Washington’s weather kiosk was located on Pennsylvania Avenue, near E Street NW. It happened to be directly adjacent to The Washington Post building at the time.
Initially, the kiosk was quite popular with the public, and its reports were frequently cited by the media, particularly The Post. But after a couple of decades passed, Washingtonians began to complain that the kiosk was not reporting accurate temperature readings. The kiosk’s temperature was often 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature, particularly on sunny afternoons.
The kiosk became a Great Depression-era “fake news” controversy in Washington.
“Our SSK or self-service kiosks allow people to do a lot of the tasks that a regular post office window clerk would do,” he said, “without having to wait in line.”
Load factor — “We are expecting to send between 850 to 950 million packages this holiday season,” Schapiro said. “Nobody wants to see negative things happen to their packages. When items are properly packaged, it’s infinitesimally small the amount of damage that can happen.”
The Self Service USPS kiosk has undergone many iterations over the years. The original model was a combination IBM and Wincor Nixdorf (back when Wincor was Wincor). Janet Webster was the key manager back then and has since retired and does consulting. She is a member of the kiosk Hall of Fame. One of the biggest problems for the self service USPS kiosk machine has been the placement within the actual facilities. A 100% ADA terminal isn’t ADA compliant if it is situated wrong physically. In modern times we have several iterations including the Postal Buddy by Kiosk Information Systems. The USPS kiosk comes up periodically as a new RFP every 3-5 years and is a mainstay component of the USPS postal facilities.
Self Service USPS Kiosk Video – 2021
More Information
Here are a couple of pictures from the local Colorado post office
Guoman Hotels are a 5 star hotel brand and Thistle Hotels are a 4 star hotel chain both are part of the GLH Hotels
Management Group. They both offer a full service hotel offering for corporate and leisure guests, offering jointly over 9000 bedrooms worldwide. Protouch were called upon to deliver an ‘out of home’ full service technology solution within the UK, which would encompass both hardware, kiosk software management and support service that monitor the entire network in real-time, 24/7, 365 days per year.
Benefits:
Printer capacity for presentations, boarding passes, rail and theatre tickets
Easy internet and software access for all guests
Full MS Office 2013 suite of software and social media apps
Privacy protected instant history deletion
USB capability extraction
Industry: Hospitality
Customer Size: 35 hotels in the UK and all new hotels as and when they open
The Client: Thistle has over 31 hotels in the UK whilst Guoman have 6 properties predominately based in central London with some oversees hotels. Both Guoman and Thistle hotels serve both corporate and leisure customers with a selection of services including over 50 restaurants, more than 300 meeting rooms including conferencing and banqueting facilities and 37 health and leisure private clubs.
The Need: GLH group identified a requirement for hotel guests to be able to have a greater technology access beyond the typical WIFI connectivity, which would allow the ability to perform both work and leisure technology based activities.
Selection was based strongly on using a robust, yet tried and tested solution along with the sleek nature and look of the screen finish, thus making it only natural to choose Protouch as the Thistle hotels partner.
The Solution: Selection was based strongly on using a robust, yet tried and tested solution along with the sleek nature and look of the screen finish, thus making it only natural to choose Protouch as Thistle hotels partner.
The Protouch solution for Thistle hotels consists of touch screen monitors, keyboard and mouse with a full suite of MS Office 2013, access to the internet and printer facilities, social apps for leisure; delivering a full service out of home/office technology experience. The uniqueness of this offering protects users as when the session is complete the guest simply clicks on ‘end session’ and the system returns to the original formatting as on the day it was installed, which allows each user to have a unique experience not encumbered by the previous users activity or browsing sessions.
With multiple units in each hotel presenting geographically and architecturally differing properties a roll-out programme was designed to encompass the individual ergonomic needs of each hotel. It was identified that guests would require a mix of a suitably quiet place to work or an equally relaxing environment for more casual internet browsing.
The hardware provided delivers a high durability solution for mass usage and ease of use like a personal computer. Both Protouch and Thistle can access PKM software and also have visibility of utilisation rates to improve usage and point of positioning in the hotel environ. The PKM software has a pro-active approach to network management, by allowing for alerts to be sent if needed such as paper low, power outage, cash box removal and much more.
Update 3/4/2023 — Restaurant Spaces mostly reiterated all the same data points and added some ad hoc comments from Goodhew + a nice video of Goodhew speaking to audience. Notes below.
GRUBBRR, an industry-leading provider of self-ordering technologies that are revolutionizing the way that commerce is transacted, announced today that it will be rolling out its Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR at BurgerFi – one of the nation’s fastest-growing premium fast-casual dining concepts – corporate headquarter locations throughout Florida.
BurgerFi specializes in providing a better burger experience with all-natural burgers and sides. In 2020, BurgerFi won QSR’s 2020 Breakout Brand of the Year and was recently named “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” in USA Today’s 10Best 2022 Readers Choice Awards for the second consecutive year.
Burger Fi also notes that GRUBBRR kiosks have been critical to maintaining operating costs. “Kiosks make sense from a financial perspective in that they are less than the all-in-cost of a POS solution and do not require a cashier. The upsell on the check means that we’re seeing more revenue per customer and deflecting the labor to spend time on value-add customer service rather than just taking an order.”
In December 2021, BurgerFi launched a pilot program with GRUBBRR to test the effectiveness of self-ordering technology to decrease operating costs, minimize dependency on labor, increase revenue, and provide customers with a better overall experience. Throughout the pilot, the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR showed significant lift in sales, with average ticket sizes increasing by 18.5% and 52% of customers opting into upsells. The Kiosk also absorbed up to 133 orders per day on average, accounting for 75% of total orders placed in the store and 78% of net sales.
Following the successful pilot, BurgerFi selected GRUBBRR as its exclusive self-ordering technology provider. The kiosks are currently being deployed across all 17 of BurgerFi’s corporate locations, while franchises will have the opportunity to opt-in, as well.
“From upselling menu items to digital processing, and the newfound ability to offer our entire menu in real-time, the operational and technological benefits of GRUBBRR kiosks are tremendous,” said Karl Goodhew, Chief Technology Officer at BurgerFi. “We look forward to our continued partnership and cannot wait to see what’s in store for us next.”
“Samsung’s Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR’s software solution with Samsung’s MagicInfo Cloud, provided an all-in-one solution for BurgerFi that delivered stronger business results and signaled a best practice when it comes to the future of QSR dining trends,” said Harry Patz Jr., Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “The pilot program was pivotal to BurgerFi’s decision to standardize Samsung’s kiosk solution so that they could deliver a seamless customer experience, eliminate ordering errors, and allow for easy integration of loyalty programs and discount codes.”
“BurgerFi is a known innovator when it comes to implementing digital technologies,” said Sam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR. “By automating tedious or routine tasks, restaurants such as BurgerFi, are able to run their operations more efficiently with less labor, thereby saving on labor costs while maintaining a great customer experience.”
To learn more about how GRUBBRR’s solutions work in BurgerFi, you can read the BurgerFi Case Study at www.grubbrr.com.
About GRUBBRR
Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, GRUBBRR is the leader in self-ordering technologies that are revolutionizing the way commerce is transacted. GRUBBRR’s award-winning ecosystem, which includes kiosks, smart lockers, kitchen display systems, order progress boards, digital menu signage, mobile ordering, POS, online ordering, and more, are proven to help businesses maximize revenue, decrease labor costs, and improve the consumer experience. With solutions that are adaptable and beneficial to a multitude of businesses, GRUBBRR powers both enterprise-level and small and medium businesses across verticals such as quick-service restaurants, fast casual restaurants, stadiums, movie theatres, casinos, micro-markets, retail, and more. To learn more about GRUBBRR and its products, visit https://grubbrr.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
About BurgerFi International (Nasdaq: BFI, BFIIW)
Established in 2011, BurgerFi is a leading multi-brand restaurant company that develops, markets, and acquires fast-casual and premium-casual dining restaurant concepts around the world, including corporate-owned stores and franchises. BurgerFi is among the nation’s fastest-growing better burger concepts with 124 BurgerFi restaurants (97 franchised and 27 corporate-owned). As of March 31, 2022, BurgerFi is the owner and franchisor of the two following brands with a combined 185 locations.
BurgerFi is chef-founded and committed to serving fresh, all-natural and quality food at all locations, online and via first-party and third-party deliveries. BurgerFi uses 100% American Angus Beef with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. BurgerFi’s menu also includes high quality wagyu beef, antibiotic and cage-free chicken offerings, fresh, hand-cut sides, and custard shakes and concretes. BurgerFi was named “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” in USA Today’s 10Best 2022 Readers Choice Awards for the second consecutive year, QSR Magazine’s Breakout Brand of 2020, Fast Casual’s 2021 #1 Brand of the Year and included in Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Companies List. In 2021, Consumer Report’s Chain Reaction Report praised BurgerFi for serving “no antibiotic beef” across all its restaurants, and Consumer Reports awarded BurgerFi an “A-Grade Angus Beef” rating for the third consecutive year. In May 2022, BurgerFi ranked #1 in Eat This, Not That!’s list of top fast-casual chains that use high-quality beef products. To learn more about BurgerFi or to find a full list of locations, please visit www.burgerfi.com. Download the BurgerFi App on iOS or Android devices for rewards and ‘Like’ or follow @BurgerFi on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
BurgerFi® is a Registered Trademark of BurgerFi IP, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BurgerFi.
Sixteen Nine (All Digital Signage it says) — The units reduce labor demands and one to one contacts (health safety), but they also do the boring but valuable stuff like reliably try to upsell during the order process. With more than 50% responding to upsells, it’s significant.
The Restaurant Spaces people did a nice video of Karl
In late 2021, BurgerFi began installing self-service kiosks in its restaurants. Today, 80 percent of its corporate-owned locations are fitted out with the new technology, and the process of introducing it to the fast-casual chain’s franchisees has begun. Having previously implemented self-checkout technology at Macy’s, Chief Technology Officer, Karl Goodhew, will shed light on the journey so far at BurgerFi, as well as dealing with the biggest barrier to kiosk adoption… overcoming stigma and getting buy-in from all stakeholders. Recorded at RestaurantSpaces Fall 2022 in Santa Barbara, CA.
Editors note: Open and Closed systems. Think website and disabled/impaired user calling up on the home computer. That is an open system. Goto the supermarket and use the self-checkout. That is a closed system. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web and develops of standards for the World Wide Web. To become a member at the lowest entry point is $7,900 a year.
The proposed standards (and they are proposed) are recommendations for how WCAG 2.2 could be applied to closed systems, if applied.
It’s good to have standards. It’s a little strange having a distanced group with no real kiosk companies advancing standards for us to use. And without any real kiosk companies being involved. Good for ATMs for sure (phil with NCR). Canada did much the same with their recent ADA standards for “closed” systems. Typically a high visibility representative company (in Canada’s case it was Diebold). Our guess is to encourage membership and funding and the more funding accessibility itself can get the better in our mind.
This document is an update to a W3C Working Group Note to incorporate new guidelines, success criteria, and definitions added in WCAG 2.1 and 2.2.
Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT), approved in September 2013, described how WCAG 2.0 could be applied to non-web documents and software. WCAG2ICT was organized to mirror WCAG’s sections: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. WCAG2ICT clarified when and how WCAG success criteria should be applied to non-web documents and software. Some were applicable without modification and some were applicable with edits and/or notes. Glossary terms were also reviewed. Level AAA Success Criteria were not addressed in the 2013 WCAG2ICT Working Group Note.
The 2013 WCAG2ICT has been relied upon in regulations and legislation. One example is EN 301 549[^1] (Europe) and other standards that reference or incorporate EN 301 549 (e.g., India, Kenya, Australia). Another example is Section 508 (U.S.) Application of WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web ICT, which looked to WCAG2ICT for detailed direction with providing specific guidance and exceptions to particular criteria from being applied to non-web technology. Section 508 incorporated by reference WCAG as the Accessibility Standard applicable to non-web documents and requires WCAG Conformance for non-web software.
[^1]: EN 301 549 V3.2.1 2.2 Informative references, p. 13 [i26].
1.2 Guidance in this Document
EDITOR’S NOTE
This section contains a first pass of updates. It will be re-examined once the Task Force has finished analyzing all of the new WCAG criteria to ensure the summarization of applicability of WCAG criteria to non-web documents and software is accurate.
This document provides informative guidance (guidance that is not normative and that does not set requirements) with regard to the interpretation and application of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 [WCAG22] to non-web information and communications technologies (ICT). This document is a Working Group Note (in contrast to WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2, which are W3C Recommendations). Specifically, this document provides informative guidance on applying WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA success criteria to non-web ICT, specifically to non-web documents and software.
This document is intended to help clarify how to use WCAG 2.2 to make non-web documents and software more accessible to people with disabilities. Addressing accessibility involves addressing the needs of people with auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual disabilities, and the needs of people with accessibility requirements due to the effects of aging. Although this document covers a wide range of issues, it is not able to address all the needs of all people with disabilities. Because WCAG 2.2 was developed for the Web, addressing accessibility for non-web documents and software may involve requirements and considerations beyond those included in this document. Authors and developers are encouraged to seek relevant advice about current best practices to ensure that non-web documents and software are accessible, as much as possible, to people with disabilities.
While WCAG 2.2 was designed to be technology-neutral, it assumes the presence of a “user agent” such as a browser, media player, or assistive technology as a means to access web content. Therefore, the application of WCAG 2.2 to documents and software in non-web contexts required some interpretation in order to determine how the intent of each WCAG 2.2 success criterion could be met in these different contexts of use. Therefore, the bulk of the Task Force’s work involved evaluating how each WCAG 2.2 success criterion would apply in the context of non-web ICT, if it were applied to non-web ICT.
The Task Force found that the majority of success criteria from WCAG 2.2 can apply to non-web documents and software with either no or minimal changes. Since many of the Level A and AA success criteria do not include any web related terms, they apply directly as written and as described in the “Intent” sections from the Understanding WCAG 2.2 [UNDERSTANDING-WCAG22] resource. Additional notes were provided, as needed, to provide assistance in applying them to non-web documents and software.
When certain Web-specific terms or phrases like “web page(s)” were used in success criteria, those were replaced with non-web terms or phrases like “non-web document(s) and software”. Additional notes were also provided to explain the terminology replacements.
A small number of success criteria are written to apply to “a set of web pages” or “multiple web pages” and require all pages in the set to share some characteristic or behavior. Since the unit of conformance in WCAG 2.2 is a single web page, the task force agreed that the equivalent unit of conformance for non-web documents is a single document. It follows that an equivalent unit of evaluation for a “set of web pages” would be a ”set of documents”. Since it isn’t possible to unambiguously carve up non-web software into discrete pieces, a single “web page” was equated to a “software program” and a “set of web pages” was equated to a “set of software programs. Both of these new terms are defined in the Key Terms section of this document. See “set of documents” and “set of software programs” to determine when a group of documents or pieces of software are considered a set.
NOTE
Sets of software that meet this definition appear to be extremely rare.
The glossary terms were also reviewed and most of them applied to non-Web documents and software, as written. Some applied with additional notes or edits (largely related to phrases like “Web page(s)”), and a small number of terms were only used in Level AAA success criteria which are not addressed by the WCAG2ICT Note at this time.
1.3 Excluded from Scope
The following are out of scope for this document:
This document does not seek to determine which WCAG 2.2 provisions (principles, guidelines, or success criteria) should or should not apply to non-web documents and software, but rather how they would apply, if applied.
This document does not propose changes to WCAG 2.2 or its supporting documents; it does not include interpretations for implementing WCAG 2.2 in web technologies. During the development of this document, the WCAG2ICT Task Force did seek clarification on the intent of a number of the success criteria, which led to clarifications in the Understanding WCAG 2.2 document.
This document is not sufficient by itself to ensure accessibility in non-web documents and software. As a web standard, WCAG does not fully cover all accessibility requirements for non-user interface aspects of platforms, user-interface components as individual items, nor closed product software (where there is no Assistive Technology to communicate programmatic information).
This document does not comment on hardware aspects of products, because the basic constructs on which WCAG 2.2 is built do not apply to these.
This document does not provide supporting techniques for implementing WCAG 2.2 in non-web documents and software.
This document is purely an informative Note about non-web ICT, not a standard, so it does not describe how non-web ICT should conform to it.
HIMSS Review Part 2 – Efficiency – Patient Check-In Kiosks
In the last post I covered some of the issues and advances in money and payments in healthcare. This article explores efficiencies in regard to Patient Check-In.
Cost is perspective dependent– Your opinion or benefit from a healthcare spend is relative to your position in the healthcare system and society as a whole. His expenses are my income which is paid for by your taxes adding to ‘our’ economy that politicians and talking heads love to scream at everyone about. Whether you consider yourself a winner or loser depends on your perspective.
Efficiency is not perspective dependent– Either process is efficient or it is not. Building tools to make individual processes more efficient is at the core of what we do. More is done with less.
Efficiency benefits appear perspective-dependent- Everyone cheers efficiency when improving a process saves time and space, nobody likes to waste those and there are only winners when they are saved. When it comes to anything else, there will be positional losers. Some tasks are repetitive enough to be quantified and automated. Responsibility for that task is transferred to other participants in that process. Exceptions are still dealt with by experts, but by and large the exception to the process must be paid for or ‘earned’ by condition.
Efficiency eliminates positions not Individuals – Personal Computing eliminated the need for a dedicated secretarial pool. The 5XB eliminated the need for switchboard operators. Everyone reading this has benefited greatly from the elimination of those positions. However, survivor’s guilt is not necessary. The individuals leaving those highly skilled positions went on with their lives in most cases using the tools the rendered their old positions obsolete.
Efficiency at HIMSS – A small number exhibitors at HIMSS did showcase some efficiency – increasing, position-eliminating technology that fit the model above. Incremental improvements to inefficient processes were all over the place. Being a seller not a buyer I took a look and got on my way. I didn’t need to hear another pitch or see another show. I already had a front row seat to the best show at HIMSS. Over and over again I had the pleasure of seeing the look of slack-jawed awe as PatientWay’s VP of Sales Shawn Grisim told real stories about paying customers and their experiences in implementing the PatientWay check-in solution. These conversations were all in the present tense referring to past and present installations. Not demo-ware, projections, or BS. Real stories from real implementations. Even to a casual observer the numbers are staggering:
90% of all patients walking through the door are checking themselves in.
(250K visits) x (90% usage) x (5 minutes per check in*) => 18750 hours
Patients 65 and over represent the majority of users of this system.
Most visitors asked the obvious, “what about the people.” Shawn was able to slay the boogeyman right then and there. The individuals who had been performing these repetitive tasks have been moved to more dynamic roles within their organizations and were happier for it. The relief washing over the faces of these people was clear. There would be no HR nightmare, strike, or other such reaction in their future. Just a better way to serve their customers while keeping their operation efficient enough to remain open and profitable.
Efficient CheckIn benefits the Individual, Provider, and the System – The check-in process is not billable. The perverse incentives that stifle much of the innovation in healthcare are not a factor when moving patients from their world into yours. Adding efficiency to this moving process benefits every participant in this system. PatientWay is the leader. When people ask me why I love what I do, this is the story that I tell them.
*National all-in average is 5 employee minutes per check-in.
EV Range, Inc. announced the launch of new fast chargers for electric vehicles in Soledad, California. PR by EV Range
SOLEDAD, Calif., June 21, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — EV Range, Inc., the leader in zero emission vehicle charging station management software solutions and installation services today announced the launch of new fast chargers for electric vehicles in Soledad, California. The EV market is quickly moving from early adopters to the mass market with EVs becoming a person’s primary and only vehicle. Although many people can charge their cars at home or near their workplace, range anxiety is a significant issue when driving beyond those areas. This becomes particularly acute during long range travel and in rural corridors.
ev chargers california
“We are really excited to bring these chargers to Highway 101 drivers,” said Carl Pancutt, CEO of EV Range. “Unlike the majority of currently available chargers in California, the chargers in Soledad can deliver up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes, which is the sweet spot for those driving through highway corridors. In addition, our driver app implements a frictionless payment methodology and our backend charger management system monitors the chargers in real time to immediately address uptime issues.”
“Our property has many shops and restaurants that attract travelers through Central California. Installing fast chargers allows us to add a new and necessary amenity for EV drivers,” said Beau Oxsen of Shaw Development. “In addition, we are able to further monetize our unique location and bring more people to our tenants’ establishments. Everyone wins.”
The process to bring these future-proof chargers online was done in conjunction with Monterey Bay Air Resources District which was instrumental in helping fund this state-of-the-art charging location.
“MBARD’s objective is to improve air quality across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties,” said David Frisbey, Planning and Air Monitoring Manager of the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. “We are in a new world of opportunities to mitigate the environmental impacts from cars and trucks. Working with companies like EV Range, and highway corridor property owners, enables us to ensure that EVs can travel easily through the North Central Coast Air Basin.”
About EV Range:
EV Range is a full-service, vertically integrated electric vehicle infrastructure solution provider. Our software and services are available to consumers and businesses. To learn more about EV Range visit https://www.evrange.com/
The electric vehicle (EV) charging market is growing at lightning speed, both in the U.S. and globally. As both consumers and government and commercial fleets transition to electric, membership-based charging stations are popping up in employee parking lots, tenant parking garages and public areas. Many of these EV charging stations rely on RFID and smartphone-based BLE or NFC credentialing for member authentication. RFID cards and mobile apps are simple and convenient for tenants, employees and members. Here are six questions charging network managers and charging equipment manufacturers should ask before implementing an RFID reader solution.
What wireless technologies does the reader need to support?
Are your end-users likely to use a smartphone to access charging services or a membership card? Or will you need to accommodate both options? More than 60 RFID transponder technologies are in common use worldwide, including low-frequency (125 kHz) and high-frequency (13.56 MHz) technologies. Smartphones typically use Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) or Near-field Communication (NFC) to communicate with the reader. If you are issuing your own membership cards used across your entire network, you may have a lot of control over the technologies used. But if your network supports government or commercial fleet customers, multi-tenant buildings or similar user communities, it may be preferable to allow users to tap in with an existing company or building ID card. A multi-technology reader that supports both HF and LF RFID and BLE and NFC provides the greatest flexibility to meet the needs of users, now and in the future.
How easy is it to update the readers?
Firmware for RFID readers will need to be updated periodically to address emerging security vulnerabilities, introduce new functionality or add new transponder technologies. EV charging networks are, by nature, widely distributed geographically. Physically visiting each charging unit to update or change out the RFID reader is a daunting task. Look for an RFID reader that can be easily updated with a contactless card or, even better, remotely over a network. Remote configuration enables network managers to update firmware for all installed readers at EV charging stations simultaneously.
Is the RFID reader certified in all of the areas in which charging stations will operate?
Increasingly, EV charging networks cross-national boundaries. Most RFID readers are only certified for sale and use in a limited number of countries. If you’re managing a global network of EV chargers—or plan to take your network global in the future—it’s essential to have a reader that is certified for use in all of the regions in which you intend to operate. Having a single reader that can be used internationally simplifies implementation and management of your reader network and ensures that card or smartphone technologies are compatible at all stations in the network.
Does the RFID reader support security requirements for EV charging?
EV charging stations need a secure user authentication method that cannot be easily hacked or compromised to reduce the potential for fraudulent use. This is especially important if the user authorization connects to a billing system that tracks charging station use. The reader should support advanced encryption to reduce the risk of card cloning or data interception. Make sure it provides secure storage for encryption keys so they cannot be compromised. And look for a customizable API to support evolving security requirements.
Does the reader software support functionality requirements for EV charging?
For EV charging applications, the RFID reader must be able to integrate with backend systems that authenticate membership and track usage for billing or cost allocation purposes. It may also be desirable to customize reader functionality for a better user experience, such as activating LED lights to provide visual cues for users. The software for the reader should be robust and flexible enough to customize and support all of the functionality that might be needed.
Can the reader be easily integrated into the form factor of the charging unit?
Consideration must also be given to how the reader will be physically integrated with the charging unit. Does it have the appropriate hardware interfaces to connect to the unit? Is it small enough to be embedded inside the unit, or would it have to be attached to the outside? If it will be attached, is the reader housing tamper-proof and suitable for exposure to the elements? Embedding the reader into the charging unit is best for both security and weatherproofing. Look for a reader that can be embedded without making significant modifications to the design of the unit.
Interested in learning more about technical considerations for RFID in EV charging?
Sean Houchin is the product manager for ELATEC Inc in Palm City, Florida and part of the global ELATEC GmbH product management team. He has more than 20 years of experience in product development, management and applications engineering. Sean is an expert in RFID technology, optoelectronic and fiber optic video, audio, and data transmission equipment for military and commercial applications and is a veteran of the United States Navy.
Our feature this month is a case study in tablet kiosks and giving back to the community. In it an interactive tablet kiosk from the Kiosk Group serves as the centerpiece of a young man’s Eagle Scout Service Project. Worth noting that every single one of our sponsors and members donate expertise and materials to projects.
ADA Committee – we met with the U.S. Access Board in Washington, DC and had an extended meeting with them covering options for working together going forward. The group was very enthused on both sides. Visit our ADA page for the writeup on the meeting.
From left – Randy Amundsen of Frank Mayer, Bruce Bailey, Marsha Mazz, Tim Creagan and Rex Pace of US Access Board
We’ve added a Digital Signage RFP and a Smart Cities RFP section. Atlanta was Intersect we believe and New Jersey and Jersey City are next. Very active and competitive space. Those go along with existing McDonalds news watch. Word there is more changes as far as vendors go. Some in and some out. Sometimes it almost seems easier and better to let someone win the initial deal and then win it for sure later when they don’t execute.
The Kiosk Industry Group is a news and marketing association for self-service and kiosk manufacturers. It is for the benefit of kiosk manufacturers, developers, resources and client companies who are involved in self-service transaction machines (SSTM). News about the industry and by the industry is published on our website when it is relevant to companies that deploy or may deploy self-service, or to companies that support those deployers with hardware, software or applications. The Kiosk Industry Group has been active since 1995. Our audience this year on the website is 50,000 (human). Visit https://kioskindustry.org/ for more information.
And thanks to all of our sponsors. They are the ones along with our members that make this network available.
Chromebook touchscreen computers are a popular item when it comes to a thin client or restricted computer client. IT administrators usually hold up a big sign that says Patch Management with Windows is Hell. I know I used too (then we switched to LTSB). There is something to be said for Windows-based thin clients especially since, historically, they have been largest segment. And management was easier.
We see it in digital signage where management features and sheer graphics internet rendering are king priority. Windows has a greater tendency to interrupt.
Touchscreens are natural. Most of the interfaces are beginning to blend the mobile UI into the desktop, discarding the “historically popular” mouse pointer and the little square icon. Pick up a telephone handset and look at the size of the buttons. Not a bad reference.
Anyway, we digress. Here is a quick topical look at Chromebook touch screen computers.
Melbourne Airport is introducing 28 shiny new kiosks that can be used for automatic check-in by international airlines. And what operating system are …
Source: www.lifehacker.com.au
Melbourne Airport’s site boasts:
Using the latest technology from SITA and BCS, the new kiosks have an improved look and feel to best meet a passenger’s needs.
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KMA is pleased to confirm that Peter Jarvis has accepted a request to continue as Co-Chair of the Accessibility Committee. Working closely with Peter as Co-Chair will be Nicky Shaw of Storm Interface.
“Thank you to Randy Amundson of FMA who previously served as Co-Chair. I look forward to serving on the Committee and continuing to advocate for more accessible self-service technology”
“Thank you to Randy Amundson of FMA who previously served as Co-Chair. I look forward to serving on the Committee and continuing to advocate for more accessible self-service technology,” said Nicky.
Nicky and Peter will be joined by James Kruper of KioWare as the committee’s Vice-Chair. James will serve to provide an essential insight into applicable requirements for accessible UX software applications and appropriate platform configuration.
Working with system designers, kiosk manufacturers, deployers and disability advocate groups the committee will address both opportunities and challenges relating to improved accessibility.
“The KMA Accessibility Committee must remain a credible source of advice and guidance, working independently and free from external interference. Committee members are appointed (and motivated) to act and serve in the best interests of KMA members, clients served by the kiosk industry and the disabled communities reliant upon accessible self-service technology,” said Peter Jarvis.
As Co-Chairs, Nicky and Peter will seek to recruit committee members from within the disabled communities and their representative organizations. They are seeking representation from both hardware and software manufacturers. Invitations will also be extended to legal practitioners working in disability rights. It is considered essential that the kiosk industry be recognized by legislators as an important part of the solution and not the cause of the problem. The KMA Accessibility Committee will propose that consultation with representatives from the kiosk and self-service sectors should be an essential part of any new mandating or legislative process.
Additional ADA and Accessibility Committee members include Olea Kiosks, Pyramid Computer, Vispero, KIOSK Information Systems, KioskGroup, Peerless-AV, Dolphin Computer Access, Mimo Monitors, DynaTouch, and Tech For All Consulting.
In addition to ADA and Accessibility conformance, the Kiosk Manufacturer Association is a Participating Organization with the PCI SSC and involved in CAT or Cardholder Activated Terminals in the unattended or attended self-service environment.
Press Release – August 12, 2015 – YORK, PA. Called “The
Click to see full size image
Revolutionary City,” Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the United States. The restored 18th Century capital city of Williamsburg Virginia includes live action, theatrical performances, historical buildings, and nearby resorts, sports clubs, and a water park. With continuing increases in visitor attendance, Colonial Williamsburg’s traditional ticket windows were having trouble keeping up with the pace of the city’s ever-changing schedule. Different buildings and attractions were open at different times, which made keeping track of things difficult. They wanted to improve customer service by offering a self-service solution to purchase tickets and provide information that was quick and easy…and didn’t take away from the traditional experience.
So when Colonial Williamsburg wanted to incorporate state-of-the-art ticketing technology, they had to proceed with caution. From the actors wearing colonial garb, to the functioning blacksmith workshops, to the horse and carriage rides, authenticity is the backbone of Colonial Williamsburg. No technology is even allowed inside the gates. They called on Livewire Digital in York, PA to assist.
Colonial Williamsburg already had been using Livewire’s technology… virtual eConcierge tourist center kiosks installed in 2011. Colonial Williamsburg liked these kiosks and wanted to expand their capabilities to add ticketing functionality. In March, they installed ticketing kiosks around the outside of Colonial Williamsburg (no technology inside, remember!) and in the local Visitor Center. The interactive kiosks allow guests to buy tickets right at the gates or to purchase vouchers online and redeem them at the kiosk.
“Technology for technology’s sake wasn’t an option at Colonial Williamsburg,” said David McCracken, Livewire Digital’s President and CEO. “The solution would incorporate cutting-edge technology, but it also simply needed it to work. It was important not to take away from the overall feel and flavor of the attraction.”
About Livewire Digital
Livewire is the Power to Connect, creating software solutions for kiosks, digital signage, and online and mobile applications, all managed from its eConcierge® Content Management System. Livewire’s many turnkey solutions increase revenue and productivity for its customers, while lowering overhead and providing seamless integration. Livewire provides cutting-edge software, hardware consulting, and system integration, bringing the necessary puzzle pieces together to increase customer engagement and create a better end-user experience.
Embracing the Travel Boom with Confidence: Signage and CMS for Peace of Mind
Digital signage and interactive wayfinding are fast-growing communication channels for the hospitality sector because they can help guests embrace travel opportunities with confidence, pointing to all the amenities and services the hotel has to offer while being mindful of health requirements. — Tomer Mann, Chief Revenue Officer, 22Miles
2021 brought on a travel boom, and last year, Destination Analysts projected reported that more than 83% of Americans had plans to once again venture beyond their backyards, either for work or play, during the 12 months. While evolving public health circumstances have caused a relapse in travel hesitancy for many, it has not halted journeys with the same strength as the onset of the pandemic. This means the hospitality sector is still on the hook to offer an outstanding guest experience that both wows and prioritizes health and safety guidelines.
For today’s technology-savvy guests, the right technology solutions are essential for the lux experience they expect from a hotel stay. Digital signage and interactive wayfinding are fast-growing communication channels for the hospitality sector because they can help guests embrace travel opportunities with confidence, pointing to all the amenities and services the hotel has to offer while being mindful of health requirements. Let’s dive into the most fruitful digital signage software integration options that can enhance comfort, convenience, and satisfaction for customers in each part of their stay.
Taking the Stress Out of Check-In
A guest’s first impression of a hotel begins at the entryway, and while there are new requirements to ensure guest and worker safety, there are technologies that can help make checking in seamless and simple. Beginning with access, kiosks equipped with virtual receptionists offer a way to monitor when guests enter the lobby to check-in, check out, or navigate the facility. A guest can simply enter a hotel, approach a check-in screen, and be greeted by a guest relations employee who can walk through the check-in process or answer questions without breaking social distancing guidelines. Screens that can populate surveys to confirm negative COVID tests, vaccination status, or symptoms are becoming increasingly common to ensure that guests remain at low risk during their stay.
Tomer Mann is EVP at 22Miles. As a veteran in the digital signage industry with more than ten years, Tomer strives to enhance visual communication consulting services for higher education, hospitality, retail, transportation, government, corporate, venues, healthcare, and other large organizations.
The Olea Kiosks article “The Future is Now: Biometric Stadium Security” explores integrating biometric technologies, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, into stadium security systems.
These technologies are designed to streamline entry processes, enhance security, and personalize fan experiences. Facial recognition enables ticketless entry and real-time identification of potential security threats, while fingerprint scanning facilitates secure payments and loyalty programs.
The article emphasizes the advantages of biometric applications, which include
improved fan experience,
enhanced security,
increased operational efficiency, and
data-driven insights for personalization.
The adoption of these technologies is expected to grow, reshaping the future of security in stadiums and event venues.
Excerpt Security Stadium Biometrics
1.Facial Recognition: The New Face of Stadium Entry
Ticketless Entry: We’ve already said goodbye to paper tickets and may move on from digital tickets. Facial recognition software can scan your face and grant you access, making entry a breeze.
Security Measures: This technology can identify known troublemakers or even spot suspicious behavior in real-time, keeping events safer for everyone.
Personalized Experiences: Imagine receiving a discount on your favorite team’s merchandise as you walk by a store in the stadium, all thanks to facial recognition! This technology can personalize your experience with targeted offers and promotions.
2.Fingerprint Scanning: A Touch of Security and Convenience
Secure Payments: No need to carry cash or cards. Fingerprint scanning allows quick and secure food, drinks, and merchandise payments.
Loyalty Programs: Earn rewards and perks with every scan! Fingerprint scanning can be linked to loyalty programs, making tracking your purchases and redeeming rewards easier.
This is not the full image. Click on it to go to the original article — Anthony Sansone Jr., from St. Louis, gets instructions from Breanna Evans on the new scanners at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. The new scanners from the Clear company scan either a person’s fingers or iris to make a positive identification. Airport travelers have to sign up for the service that will let them avoid showing any other identification. Photo by J.B. Forbes, [email protected]
From St. Louis Dispatch Feb 2020 — ST. LOUIS COUNTY — St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Monday launched its new biometric security screening alternative in Terminal 2 — the one housing Southwest Airlines’ operations.
The new CLEAR biometric system, which identifies people via fingerprints and the iris of their eyes, is available to passengers who pay up to $179 a year for the privilege. Those using it get through security lines a bit faster.
Editors Note: CLEAR works with Olea Kiosks on these kiosks.
kiosks.org was first official kiosk industry site devoted to kiosk developers, manufacturers, deployers and yes, even vendors…
Here is where we have links to Archive content.
Here are links to earlier content prior to this site:
Primenet : this was the original iteration of site which was driven by the comp.infosystems.kiosks Usenet newsgroup that Craig Keefner moderated. This site vanished into the ether before web archives were born. Circa mid-1994 Gift Certificate Center, Target and OS/2 days.
Visi.com/~keefner : this was 2nd iteration and was operational until earlier this year when legacy webserver was terminated in Minnesota. Content included (and saved) includes blogs as well as the original Los Alamos kiosk whitepaper.
Kiosks.org — here is a snapshot from 1998 with the first featured developer by the name of First Wave. This site was mainstay for many years and owed its success to Craig’s prediction Google would dominate. Altavista & Yahoo were the big ones and Google was garage outfit. Being #1 on Google though paid off. Innovative sections such “Click and Mortar” covered merging of internet and conventional retail. It was also the home site for the first Kiosk Association. This property eventually was sold to outside company which eventually shut it down. The content lives though to some extent via the PRs and Newsbits atarchive link here (1997, 1998 & 1999)…
The Retail Forum will bring together CMOs, digital and omni-channel retail directors, heads of customer experience and solution providers from leading organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Taking place at the RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast on 11 – 12 September 2017; attendees will benefit from visionary keynote presentations, real-life case studies and interactive sessions!
Confirmed Speakers Include:
Michele Fuhs, Head of Future Retail – Premium Retail Experience, BMW
SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwired – Jun 8, 2017) – Generation NEXT Franchise Brands (OTCQB: VEND) announced today that on May 16, 2017, it appointed San Diego-based D&K Engineering as their exclusive contract manufacturer for not only the recently launched Reis & Irvy’s Froyo Robot but the future development of alternative robotic vending concepts and technologies.
D&K Engineering is an international product design and contract manufacturing services company with a proven track record of turning innovative ideas into successful reality. Boasting over 600 successful product realization journeys with an emphasis on designing and manufacturing specialty smart machines and kiosks for clients like ecoATM-Gazelle, minuteKEY, and Vengo, D&K Engineering was a clear choice for Generation NEXT, whose revolutionary Reis & Irvy’s Froyo Robot has launched a company-focused effort on developing new roads into robotic vending technology.
Our space-saving kiosk is a revolutionary solution designed to optimize limited space while providing a seamless self-service experience. It maximizes floor space, integrates easily without sacrificing seating capacity, and offers a user-friendly interface for effortless browsing, customization, and payment.
Click for full size – Polytouch Flex kiosk
The POLYTOUCH FLEX21.5 offers an array of different models, including the slimmed down FLEX21.5 lite, standard FLEX21.5 Self-Checkout and the FLEX21.5 Check-In Pro for the ultimate guest check-in experience.
Some current customers currently using the FLEX21.5 include theme parks, airports, quick-serve restaurants and more!
The FLEX21.5 also comes with every module you’d need, including Scanner, Payment (by cash or card), Receipt (printed receipt or displayed as QR code), Status Light, and more.
Interested in learning more about the FLEX21.5, or any of our other products? Just let me know and we’d be happy to set up a quick call to answer any questions you might have!
Date and Location
Conference: November 13-17, 2017
Trade Show: November 14-17, 2017
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL, US
By the numbers:
32,000 Participants
120 Countries Represented
21,000 Attendee Buyers
1,100 Exhibitors
575,000 square feet of exhibits
Connect with buyers from:
Amusement parks, Theme parks, Attractions, Water parks, Family Entertainment Centers, Casino, Zoos, Aquariums, Resorts, Museums, Themed Entertainment, Party Rentals and much more!
IAAPA Expo
From the trade show floor to five days of social events and education sessions, seeing and hearing what is going on in other attractions gets your ideas rolling out of the box and into new revenue streams.Conference: Nov. 18-22
Trade Show: Nov. 19-22 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL, US
A special THANK YOU to the IAAPA Expos Global Sponsors below for their support of IAAPA’s three signature conferences and trade shows across the world in 2018—IAAPA Expo Asia, IAAPA Expo Europe and IAAPA Expo.
It is the continued support of this dedicated group of sponsors that help to make IAAPA events successful. Please be sure to visit their booths!
For more information regarding global sponsorships, please contact Emily Popovich, Director, Global Sponsorship at +1 703/ 850-4115 or [email protected].
Every week another case study for a restaurant going self-order hits my desk. While monsters like Chick-Fil-A do a test delivery site and suck all the oxygen out of the media, another small to medium business takes advantage of self-service done right.
Hero Boy Sandwich in Georgia
Hero Boy Sandwich Co. in Alpharetta, GA, is serving up faster service and better profits with Ordering Kiosk by Nanonation. They have joined over 500 restaurant brands using Nanonation to enable their restaurant technology. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g7wSVVff
kiosk self order
Gemini Says
Kiosk self-ordering is a system that allows customers to browse menus, customize and place their orders, and even pay for their purchases, all through a kiosk. This kiosk is essentially a digital stand-alone computer with a touch screen interface.
Here are some of the benefits of kiosk self-ordering:
Convenience and speed: Customers can browse menus and order at their own pace, potentially reducing wait times, especially during peak hours.
Customization: Kiosks allow for easy customization of orders, which can be appealing to customers with dietary restrictions or preferences.
Increased accuracy: Since customers are entering their own orders, there’s a reduced chance of errors compared to traditional ordering through a cashier.
Efficiency for staff: With kiosks handling some of the ordering tasks, staff can focus on food preparation and customer service.
Kiosk self-ordering is becoming increasingly popular in fast food restaurants and other quick service establishments. However, it can also be found in some full-service restaurants and other retail settings.
Samsung’s state-of-the-art kiosk platform combined with Nanonation’s content and application management tools is a win-win for any business
The Samsung Kiosk platform is a versatile solution built upon Samsung’s Tizen operating system. Configurable to meet a variety of industry needs, the kiosk can be free-standing, tabletop or even wall mounted. Multiple payment and peripheral options make the Samsung Kiosk a great solution for retail, restaurant, transit, hospitality or just about any public-space application. Nanonation’s robust CMS tool allows you to deploy and manage your applications and content to Samsung Kiosk networks large or small.
Nanonation partnered with Samsung to bring our Commandpoint management tools to the Samsung Kiosk platform. Through Commandpoint you can quickly and easily deploy new versions of HTML interactive applications to your kiosks. Commandpoint also allows you to control the kiosk’s attract loop using our feature-rich digital signage CMS.
Don’t have an application to deploy? No problem. Nanonation’s expert software development team and user interface designers are here to help. From endless aisle applications that tie directly to inventory systems to transactional ordering or ticketing solutions, Nanonation can help you create the application you need.
TAGS: cashless vending, mobile payments, unattended payments, Ingenico Group, Ingenico unattended partners program, Self Series readers, Greg Burch, Vengo Labs, Steven Bofill
NEW YORK CITY — Ingenico Group said year-over-year shipments of its
Source: www.vendingtimes.com
Excerpt — NEW YORK CITY — Ingenico Group said year-over-year shipments of its iSelf Series cashless payment systems grew more than 200%. New additions to Ingenico’s unattended partners program, launched a year ago, have accelerated sales, the company reported. Ingenico products are used by the vending, education, retail, hospitality and parking industries.
Ingenico Group said it saw its single largest deployment of unattended payment solutions in 2016. New unattended partners include Vengo Labs, which makes a wall-mounted touchscreen vending machine, along with Bank of America, Bluefin, Shift4 and Vantiv. The program’s 22 members consist of kiosk, value-added and payment solutions providers. It also serves system integrators that create the ecosystem necessary for secure unattended payments.
Ingenico’s PCI-certified iSelf Series is EMV and NFC capable. The all-in-one iUC285 contact and contactless standalone module for self-service businesses is the most popular terminal/reader in the series. Over the past two years, the company says it created more than 10,000 purchase points with its unattended terminals.
Connected Technology Solutions, Flex, Image Manufacturing Group, Kiosk Information Systems, Olea Kiosks, SlabbKiosks and Zivelo are other kiosk makers that use Ingenico’s products. Intouch, Livewire and Nanonation are among the system integrators working with Ingenico.
The Kiosk Industry Association announces that nominations are now being accepted for the Kiosk Hall of Fame. We expect to announce inductees in next 60 days.
As the manager of the Kiosk Industry Association has commented, “It’s important that, along with encouraging the regulatory guidelines and best practice design engineering, we recognise the extraordinary people who truly are the industry”.
Big thank you to Edward Crowley at URway Holdings for sponsoring the awards in 2014. We were able to have nice awards and everybody liked them very much (including the one we shipped to Australia).
Current list of nominees
A. Eric Dumouchel of Ultimedia (posthumous)
B. Traci Martin of Olea (and Ceroview)
C. Gib Smith — founder of Gibco
D. Heinz Horstmann of PROVISIO
E. Neil Farr Working Solutions
F. Nigel Seed – Founder of Netshift
G. Ben Wheeler – Flextronics
H. Tommy Woycik – Nextep Systems
I. Tommy Wincent of Swecoin (posthumous)
J. Lars Rosendahl of Rosendahl Conceptkiosk AS
K. Wilf Medweth – IBM Toronto
L. William “Billy” Giamo — IBM
M. Florence Cummings – 3M (and Microtouch)
N. Brothers Birg – Cy and Ziver
O. Dave Heyliger – founder of Rocky Mountain Multimedia.
P. Brian Collier of Dicoll
Q. Christoph Niehus – Founder of Provisio
R. Sydney and Jonathan Arfin of Seepoint
S. NCR – Tim Peterson
T. Klaus Trox – Friendlyway
U. John Glitsos of First Wave
V. Rick Rommel of Kodak and North Communications
W. John Caldwell – 5point
X. Dave Gonsiorowski – WebRaiser & Flextronics
Y. Media Candidate: James Vande Castle – Kiosk Magazine
Y. Media Candidate: Mary Carlin – Edgell Publications
Y. Media Candidate: James Bickers – Networld MediaCurrent Kiosk Hall of Fame
Editors note: We fully expect to see robotic food trucks in the NRF drive-thru lot outside Javits next year. Take the food to buyers is a core strategy it seems these days. And delivery and pickup have that automatic cooling off period before you get home. For events and gatherings these will be very useful.
Excerpt:
After Kitchen United co-founder Massimo Noja De Marco left the ghost kitchen company in 2020, he built another startup, Piestro — a portable pizzeria powered by robots and reminiscent of a futuristic automat or vending machine — that launched in June 2020. Now, nearly a year after launch, Piestro is kicking off its second crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine and announced on Tuesday their partnership with facial recognition payment company, PopID.
“It’s a very sophisticated piece of technology, this standalone machine that assembles and cooks delicious artisanal pizzas in three minutes or less right in front of you,” De Marco said. “From the window, you can actually watch all of the fresh ingredients that you picked falling down onto your pizza.”
The company is also partnering with robot delivery service KiwiBot to round out the human-free pizza experience for customers that order Piestro for delivery.
Demo still shows customer swiping his magstripe card
Excerpt:
Retailer expands partnership with tech firm from mobile to kiosksBy Jackson Lewis on Oct. 28, 2021
CARMI, Ill. —Huck’s Market is bringing Skip’s new self-checkout kiosk to the 124 locations it operates across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. This agreement comes after a pilot program that tested the new kiosk at select locations.
Martin & Bayley Inc., the Carmi, Ill.-based operator of Huck’s Market, is No. 58 on CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of convenience stores by store count.
Last April, Huck’s adopted Skip’s mobile checkout application for its locations.
“In our field tests, Skip’s kiosks comprised 35% of net/qualified transactions and 15% of total store transactions,” said Jon Bunch, director of marketing and business development for Huck’s, “But what really set Skip apart was the convenience. When we started testing their kiosk, it felt like all we had to do was plug it in and it was ready to go.”
Good point of view (albeit dated) on immigration kiosks by an expert at SITA who just happens to do most of the immigration kiosks (aka Border Kiosks). SITA also does the Amtrack ticketing kiosks and lots of airline check-in kiosks.
Border Security Kiosks aka Immigation Kiosks
Immigration Kiosk
Published on 31 December 2014 08:12 by Sean Farrell
Introduction
Immigration Kiosk Primer — At the end of October, Acuity Market Intelligence reported that automated border control kiosks were expanding across North America and the Caribbean with a total of 25 airports now offering the service. The analyst reports that global market for kiosks will reach 8,000 by 2018. It isn’t just the Americas that are turning to automation, e-gates and kiosks are being used and deployed worldwide, including Australia,Singapore, Germany and the UK.
Why is automation proving so popular? Simply put, the technology is mature enough and radically improves border efficiency and throughput. Acuity Market Intelligence estimates that the kiosks in the US have “decreased international arrival and preclearance border control wait times by as much as 80%.”
Increasing passenger numbers mean that border agencies need to take action. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that international passenger numbers will grow by a quarter from 1.2 billion in 2012 to 1.5 billion in 2017. Existing manual border controls already struggle to process today’s volume of passengers and future increases threaten to stress already overloaded processes and systems to breaking point.
The challenge for the border security agency is to identify everybody who is not authorized to enter the country among the millions of legitimate travelers. Border agencies need intelligence to identify these high risk travelers efficiently, accurately and without disrupting the immigration experience for the majority.
Case for immigration kiosks
Automated border gates and kiosks remove the need for a border guard to manually check the travel document and identity for each and every traveler. Qualified border agents can then be redeployed to focus their attention on potential high-risk travelers, thereby improving efficiency and security.
Success in automated border control relies on the wide use of e-passports and the accuracy of biometric verification. Now over 100 countries have implemented e-passports, representing around 60% of all passports in circulation in 2012. Biometric matching technology, particularly for facial recognition, has also improved dramatically in recent years.
Not a binary choice
There are a number of factors that border agencies must consider to ensure a successful automated border control deployment. These include selecting the right system, choosing where and how to deploy it, educating staff and passengers on how best to use it and re-configuring port operations to maximize the potential benefits.
It isn’t a binary choice between manual and automated processing. It is all about finding the right efficiencies and trade-off between the two. The balance depends on a number of criteria, such as the security requirements, types of threat faced, traveler demographics, infrastructure constraints, and the availability of travel documents, such as e-passports with biometrics.
Feb 2020 – Very complete article by CNBC including videos of new cashierless store Amazon has just opened. Amazon has been working on this since 2015. Includes produce section. You can get yourself a cup of coffee (and get charged for it).
Key Points
Five years in the making, the first Amazon Go Grocery store is opening Tuesday in Seattle.
It’s Amazon’s first full-size, cashierless grocery store, expanding the technology in its Amazon Go shops, which are more like convenience stores.
The store is about 10,400 square feet and stocks roughly 5,000 items, including fresh produce, meats and alcohol.
“We’re not trying to be Whole Foods,” Amazon’s Cameron Janes said. “We’re not trying to replace them.”
Excerpt
The online behemoth on Tuesday is opening its first, full-size, cashierless grocery store. Five years in the making, the Amazon Go Grocery is in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, in the Amazon corporate headquarters’ backyard.
Amazon has been working on the space since 2015. At 10,400 square feet, the store at 610 E. Pike St. incorporates the same technology found in the two dozenor so Amazon Go locations. Shoppers can walk in, scan a QR code from their Amazon mobile app at a turnstile, carry or add whatever they want to their baskets throughout the store, and walk out when they are finished. Zero human interaction is required, though the store will staff a couple dozen people to help stock shelves and answer shoppers’ questions.
“You’re seeing a lot of big strides in [this] store,” Cameron Janes, vice president of Amazon’s physical retail division, told CNBC during a tour of the grocery store on Monday. “Produce is a big example of that.”
WESTMINSTER, Colo., Nov. 8, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — From Kiosk Industry and Kiosk Manufacturer Association: Trade Shows — IAAPA is November 14th and here is our preview. Outdoor ticketing, wristband dispense, kiosk avatars and wayfinding. We’ll have a small countertop for self-order as well in the booth. IAAPA is a great showplace for cruise ships, amusement parks, hotels and restaurant technology. We are #6137. Looking for a free ticket? We have a few left!
ADA — Big news this month is Quest Diagnostics losing. 2500 kiosks are affected (and maybe same for LabCorp). December 2023 is release of new self-service & POS guidelines from Access Board.
New and Renewing Sponsors This Month
10Zig complete line of thin clients is a Gold sponsor
Very nice article explaining the value and benefits of employee training as well as implementing self-service technology. Improving staff training, using technology for better execution at the store level, adding self-checkout and ordering kiosks, and outsourcing expense management are all approaches being chosen by retailers today to achieve the goal of operational excellence. Reference: csnews.com
Excerpt
Temple, Texas-based CEFCO Convenience Stores, operator of more than 190 locations, added in-store kiosks for food service ordering in partnership with software company Reji LLC and Olea Kiosks, eliminating the need for an employee to take orders.
“One of the big challenges in a c-store is labor, and they are often short on store-level employees, so the kiosk allows for self-ordering and while the customer waits for the food, they can shop the store,” said Reji CEO Frank Yoder.
At its CEFCO Kitchen locations, the retailer prints out a receipt with a barcode for the customer to take to the checkout and pay. C-stores that do this offer their customers the opportunity to walk around the store and pick up other items while they wait, which they may not do if they already paid at the kiosk, noted Yoder.
“Kiosks have been proven in the QSR [quick-service restaurant] environment and we have seen for c-stores, the ticket lift is higher when they order through a kiosk — in some cases, by 20%-30%,” he added, explaining that it is more guilt-free for customers when they order through a kiosk and add extras. The kiosk also prompts the customer to add on items.
Key points:
Training and Development: Effective training is crucial for operational excellence in convenience stores. This includes initial onboarding and ongoing training to help employees grow within the company and aid retention. Custom videos and computer-based modules are used to ensure consistency across locations.
Self-Service Technology: Adopting self-service devices like kiosks can save labor, increase efficiency, and boost customer satisfaction. These devices allow customers to place orders and pay without employee assistance, leading to higher sales and improved customer experience.
Mystery Shops and Incentives: Utilizing loss prevention video systems for virtual mystery shops helps maintain high customer service standards. Employees are rewarded with cash incentives for excellent service, encouraging consistent performance.
Expense Management: Effective expense management can significantly impact the bottom line. This includes scrutinizing contracts for hidden fees and renegotiating terms to reduce costs. Specialized software and consulting services can help identify and eliminate unnecessary expenses.
These strategies collectively contribute to achieving operational excellence in convenience stores.
Kitchen technology for employees has improved over the years but touchless screens might just be the next generation of “touch technology”, This is a guest article by Laurence Cuni of MZ Technologie. For more information visit their website
PART I – THE BENEFITS
In the fast-paced environment of a quick-service restaurant (QSR), efficiency and cleanliness are crucial for success. A growing trend in this space is adopting touchless screen technologies to operate touchscreens. Traditional touchscreen interfaces can be challenging to use and maintain in the kitchen, where workers often handle food with dirty or greasy hands or wear gloves. New technology can result in productivity challenges, hygiene concerns, and increased device wear and tear. Touchless technology solves these challenges, providing significant benefits for cleanliness, health, productivity, and long-term cost savings.
1. Enhanced Cleanliness and Hygiene
Dirt, grease, and moisture are significant factors for touchscreens in QSR kitchens. Workers handling food with bare hands or gloves must interact with these devices for various tasks, such as adjusting timers, changing orders, or monitoring food preparation.
For example, a kitchen could use gesture controls to adjust timers, voice-activated systems for changing orders, and proximity sensors to monitor food preparation. This minimizes the buildup of grease, food particles, and other contaminants on the surface and helps reduce the spread of germs.
This shift towards touchless operation not only helps kitchens maintain higher hygiene standards but also significantly relieves hygiene concerns, providing a sense of reassurance. In environments where cross-contamination is a significant concern, touchless technology ensures food safety, further enhancing this feeling of reassurance.
2. Limiting Germ Propagation
Traditional touchscreens serve as high-contact surfaces in kitchens, often touched by multiple employees throughout a shift. Frequent contact increases the risk of germ transmission between staff, especially when handwashing practices are not enforced. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of minimizing contact with shared surfaces to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria.
By integrating touchless technologies in the kitchen, QSR operators can limit the spread of germs, thereby providing a protective shield for both employees and customers. This sense of protection is further enhanced by the fact that workers can perform their tasks without ever needing to make physical contact with the touchscreen. This greatly reduces the risk of contamination and germ propagation, promoting a healthier work environment and protecting both employees and customers.
3. Extended Lifespan of Touchscreens
Another significant benefit of touchless technology in QSR kitchens is the potential for extending the lifespan of touchscreens. Frequent direct interaction with touchscreens, especially with greasy or wet hands, can lead to the deterioration of screen quality over time. Screens can become scratched, coated with layers of grime, or damaged from excessive pressure or improper cleaning.
Touchless interfaces eliminate these problems by removing the need for direct physical contact. As a result, touchscreens experience less wear and tear, preserving their functionality and appearance for longer. This factor translates to fewer repairs and replacements, reducing downtime caused by malfunctioning screens.
In addition to protecting the screen, touchless technology reduces the need for harsh cleaning methods. Traditional touchscreens require frequent cleaning with chemical solutions to maintain cleanliness, which can degrade screen coatings and contribute to long-term damage. With touchless systems, the frequency and intensity of cleaning can be minimized, further extending the lifespan of the devices.
However, it’s important to note that touchless technology is highly adaptable and can be used for a variety of tasks in a kitchen. There may be a learning curve for employees to adapt to these new systems, but the benefits far outweigh the initial adjustment period. Another possible application is for outdoor touchscreens, in harsh weather conditions, such as on a cruise ship, in maritime environments where waterproof solutions are necessary and available, or in ski resorts, where operating with gloves is a must-have!
4. Enhanced Productivity and Workflow
In a QSR kitchen, speed and accuracy are vital to maintaining productivity. Employees are often under pressure to meet tight deadlines while ensuring that food is prepared and delivered quickly. Touchscreens are critical for managing orders, tracking inventory, and coordinating kitchen operations. However, traditional touchscreens can slow down productivity, particularly when workers must pause to remove gloves or clean their hands before interacting with the devices.
Touchless technology streamlines kitchen workflows by allowing employees to operate screens without needing to stop and clean their hands or remove gloves. Gesture controls, for instance, enable workers to perform simple tasks with a wave of their hands. At the same time, voice-activated systems can allow them to adjust settings or retrieve information without physically touching the screen.Here is the rewritten text based on the input:
Reducing screen malfunctions due to touchless operation also helps maintain smooth kitchen workflows. Broken or malfunctioning touchscreens can cause significant disruptions, slowing order processing and leading to longer customer wait times. Touchless technology ensures that these systems remain operational and practical by preventing damage to touchscreens, contributing to a more productive kitchen environment.
5. Cost Savings Through Reduced Downtime and Maintenance
Touchless technology benefits productivity and delivers significant cost savings for QSR operators. Traditional touchscreens are prone to damage and wear, which leads to frequent repairs and replacements. Downtime caused by malfunctioning touchscreens can result in delays and lost revenue as kitchens struggle to keep up with customer orders. By reducing physical contact with the screens, touchless systems help prevent these issues, leading to fewer breakdowns and a longer lifespan for the devices. This factor reduces the need for costly repairs and replacements, helping QSR operators save money in the long run and feel financially secure.
In addition, fewer maintenance interruptions mean that employees can continue to work efficiently without dealing with screen failures or waiting for technical support. Reducing downtime contributes to higher overall productivity, allowing kitchens to meet customer demand without delays.
PART I – Conclusion
Touchless technology represents a game-changing innovation in QSR kitchens, offering numerous benefits that improve cleanliness, reduce germ propagation, extend the lifespan of touchscreens, enhance productivity, and deliver cost savings. As the demand for
operational efficiency and food safety grows, adopting touchless systems will help QSR operators stay competitive while maintaining a healthy, productive work environment. This shift protects employees and customers and ensures that kitchens can operate smoothly and profitably, even in the most fast-paced conditions.
In the upcoming PART II, we will delve into the specific types of touchless technology available for QSR kitchens, their features, and how they can be integrated into existing operations.
Illustration, courtesy of MZ Technologie, https://mz-technologie.com/en/, a leader in touchless technologies. Contact: [email protected] (European Sales, based in Paris), [email protected] (Rest of the world, based in New York – (848)-234-1845)
Boca Systems, Inc. has been a leading manufacturer of high-speed thermal printers for the past 44 years. BOCA’s printers can be configured for use with various media, such as thermal tickets, labels, receipts, or wristbands. The last item has experienced increased demand in the past couple years, especially with optional RFID encoding capabilities.
Editors Note: Boca will be at the upcoming IAAPA show and is available for meetings.
“We have seen increased sales of our kiosk printers for use with both RFID and standard thermal wristbands, with RFID wristbands playing a bigger role at theme parks, festivals, fairs, and for hospitality”, says Louis Rosner, Boca Systems’ Vice President.
“With an RFID wristband, clients report improved access control and increased sales of products throughout the venue, including food, swag, etc,” Louis shared.
RFID Wristbands
Four ticket printers from Boca Systems are displayed against a white background. Each model, labeled Lemur-C, Lemur-X, Lemur-K, and Lemur-2K, showcases its versatility by printing tickets with teal and yellow accents, highlighting their capability for wristband printing as well.
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.
The BOCA kiosk printer will print any required data on the wristband (such as a barcode, text or graphics) and encode on an RFID chip embedded within the wristband. Popular BOCA models include the Lemur-K, Lemur-C and Lemur-X, as well as the dual path kiosk printer, the Lemur-2K. BOCA supports the most popular RFID chips, including Mifare, UHF and Icode.
In addition to producing high speed thermal printers, BOCA prides itself in providing the highest quality wristbands for use with its printers. “Our wristbands are designed by the same folks that engineer our printers, so we are confident that our wristbands are the best choice for optimal kiosk and printers operations”, Rosner shared.
For further information on BOCA’s wristband printers and media, please contact [email protected]
Are Wristbands Popular?
Yes, wristband tickets are very popular at amusement parks! They offer several benefits that enhance the guest experience:
Convenience: Wristbands, especially those with RFID technology, allow for quick and easy access to rides, attractions, and other park amenities. They can also be used for cashless payments, making it easier for guests to purchase food, souvenirs, and other items without carrying cash or cards.
Security: These wristbands are often tamper-proof and non-transferable, reducing the risk of lost or stolen tickets.
Efficiency: Wristbands help reduce queue times at entry points and rides, as they can be scanned quickly. This improves the overall flow of guests throughout the park.
Customization: Many parks offer customizable wristbands that can be branded with the park’s logo or specialdesigns, adding a fun and personalized touch to the guest experience.
For example, Disney’s MagicBands are a well-known implementation of this technology, allowing guests to enter parks, unlock hotel rooms, and make purchases with just a tap.
Have you used wristband tickets at an amusement park before? How was your experience?
Kingswood’s investment follows strong growth and performance by Kodak Alaris
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kodak Alaris announced today that Kingswood Capital Management, LP (“Kingswood”) has acquired the company from the United Kingdom Pension Protection Fund (“PPF”). Kingswood is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on buyouts of middle-market businesses and has significant experience in driving value for consumer and industrial services businesses.
Kodak Alaris continues the Kodak legacy of excellence in photography and imaging services through its two business units, Kodak Moments and Kodak Alaris Business Unit. Kodak Moments is a leading global provider of photo products and services to retailers, consumers, and entertainment properties. Kodak Alaris Business Unit is one of the largest global providers of data capture and processing solutions through its award-winning software, document scanners, and services. Kodak Alaris serves customers in more than 100 countries around the world with major locations in the US, UK, France, Germany, Mexico, and Australia.
In a joint statement, Nicki Zongrone, President of Kodak Moments and John Blake, President of Kodak Alaris Business Unit, said, “The investment by Kingswood Capital is a clear endorsement of the enduring value of our offerings and a testament to our team’s hard work. We are delighted to have secured the backing of new owners who share our vision for the future of our business. We look forward to starting this new chapter guided by Kingswood’s robust operational expertise.” Similarly, the PPF expressed its satisfaction in having reached an outcome beneficial for all parties, including the employees and stakeholders of Kodak Alaris.
“At Kingswood, our goal is to help companies reach their full potential by providing capital, bolstering its operations, and identifying avenues to achieve growth,” said Alex Wolf, Managing Partner of Kingswood. “We are excited to help continue Kodak Alaris’ strong recent performance and momentum.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Kodak Moments and Kodak Alaris Business Unit management teams and global employee base,” said Andrew Kovach, Managing Director at Kingswood. “Both businesses have an outstanding reputation and heritage as leaders in their respective photography and imaging fields, and it is an honor to work with two companies held in such esteem.”
Lincoln International and Eversheds Sutherland served as Kodak Alaris’ advisors and Kirkland and Ellis, LLP served as legal advisor to Kingswood on the transaction.
About Kodak Moments
Kodak Momentsis a leading global provider of photo products and services to retailers, consumers, and entertainment properties. We inspire consumers to bring their memories to life—delivering innovative, high-quality photo products and experiences they find truly meaningful. Powered by over 100,000 consumer touchpoints across 30 countries globally, it’s our mission to be the brand consumers choose to celebrate and preserve life’s memories, from the big events to the everyday moments that matter. For more information, please visit Kodak Moments and follow Kodak Moments on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.
About Kodak Alaris Business Unit
Kodak Alaris Business Unit is a leading provider of information capture and intelligent document processing solutions that simplify business processes. We exist to help the world make sense of information with smart, connected solutions powered by decades of image science innovation. Our award-winning software, scanners, and professional services are available worldwide and through its network of channel partners. For more information, please visit AlarisWorld.com and follow Kodak Alaris Business Unit on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.
About Kingswood
Kingswood Capital Management, L.P. partners with leading companies in the middle market which stand to benefit from its capital and extensive operating resources. Kingswood embraces complexity and believes it is well-positioned to support businesses at inflection points in their development to enhance value. Based in Los Angeles, Kingswood is a cohesive, entrepreneurial team with a long history of shared success developing “win-win” partnerships with its portfolio companies and management teams. For more information, please refer to the Kingswood website at www.kingswood-capital.com.
Good to see Acrelec with big win in Prague and Popeyes. And we tacked on news from KFC and the UK. As of 2021. We must admit we eat at Popeye’s. We like the Cajun chicken fingers (Chick-Fil-A is too sweet). Their drive thru is kind of wonky and sometimes the speaker seems low quality. They consistently get my order wrong and I have to consistently adjust. I usually had 2 part order but they always aggregate the two. Nowadays I order the first item, then when I get to the window I add the second item.
Popeyes operates 3,705 restaurants across more than 46 states in the US, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 30 countries worldwide. Approximately 50 locations are company-owned, while the vast majority are franchised. In 2024, there are 3,076 Popeyes restaurants in the United States, with Texas having the most locations (416 restaurants, about 14% of all Popeyes restaurants in the US).
We’re thrilled to spotlight our incredible partnership with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen as one of our global kiosk partners! Together, we’re revolutionizing the dining experience with our state-of-the-art kiosks.
Join us in celebrating the unveiling of Popeyes’ “Restaurant of the Future” at the show in Prague, where ACRELEC kiosks are at the forefront of innovation
From the UK to France, United Arab Emirates to Singapore, ACRELEC kiosks are enhancing customer experiences and streamlining operations in Popeyes restaurants across the globe
Here’s to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of self-service and digital transformation!
A man in a white t-shirt and denim shorts stands at a Popeyes kiosk with touch screens. Two employees in orange shirts and black caps assist him. The wall displays text about 12-hour marination, while the decor features teal tiles.
Interior of a modern restaurant featuring a Popeyes kiosk along the window. A bright sign above reads Dial-up the heat yall! with style, while a large illuminated artwork showcases a stylized chicken. Outdoor greenery is visible through the windows, adding a touch of nature to the urban vibe.
Two digital ordering kiosks in a fast-food restaurant stand ready. The left screen shows an order prompt, while the right screen features a tempting Popeyes advertisement about marinated chicken. Each kiosk is equipped with a card reader and orange numbered ticket dispensers: 63 and 57.
Four digital kiosks, reminiscent of Popeyes kiosks, are mounted on a patterned wall displaying various food-related images and messages. Each one features a screen and card payment terminal below it. To the left, a small orange sign reads 001.
➡ Hemel Hempstead: three brand new ACRELEC K22 kiosks were installed at this KFC location.
➡ Little Island, Cork: three kiosks were deinstalled, and five brand new K22 kiosks were installed at this location.
These successful installations highlight ACRELEC‘s commitment to enhancing customer service through advanced kiosk technology, and our strong partnership with KFC.
