What is Kiosk – Kiosk Definition, Types and Evolution

By | April 10, 2018
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What is a kiosk definition

What Exactly is a Kiosk (and what is NOT)

Quick Takeaway — A kiosk is a self-service terminal that allows customers or employees to access information and/or complete a transaction without staff assistance. In 2025, kiosks increasingly integrate AI, audio interfaces, and smart vending to enhance engagement and profitability.

2025 Update

What is the Kiosk Market – Research and Data

In 2021, Research and Markets estimated the U.S. self-service kiosk market at $2.4 billion, projecting growth to $4.6 billion by 2026 at a 13.6% CAGR. For 2024, Research and Markets projected the global interactive kiosk market at $35 billion, with growth to $67.2 billion by 2033, representing a 7.5% CAGR.   And then IndustryArc — Self-Service Kiosk Market size is estimated to reach US$43.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030. Odd how they list Ingenico, PopID, Toshiba and Armodilo as major kiosk manufacturers?  Examples of internet scrapes. Most firms that publish these estimates make money selling research reports and often lack direct interviews, field audits, or validation with actual large kiosk deployers and manufacturers.

Next year? Multiply the numbers by 1.22 and you have 2026 report just like that…. The only value is the forecasts as an indicator of internet posturing and report data sales potential. In that sense it is a reliable trend indicator.

A more conservative, “real” estimate from direct industry participants—especially in the U.S.—often puts the true kiosk sector (excluding ATM, vending, and all tangential categories) at closer to $8–15 billion globally for core interactive and self-service kiosks.

By comparison, the kiosk industry commissioned BCC to create a comprehensive kiosk report in 2021. 134 pages and interviews with actual participants provided the data and basis. Here is copy of our last report — 2019 Report KMA – Self Service Kiosks_Final_March-11-2021-IFT-updated-compressed — for specific competitive intelligence, accurate company rankings, industry nuances, or tactical investment decisions, our reports include by design key real-world detail or context.

Excerpt: The U.S market for self-service kiosks was valued at $2.6 billion in 2019. It is projected the self-service kiosks market in the U.S. will grow at a CAGR of 16.1% to reach $4.4 billion by 2025. The U.S. market for self-service kiosks has been segmented based on the application and end-user industry. Based on applications, the self-service kiosks market has been categorized into Check-in Kiosks, Check-out Kiosks, Ticketing Kiosks, Self-ordering kiosks, Financial Services Kiosks, Bill Payment Kiosks, Digital Signage Kiosks, Bitcoin Kiosks, Temperature Screening Kiosks, and Others. The check-in kiosks segment had the largest share of the market in 2019 and was valued at $530.5 million. The U.S. market for check-in kiosks is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.8% to reach $873.6 million in 2025. In recent years, check-in kiosks have become more popular in several environments. Airline, healthcare, and hotel and hospitality check-in kiosks are among the most popular types.

2025 Kiosk Market projects by BCC

2025 Kiosk Market projects by BCC

One problem with market data is that POS is often combined with kiosk numbers. Self-checkout units in supermarkets are kiosks?  You’ll see NCR, Toshiba, and others at the top of that list. Hybrid point-of-sale is more accurate in their case, though point-of-sale has shifted from employee-facing to customer-facing.

Defining “what a kiosk is” means asking the questions :

  • Is it by design or functionality? If functionality then almost anything that provides customer interaction fits that description doesn’t it?
  • Am I just considering standalone terminals that provide a transaction a “kiosk”? That brings in POS self-checkout and ATMs
  • Is it manufactured and designed by a kiosk company?
  • Diebold has many kiosks, but mainly ones they resell from a kiosk manufacturer.
  • NCR Voyix?  Most of “their kiosks” are made by Samsung. Is Voyix a kiosk manufacturer?

When is it NOT a kiosk?

  • With self-checkout POS it is a singular unit
  • It is a purpose-built ATM — ATM manufacturers are different from kiosk manufacturers —
  • ATMs are singularly designed template provided by any manufacturer — kiosks come in all flavors
  • It is a computer terminal with a bunch of components placed in proximity.  Panera’s counter is example.

Next Generation Kiosks

2018 Original Article

The kiosk originally began as the town square notice board for the community to post notices.  The usual reference in Wikipedia will call out Persia as the originating language for the word. What began as common ground notice posting location matured into RMUs (Remote Merchandising Units) that you see in malls or wherever.  With the advent of the internet they took on their electronic iteration in the late 90s.

typical bill pay kiosk

typical bill pay kiosk – Olea

You now have electronic aka kiosk machine or digital kiosk and you have RMUs (think of Verizon phone kiosk or the Godiva chocolates .at the airport). Digital signage kiosks and digital kiosk signage have replaced the original kiosks. Wayfinding and big 55-inch screens with software from 22Miles and others.

A “functional” variant might be the supermarket self-checkouts but those are more aptly described as “hybrid POS” or Point of Sale. They are also usually assisted by dedicated person scanning coupons and solving issues.  Legal suits have come up for those assistants helping the disabled with cash back.  Supermarket checkouts have their own set of fraud and theft both customer and employee.

Recently Amazon began the “Just Walk Out” stores which are million-dollar iterations utilizing lidar and cameras. Typically there is a “kiosk” at the entrance where you sign in via biometrics (palm print).  Technically you have a kiosk inside a kiosk with those.

What is it?

July  1994 from comp.infosystems.kiosks — well, I seem to recall having a discussion like this during the discussion phase for the group. If you’re asking me PERSONALLY what a kiosk is, I’ll answer as best I can, but I’d also like to see some other people’s responses. After all, my definition might be wrong — I’d like to find out.

My definition is a stand-alone terminal of some sort, usually surrounded by some sort of booth (but not always). They can perform many functions including transactional (electronic funds transfer) and informational (what hours are the Valley Library open?) and functional (print me out that Hallmark card I just designed). Much if not all is determined by it’s software. They can be network-connected or not, can have fancy video, etc. or not — it all depends on the software and how much effort the developers put into it.

There are also a number of hardware considerations, but I think these are something I’m not as strong on and will let others answer. -dknight

For the masses, it started with airline check-in terminals and photo kiosks (from Kodak and Fujifilm) and also ATMs.

For more frequently asked questions including “What is a kiosk” be sure and look over the KMA Global website FAQ. You will also learn under what conditions a burrito is considered a sandwich 🙂

What a kiosk is NOT

Sometimes it helps to figure what something isn’t in order to narrow down what it is. Here are some examples.

  • An ATM — it really is an “kiosk,” but it has been branded an ATM forever, so in that sense it is not. Follows the same regulations. Singular function and graded on speed and safety. Trying to do more muddies the process.
  • Supermarket Checkout – these hybrid POS “pod-oriented” self-service checkout machines are generally a conglomeration of devices mounted together, and generally under the supervision of a store employee (which grants them “assisted” transaction status)
  • A bulletin board at your local park provides rules, hours of operation, and other related information.  Sometimes they go digital but not often.
  • Digital signage in storefronts advertising the latest specials/etc and having no form of interaction. That can get tricky if the digital sign includes presence detectors and does a demographic analysis, but that is NOT bidirectional interactivity.

Some General Observations

For sure:

    • They allow interaction usually with touchscreen
    • Usually customers/prospects oriented

      Kiosk Machine - What is a kiosk? Kiosk Definition

      What is a kiosk? Kiosk Definition Click for full size image

    • Many are employee-oriented
    • Generally a touchscreen.
    • Either informational or transactional in nature.
    • Multiple units are typically standalone and in a line to help traffic flow

Your typical kiosk today is very much different than those. They are self-service kiosks, typically electronic, and can be found in various settings.  The form factor ranges from a mobile device to a tablet to a larger enclosures (usually metal but also plastic and wood).

Define Kiosk and Iterations

Our latest definition?  A terminal that allows customers or employees to get information and/or conduct a transaction, without the assistance of a person. It may or may not have a touchscreen for example.

Here are some of the main categories for the modern-day kiosk.

    • In malls, events, tradeshows and other locations you have the RMU, which is a Remote Merchandising Unit.  Point of Purchase fixture iterations. Many current self-service kiosk companies evolved from these units design and manufacture and continue to do a large business in these. Examples would be Olea and Ikoniq (main business being RMUs).
    • It is generally interactive but not always.
    • It most often provides a computer (such as Dell Optiplex) and has a 17 or 19″ 5:4 aspect touchscreen (between 7 and 84 inches). 2020:  more likely an AIO and at least a 22 landscape.
    • Most often than not it is unattended. Companies like to stretch this into a quasi semi-attended mode where employees offer to assist.
    • It is a standalone enclosure in the most common iteration.
    • Examples follow
      • Airline Check-In Kiosks – pioneered by Kinetics and others. Major vendors include NCR, SITA, and dwindling IBM. They have also moved into the baggage area.
      • ATM Machines – Historically it has been NCR, Fujitsu, Nautilus, Triton, IBM with Wincor Nixdorf and the ISOs (Independent service operators).
      • Bitcoin Kiosks and BTMs and Crypto Kiosks are big things in 2022
      • Electronic kiosks – this is a big category. It basically includes all categories which can be bill pay kiosks, kiosk software for lockdown, financial kiosks and more.
      • Internet Cafes –  sometimes a keyboard can’t be beaten. These are one of the originals and helped educate the masses on using the Internet everywhere.  We used them all the time when we would visit London, England.
      • POS Terminals – includes customer-facing POS terminals whether for entering loyalty number.
      • Food Order Kiosk – Mcdonald’s is a prime example. Order your own burger made to your preferences.
      • Gaming Kiosks –  the military uses these for letting the soldiers relax (and train) at the same time.
      • Parking kiosks – whether on the street or in the garage
      • Outdoor kiosks – all kinds.
      • Hoteling – this is where office workers work at the same building but can sign up for any desk for the day.  Larger companies experiment with this and in this age of BYOD it is relevant.
      • Information Kiosks terminals – can be as simple as barcode lookup in grocery aisle or online “showrooming”.  AKA Interactive kiosk.
      • Interactive Digital Signage – a contradiction in terms but Digital Signage often is a large touchscreen and offers Content Management Services as well as Advertising. The touchscreen provides major ROI component.
      • Immigration and Security Kiosks – found at airports as well as Border Control.  These units typically utilize biometrics.
      • Registration kiosks for loyalty and membership.
      • Gift card kiosks such as Coinstar Gift Card Exchange Kiosk.
      • Retail kiosk – this can be many iterations. The latest ones are beginning to introduce Beacons and Facial Recognition for recording demographics and traffic patterns and customer flow.
      • Gift Registry kiosk – one of the originals and still going.  Our teeth were cut developing the Bridal Registry and Baby Registry kiosks for Target. Multi-generational marketing at its best (kids shop where Mom shopped)
      • Tablet kiosk – typically used for registration and quick lookup they have the advantage of being small and can be place at eye level.
      • Vending – these can add nutritional information mandated by the government. They can dispense sandwiches, coffee and a large range of merchandise (Zoom is a pioneer).
      • Pharmacy kiosk – medicine prescription dispensing kiosks are becoming more popular.
      • Lockers – picking up your merchandise from Amazon or Fedx or UPS.
      • Charging kiosks –  need to charge your mobile phone?  There are kiosks for doing that.
      • Coin Kiosks – the most famous is Coinstar.
      • Music, Movie and Media download kiosks – get your DVD on USB now
      • DVD kiosks –  still going with Redbox and others.  Locations and demographics are important.
      • Hospitality – hotel check-in kiosks
      • Healthcare – patient check-in
      • Telemedicine and Telehealth –  whether at the supermarket or at corporate headquarters, remote healthcare structures are hybrid of RMUs.  These extend into home monitoring and follow up for post operative patients to maximize results (and government incentive rewards).
      • Marijuana & Cannabis – one of the emerging markets with its high use of cash, security and new multiple form factors such as edibles.
      • Photo Kiosk – still going strong and one of the original heavy hitters. Kodak at one point had over 60,000 in place.Prison kiosk – video visitation and more
      • Social kiosks – interacting with your friends at wanna-be-seen locales becomes fodder for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The payback is demographics.
      • Kiosk Software – lockdown software or Windows Kiosk Mode software is very popular. PROVISIO  is prime providers but versions for thin clients, Chrome Kiosk, and more are available.
      • Survey Kiosks – can be as simple as a 4 button “How Was Your Experience?” device (we like those) or a tablet.  Surveys are better being short to improve response rate.
      • Wayfinding kiosks – despite GPS enabled mobiles navigating a large structure can require clear instructions whether consumer or corporate.
      • Wine Kiosks – As a recommendation and selector function these do quite well. Experiments in dispensing wine were plagued by being poorly regulated and operated.

So what is it?  Here is one definition: 

Typically a computerized terminal used by the public or employees for services.

We’ll continue to add details and more information in the future.

More Information on Definition of Kiosk

LinkedIn Short Post – What Is a Kiosk in 2025 — and What It Is Not

The word kiosk once meant a public notice board or a small retail booth.
Today, it defines a $35 billion global market for self-service technology — growing to $67 billion by 2033 (7.5% CAGR – Research and Markets).

💡 The Short Definition

A kiosk is a computerized terminal — usually stand-alone and unattended — that lets customers or employees get information or complete transactions without staff assistance.
Modern kiosks increasingly use touch, voice, and AI interfaces.

That definition excludes certain devices often lumped in:

  • ATMs – single-purpose, bank-regulated.

  • Supermarket self-checkouts – hybrid POS pods supervised by staff.

  • Digital signage without interaction.

For regulatory perspective, see the U.S. Access Board’s Self-Service Transaction Machines rule and PCI Security Standards PTS FAQ.

🚀 Next-Generation Kiosks

AI is transforming self-service from “labor reduction” to “revenue amplification.”
Restaurants like McDonald’s use ordering kiosks to increase average ticket size and speed.
SoundHound and Acrelec are building AI drive-thrus that understand natural speech.
Chick-fil-A’s temperature-controlled vending and 22Miles’ interactive digital signage show how the category now spans food service, healthcare, and retail.

🧩 Why It Matters

Defining “kiosk” matters because classification affects design, ADA compliance, and PCI security.
Kiosks touch nearly every vertical — from airline check-in and telehealth to locker pickup and AI-assisted ordering.
Understanding where a POS ends and a kiosk begins helps manufacturers, operators, and regulators align standards and expectations.

🔗 Further Reading

👉 Full article: What Exactly Is a Kiosk (And What Is Not) – 2025 Update
👉 ADA Kiosk Standards Guide
👉 Top 50 Restaurant POS and Self-Service Tech Report

💬 Key Takeaway

In 2025, a kiosk is no longer just a touchscreen on a stand.
It’s a connected, AI-enhanced customer touchpoint — still defined by self-service, but now central to how businesses create speed, accessibility, and profit.

 

 

 

Posts 2025: 1,892
Kiosk Definition self service kiosk machine
Author: Staff Writer

With over 40 years in the industry, Craig is considered to be one of the top experts in the field. Kiosk projects include Verizon Bill Pay kiosk and thousands of others. Craig was co-founder of kioskmarketplace and formed the KMA. Note the point of view here is not necessarily the stance of the Kiosk Association or kma.global -- Currently he manages The Industry Group

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