ARKI 2026 – Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show

Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Craig Allen Keefner

Formerly Self-Service Innovation Summit

The ARKI (Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation) Show takes place December 14–16, 2026, in Miami Beach, Florida. The program includes a Monday evening kickoff, a full Tuesday conference day, and Wednesday sessions ending at 2:30 p.m. The official steering committee lists 11 members.

The Industry Group (TIG)

The Industry Group will be at Booth 39. In our booth you can learn about Canopee Tech menu-board software and meet Bruno, or explore SiteKiosk interactive software and meet Heinz. See our ARKI event page for registration discount details.

Schedule summary

Monday, December 14 — Opening and networking

• 3:30 p.m. — Registration opens.

• 5:00 p.m. — Welcome and opening remarks: Dave Wurm, Connect Media.

• 5:10 p.m. — Opening keynote, “Retail Without Walls: The Rise of Autonomous Commerce”: Linda Johansen-James, founder and CEO, International Retail Group.

• 6:00 p.m. — Welcome reception

The opening keynote focuses on extending brands beyond traditional stores through automated retail while maintaining customer engagement and a consistent brand experience.

Tuesday, December 15 — Deployment, operations, and hospitality

• 8:30 a.m. — Breakfast.

• 8:45 a.m. — Breakfast briefing, presented by Intel.

• 9:15 a.m. — “How Brands and Locations Win with Automated Retail”

  • Alejandro Rodriguez, Amerikiosks.

• 10:30 a.m. — “Kiosks of the Future – Where Kiosk Tech is Going”

  • Moderator: Sandra Nix, CTS.

• 11:45 a.m. — “Making Automated Retail & Kiosks Fit: Integrating Across Venues”

  • Participants from Evolvending, Lee County Port Authority, Shopworks, JLL, and White Castle.

• 12:30 p.m. — Lunch & Learn on autonomous QSR and the guest experience.

  • Nipun Sharma, Appetronix.

• 1:30 p.m. — “Install It Right or Pay for It Later: The Hidden Risk of Poor Kiosk Lifecycle Management”

  • Participants from Burroughs, honeygrow, and Bibbeo.

  • Moderator: Ray Friedrich.

• 2:45 p.m. — “Operator vs. Vendor: Understanding Roles, Responsibilities, and Partnerships”

  • Ian Benson, Prepango.

  • Justin Honeysuckle, TendedBar.

• 4:00 p.m. — Hospitality automation keynote.

  • Tord Olav Dønnum, Shin Starr.

• 4:45 p.m. — ARKI Awards presentation, presented by CTS.

• 5:15 p.m. — Cocktail reception, presented by Rips & Co.

Tuesday is the most operationally focused day, covering location and product selection, venue integration, installation and maintenance, operator/vendor responsibilities, and automated foodservice. Scheduled breaks separate the main sessions.

Wednesday, December 16 — Data, payments, AI, and outlook

• 8:30 a.m. — Breakfast.

• 8:45 a.m. — Breakfast briefing; details not yet listed.

• 9:15 a.m. — “Decoding the Data Behind Successful Self-Service Ecosystems”

  • Srishti Handa, Dave’s Hot Chicken.

  • Moderator: Jeff Rogers, BetterHealth Vending.

• 10:30 a.m. — “Frictionless by Design: Building Seamless Payment Experiences in Unattended Retail”

  • Mustafa Khanwala, Mishipay.

  • Dale Laszig, DSL Direct.

  • Moderator: Richard Slawsky, Connect Media.

• 11:45 a.m. — “From Assisted to Autonomous: How AI and Mobile Are Redefining Automated Retail and Kiosks”

  • Participants from ATP, URway Holdings, and ARYA Cleaners.

  • Moderator: Ben Wheeler, T-ROC.

• 12:30 p.m. — Lunch & Learn; topic and presenter not yet listed.

• 1:30 p.m. — Thought Leader Roundtable.

  • Participants from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, AutomateRetail.ai, Mishipay, Zero Empty Spaces, and NAMA.

  • Moderator: Bill Stutzman, Digi Ventus.

• 2:30 p.m. — Show concludes.

Wednesday shifts toward measuring performance and ROI, choosing payment technologies, integrating AI and mobile, and assessing the industry’s next direction.

Steering committee

The official roster contains these 11 members. Titles and affiliations below follow the committee page.

• Elliot Baum — Owner, AutomateRetail.ai.

  • Background: Real estate, technology integration, micro-stores, and digital food halls.

• Jeremy Cauble — Director of Strategic Innovation, Canteen North America.

  • Focus: Unattended retail innovation, customer experience, and operational technologies.

• Valentina Ellison — CEO & Co-Founder, Evolvending.

  • Focus: Restaurant-branded unstaffed food vending, particularly airport deployments.

• Ray Friedrich — Chief Strategy Officer, East Street Business Advisors.

  • Background: Foodservice operations, strategic planning, and executive advisory.

• Anne Johnson — Senior Director of Everyday Retail Services, Walmart.

  • Focus: Lottery and automated retail self-service businesses.

• Steven King — CEO, Bluesky Robotics.

  • Focus: Computer vision, robotics, and applied emerging technologies.

• Sandra Nix — President & CEO, Connected Technology Solutions.

  • The committee page lists her position but does not yet include a biography.

• Alejandro Rodriquez — Founder & CEO, AmeriKiosks.

  • Background: Pharmabox, automated retail hardware/software, and robotic retail solutions.

• Michael Saletta — Co-Founder, Beagle Advisory Group.

  • Background: Scaling automated retail, vending, and foodservice; former Farmer’s Fridge airport expansion leader.

• Ben Wheeler — Director, Business Development–Automated Retail, T-ROC.

  • Focus: Self-service product development, engineering, manufacturing, and commercialization.

• Dave Wurm — Vice President of Strategic Sales, Connect Media.

  • Focus: Vendor partnerships, industry events, and customer-facing technology marketing.

2026 Speaker Lineup

• Dave Wurm — VP, Strategic Sales, Connect Media; opening host.

• Linda Johansen-James — Founder & CEO, International Retail Group; keynote on autonomous commerce and extending brands beyond traditional storefronts.

• Alejandro Rodriguez — Founder & CEO, Amerikiosks Corp.; keynote speaker.

• Sandra Nix — President & CEO, Connected Technology Solutions; moderator.

• Valentina Ellison — CEO & Co-Founder, Evolvending.

• Christina Henjum — Director of Concessions, Lee County Port Authority.

• Sharon Loeff — President & Founder, Shopworks.

• Catherine Loy — Head of Max & XM, covering business development, specialty leasing, and experience management, JLL.

• Audra Mazzeo — Vice President of Retail, White Castle.

• Nipun Sharma — CEO & Co-Founder, Appetronix; Lunch & Learn presenter.

• Chris Adamson — Chief Commercial Officer, Burroughs.

• Blake Boeckel — Technology Manager, honeygrow.

• Miles Power — President, Bibbeo.

• Ray Friedrich — CEO, East Street Business Advisors; moderator.

• Ian Benson — EVP, Business Development, Prepango.

• Justin Honeysuckle — Co-Founder & President, TendedBar.

• Tord Olav Dønnum — CBO, Shin Starr; keynote speaker

• Srishti Handa — Vice President of Marketing–Brand and Growth, Dave’s Hot Chicken.

• Jeff Rogers — Founder & CEO, BetterHealth Vending; moderator.

• Mustafa Khanwala — CEO, Mishipay.

• Dale Laszig — Founder & CEO, DSL Direct.

• Richard Slawsky — Editor, KioskMarketplace.com and VendingTimes.com, Connect Media; moderator.

• Dr. Murat Aras — CMO, ATP.

• Edward Crowley — Chief Engagement Officer, URway Holdings.

• Sassan Rahimzadeh — President, ARYA Cleaners.

• Ben Wheeler — Director, Business Development–Automated Retail, T-ROC; moderator

• Francisco Alonzo — Managing Director of Customer & Concessions Development, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

• Elliot Baum — Owner, AutomateRetail.ai.

• Andrew Martineau — CEO, Zero Empty Spaces.

• Sharon Peyer — Board of Directors, National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA).

• Bill Stutzman — Director of Strategic Initiatives, Digi Ventus; moderator.

Exhibitor lineup

Official exhibitor directory

The current page lists 41 exhibitor entries—including The Industry Group at Booth 39. This is separate from the sponsor list.

Booth assignments below follow the official directory.

• Aeris Communications — Booth 37

• Amerikiosks — Booth 31

• Bibbeo LTD — Booth 29

• BOXXTECH — Booth 33

• BrightSign — Booth 11

• Burroughs, Inc. — Booth 49

• Connected Technology Solutions — Booths 13 & 14

• CPI Service — Booth 26

• Custom Case Kiosk by Balaji Brands — Booth 8

• Digital Media Vending (DMVI) — Booth 52

• Digi Ventus — Booths 44 & 45

• Eaton — Booth 18

• Fresh Blends — Booths 40 & 41

• Freshing — Booth 17

• Granite — Booth 46

• Holosonics — Booth 32

• International Retail Group — Booth 9

• LogiKiosk LLC — Booth 15

• Maya Labs — Booth 51

• MetroClick — Booth 38

• MicroTouch — Booth 12

• Mishipay — Booth 28

• MySingleLink — Booths 21 & 22

• Otter — Booth 23

• Palmer Digital Group — Booth 24

• Panasonic Connect North America — Booth 25

• Paytronix — Booth 36

• Planes Companies — Booth 20

• Prepango — Booth 53

• Rips & Co — Booth 10

• riverArk — Booth 42

• Sargent and Greenleaf — Booth 27

• SiteKiosk Software — Booth 39+ (as listed)

• SKYDATA-IoT — Booth 19

• Tech 2 Success / OptConnect Wireless Solutions — Booth 43

• TIG – The Industry Group (KioskIndustry, KMA, RetailSystems) — Booth 39

• T-ROC — Booth 47

• Vendekin — Booth 48

• Whoosh Inc. — Booth 30

• Worldlink Integration Group — Booth 50

• WTIwireless — Booth 16.

Exhibit-hall hours

Exhibit-hall hours for ARKI 2026:

• Monday, December 14: 3:30–7:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 15: 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 16: 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Why ARKI 2026 Matters for the Self-Service Industry

In a world of massive trade shows, sometimes the most valuable industry conversations happen in smaller rooms. Too often, we default to a one-size-fits-all approach, whether for customers, employees, or, in this case, trade events. In an age of machine-gun AI responses and information overload, it’s worth remembering that nuance, insight, and meaningful conversations still matter.

The self-service industry has no shortage of major trade shows. IAAPA brings together the amusement and attractions industry. NRF is the center of gravity for retail technology. HIMSS dominates healthcare technology, while the National Restaurant Association Show brings together foodservice operators, equipment manufacturers, and technology providers.

These are enormous events with enormous reach. They are important, and companies in the kiosk and self-service business should participate in them.

But they also share a limitation: self-service is only one part of a much larger conversation.

At NRF, kiosks compete for attention with retail AI, supply chains, e-commerce, and merchandising. At HIMSS, patient check-in and registration terminals are a small piece of the healthcare technology landscape. At IAAPA, unattended ticketing and payment systems sit alongside rides, attractions, and entertainment equipment. At the NRA Show, self-order kiosks are one component of restaurant operations.

That is precisely why a smaller, focused event like ARKI 2026 — the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show, December 14–16 in Miami Beach, has a place in the industry.

A smaller venue changes the conversation

The value of a trade show should not be measured exclusively by square footage, attendance, or the number of exhibitors.

At the major shows, a manufacturer might spend three days demonstrating a product to hundreds of visitors, many of whom have only a passing interest in self-service. That exposure has value, but it doesn’t necessarily produce meaningful technical discussions.

At a focused event, the audience is more likely to include people working on the same fundamental problems: unattended payments, kiosk reliability, accessibility, software integration, remote management, hardware design, and deployment economics.

A discussion about payment-terminal integration can involve the hardware manufacturer, software developer, payment provider, and deployment operator in the same room.

That is difficult to replicate in a convention center where those companies might be separated by several exhibition halls.

The advantage isn’t necessarily more contacts. It is potentially more relevant contacts and more time with each one.

ARKI brings together the pieces of the self-service ecosystem

One of the challenges in our industry is fragmentation.

We have kiosk manufacturers, component suppliers, software companies, payment processors, connectivity providers, field-service organizations, and operators. They frequently serve the same customers but attend different trade shows.

ARKI provides an opportunity to bring those disciplines together.

The 2026 exhibitor lineup illustrates this. Connected Technology Solutions represents kiosk manufacturing and integration. SiteKiosk addresses software security and device management. Aeris and Digi Ventus focus on connectivity. Burroughs and CPI Service represent the field-service side of the business. BrightSign brings digital signage expertise.

These are not interchangeable products. They are parts of the same deployment ecosystem.

A kiosk doesn’t succeed simply because the enclosure looks good or the touchscreen responds quickly. It succeeds when the entire transaction works, the system stays online, the customer can use it, and someone can service it when something goes wrong.

That is an important distinction, and one worth discussing at an industry-specific event.

The conversation is shifting from technology to operations

For years, self-service trade shows emphasized what the technology could do. Touchscreens, cashless payment, robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence all generated excitement.

Today, the more interesting questions are operational.

What is the actual return on investment? How much does it cost to maintain a kiosk fleet across hundreds of locations? What happens when connectivity fails? How do operators accommodate customers with disabilities? How do we integrate new AI capabilities without creating new security and privacy problems?

The published ARKI 2026 agenda reflects that shift. Sessions address autonomous commerce, integration across different venues, operational performance metrics, and AI and mobile technologies.

These are not just technology questions. They are business questions, and the answers frequently determine whether a pilot becomes a successful national deployment.

Accessibility deserves a seat at the table

Accessibility is another reason focused industry gatherings matter.

At NRF or HIMSS, accessibility may be discussed as part of a much broader customer experience or compliance conversation. At a kiosk-focused event, it can be examined at the transaction level.

Consider an unattended payment kiosk. Accessibility isn’t limited to the height of the screen or the presence of an audio jack. It includes navigation, payment-device interaction, privacy, assistance, and the ability to complete the entire transaction independently.

The same principles apply to restaurant ordering, airport check-in, healthcare registration, and automated retail.

The smaller event format creates an opportunity for manufacturers, software providers, and operators to discuss these problems together rather than treating accessibility as a feature added at the end.

ARKI’s agenda includes accessibility within its AI and mobile discussion. There is room for the industry to take that conversation further.

The economics can favor smaller events

Large shows are expensive. Booth construction, freight, staffing, hotels, and travel can quickly turn a major exhibition into a substantial investment.

For a large manufacturer launching a new product or meeting national retail customers, those expenses may be justified.

For smaller manufacturers, software providers, and specialized component suppliers, the calculation can be different.

A focused event may provide better access to potential partners, integrators, and decision-makers with less competition for their attention. The real measure should be qualified conversations, useful relationships, and business opportunities generated—not simply the number of badges scanned.

Of course, smaller does not automatically mean better. Attendance quality, buyer participation, and follow-through still matter.

The major shows and ARKI serve different purposes

There is no reason to choose between them.

NRF, HIMSS, IAAPA, and the NRA Show expose self-service technology to the industries that ultimately purchase and deploy it. Those events help manufacturers understand customer requirements, competitive technologies, and broader market trends.

ARKI serves a different purpose. It provides a more concentrated setting for the companies building, integrating, operating, and maintaining self-service systems.

One provides market reach. The other offers the opportunity for industry depth.

Both are necessary.

The bottom line

The self-service industry has matured considerably. We are no longer simply demonstrating that a kiosk can replace a counter transaction or that a vending machine can accept a credit card.

The questions now involve scale, reliability, profitability, accessibility, and long-term operation.

Those questions require cooperation among companies that may otherwise encounter each other only occasionally at enormous industry exhibitions.

ARKI 2026 won’t compete with NRF on attendance, HIMSS on healthcare influence, or IAAPA on exhibition space. Nor does it need to.

Its value is in giving the self-service industry a place to discuss its own problems, develop its own partnerships, and help determine its own direction.

Sometimes a smaller room is exactly what an industry needs.