Co. is anchored in a tradition of ethical business practices and corporate citizenship, as articulated by its founder’s resolution to conduct business with honesty and fairness. This ethos continues to shape its operations and stakeholder relationships10114.

Conclusion

Crane Co. stands out as a financially robust, innovation-driven industrial manufacturer with a clear strategic focus on high-growth, high-margin markets. Its disciplined approach to capital allocation, strong balance sheet, and commitment to operational excellence position it well for continued outperformance, even amid broader economic uncertainties546.

Posts2025: 2,492

Card Reader, Pin Pad – 2015

Card Readers, PIN Pads and Contactless Readers 2015

The following is a list of EMV capable card readers, PIN pads and contactless card readers that are designed specifically for self-service environments like a kiosk.  As we’re beginning research and development on adding EMV capabilities to our US-based kiosk applications it makes sense to take inventory of the available EMV capable devices specifically designed for the self-service kiosk industry and weigh all of our options.  This is why I’m taking the time to assemble this list of EMV capable payment devices which will likely grow as the looming October 2015 EMV liability shift draws nearer.

Kiosk EMV chip and PIN

Ingenico iUP 250 + iUR 250

Ingenico makes the iSelf Series which includes EMV Chip and PIN devices designed specifically for self-service kiosk applications.  Combining iUP 250 & iUR 250 allows EMV Chip & PIN transactions in your kiosks while respecting PCi 3,x certification.

VeriFone UX 100 + UX 300

VeriFone makes the UX “Unattended Devices” for kiosks and other unattended environments.  PIN pad features LCD graphic screen that securely displays payment amount and engages customers through targeted messaging.

Kiosk EMV chip and contactless readers

IDTech ViVOpay Vend III

The ViVOpay Vend III contactless NFC, contact EMV, and magnetic stripe all-in-one payment device provides self-service kiosk operators with an integrated device that allows all three types of payment acceptance technologies.

 

MEI CASHFLOW® EasiChoice 4 in 1

With the EasiChoice bezel from MEI your self-service kiosks can accept any payment type the consumer has in their wallet: bills, coupons, magnetic stripe cards, NFC/contactless payments, and contactless EMV cards.�

Kiosk EMV contactless NFC card readers

Ingenico iUC 180

The Ingenico contactless reader focuses on contactless transaction only, the iiUC 180 is the ideal solution for small transactions, especially in the vending industry.

 

VeriFone QX 700

The VeriFone QX 700 provides rapid transaction speeds for all card types, including public transportation, stored value and other value-added applications.

 

IDTech ViVOpay Kiosk II

The ViVOpay Kiosk II is a flexible stand-alone contactless reader comprised of a compact controller module and an RFID antenna module packaged individually giving equipment manufacturers flexibility to integrate contactless payment functionality with their host systems.

 

Which EMV hardware should I buy for my kiosks so I don’t have to replace it in the next 3 years?

This is a good question that is discussed in the video of the 2014 CPI EMV technology panel below.  The answer boils down to personal preference.  CPI makes the point that just because a card reader is EMV capable doesn’t mean your entire solution will be EMV compliant.  Your entire solution needs to receive end-to-end EMV certification and according to MEI this has not happened in the US using the MEI 4-in-1 at the time this video was recorded.  I’m not here to recommend EMV hardware for your kiosks just to spell out the options, so watch the video for more information and form your own opinions.  We plan to add EMV support to KioskSimple kiosk software for Windows in 2015.

More Posts

Posts

Posts2025: 3,449

Tablet Kiosk News – Self Service Kiosks 101 – Everything You Need To Know

Self-Service Kiosks 101

Everything you need to know about self-service tablet kiosks and starting your own self-service project!

kioskgroup tablet kiosks

kioskgroup tablet kiosks

Implementing a self-service solution can streamline your business operations and reduce costs while increasing customer satisfaction and return visits.

This guide will go over the basics of self-service kiosks, help you decide whether your business or organization would be a good fit for a new kiosk project, and get you started on the right foot.

Table of Contents (hide)

Example Section

What is a self-service kiosk?

A self-service kiosk is an interactive tablet or touchscreen computer that allows a customer to access information or services without directly interacting with a person.

Implementing self-service kiosks can allow a business to scale operations more quickly and efficiently while at the same time reducing costs.

Visitors can perform self-service activities independently without waiting for employee assistance while employees can focus on other tasks that provide more value to customers or benefit from face-to-face interaction.

More Information

Contact [email protected] for more information

Related Links

Posts2025: 3,605

Post Office Kiosks UK and the Stamp Collection

postal kiosks and stamps

A Stamp of Approval 

Innovation in the Postal Sector 

Dorset, 24/04/2025 – imageHOLDERS, a leading provider of self-service kiosk solutions, welcomed local philatelist Christopher Wheeler to its Ferndown Headquarters recently. Chris, who used to be the Chairman of the Poole and Bournemouth Stamp Club was keen to find out more about the new self-service kiosk machines imageHOLDERS is proudly producing in collaboration with The Post Office. You can find out more about the rollout here: https://www.imageholders.com/insights/imageholders-partners-with-the-post-office/

During the visit, Marketing and Communications Manager Freya Storey enjoyed a presentation of Chris’ incredible stamp collection from the 1900’s including the notable FRAMA labels of 1984 and the personalised smilers of 2000. Founder of imageHOLDERS and Chief Solution Architect Adrian Thompson gave Chris a tour of the factory including a sneak peak of the work being carried out on the Post prototype.

Chris commented: 

“As a lifelong stamp collector and philatelic researcher, I was thrilled to learn that new self-service kiosks with advanced functionality were being developed locally. Innovations like these always spark interest in the philatelic community, as new stamp and label technologies often lead to collectible variations. From Frama to Post & Go, each evolution has left its mark. It was such a pleasure to see the advancements of the new SSK’s. I wish the team every success as they enhance public service efficiency while opening exciting new possibilities for collectors.”

As previewed in a recent announcement, the next-generation Postal SSKs will introduce a range of smart features including automated sizing and weight checking, an accessibility-first interface with both touchscreen and tactile controls, and an intuitive, user-friendly journey—all within a compact and space-efficient design.

These innovations mark an exciting step forward in postal service technology. With support from the dedicated teams at Post Office Ltd and in collaboration with Ricoh UK, meldCX, and IAR, imageHOLDERS is proud to help shape the future of postal self-service—making it smarter, more inclusive, and ready for the needs of tomorrow.

Rollout into the field for final testing is just around the corner—and we can’t wait to deliver.

About imageHOLDERS

imageHOLDERS specializes in creating innovative self-service kiosks and device enclosures for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, aviation, retail, and public services. With a focus on combining cutting-edge technology with ergonomic, user-friendly design, imageHOLDERS works to provide seamless and inclusive digital experiences that enhance both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Freya Storey

Marketing, Content and Events Manager | imageHOLDERS

LinkedIn: imageHOLDERS

T: +44 (0) 1202 892863

E: [email protected]

A: 42c Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7QG, UK

Related Post Office Links

Posts2025: 180

Kiosk News Roundup

Kiosk News

Todays Unattended Kiosk News

Relevant news impacting unattended self-service news from around the world. If interesting and noteworthy news send comments/suggestions to [email protected]

October 2021

[do_widget id=rss-4]

September 2021

  • Healthcare Kiosk Case Study
  • Kiosk Supply Chain – China in NY Times news. This is a fact. Many factories have been notified that in the next 3 months, they can only supply power for half of the time; This will inevitably affect the production and supply, and further increase the price of the product.
  • Banking Kiosk — Keba releases D10 new model for financial services kiosks for banks
  • Voter Registration Kiosks — Alabama – The kiosks will be on the campuses for Auburn University at Montgomery, Faulkner University, Troy University at Montgomery, Huntingdon College, Trenholm State and Alabama State University. With one machine accessible on each campus, some of the universities are including voter registration education into their curriculums.  Also Voter Registration kiosk in DeKalb County.
  • Amazon Palm Ticketing – Starting Tuesday, concertgoers at Red Rocks can sign up to connect their palm to a ticketing account by hovering their hand over a device. An Amazon account is not needed to use it.
  • Toshiba Introduces New Kiosk — Countertop and not very attractive. Apparently just a hardware enclosure. No specification provided.
  • Appetize Acquired — Appetize, a digital and mobile commerce payments platform for enterprises such as sports and entertainment venues, theme parks and zoos. SpotOn is paying $415 million in cash and stock for the Los Angeles-based company.
  • Biometric Kiosks For Airlines — In July and August alone, over 568,000 customers used the kiosks so they could skip queuing at the counter, breeze through the airport and proceed directly to immigration.
  • New DMV License Renewal Kiosks — Since 2019, over 500,000 vehicle registrations have been renewed at participating locations across Georgia. Similar to an ATM, the tag renewal kiosks allow residents to renew their automobile registrations in as little as two minutes.
  • PharmaSmart kiosks added to U.S. Validated Device Listing — PharmaSmart’s kiosks offer measurement of blood pressure, weight and BMI, as well as a glucose meter and loyalty app integration. It also offers media and healthcare sponsorship programs.
  • Eyeglass Kiosks Going Into Hy-Vee — Hy-Vee Inc. has teamed with online retailer Pair Eyewear to roll out in-store Pair Eyewear kiosks at select Hy-Vee stores across the company’s eight-state Midwestern footprint. The first of these kiosk will be at the new Grimes, Iowa, Hy-Vee, which officially opens on Sept. 14.

August 2021

  • All this drive thru technology news. So what about scanning car licenses. Great look at systems that do that.
  • Quiznos is testing bitcoin payment — Quiznos announced earlier this month that the sandwich chain is partnering with digital asset marketplace, Bakkt to launch a pilot test that would allow customers to pay for their toasty subs in bitcoin. The pilot will be available at first in select locations across the Denver metropolitan area.
  • Will Vaccine Passport Kiosks Catch On As A Common Tool For Safe Access To Venues?
  • QR Codes go mainstream (hackers start exploiting them) — link
  • Payment Methods Added for AMC Movie Tickets – coming soon is Bitcoin and also Google Pay and Apple Pay — link to article
  • Smart Lockers Benefits and Features Writeup from Retailsystems.org (GRUBBRR and FMA blogpitch)
  • Sports Betting Kiosks — D.C. Lottery players now have another option when choosing to place sports bets. They can visit one of four sports bars in the District and use a self-service kiosk
  • Olmsted County (MN) Information Kiosk – Using the kiosks, residents can get help accessing services provided by Olmsted County’s Health, Housing, and Human Services teams. – video
  • Cannabis Kiosk News – announcement of Alt36 offering merchant account for dispensaries as kiosk solution

July 2021

  • DMV Kiosk News — North Dakota adds 44 new kiosks. Use case = With these kiosk upgrades, drivers can now renew a license, request a replacement license or ID card, schedule a road test, pay a reinstatement fee, change their address, and edit donor registry information. They can also check the status of their license, driving record, CDL medical card and validate their date of birth. Individuals are not able to get their initial REAL ID via a kiosk but would be able to renew at one.
  • Lottery Terminals and Cashless Vending Trend — IGT extends contract with Washington State Lottery to provide nextgen “cashless” stations. Debit cards allowed only.
  • Rumored News — Jeremy Brooks, the Chief Marketing Office for GRUBBRR, leaves GRUBBR.  DSE has decided to dust off David Drain and have him manage the DSE resurrection. Not sure how that will revolutionize DSE.  Meanwhile we hear of severe shortages of Elo touchmonitors.  Not verified but people are certainly looking.
  • Outdoor EMV Liability Shift Increasing — A CMSPI analysis found that chargebacks have tripled since January 2021. “If you look at January as the baseline month, May is almost triple of what January was in terms of overall chargebacks. There was a pretty substantial increase of about 50 percent in April, and that really ballooned in May,” Pynn said, explaining that chargebacks are often delayed because it takes some time for the consumer to realize the fraud and file a report. “The feedback loop takes some time.”
  • The California attorney general’s office started enforcing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) on July 1, 2020. Does your app or website collect data?
  • Minnesota Grows Number of Legal Kiosks — hard to say if these “kiosks” which are really just computer workstations utilize any secure browser or lockdrown browser solution. One would hope they do.
  • Bitcoin ATM — Circle K Going All In on Bitcoin ATMs — The crypto kiosk company plans to hit “thousands” of locations with 700 units already installed.
  • TV Commercial for Coinflip on the airwaves – Neil Patrick Harris – So Flippin’ Easy
  • What Is Digital Kiosk Advertising In 2021? — In 2017, in a Bouncepad survey of 1,000 consumers, 61% of them stated they preferred self-service tools instead of finding a store assistant. Kiosk use has grown and so has the demand. Market Analysis Report estimated that kiosk growth will increase by 6.1% from 2021 through 2028.
  • AUO Revenues Hit Alltime High – Displays and Touchscreens
  • Nice video on healthcare check-in units by Pyramid. I wish I spoke German
  • Ransomware Attack on Ticketing Kiosks — Over 600 touchscreen ticket machines have been disrupted by a ransomware attack just two months after they were installed at stations across the north of England.
  • Houston Airport Kiosks by JCDecaux — The new, more accessible kiosks — installed by JCDecaux the at both airports — feature oversized touchscreens that are more responsive to the touch and easy to use and read. The screen display can be lowered to ensure it is ADA compliant. ViaDirect 3D map software helps passengers find directions to boarding gates by entering their flight information or scanning their boarding pass in the updated search function. The kiosks take that information and display a 3D map that will show the quickest and most efficient route to the departing gate.
  • Smart Vending Kiosk for Tea, Coffee and Soup — In a bid to bring a change in tea consumption pattern in India, startup venture Cherise India Private Limited has unveiled their IoT & Android-based tea vending machines that have their own proprietary Cherise IoT dashboard and app for monitoring the operations.
  • Norway’s largest theme part chooses point-of-sale and self-service solutions. Hospitality, Elotouch and Leisure.
  • New Gesture Touchless Solution — The UK kiosk firm imageHOLDERS has launched what it calls its first touchless kiosk, using Ultraleap’s hand tracking camera and software to capture the movement of hands and fingers working in front of a screen, but not touching it.
  • Visitor Check-In Kiosk for Healthcare – Vendormate Kiosk for expanded visitor management pitch
  • GRUBBRR puts up Samsung pitch sheet — Welcome to the Future of Self-Ordering Kiosks is the tagline
  • Scan and Ship —  Sam’s Club announced it is testing a new app-based feature, Scan & Ship, that allows people to use a smartphone to buy items in the club and send purchases directly to the home.
  • BNPL News — Visa, the global card network giant, is collaborating with mega-processor Global Payments to allow Canadian merchants to offer buy now-pay later (BNPL) options to eligible card holders at the point of sale, according to a July 13 press release from the two companies.
  • CBD Kiosk News – Charlotte’s Web has approved at least 30 of its Charlotte’s Web brand product SKUs for retail sale in recently launched Limelight’s TRUYU retail self-service kiosks.  The Limelight kiosks have been tested at physical retail locations across the U.S., provide the benefits of constant and convenient access and educational content displayed on a 50-inch interactive video screen.
  • Grocery Self-Checkout Installations Surged 25% in 2020 According to RBR. A record number of self-checkout units were shipped globally last year and in a key shift more than half of the 175,000 units shipped were cashless. That’s according to RBR, a London-based strategic consulting firm that has been publishing its annual Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2021 report since 2008.  Definitely Europe/etc focus.  Progressive Grocer
  • Smash and Grab ATM Incidents Are On The Rise — Rob a bank in the US and your take is <$1800 on average. Getting caught means federal charges. OTOH destroying an ATM can often net thieves > $200k, & is treated as a property crime. Small wonder then that ATM “smash and grabs” are on the rise nationally
  • Digital Check-In Kiosks going in at Volkswagen dealers — Volkswagen retailers across the UK have introduced Tjekvik’s airport-style self-check-in digital kiosks in a bid to facilitate a contactless aftersales service. The kiosks incorporate functions including self-check-in and check-out, a locked key drop and home check-in via SMS direct to the customer’s mobile phone.
  • Supply Chain Woes Impacting Shipping Now — Bloomberg and other media outlets are reporting how the cost, for example, of shipping a 40-foot steel container of cargo by sea from Shanghai to Rotterdam now costs $10,522, 547% higher than the seasonal average over the last five years, based on data from the consulting firm Drewry Shipping.
  • Foodstorm Catering Kiosks — FoodStorm catering kiosks are currently live in multiple Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace locations across New York and New Jersey; Roche Bros. Supermarkets (MA) and Mollie Stone’s (CA) are currently in the implementation process. Essentially a 12″ tablet with Verifone wart attached.  Catering is their big focus (and hope).

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

  • New CPI Crane Pricing –  CPI will be introducing a temporary 3% surcharge/price increase effective May 6th on all new orders, this is driven by our continued increasing costs for raw materials, electronic components and transportation. There is never an ideal time for this type of notification; however, the current global market place is driving this immediate action.
  • Lekkerland in Germany putting in self-checkout kiosks — Lekkerland is owned by the REWE Group, which has begun testing self-checkout systems in its other outlets, including REWE, REWE To Go, and Penny outlets.
  • Cool looking airport kiosks include live chat – Hong Kong airport
  • EMV Should Not Be Afterthought to Self-Service Solutions — When it comes to providing secure solutions, the benefits of adopting them always outweigh the costs.  Bruce Rasmussen from Ingenico
  • Pickup Towers in Walmart Are Going Away April 22, 2021 — Walmart Pickup Towers From the NYPost Apr2021 — The retailer is removing 300 of these towers and “hibernating” another 1,300 because customers grew accustomed to curbside pick-up during the pandemic
  • How Do QR Code Payments Work? — Ingenico blogpost
  • $195 Raspberry PI All-In-One-Computer Touch Screen Now Available —
  • Bitcoin ATM News — Coinme Launches 300 Bitcoin-Enabled Coinstar Kiosks in Florida
  • Hospitality Update – Hotel Lobbies and Marriott Contactless Arrival Kiosks — Marriott is testing contactless check-in and check-out kiosks and a “grab-and-go marketplace.”
  • By this summer, only 150 McDonald’s will remain inside Walmart stores — down from a peak of 1,000 locations at the height of the two chains’ 30-year partnership. The paper also reported that Subway franchisees are closing locations inside Walmart stores. The news comes as Walmart is trialing new operating models for in-store restaurants. It’s putting ghost kitchens inside select locations that offer pickup and delivery service from popular chains like Saladworks.
  • Related to Walmart and McDonalds and result of pandemic — H-E-B is partnering with Texas A&M University to provide grocery delivery to people who live on its main and West campuses in College Station, Texas. Even as mass vaccinations promise to boost store and restaurant traffic, newly established online buying habits mean retailers are prioritizing omnichannel meal service. Kroger is testing ghost kitchen locations in Indiana and Ohio, while Texas-based H-E-B recently opened a food hall that offers takeout and delivery options.
  • Instant COVID Test Coming To European Airport Kiosks — Pics — ICTS Sentinel Kiosks in airports will incorporate the rapid COVID-19 test from Virusight Diagnostics. (Courtesy of ICTS Europe)
  • How To Exit Kiosk Mode When Running Esper — Includes a couple of videos exiting on a Samsung device
  • BT dials up ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme – with almost 4,000 red phone boxes available for local communities to adopt for just £1

March 2021

  • Digital Pickup Window Coming To Pizza Hut – Drive Thru Restaurants Snowballing — Three Lanes Now with Burger Lockers March 31, 2021
    From NRN March 2021 — Pizza Hut is launching a digital pickup window at 1,500 restaurants — The Hut Lane is a dedicated pickup lane that will allow customers to …
  • Amazon Driver Quits — New AI in delivery trucks finally got to him
  • Bill Pay Kiosks Go Into Laredo for paying water bills. Looks like Mansur and Adcomp. Not sure about the “being held up by magnet” sign
  • Digital Signage Merger News – Four Winds Interactive and Poppulo Combine to Create a Global Employee Communications Powerhouse
  • Antibacterial Kiosks and Temperature Kiosks. The Washington Post did a nice article on temperature kiosks this month.  Our take is still that touchscreens along with their POS devices/etc are the best way to allow the public to interact.  MRSA is probably a bigger concern as far as remaining on surfaces than COVID (mainly aerosol in the air). Antibacterial treatments for touchscreens have so many caveats and only a very narrow and basically useless range of effectiveness. And you are much more likely to get infected from the front desk (and they from you) than you are from a properly maintained check-in kiosk with a touchscreen.  Many of those also support the mobile handheld as a proxy input (think remote control) but then you should be aware that your mobile phone is likely the 3rd most likely infection point (#2 is toilet and #1 are sinks actually). But there are people that will sell the coating (figure $200 upcharge) and if you are into hygiene theater you can arrange some signage that tells people you have antimicrobial treated touchscreens. The CEO of Marriott broke down hygiene theater into the swiss cheese analogy. Enough layers and pretty soon you have a complete wall with no holes. There are new UV and UV-C treatments. One of them is UL and FDA approved and has been adapted for elevators as well as ATM screens and pinpads. Contact us if interested.
  • QSR Business – El Pollo Loco is expanding in Denver adding 10-15 restaurants. The restaurant chain said the Colorado expansion is part of a plan to open 140 new locations throughout the western United States by 2026. El Pollo Loco currently operates 478 locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana.
  • Financial Kiosks Soon? – Square is now operating its state-chartered industrial bank, Square Financial Services, in Utah after the state’s Department of Financial Institutions gave it the green light. From Pymnts.
  • Touchless Technology for your toilet. Only in Japan for now. Also included is pic of new UV antibacterial treatment for sinks (think the hotels…)
  • Contactless kiosks all the rage in South Korea.  Korea’s kiosk industry has largely been led by mid-sized companies. Hanasis, I-Tech and BT.One are among the recognized players. They rake in between 10 to 40 billion won in annual revenue. Conglomerates — Samsung Electronics introduced the Samsung Kiosk in Korea on Feb. 17. The device’s screen is coated with a special film that has a sterilizing effect, the company said. The kiosk uses Samsung Knox, the same software present in its laptops and handsets, to prevent hacking.
  • Samsung Electronics introduced a smart ordering kiosk solution called “Samsung Kiosk,” which allows both non-face-to-face ordering and payment.  They are selling it via Fiserv

February 2021

  • Credit Card Payments for IKEA and others via FISERV go totally offline. Customers at McDonald’s, Ikea, Popeyes, and others say they can’t pay using their credit cards. The payments processor Fiserv said its services were interrupted on Friday. Earlier in the day, Chick-fil-A experienced an outage and gave out free meals.
  • Touchless large format displays from Samsung in the news. Samsung Electronics France and iNUI Studio have introduced the IRxTOUCH KIOSK SERIES 2, a touchless interactive kiosk solution that is said to offer the same experience as a touch device but for the fact that the user doesn’t have to touch the screen to use it but only has to move a few centimetres from the display to navigate precisely through the various menus. The solution is designed to offer a clear advantage from a health point of view.
  • Looking for a job or maybe you are looking for people (sales people usually)? Be sure and check the Jobs listing.
  • Interview with TSI Touch Mundrake — big proponent of more touch. TSI provides the touch overlays used on many touchscreens especially large format screens (55 and up). Good explanation of PCap versus IR and why IR is better for large format touchscreens (higher fidelity).  And he seems to imply that as long as we touch our mobiles, we will touch everything else.  At some point we may truly start talking to our mobiles and then things will change. Interview by 16:9 good job.
  • What McDonald’s Shows About The Minimum Wage — excerpt of Planet Money’s newsletter —
    • No relationship between minimum wage increases and the adoption of touch-screen technology
    • McDonald’s restaurants raise their wages after a city or state raises its minimum wage ($1.00 premium above)
    • when the minimum wage goes up, the price of a Big Mac goes up too (just not very much given generally low wage component)
  • Intel UK Keeps Up Kiosk Related Content – this one on hardware required (openvino and intel vpro). There is a semi-useful link to qsrmagazine on left effect. Has an old Zivelo push tactic. There a better ways to burn a budget.
  • Good writeup on credit card surcharges – anomalies between states and more in the U.S.
  • Emirates smart contactless touchless self check-in kiosks. Pictures. The 32 self-service bag drop machines and 16 check-in kiosks can be controlled completely by personal mobile devices without touching the screens
  • Microsoft offers guidance for customers using kiosk mode in Microsoft Edge Legacy – Microsoft Edge Legacy browser support ends on March 9, 2021. The Microsoft Edge Legacy will be removed and replaced with the new Microsoft Edge when you apply April’s Windows 10 Update which will become available on April 13, 2021. To continue using kiosk scenarios, customers need to install the new Microsoft Edge and set up kiosk mode before installing April’s Windows 10 Update Tuesday release to their devices.
  • Hy-Vee to build grocery pickup kiosks at Rochester store location
  • Displays Getting Insanely Large – New Sony Bravia Weighs in at 100 inches. Also 32 inch upgraded.  600 NIT, 4K, SOC, Android TV, built-in Chromecast
  • Self-service kiosks – following the lead of fast food — Nice reference to Pyramid and McDonalds. Intel pitching its footprint in restaurants though from all accounts Android cannot be ignored. By BigHospitality and sponsored paid for pitch — The QSR sector has been the quickest to adopt technology such as self-service kiosks, and are so far reaping the benefits

January 2021

December 2020

November

  • Compact, Ready-Made kiosk line announced by Posiflex. The new Mercury EK Series is a line of sleek, compact kiosks available in either a floor-standing or countertop setting, with two Windows OS models and one Android OS model to choose from. BusinessWire
  • McDonald’s announced a new growth strategy for 2021 — “Accelerating the Arches” — includes a new crispy chicken sandwich and a new loyalty program: MyMcDonald’s.  Described as a “new digital experience growth engine,” the personalized loyalty program and all-in-one platform will offer tailored promotions for members and the ability for customers to place orders “through the channel of their choice.” Test pilot in the Phoenix area over the coming weeks. Link to article on NRN

October

  • Home Depot 6,000 units (we are guessing) — Reality Interactive, a leading retail technology design firm and digital agency in Middletown, Connecticut, announced the launch of its AXSIS™ Thermal Enabled Digital Hub. The leading home improvement retailer in the world has already deployed 6,000 units
  • Pizza Automation Option – Basil Street Pizza — An autonomous pizza baking machine that cooks a thin crust brick-oven style 10″ pizza in 3 minutes for around $10 reducing exposure and risk with touchless baking and tap and swipe payment!
  • NRN article – Touchless tech gets prioritized at restaurant chains during the coronavirus pandemic. QR codes, artificial intelligence and robots help make the lives of customers and employees easier. — Link 
  • PSA – Deceptive Meridian Temperature Tablets Endanger Public Safety. Includes video. — Link to IPVM article
  • NRN article on Paul Brown Keynote — link
  • AI Kiosk – Lenovo and Reese team up for AI-driven crowd behavior modification to maintain health protocols at sporting events. First use of AI we have seen in this fashion. LINK
  • Betting Kiosk – Newgioco Obtains GLI-20 and GLI-33 Certification for Kiosk Installations of Elys Platform on Yahoo News
  • Canadian retailer vends ready-made meals from contactless kiosks. link
  • Michigan DMV hits 1 million transactions. The kiosks located in stores around the state allow residents to renew license registrations and purchase tabs without going inside a branch office. There are 127 kiosks around the state with plans to add 23 more outside Secretary of State branches and at Kroger and Meijer stores.
  • Texas A&M deploys self-swabbing COVID-19 testing kiosks
  • Dubai Airport Kiosks — Nice pics. Your Contactless DXB Airport Experience Cranked Up A Notch As Emirates Introduces Self Check-In Kiosks In Dubai
  • QSR with Self Service Kiosks, Pickup Cubbies Launches in Toronto. Here in the US there have been a few concepts using self-service ordering kiosks and pickup cubbies. Pioneers in the US space include Brightloom, formerly eatsa, and Little Caesars Pizza’s self-service mobile order pick-up station, known as the Pizza Portal.
  • Amazon Go Stores are using palm biometrics now. Nice little unit and guessing fujitsu. Link
  • From the UK — Kiosk and Digital Signage 2020 (KDS 2020), Europe’s leading one-day summit for kiosk and digital signage industry professionals has been postponed.
  • Temperature kiosks — we saw an article push from a kiosk portal promoting Chinese temperature kiosks.  We’ve notified the portal about the product and hopefully paid advertising does not trump public interest.

September

  • CLEAR providing app and kiosks for MGM Resorts meeting in Minnesota. Combines identity credentials with COVID tests, Link
  • Great background on Harrahs purchase of Caesars along with William Hill context — GGB Magazine
  • Kioskmarketplace news —  Emirates self check-in,
    Walmart store redesign,  Treasury to forgive PPP loans,
    BioLife Sciences introduces touchless vending machines, Voice technology provider teams with Mastercard, ViewSonic introduces hand sanitizing stations, Toshiba introduces multifunction printer
  • Can Kiosks Find New Life During Coronavirus? QSRMagazine article talking with Mike Geiger of Moe’s and also Michael Cecchini of Pure Green on kiosk opportunities. Link
  • Digital Signage —  Turns out DSE has no assets for refunding payments or anything.  The digital presence at Digital Signage Connection is toast.  Remains to be seen what DSF does. Link
  • Gaming — Caesars Entertainment’s play for William Hill is the latest sign Las Vegas sees tons of upside in moving chips in the direction of online gaming and sports betting. Article
  • Marriott CEO Sorenson on Hygiene Theater in Hospitality
  • Viewsonic Offers Hand-Sanitizing Stations — The Health Flex Kiosks include options for integrated displays and secure storage for media players, routers or surge protectors, and a touchless hand sanitizer dispenser holder (hands-free dispenser is optional). See the catalog for hand sanitizer stations that the KMA offers.
  • DSE Declares Bankruptcy – writeup on 16:9 — It was matter of time. It was a few years back they opted for quality argument over quantity. Show never grew. ISE and InfoComm are still running but we suspect most will migrate over to NRF just like we did in the kiosk industry.
  • QSR Market Update Opinion – QSR & Fast Casual Restaurants – Is the Restaurant Business Getting Better? September 18, 2020  Editor Note: We do interviews with magazines (recently for NRN) and in those we express what we call “ad hoc” opinions based on what we have seen and heard. For sure
  • Contactless Curbside Pickup Update El Pollo Loco – Self-Order with Geo-Fencing From National Restaurant News Sep2020
  • 09/20 – HOW IS COVID-19 CHANGING THE SHAPE OF TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY? Dean Ward of Evoke Creative explains.
  • 09/11 Buyer Beware — Appears to be a McDonald’s outdoor menu (Samsung OF55F?) with some severe burn.  Link
  • 09/11 Video – Behind-The-Scenes Look At Changes Coming To TSA Checkpoints Amid Pandemic | NBC Nightly News
  • 09/11 Question: How to count people without any concerns regarding privacy or data protection regulations? Nice writeup by Wick of Heimann Sensors on LinkedIn – link
  • 09/11 Questionable Claims — Copper-infused antimicrobial film – called NanoShield – its makers claim will self-disinfect something like a touchscreen in less than 15 minutes. Thanks to 16:9 for the expository article.
  • 09/10 – PCAP TILE for seamless across multiple 55 inch screens announced by TSItouch (includes video) – link
  • 09/10 Touchless Vending Kiosks for PPE – link
  • 09/03 – HT News – Contactless Check-In Changing The Fraud Environment for Hotels (in a bad way)
  • White Castle Trials of Vehicle Recognition Underway –
  • 09/02 — 16:9 Interview with David Levin of Fourwinds Interactive post acquisition
  • 09/02 — Touchless video demo by Tucker Lightsey of KIOSK

August

  • 08/25 — Whole Foods Cashierless By Next Year? Amazon may be looking to bring the cashierless tech found at its Go convenience stores to Whole Foods supermarkets as early as next year
  • 08/25 — Taco Bell Drive-Thru Expansion for Mobile Customer Orders Excerpt: Taco Bell is rolling out a new store design that combines digital innovation with a people-first approach.
  • 08/25 — Circle K piloting autonomous self-checkout technology LINK
  • 08/25 — Walmart adding new modern self-checkout bays in Wichita. Pics. LINK
  • 08/25 — Five steps of legal advice on handling anti-mask customers from National Restaurant Association LINK
  • 08/25 — From JAL website – Japan Airlines (JAL) today announced the decision to trial new touchless technology at Tokyo`s Haneda Airport, starting August 24. LINK
  • 08/25 — DART Gets Touchless Kiosks for Wayfinding LINK
  • 08/23 — Nice LinkedIn article on Project Ray and McDonalds.
  • 08/23 — Article on UV-C Wands from CNET. The dangers of. LINK
  • 08/20 — South Korea begins using a robot greeter. checks temperatures, dispenses hand sanitizer, enforces social distancing and makes sure you are wearing a mask. Thanks to Ross at QwickMedia. Video. Link
  • 08/14 — More than 15,000 Canadians have died of an opioid-related overdose since January 2016. is transforming the distribution of regulated products with an integrated platform that combines industry-leading software, advanced biometrics, and tamper-resistant hardware. Article

    opiod dispensing kiosk

    Click for full size Opiod dispenser

  • 08/13 –  Digital signage news — Fourwinds Acquires SmartSpace. Workplace software for employees (tough market). Expands FWI’s international presence and capabilities with offices and employees in the US, UK, Europe, and Asia. Link
  • 08/13 – report from IPVM on the Alabama Fever Detection deal which involves HKVision (blacklisted). $1M deal. Link
  • 0812 – VA and Cerner appear to be “back on”. This time the date is October.  Veterans Patient Check-in kiosk and Mobile in play here. Link
  • 08/12 — Recommended Accessibility requirements for RFPs article by The Paciello Group (TPG). Link
  • 08/11 — Simon Malls in talks with Amazon (ditto Penneys)
  • 08/11 – TSA is putting in new ID verification (CAT).  Credential authentication technology (CAT) at Thurgood Marshall Airport and others. Not kiosks, just desktop devices inline for use. Link
  • 08/10 — GRUBBRR works with BlueStar. BlueStar is a Solutions-based distributor seeking to offer its customers complete solutions which can be taken to market and not just individual pieces of hardware. GRUBBRR will work with BlueStar for ready-to-go self-ordering solutions. BlueStar distributes much of the hardware used in GRUBBRR products, and now will have access to the software that can transform those products from simple hardware into automation solutions.  Link to full article
  • 08/04 — From HotelBusiness —  Temperature Scanning Can Help Employees & Guests Achieve Peace of Mind– article link
  • 08/04 – Elo announces Elo AccessTM temperature screening kiosk. Looks to be a “turnkey solution” application for wellness-check at the door. Specs for bolometer and camera not disclosed. Press release link
  • 08/02 — Curative deploys first Covid19 testing kiosk in California. Not bad looking. Link

July

  • 07/29 – Business News – McDonalds Profit Plunges 68%
  • 07/29 – Henry Ford hospital adds temperature screening kiosks. Note that this has been misreported as retinal scanning when in fact after speaking to hospital they confirmed to KI that it is in fact inexpensive Infrared sensors.
  • 07/29 – Esper Partners with Point Mobile rugged Android Lifecycle
  • 07/29 – Sonic Launches New Design for Drive-In / Drive-Thru
  • 07/26 — A man using a prosthetic mask stole more than $100,000 at casinos, prosecutors say. Colletti, 55, allegedly targeted his victims by illegally obtaining their personal information and then using counterfeit driver’s licenses to withdraw funds from their personal bank accounts via self-service kiosks at the casinos. The kiosks, operated by Global Payments Gaming Services, are used by the casino industry for bill-breaking, jackpot processing, cash withdrawals, cash advances, and ticket exchanges, among other services, according to the complaint. The kiosks require users to insert their driver’s license and the last four digits of both their Social Security number and phone number before checking account funds can be withdrawn. Each victim had previously enrolled to have their bank accounts linked to their profile in Global Payments’ “VIP Preferred Program,” the complaint said.  Link to article on CNN
  • 07/21 — How the pandemic is affecting business travelers in airports. Lots of pictures with this article.  Malaysia, UAE, Canada, Doha. Link
  • 07/21 — 170 companies now offering thermal imaging. In Just 6 Months, ‘Fever Cameras’ Have Become a Full-Fledged Industry More than 150 companies now sell alleged fever-detecting technology aimed at the coronavirus. Link
  • 07/21 — Temperature screening — Suprema Adds Thermal Camera to Biometric Kiosk Solution LINK
  • 07/21 – American Airlines unveils touchless kiosks. The kiosk prints the bag tags, all without the customer having to touch the kiosk. Link
  • 07/20 – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has selected passenger temperature screening technology for use at Hawaii’s public airports to help protect the community and identify passengers with a potentially elevated body temperature. Nice article too at Homeland Security
  • 07/20 – Temperature Screening Kiosk video for Border/Immigration by Wello.
  • 07/20 — Olea offers financing on temperature kiosks. $8 per day for a temp screening kiosk including shipping and extended onsite warranty when you finance. Compared to assigning and employee to scan everyone coming in the building not to mention safety it’s a no brainer really.
  • 07/16 – Olea Hires Director of Alliances & Partnerships – Olea announces the hiring of channel sales and partnerships industry expert, Rusty Gaynes, as Director of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships.
  • 07/16 – Networld announcers new virtual summit — Self-Service Innovation Virtual Summit Dec. 8-9, 2020. Wide range of self-service interest including vending, food packaging and more.
  • 07/16 – South Hall Kroger gets new DMV tag renewal kiosk. Link
  • 07/16 – Webinars – July 16th — Panel Discussion — The rapid growth of kiosks and the next evolution beyond self-service
    Thursday, 16th July at 4:00pm UK time
  • Tradeshows – Yesterday (7/9) NRF announced the Big Show will not be happening in January. Instead it will be in early June.  A virtual show will occur in January.. Now NRF is just about two weeks after the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago.  We were expecting the postponement as we became aware of several of their marquee “biggest show of the year” companies grounded their travel thru January.  At NRA the KMA has a 10×20 in the Tech Pavilion. Here is our booth location.
  • Payment — KIOSK Achieves Bill Payment Solution Approval by Intel and Becomes Affiliate Member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance – get the update: https://lnkd.in/guvyWkX
  • Customer Experience – Top 80 Stats About A Future Customer Experience Shaped By Technology — Link
  • Electric Cars – Electric Car Charging Stations Are Finally About to Take Off – Bloomberg
  • Kiosk Software – KioWare for Windows | Configuring KioTouch™ YouTube Video
  • Airlines – Changing the way we fly and interact at airports with smart self-service solutions by . This is not a short #COVID response but a sustainable solution to upgrade the flyer’s customer journey. Pyramid Computer GmbH is very proud to be part of that solution. New Self-Bag Drop Materna
  • Thermal Imaging — MoviTHERM launches FLIR A500-EST. A camera designed with your elevated skin surface temperature screening needs in mind. https://zcu.io/yEJu
  • Coming soon: The new embedded RFID module from Zebra Technologies. The RE4000 is Zebra’s first RFID module designed to be embedded into Zebra’s RFID printers and third-party OEM equipment. Endless applications include medical devices, kiosks, access control, smart lockers, robots, vending machines, casino terminals, ticketing systems, POS terminals and many more.

June

  • McDonalds Kiosks — McDonalds permanently closing Times Square Flagship. Link.  McDonald’s confirmed this week that the company has made the “difficult decision” to close the famed corporate store in Times Square, a move that was in the works prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Healthcare Kiosks — as news reports detail the impact COVID-19 will have on our population and the healthcare system that serves it, many medical facilities have put systems in place to streamline services and keep frontline workers safe…… — Link
  • Budget Considerations for Self-Service Kiosk Success — Link — carefully consider each of these five high-level areas in solution budgeting – they will all come up. This is a macro view of the main elements of project budget, and supplier evaluation considerations that can most effect your budget
  • Touchless Hand Sanitizer Kiosk video —
  • Custom America announces the availability of the all new D4 desktop label printer – read more about the new product release here:
  • Appetize on “What is a Virtual Kiosk” — Virtual Kiosk allows guests to instantly access mobile ordering on their smartphone. It uses QR or Quick Response Codes– a surprisingly easy to use technology– to bring guests directly into the ordering site.
  • Evoke Partners with Core Intelligence on Distancing Application — We’re excited to partner with Evoke Creative for CORE | Intelligence Powered By FastSensor, designed to allow business owners to monitor social distancing in real-time through our groundbreaking, AI technology, all while allowing you to get to know your customers better than ever.
  • Frank Olea Podcast with 16:9 — Excerpt on touchless — Yeah, it’s fun. It’s gimmicky. But yeah, getting the public to change their behavior is gonna be really hard. I mean, it ‘s about the path of least resistance, right? So unless it’s easier, it’s not gonna happen.
  • New telemedicine kiosk option from Lilitab —  Introducing new Telemedicine Tablet Cart. It’s perfectly suited for any healthcare environment to be wheeled into patient rooms allowing doctors to “see” their patients at a safe distance. It meets all ADA requirements for lying, seated, and standing positions with self-adjusting tilt.
  • FDA Makes Hand Sanitizer Recommendations — FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. FDA has identified the following products
  • Video Call Kiosks from KIOSK —  Compunetix is pleased to announce a partnership with KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK) to deliver Video Call Center™ (VCC) on digital kiosks. Compunetix Video Call Center (VCC) for Healthcare is a browser-based, real-time voice and video workflow solution for healthcare providers that need to remain available to their patients in a safe and secure manner.
  • Walk-In Testing Kiosks in South Korea
  • Moviegoers return as Cinemark cautiously reopens — Cinemark is the first major theater chain in North Texas to reopen its doors, welcoming customers Friday at locations in West Plano, McKinney and northwest Dallas off of Webb Chapel. It will resume operations at other locations on a rolling basis in the coming weeks.
  • Electronic Shipping Kiosks — D’Arrigo California has implemented shipping kiosks at their shipping facility in Salinas, CA. This innovative tool, which contains a proprietary software program, was developed to improve efficiencies of the shipping process. D’Arrigo California’s investment in the electronic shipping kiosks and its proprietary software program demonstrates its commitment to provide efficiencies throughout its supply chain.
  • Will PPE Dispensing Kiosks Attract Travelers?
  • MetroClick/faytech Launches Sanitization Solution with Thermal Sensing for Retail, Hospitality and Travel Companies LINK
  • Ontario International Airport adds PPE kiosks in passenger terminals — LINK
  • California Re-Opens 169 DMV Offices – Recommends DMV Now kiosk for transactions – LINK
  • Touchless Sales Kiosks scam in Canada – Link

Earlier

  • Burroughs Pitches Kiosks – link
  • Telemedicine Kiosks Sav-On Canada link
  • Health Safety Kiosk from MPS – link

Feb 2019 – Wow Bao Expansion

Wow Bao announced further expansion plans within the East Coast market. In quarter one 2020, Wow Bao will open three new locations at some of the largest transportation hubs in the region, including Dulles International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport.  https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/wow-bao-plots-east-coast-expansion-2020

Dec 2019 Vending Machines for Water

Californians are turning to vending machines for safer water. Are they being swindled?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/02/california-water-vending-machines-quality

Nov 2019 – Sports Betting Kiosk, Moe’s Grill, CLEAR Airport Expansion

Hogansburg in northern New York. Under New York state law, sports bets can only be placed in person, through a betting window or kiosk physically located inside a casino. There is no online or mobile sports betting through phones or other devices. Bets can be
Mayer and Associates, a company that designs and sells kiosks to restaurants. Anzia said both customers and restaurants like them. “One of the biggest impacts we’ve seen with self-ordering kiosks, restaurants are seeing an uptick of 25 to 30 percent on
signed up (more on this shortly) and finalized your registration, you simply head to the CLEAR lane, confirm your identity at a kiosk, and get whisked away to the front of the TSA line by a CLEAR ambassador.     So what’s stopping you? Likely the high price
Mall-565492691.htmlself-pay basically comes from not being bothered by lines and such.” Ward says there’s a tutorial on the check procedure at the kiosk. The market is also under 24-7 surveillance, so if a customer has a question, they can reach someone within minutes.

 

Historical Archives

More Kiosk News Links from Kiosk Manufacturers Association

 

Kiosk RFP

Touch Screen Monitor Kiosks – Touchless

Digital Signage & RFPs

Posts2025: 3,668

ADA Kiosk – Congress Weighs Changes To ADA

Congress Votes on H.R. 620 which impacts ADA kiosk

aka ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017


ADA kiosk

Update:  The House passed the bill 2/15/2018 along party lines.

The ADA Education and Reform Act, or H.R.620, is slated to come up for a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday or Thursday. But detractors say the bill would gut the part of the landmark ADA law which requires public businesses to make accommodations allowing for ease of entry for people with disabilities.

Source: www.disabilityscoop.com

Something needs to be done about predatory lawyers for sure but this doesn’t do it. It basically drops the bar for companies a couple of notches and eliminates any legal action. Remains to be seen whether companies decide long term it is in their interest to deploy assistive infrastructure now, or later.

ADA lawsuits are already one of the lowest categories of lawsuits filed against businesses. The Center for American Progress has reported that the small uptick in ADA litigation can be attributed to “just 12 individual attorneys and a single disability law firm” which filed more than 100 cases each.

The likely outcome we predict is a vote along party lines in the house passes the bill and then it goes to the Senate where it will likely be blocked.

Another point of view:  Seems it only adds a 180 window to the process of filing suit is all. You get 180 to make significant improvements. What determines significant vs. insignificant? So long as there is real money available through these lawsuits you’ll have trolls.

Full text of H.R. 620

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/620/text

ACLU Take on it

The entrance to the post office in a small town was up a flight of 20 steps. When told he needed to make the post office accessible to wheelchair users, the postmaster was befuddled. “I’ve been here for thirty-five years and in all that time I’ve yet to see a single customer come in here in a wheelchair,” he said, according to Joe Shapiro in his 1994 book, “No Pity.”

https://www.aclu.org/blog/disability-rights/house-members-are-pushing-bill-will-roll-back-rights-people-disabilities

Tom Ridge R-PA Opinion piece from The Hill

Back in 1990, President Bush told the business community they hold in their hands the key to the success of the ADA, for it can “unlock a splendid resource of untapped human potential that, when freed, will enrich us all.” He characterized passage of the ADA as one of his proudest achievements. Let’s not undo that success.

TTom Ridge is founder and chairman of Ridge Global, as well as chair of theNational Organization on Disability, a position he has held since 2006. He was America’s first secretary of Homeland Security and the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania.

Rolling back the civil rights of the disabled harms us all

Rep. Ted Poe R-TX (author of bill)

Passing H.R. 620 is good for all stakeholders. Simply having notice of claimed violations with a sufficient level of detail and the opportunity to cure within a limited time period prior to filing a lawsuit will eliminate the abusive tactics that have become commonplace.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/judicial/373555-its-time-to-restore-the-integrity-of-the-ada

Wheelchair-bound protesters dragged out of congressional hearing

Feb. 13, 2018, 7:37 PM WASHINGTON — Demonstrators interrupting a hearing in the House Rules Committee to protest reforms to the Americans with Disabilities Act were arrested and dragged out of the room inside the US Capitol on Tuesday.

http://www.businessinsider.com/wheelchair-bound-protesters-dragged-out-of-congressional-hearing-2018-2

Why Congress is Close to Gutting Key Provision of ADA

Pacific Standard 2/14/18 — Unscrupulous lawyers are a problem, so let’s work on sanctioning them. As Dara Baldwin says, “You got bad apples, go after the bad apples!” What shouldn’t happen is a legislative assault, fueled by donations from retail groups, on the fundamental right to equal access for people with disabilities.

https://psmag.com/social-justice/congress-is-close-to-gutting-a-key-provision-of-the-ada

Big thanks to Steve Taylor of Taylor Stands for his help with this. Thanks Steve!

Taylor Stands makes patented ADA compliant POS assist device.  People in wheelchairs can easily pull the terminal closer for easier and private access.

Posts2025: 2,353

Post Office Kiosks Rolling Out – Multi-functional Services

imageholders

Post Office Kiosks Being Deployed

imageHOLDERS announces new deployment with Post Office in UK. Partnering with Ricoh, Intelligent AR and Meld CX.  You may remember MeldCX from hotel check-in integrations. Also typically Chrome so shows up on Thinclient.

Nice article on Dorset News — The gradual nationwide rollout is set to begin in Spring 2025. Neal Newbrook, propositions manager at the Post Office, said: “Post Office is committed to enhancing customer service across the network, working in partnership with our Postmasters and retail partners. “Introducing these new self-service kiosks will make it easier and more efficient for customers to access the mail products they require. “We’re excited to work with imageHOLDERS on this key project that will help postmasters and our retail partners meet evolving customer needs.”

Pictures – the kiosk lineups are illustrative of their go to market ranges – our key sectors are Healthcare, Aviation, Retail, Hospitality and Post and Mail.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

imageHOLDERS Partners with Post Office for Nationwide Rollout of Self-Service Kiosks

Revolutionizing Customer Service Across the UK

Dorset, 20/11/2024 – imageHOLDERS, a leading provider of self-service kiosk solutions, is proud to announce its new partnership with Post Office for the rollout of self-service kiosks in Post Office branches across the UK. This collaboration will support Post Office’s aim to enhance customer service, increase accessibility, and streamline transactions at Post Offices nationwide.

Post Office, a cornerstone of British communities, serves millions of customers every day. To continue delivering high-quality service while adapting to evolving customer expectations, Post Office has chosen imageHOLDERS’ state-of-the-art kiosks to provide an efficient, user-friendly, and inclusive self-service experience.

Collaborating with industry-leading partners Ricoh, Intelligent AR, and Meld CX, this self-service kiosk collaboration provides expertise in advanced automation and intelligent design to elevate the functionality and user experience of the kiosks. Ricoh brings extensive service capabilities, reaching, installing, and supporting 4,000 + devices across the estate, while Intelligent AR provides postal software solutions rooted in a deep understanding of the customer journey.

Meld CX offers remote kiosk and device monitoring to deliver real-time support and self-help, ensuring maximum uptime.

Together, these partnerships ensure that Post Office remains at the forefront of innovation in customer service by providing streamlined, responsive solutions.

Enhancing Customer Experience with Cutting-Edge Technology

The rollout of self-service kiosks will allow customers to quickly and easily perform a variety of tasks, including:

  • Postal services – sending parcels, purchasing stamps
  • Home shopping returns
  • Electronic pre-advice and overseas services
  • Printed confirmation and tracking details

By automating these routine transactions, the kiosks will reduce queues, improve service efficiency, and free up staff to assist customers with more complex needs.

The kiosks will be equipped with intuitive touchscreens and designed with inclusivity at the forefront, ensuring ease of use for all customers, including those with accessibility requirements.

Delivering Accessibility and Innovation

As part of its commitment to providing an inclusive customer experience, imageHOLDERS will work closely with Post Office to ensure that the kiosks meet the highest standards of accessibility. From ergonomic design to accommodating assistive technologies such as screen readers and braille interfaces, the self-service kiosks are built to serve every customer equally.

“We are thrilled to partner with Post Office to help deliver more efficient and accessible services to customers across the UK,” said Richard Satchell, CEO of imageHOLDERS. “Our self-service kiosks will not only reduce wait times and improve customer satisfaction but will also ensure that these essential
services remain inclusive to everyone, regardless of their abilities.”

A Nationwide Transformation

The nationwide rollout is set to begin in Spring 2025, with self-service kiosks being introduced in a select number of Post Office branches before expanding to more branches across the country. This partnership signifies a major milestone in both imageHOLDERS’ and the Post Office’s ongoing missions to modernize service delivery, enhance customer experiences, and meet the changing needs of today’s consumers.

“Post Office is committed to enhancing customer service across the network, working in partnership with our Postmasters and retail partners,” commented
Neal Newbrook, Propositions Manager, Post Office. “Introducing these new self-service kiosks will make it easier and more efficient for customers to access the Post Office mail products they require. We are excited to work with imageHOLDERS on this key project that will help postmasters and our retail
partners meet evolving customer needs.”

About imageHOLDERS

imageHOLDERS specializes in creating innovative self-service kiosks and device enclosures for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, aviation, retail, and public services. With a focus on combining cutting-edge technology with ergonomic, user-friendly design, imageHOLDERS works to provide seamless and inclusive digital experiences that enhance both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

For more information on this partnership or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Freya Storey – Marketing and Communications Manager, imageHOLDERS
T: +44 (0) 1202 892863 E: [email protected] A: 42c Cobham
Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7QG, UK

More Post Office Kiosks imageHOLDERS related content:

 

Posts2025: 1,010

Kiosk Research — Latest Survey on Benefits and Metrics 2025

kiosk market research 2019 numbers

Self-Service Solutions: Research Roundup

Educator and freelance writer, specializing in the digital signage and kiosk industries. Louisville, Kentucky Area

Educator and freelance writer, specializing in the digital signage and kiosk industries.
LinkedIn Louisville, Kentucky Area

Recent studies underscore the power and versatility of self-service kiosks. By Richard Slawsky

Anyone working in the self-service kiosk industry knows firsthand the advantages these solutions bring—boosting order averages, speeding service, capturing accurate data, and streamlining countless processes. From food ordering and bill payment to form submissions and legal aid, kiosks have become indispensable across sectors.

Yet for organizations weighing an investment in kiosk technology, a salesperson’s assurances may not suffice. Fortunately, a growing body of research—and real-world examples—reinforces just how impactful these solutions can be. Here’s a look at recent findings that highlight the value of self-service technology.

Improving Triage Efficiency in Emergency Departments

  • A 2023 review published in NPJ Digital Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal by Nature Portfolio, examined nine studies on using kiosks in hospital emergency departments. The goal: address overcrowding and long wait times.
  • Six of the nine studies reported positive impacts on triage, such as faster evaluations by medical professionals.
  • One study found that emergency departments with kiosks saw waiting times nearly 57% shorter than those without.
  • Another showed patients were first evaluated almost 14 minutes sooner in EDs using kiosks.
  • In a low-income, predominantly Latino community, kiosks enabled patients to enter medical histories significantly faster than nurses could via manual data entry.
  • These findings suggest kiosks aren’t just administrative aids—they can directly accelerate care in
    critical environments.

The Impact on Restaurant Labor

A study by a researcher at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in South Korea, published in Technology in Society, explored one of the biggest concerns around kiosk adoption: job displacement.

Drawing on survey data from South Korean restaurants, the study found:

  • Self-service kiosks often led to lower wages for unskilled part-time workers and reduced reliance on unpaid family help.
  • However, they also boosted productivity and wages for skilled, full-time staff, indicating a shift in how labor was allocated.
  • Independent restaurants saw more pronounced positive effects, while franchise operations experienced more of the downsides.
  • For the restaurant industry, the takeaway is nuanced: kiosks can optimize labor and raise skill demands, potentially supporting higher-value roles even as they reduce some lower-wage hours.

Expanding Access to Legal Help

Although not a formal academic study, a January 2025 episode of the “Let’s Talk Justice” podcast, produced by the Legal Services Corporation, showcased how self-help legal kiosks are breaking barriers.

Guests included:

  • Ariel Clemmer, executive director of 603 Legal Aid in New Hampshire
  • Mauricio Duarte, COO of A2J Tech
  • Susan Myers, litigation director and kiosk project manager at Nevada Legal Services (NLS)

They discussed how libraries and other trusted community spaces are becoming hubs for legal kiosks. Nevada, for example, now hosts 28 kiosks in libraries, helping residents navigate legal resources with staff support.

Myers explained that in Nevada—where there’s no centralized legal aid website—the kiosk project created a critical clearinghouse of resources. Clemmer shared that a similar project launched during the pandemic in Massachusetts initially aimed to support virtual court
appearances but quickly pivoted to meet demand for self-help and triage resources.

According to Duarte, kiosks stand out for their adaptability: new content can be added at any time, and kiosks can be relocated as community needs shift.

Changing service delivery

From accelerating emergency care to reshaping restaurant labor dynamics and expanding access to justice, self-service kiosks have proven to be more than just a convenience. They’re strategic tools for increasing efficiency, improving service quality, and opening new avenues for
workforce development and community support.

The evidence is compelling: well-designed self-service solutions don’t just cut costs—they elevate experiences and strengthen outcomes. For organizations considering this investment, these findings underscore that kiosks offer not only a competitive edge, but also a meaningful
way to deliver services in an increasingly digital world.

More Resources

Checking with AIs you can see they are still blinded by trendy PR.  Top sector listed as banking. Banks are removing ATMs (which always get classified as kiosks).  Touchless?  Not according to Google.  They are leaning into Voice which, in certain cases, is a big advantage.  Think Drive-Thru with AI Assist.  Yes, drive-thrus are being revolutionized. Variables like other people and ambient noise are much easier to deal with in a drive-thru.

There is a reason that the volume is turned down on those supermarket self-checkout pods…

Recent survey data and user research from 2025 provide a clear picture of how kiosks are used and the benefits they deliver across sectors, especially in restaurants and retail.

Key 2025 Survey Findings on Kiosk Usage and Benefits

Survey/Source Key Data Points User-Reported Benefits
Tillster 2025 Phygital Index (QSR/Restaurant, US, 1,500 consumers)12 61% want more kiosks in restaurants (up from 57% in 2024, 36% in 2023); 42% use kiosks at least weekly; 25% order from cashiers less frequently than last year; 72% comfortable using in-store kiosks (up from 59% in 2024) – Review orders for accuracy
– Greater convenience and speed
– More customization options
– Higher satisfaction with the experience
– 76% bought more than intended at least once via kiosk
– 62% discovered new menu items/customizations through kiosks
PYMTS Retail Survey (2025)3 49.4% use self-service checkouts for speed; 34.7% for shorter lines; 73% prefer self-service tech over interacting with staff – Faster transactions
– Reduced wait times
– More control over the process
Deliverect Consumer Study (2025)4 73% say valuing their time is most important; 38% of Gen Z and Millennials value self-service for resolving issues – Convenience
– Time savings
– Preference for digital/low-touch interactions
UI/UX Satisfaction Study (Restaurant, 172 respondents, Jakarta, 2025)5 Higher satisfaction and intention to reuse kiosks when perceived as useful and easy to use – Simplicity and performance boost satisfaction
– Perceived usefulness directly increases likelihood of continued use
Kiosk Industry Whitepaper (2025)6 Qualitative feedback from diverse sectors – 24/7 access
– Consistency
– Error reduction
– Accessibility for users with disabilities
– Personalized recommendations

Detailed Insights from 2025 Surveys:

  • Convenience and Speed: The majority of users cite speed, shorter lines, and convenience as their main reasons for choosing kiosks over traditional staffed options. Nearly half of retail customers (49.4%) choose self-service for speed, and a third (34.7%) for shorter lines3.

  • Order Accuracy and Customization: In restaurants, users prefer kiosks because they can review orders for accuracy and enjoy more customization options. 62% of users reported discovering new menu items or customizations they weren’t previously aware of, and 76% said kiosks led them to buy more than they intended at least once12.

  • Increased Comfort and Adoption: Comfort with kiosks is rising—72% of surveyed consumers in March 2025 said they are comfortable using in-store kiosks, up from 59% the previous year12.

  • Generational Preferences: Gen Z and Millennials show especially strong preferences for self-service, with 38% saying they are more likely to abandon a customer service issue if it can’t be resolved via self-service4.

  • Repeat Usage and Satisfaction: Studies show a direct link between perceived usefulness/ease of use and customer satisfaction, which in turn increases the intention to use kiosks repeatedly5.

  • Accessibility and Inclusivity: Modern kiosks are designed to be accessible, supporting features like multi-language interfaces and voice commands, making them usable for a broader demographic, including those with disabilities6.

  • Operational and Data Benefits: Users appreciate the consistency and reliability of kiosks, while businesses benefit from data collection and personalization features that further enhance the user experience6.

Summary Table: Top User-Reported Benefits of Kiosks (2025)

Benefit Supporting Survey Data (2025)
Faster service, shorter waits 49.4% cite speed; 34.7% cite lines3
Order accuracy 61% prefer kiosks for review12
Customization 62% discover new options12
Convenience 73% value time most4
Comfort with technology 72% comfortable with kiosks12
Increased spending 76% bought more than intended12
Accessibility Multi-language, inclusive features6
Satisfaction, repeat use Direct link to ease of use5

In summary:
2025 survey data shows that users overwhelmingly value kiosks for speed, convenience, order accuracy, customization, and accessibility. Satisfaction and repeat usage are strongly tied to perceived usefulness and ease of use, with younger generations driving adoption. Kiosks are now seen as essential to a positive customer experience across multiple sectors.

Summary Table by AI: Key 2025 Kiosk Market Insights

Aspect 2025 Status/Trend
Market Size (Global) $36.06B (2025); $64B+ by 2030
Main Growth Drivers Automation, labor shortages, consumer preference
Top Sectors Retail, hospitality, healthcare, banking
Key Technologies AI, touchless, IoT, biometrics, cloud management
Consumer Preference 66% prefer self-service over staffed checkouts
Notable Trends Personalization, data privacy, smart stores

Latest Lies and Fantasies

For $5,000 we’ll send some fancy charts…:-)

Market Size and Growth

  • The global kiosk market is projected to reach $36.06 billion in 2025 and expand to over $64 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 12.29%123.

  • The self-service kiosk segment alone is expected to grow from $28.39 billion in 2025 to $41.74 billion by 2029, reflecting a CAGR of approximately 10.1%4.

  • Growth is fueled by increasing demand for automation, labor shortages, and the need for improved customer experience and operational efficiency53.

Related Kiosk Survey Data Links

Posts2025: 156

Hotel Kiosks – American Kiosks and meldCX Partner

American Kiosks

American Kiosks Partners with meldCX

Interesting partnership for American Kiosks which adds AI based check-in, identity verification, object recognition, secure payments, and other operational efficiencies to improve the customer experience. For more information visit their site or you can email [email protected]

From the press release off PRNewswire

  • meldCX and American Kiosks announce close partnership, combining state-of-the-art hardware with smart technology and reliable field services
  • Partnership will create new opportunities across the connected ecosystem, fueling innovation and accelerating IoT adoption across North America

ATLANTA and LAS VEGAS, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — meldCX, a global technology company focusing on cutting-edge AI and IoT solutions for enterprise customers, announces today it is partnering with American Kiosks, a Colorado-based self-service kiosk manufacturer simplifying the process of deploying self-service kiosks equipped with smart technologies for North American business.

This partnership brings together meldCX’s powerful software stack, American Kiosks’ quality made-in-USA hardware, and reliable field services to provide businesses with an end-to-end managed system.

By working with meldCX and American Kiosks, businesses can reap the following benefits.

Hardware:

  • Ready-made or custom kiosks that are proudly made in the USA, not impacted by pandemic supply chain shortage
  • Over 35 years of self-service experience, industry knowledge, and UL expertise from an engineering background
  • 2-minutes service replacement times with modular replacement components
  • Hassle-free managed services to help achieve optimal uptime through worldwide in-field experts

Software Platform:

  • Increased ROI through remote application, device management software and smart IOT hub by meldCX that supports multi-OS
  • AI tools and models to provide premium customer experience and automation for kiosk operators
  • More than 1000+ out-of-the-box integrations built for IoT and kiosk environments
  • Seamless connection with peripheral devices such as payment systems and card readers

meldCX and American Kiosks power contactless and virtualized concierge for various verticals worldwide. Features of these kiosks include: AI based check-in, identity verification, object recognition, secure payments, and other operational efficiencies to improve the customer experience.

Eric Nebola, President of American Kiosks, says, “With self-service technology taking over markets across the board, we have seen struggles with staffing. When a kiosk can take on common tasks this gives staff time to focus on providing an excellent, more personalized customer experience.”

Stephen Borg, CEO and Co-Founder of meldCX, adds, “Integrating self-service with intuitive AI technologies into everyday processes, such as checking into hotels and creating a virtualized concierge for tailored retail experiences, creates a memorable experience for customers through intentional interactions, rather than taking away from the human to human connection.

meldCX and American Kiosks will be at HITEC (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference) in Orlando, Florida, from the 27th – 30th June, showcasing the smart concierge kiosk. Stop by booth #2237 to see the technology at play!

If you aren’t attending, please still reach out to [email protected] or +612-306-6470 for a free consultation with their engineering teams.

About meldCX (www.meldcx.com)

meldCX’s mission is to empower businesses and individuals to create premier customer experiences through AI and intelligent edge technologies. Market leaders need applications that make customer and employee experiences more interesting and fulfilling — meldCX technology delivers the building blocks for their success. meldCX is also a Chrome Enterprise Recommended solution, partnering with some of the biggest names in tech. meldCX is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with teams in Sydney, Philippines, USA, and UK (EMEA).

About American Kiosks (www.americankiosks.com)

American Kiosks is a self-service division of Cole Kepro International headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, offering a number of ready-to-go products which can help lower costs and reduce lead-times. They are experts in self-service and engineering with over 35 years in the field. The team at American Kiosks is committed to providing the highest quality products, services, and experiences for your current projects and future visions.

SOURCE meldCX; American Kiosks

Posts2025: 2,524

Primer – Custom versus Standard units

Self-Service technology is more and more a critical component of a company’s business plan. According to research firm Technavio, the global market for interactive technology is forecast to grow by as much as 15 percent a year by 2016.

Developing a strategy typically involves a long, costly planning process to establish the most effective way of converting more conventional mechanisms into customer self-service and how that impacts employees, your company’s operations, not to mention hardware, application or infrastructure and software costs. So when a business looks for ways to manage initial up-front capital costs of a deployment, usually any hardware, software and/or application development is going to come under careful scrutiny.

But short-changing up front rarely results in an effective result later, and the project usually ends up costing much more down the road in terms of lost revenue or dissatisfied customers. In some corporate environments a manager’s term might average 12 months before a new position and there can be the manager who starts the projects, then the manager who kills (or fixes) the project. Unless the self-service initiative is defined as short term in nature (e.g. Christmas promotion), off the shelf consumer-driven products will never be the best option. Short term is where optimizing costs via “distressed consumer inventory” can be a COGS opportunity, never in medium or long-term.

Deciding how to proceed

Self-service stations, whether tablet, mobile or terminals, are being deployed in industries ranging from retail to health care, offering services such as product information and ordering, bill pay and check-in. The applications are limited only by the imagination and budget of your company.

When it comes to converting to self-service, there are generally two ways that will be recommended to you on how to proceed: Adapting an off-the shelf “done before” unit to meet the end users’ needs or working with your partner firm to custom design a unit designed for a specific purpose.

Off-the-shelf “standard” metal kiosks are those that can be manufactured in anticipation of mass purchases. With metal kiosks this means lower metal costs for the manufacturer (if you use metal) and overall fewer processes and variables. Because those units are manufactured in bulk, they are typically less expensive than their custom counterparts. For a long time the standard was wood and particle board for conventional kiosks, then that became metal (16 gauge steel) and now that has started to evolve to lower cost materials, as well.

“Some types of units such as ATMs or point-of-sale terminals have a primary and definitive function, so it’s easy and fast to use those units in multiple environments,” said Craig Keefner, manager with Menomonee Falls, Wis., interactive solutions provider CTS. “On the other hand, try and add additional functions to those types of devices and suddenly transaction times slow down. Unless the additional transaction can be done in parallel the customer ends up asking why it took so long.”

But then consider how the advent of mobile O/S into POS systems is now providing an enhanced multi-threaded experience. The social connection frameworks for iPad and Android tablets allow for vendors such as Revel Systems, to query, in parallel, the social networks for any consumer reaction while it is still processing their order and/or payment. The end result
is the restaurant gets an opportunity to protectively react to a positive or a negative review.

If the proposed application is one that isn’t already in widespread use, chances are an off-the-shelf unit will not fully address the potential deployer’s needs. Trying to shoehorn a standard unit with new ad hoc functions for which it wasn’t designed will almost always lead to less-than-satisfactory or marginal results. It is natural to try to take this approach. Ironically, your vendor will also tend to favor the fastest transaction and most times will support that point of view. That can be a sure sign that your vendor is more interested in your money than your success.

In addition, everything from the main interaction screen to accompanying digital signage and the kiosk enclosure, as well as the user experience itself, offers an opportunity to enhance the branding experience and even monetize that branding. A standard unit with some sort of vinyl decal can marginalize your brand (and in turn that brand’s profits). There can be spe- cific regulatory standards in your market that benefit from more precise targeting (or fitting). Better to protect your assets than to create liabilities. You can have existing “environments” where the self-service needs to be part of integrated design, not just an isolated, cold, sterile, stainless steel pedestal in the corner. In these scenarios a “fitted” self-service solution is in order.

Benefiting from the right partner’s experience

Rather than taking a standard consumer-driven product and trying to adapt it to a purpose for which it was not designed, the deployer can work with a full service design firm to come up with a solution that meets all their needs, not just the expedient initial cost equation. In addition, an experienced solutions partner works with you to evaluate the possibilities and determine the best way to accomplish the goals you have in mind.

While working with a custom solutions provider may cost a bit more up front, the long term savings both in terms of heartache and dollars can be immense. It can easily be 12 months before you can fully judge the value and the relationship. Does this provider have long term design relationships or do they just sell “that kiosk”?

Which partner to pick depends on the goal the end user hopes to achieve, and rating providers by their experience in similar projects is a key part of due diligence. The healthcare market has very specific characteristics, for example, while retail and banking have a different but equally important set of issues that come in to play. The same applies to any industry that may benefit from the use of self-service devices.

Your provider should offer a wide variety of form factors and materials. The older kiosk enclosure companies tend to work in metals and there is wider
Custom kiosks vs. off-the-shelf

OFF-THE-SHELF

Pros

  • Low initial cost
  • Faster deployment
  • Standard design

Cons

  • May not meet the deployer’s specific needs
  • May not match the deployer’s branding efforts

CUSTOM

Pros

  • Can be designed to meet specific needs
  • Can be integrated with existing branding efforts
  • Experienced kiosk design can help avoid costly missteps

Cons

  • Higher cost
  • Design process can take a significant amount of time.
Posts2025: 3,006

Top Ten Custom Kiosk Manufacturers

Custom Kiosk

Custom Kiosk Manufacturers Recommended

jobpoint kiosk

jobpoint kiosk

Custom kiosks are an art that few companies demonstrate recurring excellence.  A truly custom kiosk may also be an exclusive design.  That can be a little spendy but just like TIO for banking payment kiosks, it happens.  You will not get a custom kiosk from China, unless you have someone make one for you here and then let China copy it.  [Feature Image is a telehealth unit from RedyRef].

The picture to the right is a “custom kiosk” that NeoProducts did for UK Postal Job Centre in 2001. Based in Australia but with a facility in the UK (I visited). Injection molding… 9,000 units.  Might be the first large-scale production kiosk?

While we are it maybe a good idea to point out top software providers?

custom kiosk kiosk innovations

custom kiosk outdoor bill payment kiosk innovations 2025

Introduction: Custom kiosks always have unique requirements, either functionally or aesthetically.  Extra design and engineering implies NRE or non-recurring engineering and that can exceed a million by itself. Mercedes-Benz likes stainless steel for example. It fits their brand—big budget. A good place to see custom kiosks is our Best of 2024 Awards. I love the Empire State Building unit and also the Santa Monica outdoor smart city.  One and only one place to get those units…

One big problem is Non-Disclosure Agreements. The kiosk companies did it but often they are not allowed to broadcast it.  But then you will note that some deployers actually celebrate their units.  NASA wanted to tell the world about their units and so did Empire State Building. Especially after they won a big award for it.  Extra points for that.

Custom kiosk outdoor kiosk innovations

Custom kiosk outdoor kiosk innovations – interior 2025

One criticism I have received? — “But you forgot Europe!”. (See criticism comments below and also kioskeurope.org).  I am very data-oriented, and while I am an Okie from Muskogee, I pay attention to the world, especially the details. Canada and Mexico are NOT considered US (and neither is Greenland:-).

Let’s do the numbers and see the region breakdown. The European kiosk manufacturers almost always complain about being neglected and marginalized. Some don’t though and sell a ton in the US (e.g. Pyramid and Acrelec). 

Top ten kiosk manufacturers in the world

Regional view of our Top ten custom kiosk manufacturers in the world and excellent standards

Here are the companies with the “most” custom designs in the last 5 years.  Olea and KIS are equally capable but Olea/Frank always end up doing more customs (though he has a new modular line which is custom in its way). Alpine Kiosk is modular. Lego-blocks.

Custom Kiosk Manufacturers

  1. Olea Kiosks – many many examples
  2. KIOSK Information Systems – ditto — they’ve done everything
  3. Kiosk Group tablet kiosks have custom designs. See the Braille
  4. Kiosk Innovations – ex-KIS design engineer is CEO – Colorado
  5. Alpine Kiosk – I always think Lego as you can make anything – Austria and Asia
  6. Advanced Kiosks – special projects along with software are key market
  7. REDYREF – I like the AT&T bill pay and the Fridge
  8. Entropy Cabinet Solutions — ready and willing
  9. ImageHolders – tablet and small form factor kiosks of all types – Canada and UK
  10. Alveni – custom kiosks and big digital signage market – Mexico

Excellent Standard Kiosks

Design Backstory Notes

vision screening kiosks Solohealth

vision screening kiosks Solohealth

While at Kiosk Information Systems we won a Best of Show at KioskCom in 2008 with the custom Solohealth vision testing unit. One of our competitors kept hanging around and later when we/KIS had some problems, they adeptly stepped in and took the production cycle away. We overestimated ourselves and  we paid dearly for it. We did all the work and they got the build. The actual mechanical design of the kiosk was handled by Neil Nguyen who just happens to be the CEO of Kiosk Innovations now. That unit actually has two displays. One of them is inside the kiosk, actually.  I had to steal an ELO 22 off the show floor to replace ours that failed hours before the judging.

The software initially was done by Netkey. Shortly after the award, Netkey was able to point to this project and sell itself for a pretty penny to NCR (Dusty Lutz managed) before eventually vanishing.

Here is a recent wrap on “Solohealth” look-back in 2023 we did.

As of June 2025, SoloHealth as a brand no longer operates under its original name, having rebranded to Pursuant Health several years ago1. The SoloHealth Station kiosks, which provided free health screenings for blood pressure, vision, weight, and BMI, were widely deployed in retail environments such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Safeway, and Schnucks Markets12.

Pursuant-Health-kiosk_in-store

Pursuant Diabetes evolution – 2016

Currently, Pursuant Health maintains a large network of health kiosks—over 4,600 units—located in high-traffic retail pharmacies across the United States3. These kiosks continue to provide free biometric screenings and health assessments, functioning similarly to the original SoloHealth Stations. While the kiosks may no longer be branded as “SoloHealth,” the technology and service model persist under the Pursuant Health name31.

Turns out the evolved Plan B with blood pressure and diabetes proved to be the stronger equation than the Plan A vision testing.

Definitions

  • Is it really just a modified standard kiosk? Those are cheaper.
  • Have you visited the main office?
  • Have them pull their mobile out and give you a virtual tour of their plant and offices.
  • I’ve done that several times with China.
  • Where is the design and engineering done?
  • Where is manufacturing?
  • Where is the assembly, for that matter?
  • How often and how recent, or is it just a “we’ve done that before” verbal.
  • Typically, a custom unit is a smaller production run (20?)
  • Much heavier design and engineering cost factor.
  • 10X the profit factor (why sell 100 when you make more money selling 10?)
  • Are they an actual kiosk manufacturer?
  • Or do they just sell or serve as a provider of kiosks (eg Diebold, Grubbrr, etc).
  • Some “standard kiosks” are extremely customized
  • Custom kiosks usually implies NRE or non-recurring engineering. Can be over a million dollars and that is just hardware (AT&T and Verizon good examples)
Custom kiosk for ticketing kiosk innovations

Custom kiosk for ticketing kiosk innovations circa 2025 production floor

Examples of Custom Kiosks

People will tell you they do custom kiosks, but what have they done? More typically we do those but we can’t show you due to NDA.

Here is a list of RECENT projects.  I did custom kiosks in 2006 but those don’t count.

  1. Olea Kiosks – US
    1. Empire State Building
    2. NASA Ticketing — wow!
    3. Universal Parks Outdoor Ticketing Kiosk
  2. KIOSK Information Systems – US, Europe and Taiwan
    1. Amazon Whole Foods Return Locker —
    2. Bcycle – Bike Rental
  3. Kiosk Group –US
    1. Braille kiosk with DOT
  4. Kiosk Innovations – US
    1. HUD One Stop
    2. Toronto One
  5. Alpine Kiosk
  6. Advanced Kiosks
  7. REDYREF – standard and custom kiosks
  8. Entropy Cabinet Solutions
  9. ImageHolders – tablet kiosks of all types
  10. Alveni – custom kiosks and software

Advertising But Not Providing

Companies like I&E and Elotouch advertise quite a bit, but, they don’t do custom kiosks.

Pictures of Kiosk Design

Here is our collection of kiosk designs — https://www.pinterest.com/kioskindustry/kiosk-designs/

Comments and Criticism

  • List that excludes rest of world beyond North American shores, few notable exclusions KT, Evoke Creative, OEM kiosks, E-kiosk are just few that pop as well known within custom kiosk fabrication.  [nice cheat on North American especially from European in the list…]
  • Kenneth Larsen thanks for speaking in behalf of so many other interesting and amazing custom manufacturers of selfservice kiosks like PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS® . Kudos to your comment. [I am familiar with CityLink but that was one project and done back in 2019.]

Custom Kiosk Resources

Certifications

  • CJ Touch – ISO9001, CE, FCC
Posts2025: 398

Kiosk Lawsuit Litigation – KT Intellectual Property and NCR Self-Serv

KT Terminals Wins Judgment Against NCR

KT Terminals and NCR Litigation Image

Jury Verdict Against NCR For Misappropriation of Confidential Information

January 7, 2019 – KT Group a Hong Kong based kiosk manufacturer obtained jury verdicts in the Southern District of New York in its nearly 4-year quest for vindication against NCR Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 500 company, with assistance of its New York based law firm Garson, Segal, Steinmetz, Fladgate.

The case centered on the design of the SelfServ 90 or SS90, NCR’s award-winning flagship card only self-checkout kiosk which can be seen in Tesco stores in the UK, Muji in Japan, Globus in Russia, SPAR in Europe and airports all across the US.

The jury found that NCR was liable for using or disclosing the mechanical drawings provided by KT under the presumed blanket of confidence provided by the non-disclosure agreements and used it for its own benefit.

Moreover, the jury also found NCR liable for misappropriating the mechanical drawings of KT and in so doing, GS2Law proved to the jury that the NCR team, led by Dusty Lutz, the head of NCR’s retail store transformation division, acted with bad faith i.e. with malice, wilfulness, a dishonest purpose or fraud.

NCR advanced its multiple defences including that the non-disclosure agreements permitted harvesting of information for its own use, and that standard terms and conditions in NCR’s purchase order in it’s supplier system superseded the agreements. GS2Law demonstrated that the defences did not hold water.

This is a rare case where a small company has not only managed to bring a large corporation to task but also to show that a company like NCR and its senior executives had done so willfully and dishonestly.

KT Group has for past four years had to wait for its decision but finally came the day said Kenneth Larsen CEO and we can finally share our success based on the jury verdict which in basis supported what KT Group knew from the onset that its theory that NCR knowingly continued to misappropriate confidential information and breached mutual non disclosure agreement signed by us in good faith from the get-go this further goes to demonstrate that small yet dynamic companies like KT Group are able to set standard for its work high enough that the likes of NCR felt the need to continue using our manufacturing intellectual property even though they breached non disclosure of it which further supports our testament of quality manufactured kiosks.

Posts2025: 3,045