At one time the automated wine dispensing kiosks in PA were the talk of the industry.Their ROI model which included “free
A Pronto wine kiosk stands in Giant Eagle, New Kensington, featuring a touchscreen with options for red and white wines. The sleek wine kiosk display is highlighted in a caption dated November 16, 2010.
Two people stand at a sleek wine kiosk in a store. One person is selecting a bottle using the control panel. Shelves with beverage cans and other products surround them. The flooring is light-colored, and the area is well-lit, enhancing the inviting atmosphere of the self-serve experience.
A person interacts with a sleek wine kiosk, its touchscreen showcasing a variety of wine options and categories. The screen invites, Browse our Wines, as a hand points at the display in this modern retail setting.
deployment” came under a lot of discussion as well. Here was one of the first self-dispense retail automation example and case study.
What happened with the free kiosk? It has not turned out to be a free kiosk after all. Great article and write up by Kari Andren of the Triblive.
The state Liquor Control Board has spent nearly $300,000 in legal fees to fight a lawsuit over its “free” wine kiosk initiative.
The kiosk maker claims the LCB is to blame for forcing it out of business.
More than three years after the LCB pulled the plug on the wine vending machines in supermarkets, the agency is mired in the lawsuit with Simple Brands LLC, the Montgomery County company that developed and produced the kiosks.
“The government is doing everything it can to delay this case,” said Alan Fellheimer, an attorney for Simple Brands.
The kiosks, which LCB officials touted as a convenient way for customers to purchase a bottle of wine with their groceries, were met with criticism from opponents and skepticism from shoppers wary of a multistep purchasing process that included blowing into a device to prove sobriety.
The machines held more than 50 varieties of wine, but many failed to hit weekly sales targets. Kiosks malfunctioned hundreds of times in the first six months: from screens freezing to ID cards not scanning to wine not dispensing properly.
2008: LCB requests proposals for a self-service, wine-dispensing kiosk. Simple Brands LLC of Conshohocken, Montgomery County, is the only bidder.
Jan. 29, 2009: LCB and Simple Brands sign a contract for 100 wine kiosks to be placed throughout Pennsylvania.
June 23, 2010: Kiosks are placed in two pilot locations: a Giant Food Store in Dauphin County and a Wegmans supermarket in Cumberland County.
Dec. 21, 2010: All kiosks are closed because of repeated malfunctions.
Dec. 22, 2010: Auditor General Jack Wagner announces a special performance audit to evaluate kiosk malfunctions and the contracting process that was used.
Feb. 1, 2011: All kiosks are back in operation.
March 17, 2011: The kiosk program reaches its height, with 32 machines operating in supermarkets such as Giant Eagle, Brown’s, Fresh Grocer, McMenamin’s, Musser’s, Wegmans, Giant and Supervalu.
May 31, 2011: Wegmans dumps the 10 kiosks in its stores because of customer complaints, a lack of sales and operational issues.
Aug. 15, 2011: Wal-Mart pulls out of its deal to install 23 kiosks in stores.
Aug. 30, 2011: Wagner’s audit is released. The report pans the program as a failure and recommends its termination, as the kiosks have not met expectations and have cost the LCB $1.12 million.
Sept. 20, 2011: The LCB officially ends the wine kiosk program.
Dec. 7, 2011: Simple Brands files the first of four complaints against the LCB with the Board of Claims.
Oct. 10, 2013: The four Simple Brands complaints are consolidated into one.
January 2015: LCB and Simple Brands are sharing evidence under discovery. A hearing on the case has not been scheduled.
What is the Board of Claims?
Filing a suit against a state agency for breaching a contract?
You’re headed for the Board of Claims, a little-known, court-like body in Harrisburg that handles contract disputes involving the state.
The board is a three-member tribunal that acts like a trial court, disposing of 30 to 50 cases annually, said Jeffrey F. Smith, chairman and chief administrative judge. An engineer and a citizen member serve with Smith.
The board generally follows the same procedural rules and process as a county Common Pleas Court.
Once both parties go through pretrial motions and discovery, their attorneys contact the board to set key dates that culminate with a public hearing — the equivalent of a trial. That can last from one day to eight weeks, Smith said.
The board decides the case and issues a written decision weeks or months later. The decision can be appealed to Commonwealth Court.
“Being a tribunal, the majority of our cases are appealed,” Smith said. “We’ve been pretty good the last 12 years I’ve been here; (we’ve had) only one minor overturn. We have a pretty good record.”
We’ve covered the Samsung kiosks for Grubbrr and for Clover. Great unit (though we wish accessibility & Windows OS options). This article is by Samsung and they do a good “typical” benefits overview for self order terminals. Leads off with an emphasis on labor shortages. Bingo. But another aspect of these order terminals unmentioned is how they are now filtering down to small and medium business. The Clover Kiosk for example can be ordered online for under $3000 and received in less than 6 weeks. Payback typically for a single restaurant is 16 weeks. And they naturally come with a labor shortage and oftentimes a language barrier for operators for which English is their second language.
I think the ROI deserved mention since that is deciding factor for many to buy it. No mention of using the nice display for digital messaging either. In the article they interview Zac Rustad and we recommend visiting their online “get your Clover kiosk” now athttps://orderingkiosk.net, they may even give you a discount if you mention us. Stop by NRF and 1602 next week and you can get a demo of the Samsung kiosk in its Clover interaction by Zac himself. Our NRF portal shows several Samsung products at NRF. We do have the Samsung Order Terminal Kiosk KM24A brochure available.
Labor shortages and the supply chain crisis have dealt a double whammy to quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and convenience stores, but the issues are surmountable for operators willing to look out of the box.
Self-service kiosks are a prime off-the-shelf solution and provide multiple benefits, like improved shopping efficiency. They’re easy to integrate into small retail spaces without disrupting the customer experience, and operators can make quick menu updates as items become unavailable. Self-service kiosks such as Samsung Kiosk are reliable, unlikely to fail and result in downtime. They also free up staff to focus on other tasks.
What’s more, consumer acceptance of this technology is high. As the trend toward contactless shopping has grown, self-service payment kiosks have quickly become a normal part of everyday life in retail stores.
A solution to shortages
Self-serve kiosks can compensate for labor shortages by putting customers in control of their order, allowing them to browse menu items, select what they’d like and pay in their own time, without the need for a sales assistant.
Staff shortages are also reported to have reduced operating hours and speed of service at QSRs and c-stores. Such delays can hamper sales; 85 percent of consumers report that they’ll leave a business when the line is too long.
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The Restaurant Association’s November survey found that, in recent months, 96 percent of operators experienced supply delays or shortages of key food or beverage items, while 8 in 10 have faced similar problems with their equipment or service items. As a result, the majority of QSR and restaurants operators are revisiting their menus and updating their associated processes.
Benefits of restaurant and QSR kiosks
Line busting
Self-service kiosks improve the customer experience by providing intuitive all-in-one ordering and payment systems, which enable shoppers to jump the line. There’s no more waiting for a sales attendant to become available, wait for answers to basic questions or wait for help with checkout. The kiosk puts customers in control of their own orders. They can browse, get product information, order and pay, with multiple payment options.
Menu management
With more flexibile technology, restaurant operators can make instant updates to their menu as it changes. If an item is suddenly out of stock, restaurants can adjust the menu immediately, improving customer satisfaction.
Customers using kiosks will have access to the most current, up-to-date menus. This removes the possibility of disappointment that comes when someone selects a product that’s no longer available.
Upselling and promoting premium products
Kiosks also make it easier to upsell. Unlike store employees, kiosks never tire of asking customers if they would like something else. Besides suggesting add-ons, kiosks can promote limited-time offers and new menu additions. They can even encourage people to join the store’s loyalty program, helping increase business revenue and profits.
Getting it right first time
Kiosks help QSRs and c-stores deliver a consistent customer experience by largely removing human error from the equation. As customers place orders, self-service helps ensure accuracy, confirming their final selections before payment. Many customers say modern menu boards that confirm their orders are a top reason for revisiting a particular venue or business.
Easy integration
Kiosks are compact self-serve solutions that can be easily integrated into QSRs and c-stores without disruption. They offer multiple modes of installation — standing, wall-mounted and countertop — so they’re well suited to the majority of store configurations and layouts. Kiosks can be managed remotely, allowing QSRs and c-stores to troubleshoot and resolve any issues from afar, anywhere they have any internet connection.
Meet Samsung Kiosk
Samsung Kiosk is a sleek, all-in-one payment and ordering solution aimed at convenience retailers and QSRs. The versatile, compact solution offers multiple installation options: counter, stand or wall. Its eye-catching design draws attention on its own, while the neutral grey-white tones blend in naturally in any store environment.
With a highly responsive 24-inch touchscreen, the kiosk also includes a speaker, terminal and printer — all in a single plug-and-play unit. And thanks to the internal payment module, there’s no need for peripheral devices. Easy to install and activate, the kiosk offers transactional security, remote access and mobile device management (MDM) tools so IT and operations managers can easily monitor multiple kiosks across a network.
Customer safety is also top of mind. Shatterproof film prevents the screen’s glass from dispersing in an accident, and an antimicrobial coating helps inhibit bacteria growth for continuous use.
Kiosks lend a hand
Self-serve solutions like Samsung Kiosk provide a near-immediate solution for labor and supply chain challenges in the food and beverage industry. Always-on, self-serve kiosks enhance the customer experience by allowing people to skip the line and take charge of their own orders.
By improving overall efficiency and transaction value, kiosks also free up staff to focus on more value-added tasks. It’s a win-win.
Make your customer experience as compelling as possible with more restaurant and in-store display solutions for your restaurant or store to— as you drive customer traffic, boost order size and streamline back-of-house processes. And get yourfree guideto digitizing convenience stores to boost sales using digital signage.
Interesting article on Verizon from IP Watchdog as Verizon joins
their list “Companies We Watch”. Verizon has been very active in the patent and self-service area. Their patent for tele-diagnosis and analysis of dermatological skin conditions is fascinating one for me.
Excerpts from IP Watchdog
Verizon’s inaugural appearance in the Companies We Follow series revealed plenty of patent applications in the realm of retail kiosk services, including one that discusses a kiosk which allows users to purchase mobile devices and activate subscriber services. Other recent patent applications published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office referenced some useful technologies involving vehicles, including one designed to restrict the use of mobile devices when an owner is driving a vehicle.
A few of the patent applications that we ended up exploring in detail discuss a few innovations in retail technologies designed to improve Verizon’s ability to get its products into the hands of consumers. U.S. Patent Application No. 20140351075, which is titledKiosk for Dispensing and Activating User Devices, discusses technological innovations that allow customers to purchase wireless devices and activate data subscription plans without having to visit an actual store. The patent application would protect a device with one or more processors that determines device information associated with a user device housed within a kiosk, dispenses the user device, receives subscription information associated with the device’s purchaser and provide activation information permitting a user device to be activated on a network. Through this system, a purchaser could visit a website to begin the purchase of a device, including selection of subscription package, and then purchase and activate the device from a kiosk instead of an actual store. Tools for providing more personalized customer service in retail establishments are described within U.S. Patent Application No. 20140324638, titled Near-Field Communication (NFC)-Based Retail Experience Using a Retail Kiosk or Mobile Device. The retail kiosk claimed by this patent application includes a display unit, a user-input interface and an NFC reader that establishes an NFC-based communication link with a compatible user device to authenticate the user and provide a personalized retail experience through the user-input interface and display unit. The resulting invention provides customers with a kiosk through which they can access information for a meaningful comparison of mobile wireless devices; the kiosk is capable of detecting what device the customer may be interested in purchasing through the use of the NFC link.
Finally, we wanted to share one novel patent developed by Verizon which allows a mobile device owner to utilize his or her smartphone as a health diagnostic tool. U.S. Patent No. 8891841, entitled Mobile Dermatology Collection and Analysis System, protects a system enabling a device user to get professional medical advice for a developing skin condition, such as a rash, without having to visit a physician. The patent protects a mobile communications device method of obtaining one or more images, extracting features from those images to create feature vectors and determining a dermatological classification of the images based on a dermatological analysis model.
Back in September, there was a terrific article related specifically to temperature kiosks which we promoted. The tagline was “Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson’s defense of “hygiene theater” shows what the business community sees as a viable alternative safety measure.”
Back then the news was all about:
cleaning contact points (actually touchscreens part of daily maintenance for kiosks)
Getting people to use cleaned check-in kiosks instead of exposing the front desk employees
Copper antimicrobial “grip point” (big in hospitals for controlling spread)
air recirculation systems for cleaning the air of microbes (our dentists put in a new one)
temperature monitoring kiosks for customers and employees (multiple levels of EBT)
Off-hour UV light scanning
Robotics used in cleaning (airports use these)
There was no 100% certainty of anything working 100% of the time
There were more but you get the idea. Kitchen Sink. Anything and everything. Confidence by customers and employees.
Worth noting that Marriott’s business fell by as much as 95 percent domestically in late January 2020 and into February. China is the big cheese for Marriott earnings. Back then not a lot was known about transmission or asymptomatic for that matter (people without a fever develop a fever later). From Skift who we really like.
The variety of initiatives across all hotel brands garnered criticism in recent weeks, as skeptics label some elements as “hygiene theater” that aren’t necessarily effective on their own. But Sorenson defended the approach.
“A temperature check is a very dubious tool for ID’ing those who have the virus; nevertheless, that temperature check is hygiene theater, if you will,” Sorenson said. “It’s communicating to folks we care about what you feel and want you to stop and think about if you’re having any symptoms, and we also want to communicate to you that you’re now entering a place in which we’ve got protocols in place to protect you and others in the environment.”
Further, he said critics should view the measures as a package deal rather than a standalone feature for their effectiveness. Business won’t build back unless guests have confidence, even if that is achieved through a little hygiene theater.
“Somebody explained this like Swiss cheese: If you’ve got one slice of Swiss cheese, you’ve got holes and can get through it,” Sorenson said. “But if you’ve got four or five slices of Swiss cheese stacked next to each other … Put it all together, it makes a substantive difference in safety, a provably reduced risk of the spread of the virus, and collectively engaged in a theater that tells us or reminds us all to be careful. By being careful, we’ve further reduced the real risk associated with it.”
I’ll admit it. I like swiss cheese and I like that metaphor.
Recently we saw “hygiene theater” resurface in a recent Atlantic article. We subscribe to the Atlantic (one of the few) and were surprised to see the phrase basically downgraded to just scrubbing or cleaning surfaces and then to minimize cleaning efforts as unnecessary.
Getting people to come back to your hotel or restaurant any way you can is completely necessary. If you look like you have covered any and all bases, your odds improve.
And we think the pandemic and all its ramifications cannot be said to be fully and completely understood at this time despite what publications now publish.
We wish publications would not feel compelled to take the aggressive posture they seem to feel required to do.
TurnKey Kiosks LLC announces that it has been selected by Robocoin to manufacture the world’s leading Bitcoin ATM Kiosks. The biometrically enabled kiosks let customers instantly buy, sell or transfer Bitcoins. What started with the world’s first Bitcoin ATM in Vancouver, Canada, Robocoins have now been deployed to 19 countries with 12 unique currencies and growing. From Coffee shops to Casinos, the Robocoin platform started the Bitcoin ATM industry and has remained the market leader. Robocoin CEO Jordan Kelley remarked, “We have selected TurnKey as our Hardware partner because of their knowledge in the kiosk technology space, their flexibility, and their total commitment to our project”.
The company has established market leadership in the areas of Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer compliance, as well as customer protection and user experience. Apart from being the first Bitcoin ATM in the world, Robocoin has also gained worldwide press for being the first Bitcoin ATM in the U.S., presenting for the U.S. Congress, and integrating software to target global banking and remittance markets. Robocoin has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, TIME, Forbes, The New York Times, NBC, and USA Today among others.
The Robocoin Kiosk comes in three models. 1) Robocoin Classic ($15,000) 2) Robocoin Recycler ($20,000) 3) Robocoin Recycler Max ($35,000), all available at Robocoin.com.
TurnKey Kiosks, www.turnkeykiosks.com is a custom kiosk manufacturer specializing in biometrically enabled transactional kiosks. Gary Strachan, Director of Operations for TurnKey Kiosks said “Turnkey is very proud and honored to have our kiosk selected by Robocoin. We worked very closely with the Robocoin Team to deliver a kiosk that enabled fast and secure Bitcoin transactions. It was also a challenge to launch with a world wide deployment, but we were happy to do so.” Turnkey continues their close relationship with Robocoin to keep on the forefront of technology required for Bitcoin transactions.
The first step of the self-service journey starts with knowing where you want to go
Increasing productivity, being able to scale up easily to provide more services AND higher levels of services is a crucial baseline for success. Self- service capability via any number of solutions is there to help.
The toolset includes displays, signage, fixtures, kiosk terminals, tablets, thin clients, mobiles, iPads, Androids, scanners, infrared sensors, proximity sensors, vending, checkout to check-in and more. Couple that toolset with additional interactive channels including mobile phones, scanners, the POS system, WiDi, 4G, WiFi and the list goes on.
“Moving forward, automation is going to be about cutting to the chase, skipping past laborious processes, to get us to the experience or the product more quickly,” said Richard Cope, director of insight and trends at Chicago- based research firm Mintel. “For companies this means offering a choice between human expertise and automated fast-tracking in service, and adding customer customization and artisan suppliers to the product supply line. Man and machine are not at war, and the challenge is to use automation as something that gives us more time to focus on being more human.”
A key question for any business though, is where to start. How do you choose a partner for your own particular self-service journey? Is the project a single-stage one-off, or is it a short-term near-term that has a big “tail?” Are there long term (3+ years) considerations?
“A good first step would be a needs analysis performed for your business/ facilities and identify the potential and lost opportunities for self-service,” said Craig Keefner, manager with Menomonee Falls, Wis., interactive solutions provider CTS. “Hard to know which direction to go if you don’t know where you are.”
Being able to identify, integrate, maintain and service these tools in your own personalized environment, decors and networks is the big challenge, Keefner said. It’s all supposed to work together – visually and functionally.
“Recalibrating your business processes so your customers are more easily and quickly served means deciding what is important to you,” Keefner said.
“Moving forward, automation is going to be about cutting to the chase, skipping past laborious processes, to get us to the experience or the product more quickly” — Richard Cope, director of insight and trends, Mintel “Going to the DMV to renew a license is much different from transforming a bank branch into a self-service environment. There are informational, transactional, and multi-discipline solutions.”
Once the parameters and opportunities are established, it’s critical to work with an experienced provider that can help you develop and arrive at the solution that best matches your business objectives and goals. So, after doing some initial homework, the next step is picking a partner.
Some of the considerations:
Reputation
The best partner will be a reputable company. The kiosk space is small compared with many other industries so reviewing the industry sites should be an easy task.
Even then bear in mind that the natural tendency of companies is to over- state their capabilities. Florsheim introduced the first major kiosk project in 1985 and the first real electronic kiosk enclosure company Factura was founded in 1986. If a company says they’ve been in the kiosk business for 50 years they are probably exaggerating.
Strengths
Are they a manufacturing partner or do you need more than that? Someone like Flextronics has supply chain advantages but even someone like that might team up with a smaller design firm to develop the platform. Do you have special marketing requirements where multiple technologies need to be designed into environment? Those are special skills in addition to standard manufacturing.
Are you driven by function or solution? An operation that needs relatively simple information or transaction processes has different requirements than one needing multiple “solutions” in order to form a solution. Verizon Bill Pay kiosks are single-minded focus heavy component transactional units while Sears merchandise units requires a combination of transactional and informational units across multiple departments.
What market and environment are you operating in? Rating the providers by their experience in your market is due diligence. The healthcare market has very specific characteristics, for example. It has its own set of inherent liabilities that come into play just like retail and financial transactions. How up to date and experienced are they in your current market? Or are they just learning?
Some final thoughts
Many providers will tell you they make almost everything. Be sure you are not paying to be their test subject.
Never mind the list of bullet points or the endless powerpoint. Sometimes the more they defend, the more likely they have offended.
Cheaper business class PCs sound nice but they go End-Of-Life to fast.
After 5th image in 2 years you’ll ask yourself why you didn’t use that industrial-class PC in first place.
Are the components industry-approved stock components with certification labels and marks or are they piecemeal assembled and/or modified prior to integration? Make sure you can buy complete assembly off the shelf.
Is the remote monitoring working, or are the devices just capable? Paper low and paper out are the killers.
Quality
Customer Recommendations – Who are their reference accounts and repeat customers? If a company is as good as they say it should be easy to get locations, numbers and names to verify their work.
Independent research – What industry research is there regarding that com- pany and how they operate in your space?
Regulatory – how committed and resourceful are they when you look hard at the details? Here is where the words ADA, HL7, HIPAA, UL, and PA DSS have meaning. Asking if someone supports that is not the same as getting a product which includes that.
Components – Cheap anything comes with trade-offs.
Enclosures –Look inside a demo kiosk and, if you dare, run your fingers carefully along the enclosure. Can you really service the inside?
Computers – is it a business- or industrial-class unit? Business class is cheaper but they break down more often. Solid state storage is afford- able, more reliable, greener and by far the better option now.
Keyboards – The best advice here unsurprisingly is to make sure your keyboard is made by somebody who makes keyboards. It sounds absurd but it’s relevant unfortunately.
Devices – Cheap devices have cost more money in more projects than any other element. Hitting a particular price point by using a cheap device now means they have to replace those devices more frequently later.
The kiosk industry standby payment device the Ingenico iUC285 will be retired soon. It is being replace by Self 3000 which is more advanced, doesn’t come with commissioning hell, and it fits the same mounts! Great for retrofits. Here is the official notice on the UCP website.
Ingenico’s iUC285 has been a reliable and popular payment device, but with the introduction of the Self 3000, it’s time to embrace the future. The Self 3000 serves as the intended replacement for the iUC285, offering enhanced features and functionality.
The best part? Clients currently using the iUC285 can seamlessly transition to the Self 3000 without the need for enclosure redesign, thanks to their identical mount features. Multiple gateway partners we work with have certified and fully support the Self 3000 solution with US processors. Call us to discuss your gateway and processor options.
Enhanced Features and Functionality:
The Self 3000 offers an array of advanced features to meet the evolving needs of businesses. From improved security measures to enhanced user experience, this new device packs a punch. With its sleek design, intuitive interface, and robust performance, the Self 3000 elevates the self-service payment experience for both customers and merchants alike.
Self 3000
UCP still has iUC285s in stock for all those who need them, and our dedicated sales team is also ready to support you with your migration to the Self 3000. Contact us today to learn more about the availability and benefits of the Self 3000, and let us help you plan your upgrade to this next-generation device.
We have several thousand left. From a PCI standpoint it is a PCI v4 device, which means that the council recommends that it not be installed on net new machines after April 30th 2024. However that is not a hard rule. We have a machine manufacturer who bought several thousand at the last time buy date and has intentions to rollout kiosks with this device all through 2024 and into 2025. Their processor (Chase) had no issue with that. For when iUC285 supply eventually does dry up the Self 3000 has the same mounting features, so cutting over to the new device will be very easy.
This is my third and final article in a series titled “A Beginners Guide to Developing Kiosk Software.” In this article I’m not even going to attempt to delve into the
specifics of developing support for accepting payments because there is a huge variation between payment devices and their interfaces. What I am going to cover is the decision making process you as a developer or business owner need to carefully step through when you decide to make your kiosk accept payments. If you have any questions about a specific payment device please shoot me a message on one of my social media channels listed at the end of this article.
Will that be Cash or Credit?
While this is really more of a business decision driven largely by your customer demographics it has a significant impact on development. Credit card readers are relatively easy to integrate with and are pretty much dummy proof (but not always child proof). With a credit card reader there’s no reason to be concerned about bill jams or updating firmware to support the latest “Monopoly” money looking $100 bills. Going with credit is more desirable from a design standpoint, which is all well and good as long as you don’t have a line of cash customers waiting to use your kiosk.
In my experience cash customers tend to be the poorer and/or the ever evaporating, less tech savvy demographic. We’ve found that kiosks placed in rich and/or college towns tend to accept a ton of credit card payments whereas the kiosks placed in poorer communities tend to be mainly small cash transactions. Another huge issue with accepting cash is that the cashbox needs to be emptied regularly, which can mean hiring an expensive armored truck service. Some businesses are hung up on the idea of “going cashless” and if this is your client by all means accept the cash, just make sure you’re aware of the challenges associated with accepting this form of payment.
But I want my kiosk to give out change!
When you say give out change are you thinking coins or bills? That is the first question I would ask my client wanting this functionality. The second question would be “Why is it necessary to give out change?” You can certainly house a big coin hopper in the kiosk but you have to consider if it’s worth the headache of keeping it stocked with coins and servicing coin/gum/paper/etc… jams. After understanding what giving change in coins entails our client’s often opt to round up to the nearest dollar and dispense change in bills. Typically we’re dealing with clients who are selling products and services no less than $20 per transaction and rounding up the change to the nearest dollar is worth eliminating the headache of dealing with coins. Optimizing your pricing to minimize the need to give change can be an effective strategy also. Accepting and dispensing change (in coins) is something I would recommend avoiding if you can get away with it.
Ok so what about giving back change in whole bills? This is very doable, but you’re talking about investing in a relatively expensive bill recycler. To give you a little background, a bill recycler (or bulk note recycler) is a hybrid bill acceptor which both accepts and dispenses bills. The recycler uses the bills from previous transactions to dispense change but you also need to keep it stocked to ensure you always have sufficient bills of all increments.
We’ve integrated the MEI BNR (Bulk Note Recycler) into multiple kiosk projects
and I would highly recommend this product. Both the product and their developer support are excellent.
Can my kiosk accept checks?
The short answer is yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it because of the potential for check fraud. Next time you pass by a bill payment kiosk see if it accepts checks and ask yourself why not. Once upon a time we actually developed a kiosk application equipped with a check scanner and then automatically sent the check images to a bank to deposit them, but this was purely for use with checks issued internally by the organization. Again I wouldn’t recommend it.
Don’t ignore PCI compliance
PCI-DSS compliance is a huge issue in today’s retail environment and the same is true for retail kiosks or any kiosk where you’re accepting credit card payments. It’s critical that you understand how to adhere to its guidelines or you may end up putting your clients at risk of fines and your customers at risk of credit card fraud. The whole purpose of PCI compliance is to protect card holder data and many of the guidelines are no-brainers. Just search the web for the phrase “kiosk PCI compliance” and you will find a whole wealth of useful information on the topic. Bottom line is, you need to protect the customer’s credit card data by ensuring that it’s always transmitted securely via SSL and NEVER store credit card data on the kiosk.
Summary
Thank you for taking the time to read this short series on developing kiosk software. The last thing I wanted to mention is that when developing support for kiosk payment devices you’ll find that each device will commonly have its own proprietary interface or API. We’ve created a handy kiosk software product called KioskSimple that makes it easy for your kiosk to start accepting payments with writing only very little code, so you can check that out at www.KioskSimple.com We also offer a generic API for payment devices that makes it simple to swap between different devices, any many cases without the need to modify your code at all.
Visitors to retail stores, museums, hospitals, and banks all have an “experience” and “path” that influences how and what they see during their visit. They have a traffic flow, a decision making process, and path that can be identified, quantified, and displayed. The experience is not only “in person” but is often initiated at home (via a website interaction), on the bus or in the car (via a mobile application interaction), or out on the street (via a digital signage interaction).
Mapping these experiences visually often displays the many opportunities for consumer touch points to occur. Above is an image displaying the Exploratorium Visitor Experience Map shown in a MozCon presentation earlier this month. Specifically mapping visitor flow within a retail store can also provide valuable information for kiosk placement. While stores often use this information to improve product placement and traffic flow, they can also add informational and purchasing kiosks to stores (using traffic flow research) to optimize staff, improve communication, and increase customer satisfaction.
At the end of the day, understanding customer behavior and the paths they take to get to a purchase or experience can be imperative to reaching them with product placement, checkout flow, and informational and transactional kiosks. Use your customer flow research to better inform your electronic interactions with customers, for better results and a more satisfying retail experience.
PHOENIX — When the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division launched ServiceArizona.com in 1997, it was the nation’s first motor vehicle division online service for vehicle registrations.
Source: www.wmicentral.com
Avoid a line and print annual off-highway road vehicle decal at MVD kiosks
First-time service adds customer convenience
April 11, 2017
PHOENIX – Just in time for spring, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has added a new feature to its self-serve kiosks. For the first time, customers can use a ServiceArizona kiosk to print the annual off-highway vehicle (OHV) decal, eliminating the need to wait in line.
“Off-highway vehicles are very popular in Arizona, and the law requires that owners renew their decals every year,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “Rather than make people wait in line to get this credential, we expanded this service to kiosks located at many MVD offices as well as court buildings in a number of communities throughout the state. This is another way MVD is getting people out of line and safely on the road ‒ or, in this case, off-road.”
OHVs made primarily for use over unimproved terrain and weighing 1,800 pounds or less are required by law to display a valid OHV decal, which costs $25 and must be purchased annually. This includes “street legal” vehicles that meet those requirements. Getting the decal isn’t to be confused with registering the vehicle, which is required only for those OHVs that are meant to be street legal.
While OHV decals and registration are handled by the Motor Vehicle Division, renewal notices are sent by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information, please visit azgfd.com/OHV(link is external).
In fiscal year 2016, nearly 86,000 decals were issued. Thirty percent of the funds collected go into the state’s Highway User Revenue Fund, which is distributed to counties and cities for road and highway maintenance.
The remaining funds are split as follows:
60 percent to Arizona State Parks for grants, agreements, trail construction, development and maintenance, signage and maps
35 percent to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for law enforcement education and outreach
5 percent to the Arizona State Land Department for mitigation signage and enforcement
For an interactive map showing court and MVD office locations with self-serve kiosks, please visit azdot.gov/MVD and click the Hours and Locations link under MVD Services.
Sometimes, you just have a technology moment. I was using the Open Table app on my smartphone recently to check wait times at local restaurants when the technology moment struck. This tiny device in my hand fascinated me – it connected me to the entire world with a tap on its touch screen. It provided a remote portal to other digital technologies, things like schedulers, interactive payment kiosks, digital directories, and way-finding resources, right at my fingertips.
Apps as Necessities, Not Luxuries
The reason my technology moment was so powerful is because I usually just take the connection for granted. Following along with the ideas of omni-channel networks, apps build the experience around the user and make things intuitive and effortless. So we’ve gotten spoiled to the unlimited digital world at our fingertips. Unless we’re having a technology moment, we just expect to use our phones in this way. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Mobile Apps for Smart Marketing
Modern marketers are tapping into this mindset and are providing a sense of digital convenience and connection for customers through apps. Here are a few interactive, self-service apps that I think are awesome:
Travelocity: search and book hotels and flights, while accessing additional savings and app-only deals
My Disney Experience: schedule experiences, save places in line, and make changes on the go (also connects with interactive kiosks in hotels and parks)
Evernote: store notes, images, urls, tasks lists on in one place
Starbucks: consolidate gift cards and make purchases using the virtual gift card
Beyond the App Store – Apps Within Your Business
Not every awesome app is available for public purchase…in fact, many of the best apps out there never reach the public eye. Forward-thinking professionals in industries like retail and sales will commission custom mobile apps to help their businesses run more smoothly. These apps incorporate intuitive design and location freedom to connect managers and employees, which ultimately makes for a more profitable business experience.
Some uses of inter-business mobile apps include:
monitoring staff utilization
managing loss prevention
monitoring stock
assisting in merchandising
gathering/organizing customer insight
establishing a secure link to senior management
providing snap shots of sales and profitability by department, by person, day by day, even hour by hour
What mobile apps do you find most useful? What companies are using apps in creative and effective ways?
Back in 2007 when Netkey was Netkey (but used to be
Lexitech…) Alex Richardson of Selling Machine Partners gave a talk on ROI.
Alex has been around as long as anyone and has gotten to have this conversation with hundreds of clients, each one another variation and difference from the other.
And in today’s world technology has assumed an even more prominent influence in drivers, sometimes a project being done for the sake of technology…
Alex reminds us that it is the consumer needs that matter,
Here is the talk…
Much More to ROI Than Dollars
“The best ROI calculators can be computed on the back of a napkin versus the use of complicated Excel programs.”
That was an opinion espoused by Alex Richardson, founder and executive vice president of business development for Netkey, during his speech, “Does ROI matter?” at The Kiosk Show in Long Beach, Calif., last week.
Richardson continued, “Don’t believe the companies that say they offer 20 to 100 times the return on investment. That means nothing.” He said he much prefers the philosophy of Ken Harris, CIO of retail outlet The Gap, who has said he only needs to see a doubled return on investment on projects within one to two years and wants projects implemented in under 90 days.
Richardson’s point was that the traditional measure of ROI: cost reduction plus revenue increase divided by total cost of ownership, is a good start in calculating ROI, but it’s not the final determinant.
“That traditional view of ROI ignores the quality of technology available, the impact of loyalty, the support of the implementation,” he said.
Richardson told the crowd of some 50 technology buyers that they need to make their kiosk projects a customer showcase, not a technology showcase. He said that technology is a feature of a successful kiosk project, but not the main driver. The main driver is usefulness to customers.
He offered the example of Howard Hughes’ infamous Spruce Goose, which, coincidentally, sits in the harbor in Long Beach. The airplane is stunning in its features, including a cockpit instrument panel, but the craft couldn’t get more than 50 feet above the water in its test run.
Questions that potential kiosk deployers need to ask about a project include: Does the kiosk capture my customers’ preferences? Does it leverage other customer channels, including employees? Does it offer continuous customer feedback? Does it treat employees like customers, too?
He said focus groups are important tools for judging the happiness of customers and employees with a kiosk. Employees’ happiness is a critical consideration, he said, because their attitudes and willingness can make or break a deployment.
Model markets
Richardson cited successful kiosk deployers Borders Books, CompUSA/AOL, Fleet Bank and BMW as examples of companies that look beyond dollar signs in calculating return on investment. He asked the audience to yell out ROI measures for each. In the case of Borders Title Sleuth kiosks, for instance, people offered the following as measurements of success:
Decrease in store labor
Increased length of time customers spend in store
Number of books ordered
Sales volume
Information capture on the types of books customers like
Repeat business
“Line busting,” or decreased wait times
Increased margins on books that are special orders
Ability of employees to flip toggle switch and go to HR applications
Asked by an audience member which industries have good potential for ROI, Richardson cited the gaming, foodservice and automotive industries. “Any time you are automating a repetitive task, like airline check-ins, there is potential,” he said.
Difficult measurements
Richardson said in the speech that it can be hard to pinpoint the different aspects of return on investment.
“The vendor and client have to agree on the elements. Everyone has to be crystal clear on the applications and what they are trying to accomplish. There may be one or two things the client thinks the customer needs. But does the customer realize that he needs it?”
KioWare has released updates to KioWare Classic for Windows & KioWare for Android
December 11, 2017 York, PA – Analytical Design Solutions Inc. (ADSI) has released new versions of their kiosk system software products, KioWare Classic for Windows, and KioWare for Android.
KioWare kiosk software products lock down your device into kiosk mode, which secures the overall operating system, home screen, and usage of applications.
Version 3.14 of KioWare for Android (Lite, Basic, & Full with Kiosk Management) has added customized exit patterns, WI-FI Management options, favicon customization options, new guided setup functionality, screen magnification, and more. Version 7.6.0 of KioWare Classic for Windows (Basic & Full) includes updates for ScanShell driver’s license scanner, and the ChipDNA EMV Compliance solution.
KioWare Classic for Windows New Features
Inject custom JavaScript into a browser.
ScanShell driver’s license scanning updated to the latest version. (Basic/Full)
ChipDNA updated to 2.01 for new EMV compliant hardware & processor integrations. (Basic/Full)
Custom intervals can now be scheduled on secondary monitors, allowing for custom timing on a per-page basis. (Basic/Full)
Stop Video Capturing Manually (on demand). (Basic/Full)
KioWare has been providing OS, desktop, and browser lockdown security for the kiosk and self-service industry since 2003.
About KioWare:
KioWare kiosk software secures your application or website on Windows or Android devices, restricting user access to approved behaviors and protecting user and network data. KioWare is fully customizable and offers solutions ranging from browser lockdown to full server-based kiosk management. From simple out of the box configurations to more complex integrations, KioWare is trusted by developers, IT professionals, marketers, Fortune 100 corporations, and small business owners. The KioWare team is based in York, Pennsylvania, USA with an office located in Reading, UK. Choose the best KioWare product for your self-service project and download a fully functioning free trial at KioWare.com.
Get out the stethoscope, Nova Scotia movie fans. It appears there may be some life in the movie rental business after all.
Craig Keefner‘s insight:
During the past year, about 135 Redbox kiosks have popped up in Atlantic Canada at Sobeys,Superstore, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Petro-Canada locations.
Redbox movie rental kiosks are popping up all over the province — and across the Atlantic Canada — as a relatively new Canadian division of Redbox Automated Retail LLC, based in the United States,seeks to replicate in this country the popularity of its movie vending machines south of the border.
Overall, Redbox kiosks are a convenient and affordable way to rent movies and video games. They’re a great option if you’re looking for something to watch but don’t want to commit to buying a DVD or Blu-ray.
Here are some additional facts about Redbox that you might find interesting:
Redbox was founded in 2002.
There are over 40,000 Redbox kiosks in the United States.
Redbox is owned by McDonald’s Corporation.
Redbox is the largest DVD rental chain in the United States.
What they offer:
A wide selection of movies, including new releases, older favorites, and even some foreign films.
A smaller selection of video games, mostly older titles.
Blu-ray discs are also available at some kiosks.
You can reserve movies online and pick them up at the kiosk.
Some additional things to keep in mind:
Redbox charges late fees for discs that are not returned on time.
You can only rent one disc per kiosk at a time.
Some Redbox kiosks are located inside stores, while others are located outside.
Redbox also offers a streaming service called Redbox On Demand, which allows you to rent movies and TV shows online.
Decatur Utilities customers soon will be able to pay their bills through a kiosk that will be located outside the Central Parkway Southwest facility, where customers can also pay inside.
Source: www.decaturdaily.com
“Over 10,000 customers come inside to pay their bills each month right now,” Baker said. “We’re hoping about 30-40 percent of those customers will go to the kiosk. It’s another way we can make paying their bills more convenient for customers.”
Customers will be able to pay with cash or check with no fee. Credit and debit card users will be charged a $3.95 fee.
Baker said long-term plans include adding a kiosk inside the building and possibly putting one in a public location in the city so customers don’t have to drive to DU, Baker said.
KIOSK Information Systems Announces Licensed Bill Pay Software Product
Reduces Development Costs, Speeds Time to Market, and Increases Store Productivity
LOUISVILLE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK) is announcing a new bill pay software platform at the NRF Big Show, 2017, Booth #3805. The modular application provides a complete user flow for payment of multiple bills (via cash, card, and check) and common account inquiries. While unique customer features or additional flow paths can be readily integrated by KIOSK’s Application Development team, the base product license accomplishes the most common transaction functionality KIOSK has encountered with other major retail bill payment and money services clients.
KIOSK CEO, Tom Weaver, states, “Without question, bill payment is KIOSK’s most consistent and dominant market application. Many of our clients are in their second or third generation of self-service having already proven the enormous impact of automating literally millions of transactions each year. The ROI on in-store bill payment has moved it from a ‘nice to have’ in-store feature to a ‘must-have’ element to maximize store profits.”
Having worked with most of the dominant phone and cable service providers as well as leading electronic bill payment and money transfer clients, KIOSK’s Development Teams embarked on creating a more turnkey and modular software product, with a pre-established user flow for multi-bill account look-up and payment processing. By offering this as licensed functionality, KIOSK can reduce development timelines by 50% or more, leaving only specialized requests and client-specific API integration to complete.
KIOSK CTO, Charley Newsom, adds that “Our team has integrated our bill payment software with CORE K-NECT to include our proprietary remote monitoring and real-time alerts on connectivity, application status, and advanced payment component-level monitoring in the base product license. This capability, combined with our Intel Security Suite software stack options, creates a secure and PCI compliant total solution that has been vetted and deployed with Fortune 500 client applications. The custom hardware has always been a ‘given’ with KIOSK, but over the course of several years, we have developed a fully secured and finished TOTAL payment solution that we are very proud and excited to bring to market.”
For a closer look, please visit us at NRF’s Big Show, Booth #3805.
About KIOSK Information Systems:
As the Market Leader in Self-service Solutions, KIOSK provides proven expertise in design engineering; application development, integration, manufacturing, field support, and managed services for even the most sophisticated self-service platforms. An exceptionally broad portfolio of standard and custom KIOSK designs are deployed among Top 100 Retailers and Fortune 500 clients in virtually all self-service vertical markets. www.kiosk.com, 800.509.5471.
The 30 kiosks placed at DTE payment centers and select Rite Aid pharmacies in locations around Detroit and Michigan accept all forms of payment, including cash. The targeted customer is someone who might not have a credit card or bank account.
Early returns are strong, company executives say. Of the utility’s 200,000 walk-in payment transactions, 25,000 used a DivDat kiosk last month. The use of its kiosks grows between 10% and 15% month-over-month. More than 90% of customers who use the kiosk one time use it again.
For Bierkle, the goal is broader than Michigan.
“We want to eliminate convenience fees nationally,” he said in an interview at the Ferndale headquarters for DivDat, short for “diversified data.” “We don’t think it’s right.”
He imagines a future of conveniently located kiosks where customers could pay a variety of bills, from water to electric to phone, in one spot without charge. Unlike a payment center, these kiosks would be located in retail stores like Rite Aids that are open on nights and weekends.
A separate trial program inside several area churches also is under way, he said.
The growing use of cash-collecting kiosks in Michigan comes as the Obama administration launched a new initiative last week to boost banking access for millions of Americans who don’t currently have checking or savings accounts.
“For many, it is hard to imagine how it would be possible manage financial affairs without basic products like a checking account or a credit card,” Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Tuesday in an announcement about new public-private efforts to reach low-income populations. “But the consequences of exclusion are real, and expanding access to financial services is important at every level of the global economy.”
The recent financial lending crisis and recession have shined a light on the potential dangers for consumers who shell out higher rates and fees for access to last-ditch credit. Millions of Americans don’t have a sufficient enough financial history to receive a credit score, which can unlock traditional forms of lending, according to Lew.
Bierkle says DTE customers already are using the blue-and-gray kiosk in a number of ways its creators did not necessarily anticipate.
Some customers are prepaying their bills to ensure they don’t lose service if times get tight. Others pay a little at various times during the month.
Ted Williams, 61, who lives on Detroit’s east side and works in inventory at Ford, said he uses the kiosks at DTE payment centers when the lines grow too long or at a Rite Aid near the city airport when he stops in to pick up a prescription.
“It’s very easy to use,” Williams said. “I wait until the last minute so I go in to drop off my check.”
Caregivers including parents of children living away from home and adult children of elderly people are also using the system to pay bills remotely for others.
There is also evidence, Bierkle said, that the millennial generation in some cases prefers cash, making the kiosk attractive beyond those who may be without a bank account or credit card.
But there are hurdles left to clear to move the business beyond its early stages.
“We have two challenges,” he said. One is building awareness about the availability of the kiosks and another is reducing concerns that installing kiosks means putting customer-service employees out of work.
For Bierkle, the kiosks are a natural evolution for his family’s business that started in early 1971 as a data processing company. Later, it developed a variety of bill-paying services for companies that progressed from the mail to faxes to the Internet.
“I consider it wildly successful,” Ronald Gillmore, kiosk program manager for DTE, said in an interview.
The program collects about $3.5 million a month for the utility.
“We’re probably going to look at expanding the network,” Gillmore said. DTE has 2.1 million electric customers and 1.2 million gas customers (and some overlap), the company said.
It can still be a challenge to persuade some older customers to adapt to the new technology, Gillmore said. But once they do, most become repeat customers, he said.
Reducing condensation in kiosks involves a combination of design considerations, operational strategies, and mechanical solutions. Here are some effective steps to minimize condensation:
Design Considerations
Sealing the Unit: Ensure that the kiosk is properly sealed to prevent moist air from entering. Pay particular attention to gaps around monitors, keyboards, and other openings7.
Insulation and Ventilation: Incorporate insulation to maintain a consistent internal temperature and include ventilation systems to allow for air exchange. This can help prevent temperature fluctuations that lead to condensation6.
Material Selection: Use materials that are resistant to moisture and humidity. Avoid materials that absorb moisture, such as wood, and opt for waterproof or water-resistant alternatives.
Operational Strategies
Temperature Management: Maintain the internal temperature of the kiosk at a level that is above the dew point to prevent condensation. This can be achieved by using heating elements or thermoelectric assemblies6.
Humidity Control: Monitor and control humidity levels inside the kiosk. This can be done by ensuring good airflow and using dehumidifying systems if necessary.
Mechanical Solutions
Fans and Ventilation Systems: Install fans that promote air circulation and help to remove moisture-laden air. High-efficiency, low-noise fans are ideal for indoor applications6.
Thermoelectric Cooling: Use thermoelectric assemblies to control the temperature within specific compartments of the kiosk, ensuring that sensitive electronics remain cool and dry6.
Desiccants: Place desiccant packs or moisture-absorbing materials inside the kiosk to absorb excess moisture and reduce humidity levels.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively reduce condensation in kiosks and ensure their reliability and longevity.
Modularity meets Freedom of Design with Alpine kiosk: uniquely stunning designs and unmatched adaptability. Precision-crafted, each unit stands out, adding elegance to any space. Its modular design adjusts to meet any demand, fitting seamlessly into retail, food service, and more—experience where exceptional style meets versatile functionality.
Alpine Kiosk as a Brand of AlpsAV is part of the international REINGROUP.
Alpine Platform
“A win-win situation to everyone involved in Kiosk Business”
• Bring Kiosk buyers and builders together
• Simplify the workflow for any Kiosk Project
• Attract a wide range of end users with stunning Kiosk Designs
• Manufacture high-quality Kiosk housings
Alpine is the go-to platform for everyone when it comes to anything kiosk-related: buying, building, designing,…
No matter who you are, you always find a kiosk solution with Alpine:
Alpine Kiosk not only offers the tool for all of that but we also manufacture customized high-quality housings for each project and provide them for our kiosk builder partners. Our professional kiosk building partners will be your contractors who fulfills every specific requirement directly.
The REINGROUP
an international group of companies under the same ownership.
With over 25 years in business and a wide range of expertise it covers different business units:
Click for full size image — Ingenico pci compliance kiosk credit card reader
Editor Updates:
December 2023 — Recommended at this point are the Ingenico Self Series. Integrates perfectly into indoor and outdoor kiosks and commissioning has been made much much easier. The 285 is EOL. Contact Rob at UCP Inc.for pricing. They probably still have some 285s in stock as well.
July 2021
Just what is a CAT or Cardholder Activated Terminal? See FAQ
Sample specs of PAD device used in major RFP — see below
Choosing a device for the operational situation is important. A slow CPU for example may work for a liquor store. If you want to display loyalty options then a fast CPU becomes required.
Whether a device is rated for self-service is important. CAT or Card Holder Activated Terminals is a PCI qualification. A device like P400 or even the devices used in Home Depot for example are not rated for that. Unless you have the leverage of a Home Depot to force the processor to allow use of the units (with conditions), you should always select CAT certified.
Example is three new devices which are EMV Level 3 rev level and PCI PTS version 6. Other new emerging “now available” include all types of connectivity including 4G and fallback to 3G/2G. Bluetooth, ethernet, and even Smart Cards now. Video of the new Self-4000 being received by Alveni.
We’ve fielded several questions regarding PCI Compliance for kiosks so it seems a good time for us to provide some updated info. Thanks to Rob at UCP , Bruce with Ingenico and Pazit with Otiglobal for helping with the background detail.
To discuss your options and get price quotes contact [email protected]. UCP provides free-of-charge consultations to help identify the best solution or solutions for your physical and digital environment, as well as your self-service use case. Some gateways can do things other gateways can’t for instance, and UCP can help you cut through the weeds and get to the most suitable payments partner quickly.
Right now we are just looking at Ingenico readers and OTI Global readers.
Are your typical transactions below $25 or above
Best to engineer modularity and the ability to use pinpad or not. Outdoor is another consideration
Ensure the device is PCI-PTS v4 at minimum (which Ingenicos for kiosks are those?)
All v3 Ingenico kiosk hardware has been end of life for over a year. The iSelf which we are still selling is PCI v4 as is the iUC285. These are eligible for installation into net new kiosk deployments until April 30, 2023. The Self lineup is PCI-PTS v5, good for net new installations until April 30, 2026. Note: Historically i is possible to recertify to a later PCI-PTS version without changing the form factor of the unit provided nothing in the later specification required it. Ingenico did this with the iPP and iSC for example. I am not saying they will definitely do that with the Self, but there is a precedent for it if a device is a popular workhorse.
v3.2.1 Otiglobal includes the Trio IQ which provides
Detail — both readers have water evacuation drain holes. Of course taking all your normal precautions regarding direct sunlight primarily for daylight readability and thermal load concerns. Follow best practices for facing kiosk North or South, avoid East and West facing installations. Instruct cleaning crews to not power wash kiosk etc. etc.
Audio
no commissioning required — this is a big deal. Maintenance and service and downtime can be ruthless.
In detail — This is a time and money saver in that it no longer takes two technicians with special issued smart cards to install the hardware in the enclosure any more. This was originally a requirement for PIN entry capable payment terminals that are comprised of individual components (the iUP PIN pad and iUR card reader for example). With attended terminals the reader and PIN pad share a common plastic housing that is equipped with all kinds of tamper sensors. With these components, the kiosk enclosure is their common housing so anti-removal/anti-tamper sensors were installed on these devices so it can tell when it is mounting in a kiosk or not. Additionally the smart cards and commissioning process was a way to do a digital handshake between the PIN pad and its reader mate so they would trust each other with the idea being if one of the components was removed and replaced with a rogue device the other component wouldn’t trust the rogue device. Additionally if a bad actor did remove one of the components with this intention it would trip the anti-removal sensors anyway so they’d be unsuccessful from the very first step. With the Self 2000, 4000, and 5000 the PIN pad and reader share a common housing as they are “all in one” units so no trust handshake needed between PIN pad and reader any longer. Beyond that this part of the PCI-PTS specification was deprecated.
More detail — Commissioning is not a manufacturer’s requirement but rather one that PCI determined was the best way to confirm that a terminal had been installed by an authorized party. This is no longer a requirement under PCI v5, so the Self 2000, 4000 or 5000 do not require it. The Self 7000 and 8000, a modular solution to be used together and due to be released later this year may require commissioning, but our goal is to avoid it if possible. Commissioning does not have anything to do with key injection, it’s merely to put the terminal into a “ready” state once installed within the kiosk.
What About Verifone devices?
There is no Verifone device that would be a true comparison to the new Self 2000, 4000, and 5000 line. They don’t currently have a PCI-designated CAT (cardholder activated terminal, aka unattended terminal) that has PIN on display, or is an all-in-one, or has an integrated QR code reader.
Verifone, to our knowledge, does not have competing devices to match the Self family. They simply haven’t invested in unattended terminals, preferring to focus on their Zivelo acquisition and to push customers to use attended terminals on kiosks. While this works, this is not always in the best interest of the customer in our opinion as these terminals aren’t built for self-service use and may face shorter life spans when used in this manner.
Smart Vending Card Reader Solution Videos
The Ingenico 2000, 4000 and 5000 readers are also targeted for Smart Vending. Here is a video on that segment by Ingenico.
Here is a video by Otiglobal on Smart Vending
Some Background on Key Injection
This is an older write-up on Key Injection but still relevant at very least from point of view in 2015. Terms and requirements for this are dated to 2015
Key Injection Service is the secure process by which payment hardware (credit card terminal/ reader/ pin pad) gets loaded with the encrypted Debit and Data keys which in effect “marries” the terminal to the merchant’s processor and bank to make the device functional and secure. Debit Keys are now called PIN Keys. This process is mandated by PCI (Payment Card Industry) to mask and protect card holder data during the transaction. A debit key is needed to scramble the pin data and a data key is needed to scramble card data. A debit key is mandatory if a customer wants to accept debit cards. Customers accepting only credit will not need key injection.(1)
Only an ESO (Encryption Service Organization) can perform the key injection service to be PCI compliant.
A debit key encrypts the customer’s debit card personal identification number (PIN) when entered during the tender process at the point of sale. The debit key is loaded into the terminal by an ESO, like our key-injection facility, and allows the transaction terminal to complete a debit transaction by securely authenticating the PIN with the issuing bank. This key is not used during a “credit” transaction where a signature is used for authentication or to encrypt the actual card data. This key is always required if you are accepting debit transactions due to PCI standards.(1)
A Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) key encrypts the customer’s card information when swiping a credit or debit card at the point of sale. It is also commonly referred to a data key or end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This works separately from the debit key. P2PE keys are recommended but are not required by current PCI standards. P2PE keys lower the risk of unauthorized interception of sensitive card information during the transmission from the payment terminal to the payment processor. P2PE keys must be injected through an ESO like debit keys.(1)
Ms. McInerny also pointed out that only about half of the equipment is being shipped with encryption, and at the same time, business is growing exponentially. “Point-to-point encryption is an excellent solution because of its security. P2P is a great workaround and protects the merchants.”
“Resellers should empower the end user now, and not wait for the processors to tell them what to do.”
Now – last key point – devices purchased last year, or early in 2015, may have been shipped without the final encrypted keys in place.
Retailers should find out NOW if their device needs injection and make plans to either have it done remotely, or to ship their terminal to an authorized center. Retailers with equipment should contact their own supplier about this. Retailers who have changed banks or processors may also have to have their equipment re-injected with the new key.
ONGOING “After Original Publish” UPDATES
As soon as start proclaiming v5, along come v6 iterations. These are from Ingenico and are preliminary specs. Worth noting on the audio front, the 7000 is your conventional Beep while the 7500 and 8000 are both polyphonic WAV file capable.
Historically when EMV is discussed it is L1 or L2. Well, now we have L3 (see new Ingenico v6s above).
What does EMV® Level 3 testing mean?
EMV Level 3 (L3) testing aims to validate the integration of an EMV payment or cash dispensing terminal with any merchant or bank systems to ensure end-to-end transaction acceptance.
L3 testing includes the series of processes required to ensure that a new or upgraded terminal (hardware and/or software) meets the specific requirements and recommendations of the individual payment systems before being deployed in the field.
As background, EMVCo has historically been involved in managing Level 1 and Level 2 acceptance device testing processes, collectively known as Type Approval.
• Level 1 focuses on the physical hardware capabilities of a payment card or device, ensuring its electro-mechanical components meet the required specifications.
• Level 2 focuses on the software or firmware interactions between the card and terminal, specifically driven on the terminal side by a component called the ‘EMV Kernel’.
For Level 1 and 2 testing, the requirements for compliance are detailed in the EMV Chip Specifications. More information about the Type Approval process can be found here.
Level 1 and Level 2 testing is typically performed in ‘component’ mode – meaning that each area is tested independently of the other, and typically only within a laboratory environment. In contrast, L3 requires that the terminal be complete with its
EMVCo-approved hardware, software kernel, and payment application in place, and must be connected to a test environment or host simulator which mimics authorisation responses from payment systems.
Here is excel sheet of current (July 2021) Ingenico Card Readers for Unattended. These units are all certified for unattended Cardholder Activated Terminals (CAT specification for PCI DSS)
Excel Matrix Comparison of Credit Card Readers for Unattended
You can request a free copy of our Credit Card Reader matrix detailing various characteristics and features. Use the form.
What About COTS or Contactless Payment?
The PCI Contactless Payments on COTS (CPoC) Standard provides security requirements for solutions that enable contactless, or “tap and go”, transactions on merchant COTS devices.
The CPoC Standard includes: Specific criteria for solution providers on how to protect payment data within their solutions; Test requirements for PCI-recognized Laboratories to assess solutions for validation and listing on the PCI SSC website through the supporting CPoC Program. The CPoC Standard is being developed with input from payment card industry stakeholders via the RFC process. This includes a dedicated RFC with the Mobile Task Force that took place in April 2019 and an RFC with Participating Organizations, Qualified Security Assessors and PCI-recognized Laboratories, scheduled to open on 22 July
MyHealthyvet update – “My HealtheVet is a shining example of how Veterans can play a more active role in their health care journey.” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said about the accomplishment. “VA is committed to providing the necessary technologies to ensure that Veterans receive care when and where they need it.”
MyHealthyVet Kiosks
DynaTouch’s MHV Express™ Kiosks helped the VA achieve this major milestone by providing patients with secure access to the website over 4.5 million times, just in the last two years! The first MHV Express kiosks were acquired by the VA in 2010 to increase awareness of and enrollment in the portal at the point-of-care, and to encourage patients to opt in to Secure Messaging. The kiosks feature a user-friendly interface with rich graphics that entice Veterans to engage, and large button selections that make it fast and easy for them to do so.
MyHealthyVet kiosk
MyHealtheVet kiosk
The very first MHV Express kiosks installed were the standard upright model that DynaTouch uses for most of its TIPS eGov Kiosk™ solutions. TIPS eGov Kiosks are configured with a privacy filter, printer, rugged keyboard and trackball. After receiving a great deal of feedback from the Veterans using the systems in the early days, DynaTouch designed a sit-down kiosk configured with a standard keyboard and mouse, so Veterans could be as comfortable as possible navigating and interacting with the portal. The sit-down model soon became the VA’s most popular form factor. However, several VA facilities still prefer the upright kiosk. And some prefer a countertop kiosk due to limited floor space, or tablet kiosks for portability. All DynaTouch kiosks are powered by TIPS Kiosk Management Software, which is on the VA’s approved list of software due to its robust security features and ADA/HIPAA compliance.
An interactive solution for boosting awareness and use of My HealtheVet. TIPS MHV Express is a fully-integrated system with a customized interface that makes it fast and easy for Vets to take advantage of the many patient services offered by My HealtheVet. It can also help new members get started with registration, upgrading or opting in – even for Vets with little to no Internet experience!
TIPS MHV Express will help you:
Increase enrollment in My HealtheVet
Increase “opt ins” for secure messaging
Increase awareness of new My HealtheVet features and services
Increase Veterans access to appointments, medical history, prescription refills and healthy living information
Support VA’s national goals for MHV usage and opting in
Improve Veterans satisfaction and patient experience with it’s ease of use
– Already proven successful in a large number of VA facilities nationwide. – Fully compliant with HIPAA, ADA, Section 508 and JCAHO requirements. – SDVOSB and SBE/WBE procurement supports the VA’s SB contracting goals
A new solar-powered kiosk at the corner of Main and Bank streets in downtown Stamford on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The kiosks, which come from Cambridge-based Soofa, feature information on weather, air quality and a map of downtown. News link and full story.
Ignacio Laguarda / Hearst Connecticut Media
The digital display, part of Stamfords solar kiosks, features the Stamford Downtown Neighborhood Newsfeed, showcasing wayfinding information with sections including a poster for Stamford Downtown, an opinion poll on favorite comfort food, weather forecast, and a Moderate air quality index.
Stamford, Connecticut, has installed four new solar-powered kiosks in its downtown area, with a fifth one on the way. These kiosks, developed by the Cambridge-based company Soofa, provide information on weather, air quality, and maps of the area. They also display city announcements, transit information, and fun polls for visitors. The kiosks are part of an effort to create a more robust wayfinding system in the city. Soofa is providing the kiosks for free, with the company recouping revenue from selling advertising through the devices.
Soofa, which was founded by women in the MIT Media Lab in 2014, is providing the kiosks for free, with the caveat that the company will recoup revenue from selling advertising through the devices.
Looks like e-paper display technology to conserve power?
Philadelphia International Airport improved passenger flow with a digital wayfinding solution. Custom kiosks provide real-time flight info, optimal paths, and remote assistance. The system integrates various data sources and serves dual purposes: wayfinding and digital ads. It enhances passenger experience and generates revenue, ensuring future adaptability and growth. Here is nice case study by Acquire Digital, a leader in digital signage applications and software. For more information contact Troy via email or give a shout to Neil over in the UK
In today’s digital age, airports must evolve to meet rising passenger expectations for seamless navigation and information access. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), serving millions of domestic and international travelers, demonstrates this commitment to digital transformation through a sophisticated wayfinding solution that sets new standards for passenger experience in modern airport environments. Reference Link.
Modern airports face increasingly complex demands in managing passenger information and experiences. While PHL already utilized Atrius for their mapping infrastructure, the airport recognized the need for a more comprehensive solution that could bridge the gap between digital information availability and practical passenger accessibility.
The key challenge lay in creating a unified system that could serve multiple crucial functions: providing intuitive wayfinding at key decision points, integrating real-time flight information, and incorporating digital advertising capabilities – all while maintaining consistency with existing airport systems.
Passengers need immediate access to information without relying on mobile devices or having to search for website addresses they might not know. Additionally, the airport needed to ensure that any new system could effectively work with their existing infrastructure while adding value through new capabilities.
This meant finding a solution that could not only utilize their current Atrius mapping data but also enhance it through sophisticated kiosk functionality and additional integrations that would benefit both passengers and airport operations.
The Solution
At the core of this implementation is Acquire Digital’s wayfinding solution, powering custom-built kiosks developed and installed by Capital Signs. These innovative 75-inch touchscreen displays, strategically positioned at PHL’s high-traffic DE checkpoint where concourses D and E connect, feature a unique wedge-shaped design developed by Capital Signs to maximize visibility and engagement.
The double-sided displays are precisely angled to capture passenger attention as they exit security, demonstrating the seamless collaboration between Acquire Digital’s software capabilities and Capital Signs’ hardware expertise. This implementation exemplifies Acquire Digital’s understanding that successful digital solutions must work the way people do.
Our approach focuses on human behavior first – recognizing that airport passengers need immediate, intuitive access to information, especially during high-stress moments like exiting security checkpoints. The solution’s strategic placement and interface design reflect this deep understanding of passenger behavior, ensuring that digital interactions feel natural and effortless rather than technological.
This human-centric approach to digital experience, combined with our native application’s premium performance serves as the central integration hub, transforming standalone systems into a cohesive digital ecosystem. The platform’s sophisticated architecture enables real-time synchronization between multiple data sources, ensuring consistent information delivery across all touchpoints while maintaining the high-performance standards required in busy airport environments.
Through Capital Signs’ custom hardware design and Acquire Digital’s powerful wayfinding software, the solution creates an engaging and intuitive passenger experience.
Atrius Integration: Enhanced Mapping Capabilities
Acquire Digital’s sophisticated integration with Atrius Airport Management Services elevates the map through advanced data processing that transforms traditional mapping data into an intuitive wayfinding experience. The platform directly ingests and transforms comprehensive data, creating a seamless connection between Atrius’s mapping system and Acquire’s intuitive wayfinding interface.
This integration encompasses:
Real-time processing of detailed 3D terminal maps
Intelligent handling of location information for all facilities and services
Automated synchronization of operating hours
Smart management of amenity locations such as restrooms and ATMs
Acquire Digital’s platform ensures that passengers receive the most current and accurate wayfinding information, while the airport maintains a single source of truth for their mapping data.
The system’s intelligent data handling automatically processes updates, ensuring consistent information across all digital touchpoints while optimizing performance for the kiosk environment.
Clear Channel Airports Integration: Elevating Digital Wayfinding
Acquire Digital’s integration with Clear Channel Airports transforms wayfinding kiosks into powerful dual-purpose digital touchpoints. Through sophisticated software integration, our wayfinding solution maintains its primary navigation function while enabling Clear Channel Airports to deliver impactful digital advertising at key decision points. Our sophisticated software solution ensures that essential wayfinding information remains accessible while creating valuable advertising opportunities. This creates an engaging digital experience that serves both operational efficiency and commercial objectives without compromising the essential wayfinding function.
This collaboration delivers multiple benefits:
For Passengers:
Immediate access to clear wayfinding information when needed
Exposure to relevant retail and dining options along their route
Real-time updates about airport services and amenities
Enhanced awareness of terminal offerings and promotions
For the Airport:
New revenue generation through premium digital advertising locations
Increased passenger engagement with airport retail and services
Improved space utilization through multi-purpose digital displays
Enhanced terminal aesthetics with modern digital touchpoints
For Advertisers:
Access to captive audiences at key decision points
Targeted messaging based on passenger location and context
Integration with wayfinding data for location-based promotions
Premium digital display opportunities in high-dwell time areas
This integration demonstrates how Acquire Digital’s wayfinding solution can transform traditional information kiosks into valuable assets that generate revenue while enhancing the passenger experience. The result is a sophisticated digital ecosystem that serves passengers, airports, and advertisers alike, setting new standards for airport digital displays.
Amadeus Integration: Real-Time Flight Information
Through integration with Amadeus flight information systems, the solution provides immediate access to critical flight details.
Passengers can:
Scan boarding passes for personalized gate routing
Access real-time flight updates
Receive optimal pathfinding to their departure gate
View estimated walking times to their destination
The system’s intelligent routing capabilities calculate the most efficient path based on the passenger’s current location, helping them make informed decisions about their time in the terminal. The solution’s smart retail integration recognizes multiple locations of the same brand throughout the airport, automatically directing passengers to the nearest outlet while maintaining visibility of all locations.
A standout feature is the integrated remote assistance capability. This allows passengers to connect instantly with informed airport staff directly through the kiosk. This integration eliminates the need for them to seek out physical information desks, providing immediate support exactly where and when they need it most. This on-demand support ensures that passengers can get personalized assistance while the efficient flow of travelers is maintained through the terminal.
Comprehensive Passenger Benefits
The solution delivers multiple passenger-centric features:
Intuitive touchscreen interface designed for all user levels
Multi-language support for international passengers
Remote assistance capabilities for additional support
Mobile map handoff functionality for continuous navigation
Emergency messaging integration
Direct connection to PHL Marketplace for retail and dining information
Through these integrations, PHL creates a seamless information ecosystem that meets passengers at their point of need, providing clear, accurate, and timely information that enhances the overall airport experience.
Strategic Partnership
The successful implementation of this project brings together industry leaders, each contributing their unique expertise. The implementation process showcased Capital Signs’ meticulous attention to detail, beginning with comprehensive site surveys to evaluate the optimal kiosk placement.
Their team conducted multiple site visits, creating detailed renderings in collaboration with Clear Channel Airports and using mock-ups to test and verify the exact positioning of the kiosks. The partnership leverages Acquire Digital’s advanced wayfinding and integration software capabilities with Capital Signs’ hardware expertise.
Capital Signs custom-designed and manufactured the innovative wedge-shaped kiosks specifically for this installation, ensuring the double-sided displays would perfectly capture passenger attention. Beyond installation, this collaboration ensures long-term reliability through a robust maintenance program. Capital Signs manages the ongoing hardware maintenance and provides dedicated technical support, with their specialized technicians performing monthly deep cleaning and handling any hardware-related servicing needs.
This is complemented by Clear Channel Airports weekly cleaning program, ensuring the kiosks maintain their professional appearance in the high-traffic airport environment. Alongside the hardware maintenance, Acquire Digital provides continuous software support and updates at no additional cost.
Our development team regularly enhances the wayfinding application’s capabilities, ensuring the system maintains optimal performance and security while incorporating new features as they become available. This commitment to ongoing software development means PHL benefits from the latest technological advancements without requiring additional investment, maximizing the long-term value of their digital wayfinding solution.
The structured maintenance and support model allows PHL to focus on their core operations while the technical teams ensure optimal performance of the digital wayfinding system.
This includes:
Professional installation and commissioning
Regular hardware maintenance and cleaning
Continuous software support and system monitoring
Technical troubleshooting and support
Hardware and software optimization
Through this comprehensive partnership approach, the project maintains the high standard of reliability required in an airport environment while delivering an exceptional passenger experience.
Future Ready
The implementation at PHL’s main entrance marks the beginning of an exciting digital transformation journey. The solution’s adaptable architecture is designed to grow and evolve with the airport’s needs, supporting additional capabilities and expanded coverage across the terminal complex.
The system’s sophisticated integration capabilities provide a strong foundation for future enhancements, including:
Additional data integration opportunities
Enhanced analytics and passenger flow insights
Advanced passenger engagement features
Expanded mobile connectivity options
New retail and service integrations
By implementing this forward-thinking solution, PHL positions itself for continued innovation in passenger experience. The system’s ability to adapt and grow ensures that the airport can consistently meet evolving passenger needs while maintaining operational efficiency.
Through regular updates and enhancements, the platform will continue to deliver value, creating happy passengers while providing a strong return on investment through reduced operational costs, improved information delivery and advertising opportunities. This implementation represents not just a current solution but an investment in PHL’s digital future, establishing a scalable foundation that will serve the airport’s wayfinding needs for years to come.
Transform Your Airport’s Digital Future
The demands on modern airports continue to evolve, and passenger expectations for seamless information delivery grow ever higher. Whether you’re looking to enhance your existing airport systems or implement a comprehensive digital wayfinding solution, Acquire Digital’s integration capabilities can transform your passenger experience while maximizing your existing infrastructure investment.
Contact our team today to discover how our proven integration expertise can help your airport create an intelligent, passenger-centric information ecosystem that drives operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction for years to come.
Motorists are suing Salt Lake City over its electronic parking pay stations, claiming city code was never revised to authorize procedural changes that accompanied the new meters in 2011 and 2012. The three plaintiffs, whose quest for class-action status could involve millions of dollars in parking tickets, point to city code that defines parking meters as “immediately contiguous” to the spaces being charged and “parking spaces” as being “adjacent to …
Source: www.sltrib.com
Problems and litigants in parking meter kiosk story in Salt Lake.
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. teams with GRUBBRR to provide smart locker solutions for the future of product pickup and storage
GRAFTON, WI – Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. has partnered with GRUBBRR, a leading commerce automation company, to launch a smart locker system designed to provide pickup and storage solutions across multiple industries.
Smart lockers offer customers a safe and contactless pickup or storage experience for cases like food order pickup, BOPIS, asset management, secure storage, package pickup/drop-off, and small equipment rental. The convenient system benefits a variety of verticals from QSR and hospitality to entertainment, retail, cannabis, and more.
The pickup process is simple. Customers order online, with a mobile device, or using a self-order kiosk. After the order is processed and complete, a locker is assigned and automatically opened for an employee to place items. A central system sends texts and emails to alert customers that their order is ready. Finally, patrons scan a unique PIN or QR code to open the corresponding locker door.
Locker systems are integration-ready, customizable, and reduce touchpoints and offer efficiencies for safety-minded customers and businesses.
“Streamlining processes are crucial in enhancing the customer experience, and locker systems can offer an easy, convenient way for customers to pick up an order,” says Mike Mayer, president of Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. “And with the pandemic still top-of-mind, they also offer a safe way to expedite food or products while limiting contact.”
“Smart lockers are the quickest, most secure way for order pickup and they are reflective of recent customer trends and desires,” Sam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR adds. “They’re the future of so many industries, and GRUBBRR is proud to partner with FMA in launching this revolutionary technology.”
For more information about smart locker systems, visit www.olea.com/
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. is a leader in the development of in-store merchandising displays, interactive kiosks, and store fixtures for businesses nationwide. The company helps retailers and brands utilize the latest display solutions and technologies to create engaging customer experiences. Visit www.olea.com for more information.
Headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, GRUBBRR is a leading financial technology company focused on automating commerce with its award-winning line of self-ordering products, including kiosks, mobile ordering, contactless smart lockers, and more.
GRUBBRR’s solutions power enterprise-level and small and medium businesses across verticals such as quick-service restaurants, fast casual restaurants, cafés, bakeries, stadiums, movie theatres, casinos, micro-markets, retail, amusement and entertainment centers, and golf courses. The technology has had proven success with helping businesses maximize revenue, decrease labor costs, and increase operational efficiency. To learn more about GRUBBRR and its products, visit https://grubbrr.com/.
Editors Note: A little kiosk history for those who might remember. We remember FMA as the premier pop display provider. Big booth at Globalshop every year. It is something about Wisconsin (and proximity to Chicago?). Not unlike Olea and how it transitioned from tradeshows to kiosks under Frank Jr., Mike Mayer had a bit of the same path transitioning FMA from POP displays for retail to kiosks. It’s tough leaving your bread and butter meat and potatoes for some “emerging” business technology. Solohealth and Dell finally pushed him over the edge. Worth noting Mike participated in our seminal Bay Hill Bunch meeting at Arnold Palmer’s place.
This year marks Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.’s 90th anniversary, and the milestone has caused me to pause and reflect on our journey.
What began as a humble screen-printing operation started by my grandfather in 1931 has evolved into a renowned company in the point of purchase and kiosk industries. We’ve designed, engineered, prototyped, and manufactured merchandising displays, interactive kiosks, and store fixtures for some of the world’s best-known companies.
I’m honored to be the third-generation Mayer continuing to build upon the vision set by my grandfather and father. Their pioneering spirit fostered a company culture that celebrates innovation, while their expertise was further proof of the value that comes from longevity.
The biggest credit for our success is owed to our associates. Since the beginning, Frank Mayer and Associates has been comprised of hardworking, forward-thinking team members who provide our clients and partners with unmatched service. Their dedication to helping our customers succeed is the driving force behind our celebrated reputation.
As we look ahead, I have no doubt the solid foundation of our past coupled with talented associates and a pursuit to be on the forefront of technology will continue to propel Frank Mayer and Associates in the future. Thank you to all our clients and associates, both past and present, for a remarkable 90 years. Forward…
The Meherrin River Regional Jail allows guests to schedule visits with inmates via the Renovo Scheduling App locked down with KioWare Kiosk System Software for Windows.
Case Study by Kioware on corrections visitation software lockdown of Renovo out of Minnesota (recently purchased by GTL)
Our “404” errors have risen recently due to outbound links to government-referenced documents. Many of those docs relate directly to “kiosk history” and general Accessibility. We are trying to “clean up” the errors but for purposes of historical record here are the archives of those reports. There are always changes and removals on the web. Often times a company rises but then closes and goes away. The web archive provides that historical data and we support their efforts. History is important.
FY10 UPI Codes for the E-Gov and LoB Initiatives (July 2008) (8 pages, 0.2 MB)
The purpose of this document is to provide those agencies involved in the E-Government (E-Gov) and Line of Business (LoB) initiatives with the appropriate Unique Project Identifiers (UPI) in preparation for the submission of their budget exhibits to OMB for the FY 2010 budget
FY16 IT Budget – Capital Planning Guidance (Revised – June 27, 2014) (45 pages, 464 KB) This document provides reporting requirements for an agency’s IT Investment Portfolio.
FY15 Guidance on Exhibits 53 and 300 (July 1, 2013) (48 pages, 449 KB) This document provides reporting requirements for an agency’s IT Investment Portfolio.
FY14 Guidance on Exhibits 53 and 300 (August 3, 2012) (45 pages, 1.0 MB) This document provides reporting requirements for an agency’s IT Investment Portfolio.
Exhibit 300 Schema, Version 3.07 (for BY11) This document is used to describe and define the type of content including the entities, attributes, elements and notation used for the submission of Exhibit 300s for the BY11 budget cycle.
Exhibit 300 Schema, Version 3.07 – Field List (for BY11) This document is used to describe and define the type of content including the entities, attributes, elements and notation used for the Exhibit 300 Schema for the BY11 budget cycle.
Exhibit 53 Template (for BY2011) This document is used to describe and define the type of content including the entities, attributes, elements and notation used for the Exhibit 53 for the BY11 budget cycle.
IT Web – Quick Reference Guide (Version 1.5.01) The purpose of this document is to provide users of IT Web with screenshots and instructions for common activities when preparing their IT budget submissions on the IT Web system.
FY09 UPI Codes for the E-Gov and LoB Initiatives
The purpose of this document is to provide those agencies involved in the E-Government (E-Gov) and Line of Business (LoB) initiatives with the appropriate Unique Project Identifiers (UPI) in preparation for the submission of their budget exhibits to OMB for the FY09 budget.
FY09 UPI Codes for the E-Gov and LoB Initiatives
The purpose of this document is to provide those agencies involved in the E-Government (E-Gov) and Line of Business (LoB) initiatives with the appropriate Unique Project Identifiers (UPI) in preparation for the submission of their budget exhibits to OMB for the FY09 budget.
Cybersecurity CAP Goal Update – FY 2015 Q1 Workbook (March 19, 2015) (Excel workbook, 189 KB)
This Excel workbook provides the source data for agency progress in meeting the Administration’s priority cybersecurity Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) Goals in Q1 of FY 2015.
Cybersecurity CAP Goal Update – FY 2014 Q4 Workbook (December 18, 2014) (Excel workbook, 50 KB)
This Excel workbook provides the source data for agency progress in meeting the Administration’s priority cybersecurity Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) Goals in Q4 of FY 2014
Digital Government Strategy PDF (May 23, 2012) (17 pages, 0.8 MB)
This document provides the Federal Government with the strategies to innovate more with less, and enable entrepreneurs to better leverage government data to improve the quality of services to the American people.
Federal Information Technology Shared Services Strategy (May 2, 2012) (17 pages, 0.8 MB)
This document provides organizations in the Executive Branch of the United States Federal Government (Federal Agencies) with policy guidance on the full range and lifecycle of intra- and inter-agency information technology (IT) shared services, which enable mission, administrative, and infrastructure-related IT functions.
Human Resources LoB Due Diligence Checklist
This document is the Due Diligence Checklist used in evaluating the agency business cases for the Human Resources Management Line of Business (LoB).
IT Security LoB Kickoff Meeting Presentation
This presentation was used during the kickoff of the new IT Security Line of Business (LoB) task force. It outlines the scope and expected outcomes for the initiative; key milestones, approach, and action plan; roles and responsibilities; and deliverables and immediate next steps.
IT Infrastructure, Geospatial, and Budget Formulation and Execution LoBs Kickoff Meeting Presentation
This presentation was used during the kickoff of the new IT Infrastructure, Geospatial, and Budget Formulation and Execution Lines of Business (LoBs). It outlines the scope and expected outcomes for the initiative; key milestones, approach, and action plan; roles and responsibilities; and deliverables and immediate next steps.
LoB Concept of Operations
This document describes the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Line of Business (LoB) initiatives. The LoB CONOPS defines a common process framework for analyzing, defining, and operationalizing LoB initiatives, including focusing on the scope of LoB initiatives, their relationships to other initiatives, programs and agencies, the common lifecycle of LoB initiatives and important governance aspects.
President’s IT Budget for FY 2017 (February 25, 2016) (1 page, 135 KB)
This document provides the President’s FY 2017 Federal Information Technology Budget.
President’s IT Budget for FY 2016 (February 2, 2015) (1 page, 489 KB)
This document provides the President’s FY 2016 Federal Information Technology Budget.
President’s IT Budget for FY 2015 (March 4, 2014) (1 page, 489 KB)
This document provides the President’s FY 2015 Federal Information Technology Budget.
FY14 IT Budget Rollout Presentation (April 10, 2013) (19 pages, 2.3 MB)
This document provides the FY 2014 Federal Information Technology Budget Priorities.
FY13 IT Budget Rollout Presentation
Background briefing slides on the information technology portion for the Budget FY2013 (Published February 13, 2012) (.pdf, 1.3 MB)
Our Moment (January 4, 2012) (16 pages, 1.7 MB)
This document provides an update on Federal Information Technology.
Federal Cloud Computing Strategy (February 8, 2011) (43 pages, 0.9 MB)
This document provides information to help agencies modify their IT portfolios to fully take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing in order to maximize capacity utilization, improve IT flexibility and responsiveness, and minimize cost.
Vivek Kundra Federal Cloud Computing Strategy Presentation (February 8, 2011) (9 pages, 0.7 MB)
his document provides information to help agencies modify their IT portfolios to fully take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing in order to maximize capacity utilization, improve IT flexibility and responsiveness, and minimize cost.
25 Point Implementation Plan To Reform Federal Information Technology Management (December 9, 2010) (40 pages, 0.6 MB)
This document is divided into two sections: Achieving Operational Efficiency and Managing Large-Scale IT Programs Effectively. The first section outlines the steps being taken to adopt cloud solutions and leverage shared services. The second section covers the structural areas that impact the success rates of large IT programs across government.
These stories highlight where agencies have applied enterprise architecture methodologies to solve specific business problems which has resulted in programmatic success. They highlight where agencies have applied enterprise architecture methodologies to solve specific business problems which has resulted in programmatic success. Each quarter, the FEAPMO will feature new success stories as identified by the agencies.
DOD Success Story
The DoD’s High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) is responsible for providing some of the world’s most advanced computing capability in support of the DoD mission. The nation-wide Defense Research and Engineering Network (DREN) provides the HPCMP user community with protocol-rich, high-availability, high-capacity, low-latency, secure connectivity. In June, 2003, the DREN was designated as the first DoD IPv6 pilot network. This DOD success highlights six keys to success and eight challenges that were overcome without additional personnel and with less than $100,000 in additional funding.
EPA Success Story
Each year Industry reports toxics releases to EPA which is shared with State agencies. The 2007 TRI-MEweb significantly reduces the reporting burden of facilities filing via web, abates EPA and state programs data collection transaction costs, and delivers impressive program performance efficiencies. The 2007 TRI-MEweb is a leap forward towards a one-stop-shop paperless TRI reporting system.
FBI Success Story
In late 2007, former Associate Deputy Director, Joseph L. Ford, determined that centrally managing license agreements for Information Technology (IT) was a critical need and would provide an opportunity for huge cost savings and improved efficiencies. During just four quarters of its existence, the program has proved its worth by recording a total FY 2008 cost savings/avoidance of $14,869,700, while also recording an additional $49,394,266 in out-year cost savings for FY 2009 through FY 2012.
Case Studies
These case studies are for information purposes only and can be used by the architectural community to highlight specific examples from Federal Agencies throughout their agency or organization.
FDA Case Study
The following case study demonstrates how the Food and Drug Administration used Enterprise Architecture to standardize business processes and achieve considerable cost savings for their IT Consolidation initiative.
CBP Case Study
The listed case study demonstrates how the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses EA to improve system support at lower cost to more than 20 agencies with missions tied to Internal Trade and Transportation.
HUD Case Study
The following case study demonstrates how the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) used Enterprise Architecture to implement a streamlined electronic grants application process that provides better service to customers and business partners.
FFIEC Case Study
The following case study demonstrates how several banking oversight agencies used Enterprise Architecture to implement a streamlined data collection process that reduced costs, increased productivity, and improved oversight of financial institutions.
Human Resources Line of Business (HR LOB) Case Study
This case study demonstrates how the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) used enterprise architecture to create a blueprint for Government-wide human resources (HR) management, including the creation of HR shared service centers.
Come see us at HIMSS #3165 March 3-5! HIMSS is the annual conference and exhibition for health IT professionals, clinicians, executives, and vendors. The event brings together 40,000+ attendees from around the world in Las Vegas, NV, USA, for a week of exceptional education, world-class speakers, cutting-edge health IT products, and powerful networking.
We are 3165 in Venetian, March 3-6 in Las Vegas. We have discount passes available.
To setup a meeting or get information, contact [email protected] or 720-324-1837 on my mobile text/phone
HIMSS Healthcare Summary
You can see several kiosks + all types of accessibility in our booth this year.
TPGi — kiosk software – will be showing latest JAWS screen reader for accessible patient check-in
Kiosk Group — new tablet based check-in kiosk from new Ally series. Kiosk Group offers several kiosk series, including the Ally Series, Aardvark, and Kiosk Pro. These kiosks are designed for a variety of uses, such as ticketing, wayfinding, and patient check-ins. KG_Healthcare_Ally_Series-compressed (1)
Storm Interface — see the industry leading tactile nav pad the AudioNav in action.
Elo (aka Elotouch) — will have their healthcare check-in models. We did story on these being deployed at Krogers Clinics. Elo’s software agnostic solutions make it easy to integrate your electronic health records platform such as Epic Systems and Cerner, to better engage patients and streamline care.
Dolphin Computer Access — SuperNova — Screen magnifier and screen reader with speech and braille support. SuperNova enables people with visual impairments to read, work and study on Windows computers.
Logo with a navy blue circle featuring an orange diamond and a white outlined parallelogram. Below, the words Kiosk Group are boldly displayed in navy blue letters, blending professionalism with innovation for the HIMSS healthcare sector.
A kiosk with two screens for express registration and document scanning, perfect for HIMSS healthcare events. The stand includes a keyboard below the monitors, and the base features multilingual greetings. The Kiosk Group logo is displayed to the right.
A white medical kiosk with a blue screen displaying Patient Check-In and a Start button, embodying HIMSS healthcare innovation. The kiosk includes a card reader and various controls, with the Kiosk Group logo featured prominently at the bottom.
A HIMSS healthcare-compliant kiosk machine for patient check-in at Poole Orthopedic Center features a touchscreen and card reader. The screen displays State University Health Network, with The Kiosk Group logo beside it.
Elotouch Healthcare
Dolphin SKG Kiosk
A promotional image for Kiosk Group, showcasing a modular healthcare kiosk perfect for HIMSS. Features include a camera, card reader, scanner, graphics options, and accessibility abilities. The kiosk excels in patient interactions and reliability.
A healthcare professional in a white coat smiles and takes notes while talking to another person. The text, inspired by HIMSS healthcare standards, offers modular solutions for saving time for medical staff. An image of a kiosk device is shown.
gym kiosk for self check in
A promotional image for Boca Systems showcasing wristband printing alongside thermal tickets, labels, and receipts. The text reads: Boca Systems – Lemur Printers – Thermal Tickets, Wristbands, Labels & Receipts.
Press post by TPGi and Vispero on upcoming HIMSS 2024 Healthcare trade show and places to see them. JAWS Kiosk demos will be featured. The new Split Braille feature in JAWS 2024 gives Braille display users powerful new functionality, including the ability to view content from different locations on the same Braille line using one of several types of views. New features and improvements introduced in ZoomText
Summary Excerpt of Post
HIMSS24 Conference: TPGi and Vispero will attend the 2024 HIMSS Conference in Orlando, FL, from March 11 to 15, showcasing health innovation tech and solutions.
Exhibitions: Over 1,100 healthcare tech companies will present products and solutions that will shape the future of healthcare.
JAWS for Kiosk: Experience JAWS for Kiosk at HIMSS with partners like Storm Interface, Imageholders, PatientWorks, and Pyramid at KMA Booth #2189.
Expert Talks: Meet experts like Don Soucy, Traci Murray, and Michael Marcus to discuss creating inclusive and usable patient experiences.
HIMSS Summary
The Kiosk Association booth is 2189 and you can make an appointment via the HIMSS Planner (many have). Accessibility is the key feature for the demos there and solutions range from patient kiosks for check-in, telemedicine, as well as computing engines, wristband printers and consulting. Other members to visit include:
LG Electronics – LG Business Solutions offers various form factors of Cloud Devices along with cutting-edge medical-grade monitors that provide excellent image quality to healthcare providers across the globe. LG’s excellence in display products can add value to your work environment with better performance and lower costs.
Since the launch of the first consumer Chromebook back in 2011, Google’s platform has come a long way. From budget systems to the wallet-bashing Pixel, ther…
Snopes.com, a fact checking website, reported that a July 20, 2017 meme claim that Wendy’s replaced 6,000 workers with kiosks is false.
Snopes.com, a fact checking website, reported that a July 20, 2017 meme claim that Wendy’s replaced 6,000 workers with kiosks is false. The claim was posted on the Facebook page of Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit group, along with a photograph of self-serve kiosks at a Wendy’s restaurant.
Higi currently has stations in nearly 10,000 retail locations and averages over one million tests per week, serving 30 million people. According to the company, one in ten Americans have used a higi station to monitor their health and approximately 75% of the U.S. population now lives within 5 miles of a kiosk.
“higi was founded on a simple but elusive idea: when individuals are empowered with their vital health stats (i.e., blood pressure, BMI, weight, pulse and body composition) and motivated through challenges and incentives, they make better decisions that lead to improved health outcomes,” said CEO Jeff Bennett in a statement. “We are very fortunate to have investors and a board of directors who share higi’s belief that small but meaningful steps can create lasting health habits.”
In August, 2014, the startup merged with StayHealthy, a producer of affordable, medical-grade health monitoring devices, and formed the largest connected retail health kiosk network in the country. Since then, higi has added a mobile app and web portal, allowing users to easily collect, monitor, and share their health information. The secure platform also enables healthcare stakeholders to more efficiently engage with consumers and patients.
“higi is a unique company because it understands and delivers on the promise that consumers who are empowered with their real-time biometric data often make better health decisions,” added William Wrigley, Jr., Chairman of higi.
Enclosure cooling overview of best practices including air conditioners, heat exchangers, fans and blowers. Applies to NEMA 12,4 & 4X . Open and closed loop.
10 Enclosure Cooling Considerations
Early Planning Helps Avoid Problems Later!
Heat producing components currently used in electronic and industrial equipment enclosures present the problem of dissipating the heat generated before damage can occur to heat-sensitive parts. In many cases, the problem can be solved byventilation, using simple air moving devices such as Fans and Blowers. However, in an increasing amount of applications, the available ambient air is contaminated or too warm to be used for the safe dissipation of the unwanted heat. Under these conditions, the life expectancy and performance of sensitive components may be adversely impacted, often causing equipment malfunctions, slowdowns or failures. For such applications, where ambient air cannot be used, a Heat Exchanger or Air Conditioner is the best choice.
In order to create the optimum environment for the application, an evaluation of the anticipated operating conditions and thermal requirements of the equipment (or system) must be completed.
Here are some good questions to ask:
Does the equipment/system require cooling, or is spot cooling adequate?
Are there any components that are particularly sensitive to heat or other adverse conditions?
How much heat is produced within the enclosure?
What is the maximum temperature acceptable in the enclosure?
What is the average and maximum temperature range of the ambient air?
Is a specifically maintained temperature range required?
What is the particulate and moisture content of the ambient air?
Does the ambient air contain dirt, oil, corrosives or other contaminants harmful to enclosure contents?
Where can cooling devices be mounted on the enclosure?
Do the contents inside the enclosure need to be isolated (by the use of a sealed enclosure) from the heat or contaminants in the ambient air?
After all of the application-specific factors are determined, a decision can be made about the type of ventilation or cooling required, and which equipment provides the most appropriate performance and cost-effective solution. A little time and effort spent early in the design process to choose the optimum cooling equipment can save a lot of trouble and expense later, as this would prevent the need to retrofit with proper cooling devices in the field.
FANS: Fans occupy minimal cabinet space and will move a substantial volume of air where flow is virtually unimpeded. Packaged fans can be used for filtered panel or rack-mounted cooling in such applications.
BLOWERS: Blowers are designed to operate against higher static pressures. Packaged blowers provide compact, filtered, rack-mounted cooling in a variety of airflow configurations.
HEAT EXCHANGERS AND AIR CONDITIONERS: In applications where equipment operating temperatures must remain near or below ambient, or where airborne contaminants pose a threat to electronic components, the enclosure interior must be isolated from the external environment. For such applications, a sealed enclosure, with a Heat Exchanger or Air Conditioner is required. Heat Exchangers are recommended for equipment which can tolerate operating temperatures moderately higher than ambient, while Air Conditioners are required where equipment temperatures must be maintained at or below ambient.
Integrating the correct HVAC unit maintains the optimal temperature and humidity level within the kiosk, for peak reliability. Your provider will consult with deployers on the operational environment, making recommendations for the best cost/performance selection. Outdoor-Sizing Guide and also Outdoor-eic_understanding_heatload_ebook are useful for determining how much cooling or heating is needed. TECA Cooling is a member of the Industry Group and is highly skilled in cooling. Kooltronic has a nice sizing tool as well.
Outdoor kiosk example Example of rear mounted thermo or Peltier cooler. Click for full image
The standard units are compressor-based. Heating and cooling options include thermocouples which are smaller than compressors but also more money for less cooling..
Consider the environment. Even in a closed system there will be exposure to outside air. And the kiosk enclosure itself. Is it salty? If so you might consider stainless steel. Another option is zinc-rich primer powdercoat as well as G90 Electroplated.
Choose components wisely and engineer design your unit to maximize natural cooling and heating and you can often eliminate or at least mitigate required A/C and heating requirements.
Another heat consideration – cooling off your touchscreen when it gets hot. Click to expand.
Another heat consideration is direct sunlight in a warm climate (we are thinking Arizona, Dallas or Florida). Here is fan flow device from Panel-Brite which is a fan for cooling the touchscreen. Ventilation and smart design cannot be stressed enough.
Using touch screens of any kind in extremely hot temperatures usually requires extra airflow to move super-hot air out of the gap between the front of the panel and back of the touch screen.
For these types of outdoor applications, the air gap should be increased using thicker foam tape when mounting the touch screen to the panel. This gap should certainly be more than what is used for indoor applications.
A locale such as Los Angeles is not as severe as a low humidity state which surprises people
Typically units will come with air filters. They need to be maintained. Don’t adequately filter and you can end up with “isotropic” screens such as McDonalds and Samsung demonstrated. See Updated McDonalds Menu boards Failures – sometimes it is as simple as NOT changing a filter
We are in the same location (1602 first booth down A), NRF kiosk machine and more. See portal page on NRF. This year we are participating in the Tech Tours. This year we will be announcing “Best Self-Service 2024” awards. To set up meeting or get more information send email to [email protected] (proton mail account). Check your NRF Mobile App (NRF Events) for 20 different products.
Quick Highlights — For POS Terminal, we’ll have six different countertops from Insight Touch in the booth. Contact Rachel Wu — [email protected]
Kiosks In the Booth
Pyramid Computer
Pyramid Computer will have two units at the show — PYRAMID’s POLYTOUCH® kiosk systems get the best out of self-checkin and self-checkout, self-ordering and self-service! For your customers and you! We equip your self-service solution with exactly the modules you need for your use case. Almost anything is possible!
A young man in a green jacket uses an NRF kiosk machine in a modern, well-lit restaurant. Multiple digital screens are mounted on a wooden and metal wall. The space features brick walls and green plants. PYRAMID is visible in white text on the bottom right screen.
A person in a red shirt and carrying a white tote bag is using an NRF kiosk machine to place an order. The background features wooden shelves with various items, while the kiosk screen showcases tempting food options.
A digital kiosk machine, featuring a touchscreen display labeled POLYTOUCH PIXI15.6, stands prominently in the foreground. The background offers a side view, highlighting its sleek design, with Pyramid branding and the hallmark of an NRF-compliant device in the bottom right corner.
Three electronic kiosk devices, labeled POLYTOUCH, boasting green accents, seamlessly integrate into the NRF Kiosk Machine lineup. Each unit features a touchscreen, card reader, and barcode scanner. The image captures various angles, displaying the PYRAMID logo in the bottom right corner.
Dolphin and SKG–Deliver a positive experience for all customers and make your self-service stations accessible with SuperNova Kiosks.More than 30 years of expertise means the Dolphin team of assistive technology specialists are here to help make your kiosk project a success. SKG Manufacturing is a US-based contract manufacturer of fully integrated kiosks and storage solutions in Grand Rapids, MI. Their robust in-house design, cutting, forming, welding, powder coating, assembly, and testing facility on over 100,000 sq.ft. of floorspace allow their customers unparalleled quality, efficiency, and production speed.
Stephen Very
Office: 616-333-2944
Cell: 604-290-4684
Email: [email protected]
www.skgmanufacturing.com
Ventus Managed Connectivity
NRF Wireless Ventus
Providing connectivity for our booth is member Ventus (see them in booth 3263)
Ventus is an industry leader in IT networking innovations, leveraging technology to produce market-driving network solutions. Since 1999, Ventus has experience delivering secure enterprise-class networks, Ventus develops cellular wireless and fixed line SD-WAN, Hybrid WAN, and Cellular WAN solutions for an expanding array of business connectivity applications.
Digi International acquired Ventus in 2021, bringing together two companies with a deep commitment to providing the best products, software and services that meet the demands of mission-critical networks. Both companies will continue to build and support strong customer relationships.
You can contact Craig via email at craigkeefner at pm.me
Get the NRF Events App!
Start networking and building your on-site schedule now by downloading the NRF Events app. You can access the app through desktop or mobile versions, making it easy and convenient to plan ahead and make the most of your Big Show experience.
Use the app onsite to:
View and rate sessions
Network and schedule meetings
Find exhibitors or specific projects
Play the $5,000 Giveaway for a chance to win $5,000! (U.S. retailers only)
Get easy directions to anywhere in the building
4 steps to get started today:
Access the desktop version here and download the mobile version in your device’s app store by searching “NRF Events” or scan the QR code.
Log in with your credentials
If this is your first time using the NRF Events app: Enter the Badge ID/Reg ID below
If you used the NRF Events app previously: Enter established password (click the “Forgot Password” link if you need it to be reset)
Complete your profile setup.
Click on “Notifications” in the bottom navigation bar to enable messages.
NRF 2024, also known as Retail’s Big Show, was a massive event for the retail industry, bringing together over 6,200 brands from around the globe to New York City. It was a whirlwind of learning, collaboration, and discovery, showcasing the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of retail.
Here are some of the highlights from the show:
Focus on the future: The NRF Innovation Lab featured cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and AR/VR, giving attendees a glimpse into the future of retail experiences.
Big names, big ideas: Keynote speakers included industry leaders like Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette and Target CEO Brian Cornell, who shared their insights on navigating the ever-changing retail landscape.
Connections galore: The expo floor was buzzing with networking opportunities, as retailers, vendors, and solution providers connected to make deals and build partnerships.
A celebration of retail: The show wasn’t all business; there were also plenty of fun events and activities, like the Retail Hosted City Experience, which took attendees on tours of some of NYC’s most iconic stores.
What did we learn from NRF 2024?
A few key takeaways emerged from the show:
Technology is at the forefront: Retail is becoming increasingly tech-driven, and those who embrace new technologies will be the ones who thrive.
The customer is king (or queen): More than ever, retailers need to focus on providing personalized and omnichannel experiences that meet the needs of their customers.
Sustainability matters: Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their shopping habits, so retailers need to find ways to be more sustainable.
PHOTOS 2024
Airport Kiosk
Caesar with Tech For All
Matt and Craig NRF 2024
Peter Jarvis
Rob Chilcoat, Daniel Olea, Christoph and Jared
Amy with RedyRef
Rick Weinstein with RedyRef
A look internally
Samsung ordering kiosk for pizzabot (one working?)
Amy and Peter
Pizzabot line. Haven’t seen in depth analysis of costs
Storm booth and ImageHolders kiosk machine
Imageholders kiosk machine in KMA booth
NRF 2024 KIOSK Information booth
NRF 2024 KIOSK Information booth
NRF 2024 KIOSK Information booth
NRF 2024 KIOSK Information booth
NRF 2024 KIOSK Information booth
One Mashgin at airport. A bit lonely and those items started at $25
First released on PRNewswire and below content as echoed on Yogonet. They included the YouTube videos embedded for the gesture kiosk nav and the foot nav which is a “nice touch”. These technologies are truly a bit of a departure from the more conventional gesture kiosk technology usually presented. And this is the first occurrence of foot navigation that we have ever seen. Kudos to the engineering team at Kiosk Innovations. Proprietary interface which connects to USB. Windows support only. Much like the Storm Interface accessibility devices and we didn’t mention accessibility but it is definitely a notable factor. Innovative things! — Editor
These devices use simple Up, Down, Forward, Backward, and Enter/Select keys for touch-free navigations.
Hand Gesture Navigation and Foot Controlled Navigation can be mounted on any existing or new kiosks with a USB connection. They can both be integrated at the same time, and the end-user has the ability to use either the foot pedal or the gesture module.
Kiosk Innovations has developed two No-Touch solutions that allow touch-free navigation to mitigate the spread of any virus — Hand Gesture Kiosk Navigation and Foot Controlled Kiosk Navigation.
The company said in a release Thursday that the development came after having studied the available Covid-19 kiosk safety options in the market, and come to the conclusion most available have shortcomings. “Voice, sanitizing wipes, AI conversations, speech recognition, mobile proxy and camera-based navigation to name some of them all have limitations in terms of effectiveness and usability,” the provider said.
Gesture Kiosks and Foot Kiosks
Kiosk Innovations’ foot-controlled (Foot-Nav) and gesture-controlled (Gesture-Nav)can be mounted on any existing or new kiosks with a USB connection. These devices use simple Up, Down, Forward, Backward, and Enter/Select keys for navigations. They can both be integrated at the same time. The end-user has the ability to use either the foot pedal or the gesture module. The touch screen is still available for those who want to do it traditionally.
Rick Freeman, Senior Vice President of Sales at Kiosk Innovations commented: “We have evaluated every possible user ‘touchless’ interface available as well as preventative mitigation and after consulting with our customers we came to the overwhelming consensus that for navigation alternatives the most intuitive are gesture and foot navigation. Users not only need trust the interface as ‘clean’ but the technology needs to be easily adopted.”
Kiosk Innovations also provides a full range of Antibacterial Kiosk solutions depending on the customers’ preference. The firm provides self-service innovative technologies with a company emphasis on safety, education, and communication. It is a major provider of custom transactional terminals for markets such as Bill Payment, Hotel Check-in, Casino/Gaming, and Amusement.
June 13, 2014
Sometimes, you just have a technology moment. I was using the Open Table app on my smartphone recently to check wait times at local restaurants when the technology moment struck. This tiny device in my hand fascinated me – it connected me to the entire world with a tap on its touch screen. It provided a remote portal to other digital technologies, things like schedulers, interactive payment kiosks, digital directories, and way-finding resources, right at my fingertips.