Tag Archives: meridian

Member, picks, Tourism Kiosk, Travel

Travel and Tourism Kiosks – 4 Ways Digital Kiosks Are Simplifying

As the seasons change, the weather gets warmer, and the school year comes to a close yet again, another vacation season is just around the corner. And according to a recent travel survey by AAA, nearly 100 million Americans are planning to participate this year.

The travel and tourism industry, which brought in more than $100 billion in the U.S. alone during the summer of 2017, continues to grow and flourish as Americans continue to make vacationing a priority. However, as the industry and the influx of travelers continues to grow, so does the demand for assistance, information, and other services during their stay—making the need for self-service solutions greater than ever before.

Designed with simplification in mind, self-service digital kiosks can help provide travelers with the information and services they need to allow them to enjoy their hard earned time away. After all, that’s what vacationing is all about, right?

Here are four ways digital kiosks are doing just that:

Car Rental

While not all vacations require a flight, for those that do, travelers’ first stop after they land at their destination is typically at the car rental counter. Designed to reduce long wait times and help kickstart vacations on a positive note, car rental kiosks allow drivers to check-in, select, pay for, and upgrade their rental car selection—all from the kiosk. Drivers receive a printed receipt to take to the counter to retrieve their keys, and then they’re directed to go pick up their car—it’s quick and easy.

Check-In

As the next logical step, travelers typically stop by their hotel to unload their luggage and get settled in. Similarly to the car rental check-in process, travelers can use hotel check-in kiosks to check-in and pay for their room and also retrieve their room key card. The check-in process can be completely unattended, allowing travelers to quickly check-in no matter if they arrive during the busiest time of the day or late into the evening. While check-in kiosks certainly simplify the hotel check-in process, they can also indirectly improve customer service. Employees who were typically tasked with handling check-in can be made more readily available to answer questions and provide assistance as it is needed.

Interactive Digital Signage & Wayfinding

Once travel and arrival logistics are taken care of, vacation can officially begin! However, whether it’s a traveler’s first or fifteenth time visiting a destination, there’s always something new to discover. From shops and restaurants to attractions, tours, and events, interactive digital signage and wayfinding kiosks can help travelers plan their days. With different categories, interactive information, map integrations, calling features, and print-on-demand capabilities, they can help users navigate their destination while also encouraging them to explore the surrounding area.

Visitor Feedback

While the conclusion of a vacation is often the hardest part of the trip for travelers, it’s also an opportunity to reflect back on their experience and to think about what they enjoyed and what they would have changed. Digital kiosks, placed in a hotel lobby or other central location provide a platform on which visitors can respond to surveys, and leave feedback, prior to making their departure. They aren’t limited to use in hotels, though. Restaurants, tours, and attractions of all kinds can implement visitor survey kiosks to help them make improvements and ensure that their visitors are having positive experiences.

From the first steps off the plane or out of the car, to the last steps out of the hotel, self-service kiosks are simplifying different aspects of the travel and tourism industry all across the board.

To learn more about Meridian’s travel and tourism-focused kiosks, visit www.meridiankiosks.com.

Other Travel Tourism Kiosk links
Member, picks

Self-Service Kiosk Benefits Grow

Reprinted with permission from Meridian blog

As Kiosks and the Self-Service Industry Continue to Grow, So Do the Benefits They Offer

Regardless of where you live, the places you visit frequently, or which media sources you tune into, there’s no denying that the kiosk and self-service solutions industry as a whole is rapidly expanding into new industries across the globe.

According to the 2019 Kiosk Marketplace Census Report, self-service kiosk sales grew more than 17.6 percent over the last calendar year, totaling a whopping $9.22 billion dollars in 2018. This isn’t the first year the industry has experienced significant growth like this, though. In fact, according to the report, the tremendous growth of the self-service industry in 2018 only slightly surpassed the growth that the industry saw in 2017.                                                                                                                                                      What’s causing all of this growth? The recently released report features more than 50 pages of charts, graphs, and insights from a variety of industry players and experts, all of which attribute the industry’s growth to a plethora of different factors. However, the promise of an improved overall customer perception and an increase in revenue as a result of reduced wait times, improved customer service, and sales and advertising support are among the most prominent.

Improved Customer Perception

Cited at the top reason for deploying a kiosk, the majority of businesses implement kiosks with the customer in mind. With the ability to streamline processes, expand inventory offerings, improve accessibility, and expand a business’ reach, kiosks can be used to improve a customer’s experience, as a result, their overall perception of the company.

Reduced Wait Times

Of those surveyed, reducing waiting lines was the #1 most important characteristic of self-service kiosks. Designed to streamline and automate processes that traditionally would have traditionally required a user to wait in line to enlist the help of an employee, self-service kiosks allow users to complete simple tasks on their own. While self-service kiosks directly expedite processes for those who choose to use them, they also indirectly benefit those who opt for a more traditional face-to-face experience with an employee by reducing the amount of individuals waiting in their lines.

Upgraded Customer Service

As tasks that would have previously been assigned to a sales associate—like the checkout process—are reassigned to a kiosk, businesses are able to reposition some employees to more customer-centric roles. This shift allows questions and concerns to be addressed in a more timely manner—effectively improving the quality of customer service offered as well as the level of customer satisfaction.

Sales and Advertising Support

With the ability to promote and sell products and services on-screen through a website integration, endless aisle, or advertisements, self-service kiosks are an effective way to drive awareness and sales in-store without pulling sales associates away from their other roles. Similarly, businesses can generate additional revenue by selling advertising space on the kiosk’s attract loop for complementary products, businesses, and services.

Kiosks and the self-service industry as a whole have boasted incredible growth over the course of the past decade, and that growth shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. In fact, as consumer perceptions and revenue growth continues to positively progress, one can expect to see the industry remain on its upward trend.

To learn more about our self-service solutions and the benefits they can offer, visit www.meridiankiosks.com or give us a call at 866-454-6757.

Member, picks, Real Estate Kiosk

Real Estate Kiosks – Housing Market Continues to Thrive, Real Estate Kiosks Offer 24/7 Selling Assistance

meridian kiosk manufacturerDrive through any given neighborhood in the United States and you’ll probably notice a handful of homes with “for sale” signs in their front yard, but come back a few weeks later and those signs will have likely been replaced by “sold” signs and moving vans. Sound familiar?

Following the recession that plagued the United States from 2007 to 2009, the housing market has made an impressive comeback. In fact, according to research by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales in the US totaled more than 5.34 million in 2018. Of those sales, an impressive 32% were first time home buyers.

While the home buying process is certainly an exciting one, it requires an immense amount of time, effort, and research by both the real estate agent and the homebuyer—especially for first time homebuyers. That’s where real estate kiosks come in. Designed to take on a multitude of tasks—from initial information gathering, to checking in for an appointment, and browsing listings—real estate kiosks can simplify the home buying and selling process.

Information Kiosks

As with most large purchases and investments, homebuyers typically begin their search for a new home by determining their needs and gathering additional information. While some choose to meet with a real estate agent from day one of their search, others prefer to take the time to first research on their own to ensure that they come into their initial meeting prepared. With the ability to showcase interactive information about available agents as well as their properties, services, locations, and areas of expertise, information kiosks can serve as a useful tool for real estate agents to provide during the research and information gathering process.

Thru-Glass Kiosks

While real estate agents tend to work extended hours to accommodate clients and potential homebuyers, they aren’t in their office at all times of the day. Designed to be installed behind an exterior window, thru-glass solutions can offer the same interactive information-sharing and advertising capabilities as information kiosks and interactive digital signage, regardless of whether or not the  office is open. To allow homebuyers to interact with the information on-screen, the digital display communicates with a CPU, which then communicates with a window-mounted touch foil, all of which are housed on the interior side of the window. The integration with the touch foil enables Thru-Glasshomebuyers to click on different content by touching the glass from the exterior.

Not only do thru-glass solutions serve as a way to establish seemingly unlimited business hours, their unique display and interactive features also draw attention to those who are simply passing by—enticing them to engage with the screen. With the ability to browse home listings in the area and gather information about the real estate office—agent names, contact information, business hours, and more—homebuyers are often enticed by the convenience factor as well.

Digital Signage

Used for information sharing, digital signage enables real estate agents to highlight specific properties and services while also providing a platform on which local businesses can pay to promote their offerings. From relevant local service providers, like plumbers, electricians, and handymen, to schools, restaurants, and events, prospective homebuyers can utilize those offerings to get to know the area and gather information on the service providers they may need to use while they consider purchasing a new home. In addition to being able to advertise their own services and properties, real estate agents can benefit from this solution two-fold by making revenue off of the advertising space they sell on their digital signage solution.

Secure Check-In

Once a prospective homebuyer decides they’re ready to meet with a real estate agent, a check-in kiosk allows them to bypass the traditional check-in process to quickly and easily check-in for their appointment. Homebuyers can select the agent they’re meeting with and even notify them of their arrival, all from the kiosk. While they’re waiting, they can also use check-in kiosks to fill out any necessary forms or paperwork prior to their meeting.

Designed to provide transparency and promote efficiency throughout the homebuying process, real estate kiosks allow potential homebuyers to access information in a way that is convenient and easy to interact with. As the housing market continues to thrive and real estate agents find themselves busier than ever, real estate kiosks will continue to play a key supporting role in the process—effectively enhancing the overall experience for both real estate agents and homebuyers.

Melissa Tally
March 5, 2019 in The Kiosk Blog
Member, Meridian, picks

Meridian and HP Team Up At NRF 2019

Editors Note: first published on Meridian website.

meridian kiosk manufacturerAberdeen, NC – February 4, 2019 – Meridian, an industry-leading kiosk manufacturer and software developer recently teamed up with technology giant, HP Inc., once again. This year, the pair combined their technological expertise to create two different innovative digital retail solutions, which they introduced to the market at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2019 Big Show in New York City.

The two retail solutions included a freestanding kiosk with a 32” touch screen and a countertop kiosk with a 14” screen. While aesthetically different, both kiosks function as a three-in-one solution—with self-checkout, endless aisle, and digital signage capabilities.

While the solutions were designed and manufactured by Meridian, both kiosks were designed to incorporate HP’s hardware. The freestanding unit was powered by the HP MP9 and the countertop unit was powered by the HP Engage One All-in-One. Both units also incorporated barcode scanners, contactless NFC payment devices, and touch technology—enabling users to make in-store purchases, browse available inventory, order online, and indicate shipping and receipt preferences, all from the kiosk.

“To excel in the fast-paced kiosk technology industry, you need forward thinking partners with creative ideas and proven expertise in the kiosk field—organizations that can propose and implement not only traditional solutions, but also innovative applications,” said Meridian’s Marketing Manager and NRF attendee, Stephanie Mewherter. “Meridian and HP have this kind of relationship. Together, our relationship provides end-to-end solutions, from consulting and designing a kiosk, to the integration of the hardware, software, and security monitoring.”

Meridian joined forces with HP at the Big Show last year as well—unveiling an retail-focused automated smart locker system.

Held at the Jacob K. Javits Center, the annual event is the world’s largest retail conference and expo. This year’s event attracted more than 37,000 attendees, 16,000 retailers, and 700 exhibitors.

To learn more about Meridian’s self-service retail kiosk solutions, visit https://www.meridiankiosks.com/industries/retail-kiosks/ or email sales@mzero.com.

Member, picks

People Wanted – Meridian Needs Engineer

Published originally on Meridian blog. Link here.

Meridian Continues to Grow: Searching for Their Next Innovative Engineer

Aberdeen, NC — December 11, 2018 — Meridian, an industry leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor kiosks, interactive digital signage, and self-service software, recently announced plans to continue expanding their Engineering and Design team. In doing so, Meridian is looking to onboard an additional experienced Kiosk Design Engineer.

meridian kiosk manufacturer“We’re excited to continue growing the Meridian team as we move into the new year,” said Meridian CEO, Chris Gilder.

Meridian’s plans to continue expanding their Engineering and Design team follows their decision, earlier this year, to restructure their manufacturing leadership. Welcoming Eric Frank, Engineering Manager, to the Meridian team was a key aspect of that restructuring. As Engineering Manager, Frank is now responsible for leading Meridian’s engineering and design teams and collaborating with sales, manufacturing, and quality assurance to create new designs and improve upon existing ones. The Design Engineer will work directly under Frank and will play a key role in the fast-paced engineering team.

In addition to collaborating with Frank, and other members of the Engineering and Design team, the Design Engineer will also be working directly with the sales and production teams, as well as some of the largest tech companies in the world on a regular basis. The primary responsibilities of the Design Engineer will include creating sheet metal self-service kiosks and related products in SolidWorks, creating 3D-view and isometric drawings, and working from printed drawings, as well as taking conceptual drawings and renders and creating designs from those concepts.

“As self-service solutions have grown in popularity and found their place in a variety of industries, Meridian has noticed a steady increase in demand—especially for custom solutions.”

With nearly 20 years of experience in creating self-service solutions, Meridian is a kiosk industry pioneer, therefore the Design Engineer must also be well-versed in the kiosk industry and possess a proven portfolio of unique and effective designs.

Meridian is a self-service industry pioneer and fully integrated manufacturer of kiosks and digital signage. For nearly two decades, Meridian has specialized in helping companies optimize brand impact and extend brand reach. The Meridian team understands that together great minds create even greater solutions.

Partnerships such as Intel, HP, Panasonic, Samsung, NEC, and others have allowed Meridian’s team to collaborate, challenging the status quo to create innovative and engaging self-service solutions.Meridian differentiates itself by building kiosk solutions completely in-house.

When Mzero software was born in 2009, Meridian became one of the largest end-to-end self-service solution providers in North America. By owning the entire process, Meridian can guide clients from start to finish, creating a robust solution to help reach specific goals.

Meridian’s headquarters are located in Aberdeen, NC – only a 10 minute drive to Pinehurst and Southern Pines, NC. For more on what the Moore County area has to offer, visit our local Convention and Visitors Bureau website, www.homeofgolf.com.

To learn more about the Design Engineer position and apply, interested candidates can visit https://www.meridiankiosks.com/meridian-seeks-experienced-kiosk-design-engineer/.

Member, picks, Quality

White Paper — Quality Matters

As self-service technology has continued to develop and evolve over the years, so has its demand and the ways in which it’s produced. As this transition has occurred, some manufacturers have opted to forego quality in order to increase their output quantity. What many forget or fail to understand, however, is that the two—quality and quantity—do not have to be mutually exclusive. Similarly, in an environment focused on quantity, having a quality-focused mindset can actually be a key differentiator for those looking to purchase and incorporate self-service solutions. Here are some parameters to consider to ensure that you receive a long-lasting, high-quality solution while in the market for your next self-service solution.

Quality-Matters-White-Paper

Member, picks, Retail Kiosk

How Retail Kiosks Can Help Retailers Simplify The Busy Holiday Season

Retail kioskRetail Kiosks Help Retailers

Beginning in the wee hours of the morning on November 23, millions of shoppers hit the stores to kick off the 2018 holiday shopping season—spending an estimated $23 billion dollars in the process. Now that the holiday season is officially here, many would say that we’re entering the “most wonderful time of the year”, however, it’s also the busiest time of the year, especially for those who work in or frequently visit retail stores.

Just how busy will retailers be this holiday season? According to a recent Forbes article, Black Friday sales were nearly 10% higher than last year. Similarly, if all remains constant, overall holiday shopping spend is also expected to be greater than last year, with 6% anticipated growth.

While increased sales and store traffic are certainly beneficial for retailers, they also bring about their own unique set of challenges every holiday season. With more traffic and larger amounts of inventory heading out the door, it’s crucial that retailers are able to continue to meet shoppers’ demand, provide excellent customer service, and enable shoppers to locate and purchase what they need in a timely manner. While well-trained employees certainly play a key role in meeting all of these challenges, retail kiosks of all kinds, from endless aisle, to self-checkout, customer loyalty, and smart lockers can help.

Endless Aisle Kiosks

As retailers’ online presence has grown, customers have come to expect instant access to a wide variety of product choices. While retailers have the ability to showcase all of their inventory online, it’s nearly impossible for them to hold all of their inventory in-stock across every store. Endless aisle kiosks offer the best of both worlds—customers can browse a store’s physical inventory while in-store, but also use the kiosk to explore additional colors, styles, sizes, and more through online store access. To make things even easier, if customers find an online item that they want, they are able to select and pay for that item directly from the kiosk—saving both the customer’s and store employee’s time.

Self-Checkout Kiosks

While some shoppers prefer the traditional checkout experience, if given the chance, many opt for a more expedited self-checkout option. In fact, according to a 2018 survey, a whopping 66% of shoppers indicated that self-service technology was actually their preference. Similarly to the traditional checkout process, self-checkout kiosks can be designed to accept a variety of different payment options, incorporate any additional necessary components like RFID scanners, and can notify a store employee if a shopper needs help. Best of all, self-checkout kiosks allow shoppers to quickly scan, pay for, and bag their items without having to wait in long lines.

Customer Loyalty Kiosks

While some shoppers prefer to spread their purchases out across a variety of retailers, others opt to frequently return to a handful of specific stores. For those who find themselves visiting the same stores on a regular basis, or even those who only visit once in a while, shopper loyalty cards and programs are often enticing, as they can offer discounts, coupons, and rewards. Providing a designated kiosk on which shoppers can enroll in such programs increases the likelihood for enrollment and also expedites the check-out process, where customers would have previously been given instructions for enrollment by a cashier.

Smart Locker Kiosks

As consumers continue to lead busy lives, their time continues to be one of their most valuable assets. By default, this means that retailers who offer convenient solutions and shopping opportunities are typically viewed by shoppers in a positive light. Smart lockers offer a versatile solution that allows shoppers to place and pay for their order online ahead of time, and then pick it up at their convenience with either a numerical or QR code. While “Buy Online Pick-up In Store” (BOPIS) options are becoming more mainstream across the board, they aren’t all created equal. Most BOPIS options require that customers come into the store, and others even require an employee to retrieve the shopper’s order for them. Smart lockers, on the other hand, are both efficient and can be conveniently located. In fact, if positioned outside the store, smart lockers can even offer the option for shoppers to securely pick up their order before the store opens in the morning or long after they have closed for the night.

Despite increases in online purchases, consumers are still turning to brick and mortar stores to meet their holiday shopping needs—especially those who find ways to incorporate efficient, user-friendly technology into the shopper experience. As retailers’ focus on the overall shopper experience continues to grow in importance, the value of retail kiosks can also be expected to continue to rise.

To learn more about Meridian’s retail kiosks, visit www.meridiankiosks.com.

Image from EloTouch

Check-In, Member, picks

Digital Kiosks: The Perfect Check-In Solution

As published on Meridian Kiosks blog

Think back to the last time you had to check-in somewhere. Perhaps it was this morning when you arrived at a meeting, your last visit to the doctor, or in a hotel the last time you traveled. Regardless of when or where you last checked in, when you reflect back on your experience, does anything about it stand out or was it simply another waiting game?

Odds are, you probably endured a waiting game. Though the check-in process is one that consumers go through on a regular basis, it is also one that is typically associated with delayed service and long lines. This association has emerged as especially problematic as consumers have begun living busier lives and placing higher value on their time and the quality of the service they receive.

Check-in kiosks aim to eliminate some of these woes and to provide a more enjoyable experience for customers by streamlining processes, decreasing wait times, and allowing customers to complete the task at hand at their own convenience. Best of all check-in kiosks can be used to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction across a variety of industries—from hospitality, to healthcare, to a corporate workplace.

Hospitality Check-In

The hotel check-in desk is usually one of the first stops visitors make when arriving in a new city. Often tired from their journey and burdened with luggage, getting their room key and unpacking is usually a high priority for guests. Hospitality check-in kiosks, strategically placed throughout a hotel’s lobby, make it simple—guests can simply enter their reservation information, provide a credit or debit card for payment, and retrieve their room key from the dispenser. By using this process, guests are able to expedite and simplify the check-in process. Similarly, hotel employees who would have previously been tasked with the check-in process, are now available to serve a more customer service-oriented role—answering questions, providing directions, and further enhancing the guest experience. Naturally, they can also be available to help guests with the kiosk check-in process as well, if necessary. Another added perk of hotel check-in kiosks is that they’re available 24/7. Regardless of how late into the night they arrive, guests are able to complete the check-in process and retrieve their keys in a matter of minutes.

Healthcare Check-In

Similar to when first arriving at a hotel, when arriving at a medical appointment the first thing a patient does is check in. Often comprised of completing and updating paperwork this process is one that can also be quite timely. Healthcare check-in kiosks can be used to simplify and expedite the process. Patients are able to check-in upon arrival, enter and update their personal health information and medical records, scan their insurance card, and even schedule their next appointment, all from the kiosk. In addition to their time-saving capabilities, healthcare check-in solutions are highly versatile and able to successfully improve the check-in process in the small private practice to large hospital systems. With the ability to seamlessly tie into any healthcare facility’s back office system electronic medical records system, both patients and healthcare providers will be able to more easily, and securely, access the medical and charting information they need, regardless of their location throughout the facility.

Corporate Check-In

Checking-in to an office building or corporate campus where you’ve never been before can be somewhat overwhelming—after all, you’re probably arriving for an important meeting or interview and you’re nervous enough as it is without having to worry about finding the specific office or meeting room where you’re supposed to go. Corporate check-in and wayfinding kiosks tackle the check-in worries with ease. Not only does the kiosk provide a platform on which visitors can enter their information and indicate the party they are visiting, it can also be designed to incorporate a camera and printer to produce visitor badges, and provide wayfinding instructions to lead visitors to their desired destination. Additionally, corporate check-in kiosks can incorporate badge scanners and other peripherals for internal use for companies who require their employees to check-in on a regular basis.

As consumers continue to live increasingly busy lives, time-saving measures like check-in kiosks are becoming increasingly valuable. While there’s certainly no denying the important customer service role that front-of-house staff play—and will continue to play—in the visitor, patient, and customer experience, check-in kiosks are finding ways to improve efficiency across the board.

To learn more about Meridian’s check-in kiosks, visit www.meridiankiosks.com.

More By Meridian Kiosks

Digital Signage, Member, picks

Meridian Partners With Samsung SDS America to Create and Launch Innovative Digital Signage Solution

Aberdeen, NC – November 15, 2018 – Meridian, an industry leading manufacturer of kiosks and digital signage solutions is proud to announce their partnership with Samsung SDS America.

Samsung SDS America (SDSA) is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung SDS, a global software solutions and IT services company. SDSA provides purpose-built digital technology solutions in the areas of secure mobility, and advanced analytics.

Together, Meridian and Samsung SDSA are combining forces, and areas of expertise, to produce digital out-of-home (DOOH) signage solutions. The digital signage solutions will be implemented throughout a variety of locations and industries across North America.

“Meridian is excited to be partnering with Samsung SDSA on this project,” said Meridian CEO, Chris Gilder. “Digital signage solutions are in high demand and are completely transforming the ways in which retailers and advertisers reach their desired customer base. Samsung and Meridian combine to bring best in class solutions that can be customized to fit the client’s needs.”

Once complete, the digital signage solutions will be used solely to display targeted advertisements in locations with a high volume of customer traffic, such as shopping centers and retail outlets, allowing advertisers to identify consumer behaviors and more accurately measure campaign efficiency. Expertly designed, the solutions will be able to provide advertisers with both media metrics and a comprehensive understanding of audience segments and their movement patterns throughout the sales cycle, based on advertisement exposure.

“We are excited to team up with Meridian to provide media publishers and brands with intelligent digital signage that provides ‘on the go’ audiences with highly relevant and engaging information to positively impact sales and brand loyalty. These new intelligent targeting capabilities present a major opportunity for unprecedented creativity and innovation in the DOOH industry”, according to Scott Koo, CEO at Samsung SDSA.

Meridian commenced their partnership with SDSA in 2017. However, together the two have a combined 50 years of experience providing digital hardware and software solutions to companies spanning the automotive, financial services, retail, and digital out of home industries, as well as government entities. “We look forward to continuing to partner with Samsung SDSA to create cutting edge digital solutions,” said Gilder.

About Meridian Kiosks

Meridian is a fully integrated manufacturer of indoor and outdoor kiosks, interactive digital signage, and self-service software. As a complete end-to-end self-service innovator, Meridian develops products and services all under one roof, providing greater efficiency, and lean, high-quality results. Learn more about Meridian’s digital signage and software at meridiankiosks.com.

About Samsung SDS America, Inc.

Samsung SDS America (SDSA) is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung SDS, an $8B global software solutions and IT services company. SDSA helps companies optimize their productivity, make smarter decisions, and improve their competitive positions in a hyper-connected economy using our enterprise software solutions for secure mobility and advanced analytics. For more information on Samsung SDS America, please email bd.sdsa@samsung.com.

Member, picks

Kiosk Manufacturer – Meridian Announces New Manufacturing Leadership

meridian kiosk manufacturerAberdeen, NC – October 17, 2018 – Meridian, an industry leading kiosk manufacturer and software developer, recently welcomed two new key leaders to their engineering and production teams. Eric Frank will serve as Meridian’s new Engineering Manager and Ricardo Sotomayor will serve as Production Manager. Together, the two bring more than 30 years of combined experience in design and engineering.

Frank, who comes to Meridian from Longview Texas, has spent the past 10 years of his career with Longview-based Micrometl Corporation as both a Design Engineer and Engineering Manager. He is certified in SolidWorks—with advanced specialties in sheet metal, drawing, and surfacing—AutoCad, and lean manufacturing. “I am excited to join a growing company that is always striving to be the leader in the industry, in design and innovation. I look forward to bringing my manufacturing and design experience to the team,” said Frank. As Engineering Manager, Frank will be responsible for leading the engineering and design team and collaborating with sales, manufacturing, and quality assurance to create new designs and improve upon existing ones.

Sotomayor joins Meridian from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico where he spent 12 years in renewable solutions engineering and 7 years with technology-giant, Hewlett Packard, where he carried numerous titles, including Tooling Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, and Process Engineer. Sotomayor also holds certifications in SolidWorks, AutoCad, and Lean Six-Sigma troubleshooting methodologies. As Production Manager, Sotomayor’s main focus will be on optimizing processes and efficiencies in manufacturing as Meridian continues to scale up production to meet increased demand for their products and services. “What I’m most looking forward to in my new challenge at Meridian is the family-based work culture, it fits perfectly with my style and the way I work,” said Sotomayor.

In addition to onboarding Frank and Sotomayor, Meridian’s Senior Project Manager, Amanda Jordan, was promoted to Operations Director. In her new role, Jordan will be responsible for driving processes and procedures to deliver quality products on time. Similarly to Frank and Sotomayor, Jordan is excited about her new role. “I’m looking forward to being more involved in people management, it’s truly our greatest resource,” Jordan said.

Jordan emphasized that this restructuring change is good for Meridian. “In order to meet our increasing volume we need to invest in our structure and resources. This change will enhance and further drive our ambition to be our customers’ first choice in a complete solution kiosk manufacturer.”

The new leadership structure demonstrates Meridian’s ongoing commitment to working as a team to provide the most innovative and highest quality self-service solutions. “With the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, it gives our people the chance to make a more direct, positive impact on our product and end customer,” said Jordan.

Visit Meridian Kiosks for more information.

Member, picks

Kiosk Manufacturer – Meridian Kiosks Announces Launch of Newly Redesigned Website

Press release originally published on https://www.meridiankiosks.com/meridian-kiosks-announces-launch-of-newly-redesigned-website/

Aberdeen, NC – October 26, 2018 –Meridian, an industry-leading kiosk manufacturer and software developer recently launched a newly redesigned website. Though the site was completely redesigned, those who have previously visited can find it under the same domain as before, meridiankiosks.com.

Stephanie Mewherter, Meridian’s Marketing Director, spearheaded the website launch process. “The site was last redesigned in 2015, so it was well overdue for a facelift,” Mewherter said. “After three years of developing a large library of resources, we needed a better way to make those resources available to the public.”

That large library of resources includes expanded information on Meridian’s product lines of indoor kiosks, outdoor kiosks, and digital signage. “The newly designed product pages provide significantly more information to our site visitors,” Mewherter said. Each product page is now complete with images, sizing information, and customization options to help bring to life how Meridian’s standard kiosk models can be designed to meet each end-user’s unique needs.

The new site also provides a platform on which visitors can submit contact requests for more information and download a wide range of content—from product specification sheets to resources like case studies and white papers. Information on Meridian’s mzero kiosk software solutions are available as well.

In addition to offering more information and resources, the new site is also easier to navigate. “We are excited about the new streamlined design which makes finding information much easier for site visitors,” said Mewherter. The new user-friendly interface is designed to inform and assist current and potential customers across the entire spectrum—from those gathering their first bits of information about digital kiosks and their capabilities, to those who are in a position to move forward and make a purchasing decision.

Following the site launch on October 14, Meridian has already noticed an uptick in site visitors and anticipates that the trend will continue for the foreseeable future. “We are excited about the influx of inquiries that we’ve already started to receive after the launch, and look forward to continuing to provide our clients with innovative self-service solutions as Meridian continues to grow as a market leader.”

Meridian is a fully integrated manufacturer of indoor and outdoor kiosks, interactive digital signage, and self-service software. As a complete end-to-end self-service innovator, Meridian develops products and services all under one roof, providing greater efficiency, and lean, high-quality results. Experience Meridian’s newly redesigned website for yourself at meridiankiosks.com.

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Digital Signage, Member, picks

Digital Signage – 5 Ways Digital Signage is Changing the Advertising Game

This post originally published on https://www.meridiankiosks.com/5-ways-digital-signage-is-changing-the-advertising-game/

Ask any consumer today what grabs their attention or where they get their information and their answers will most likely differ from what they may have been 10 or 15 years ago. As technology and the variety of different media outlets have grown exponentially, many consumers have shifted their attention from more traditional media forms, such as magazines, newspapers, and stationary billboards to more modern mediums like social media, web-based outlets, and digital signage. While these more modern outlets often provide the exact same information as the ones that came before them, they have the ability to offer curious consumers the opportunity to learn and more easily engage with the information they are provided.

As this shift has occurred and consumer preferences have changed, so have the ways in which businesses successfully inform and market to them. While there’s no denying that the more traditional forms of promotion and advertising are effective for reaching consumers, digital signage has the ability to provide them with a unique user experience from the start—driving awareness, offering an interactive experience, and providing a seamless, user-friendly interface throughout the entire interaction.

Curious how digital signage could change the advertising game for your business or organization? Keep reading.

Drives Awareness

Living in the age of technology that we do, consumers are easily captivated by almost anything with a digital screen. Think about it–if you’re walking down the street or through a mall, are you more likely to notice the print display hanging in the storefront or the interactive digital display? Probably the digital display. Digital signage does so much more than just grab customers’ attention, though, it is also an effective tool for sharing information and driving consumer awareness on the path to purchase.

Offers an Interactive Experience

While the aforementioned more traditional forms of promotion and advertising have undoubtedly withstood the test of time, today’s consumers have grown to expect immediate gratification—including quick answers to their questions. Many digital signage models feature an interactive touch screen, which provides consumers access to numerous different layers of information—extending far beyond what meets the eye upon first glance. Digital signage can also include VoIP and SMS Text Messaging capabilities—enabling consumers to call businesses directly from the kiosk or text information from the screen to their personal cell phone to refer back to later on.

Provides a User-Friendly Interface

In addition to providing an eye-catching display, Interactive digital signage also offers a user-friendly interface–complete with simple menu options and navigation features. From the most tech-savvy to the least, consumers of all kinds can interact with and absorb information from the display. Similarly, with ADA compliance, Voice Over IP (VoIP), and Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) integration capabilities, digital signage can accommodate consumers of all abilities.

Improves Efficiency

Not only is digital signage easy for consumers to use, one of the most significant benefits for businesses and organizations is that the content is easy for them to update as well. Did the time change for an event? No problem. Just implemented updates for a product line? Get the word out! Once they have finalized the changes that need to be made, businesses and organizations can simply log into the back-end of their platform and add, remove, or change any of their content, all with the click of a few buttons.

Can Include Revenue-Generating Advertising

While some businesses and organizations choose to solely focus their digital signage solution on their own company, others have implemented revenue-generating platforms on which other non-competing businesses or organizations in the area can advertise as well. This is an especially useful option when looking for a way to offset the initial cost of deployment.

As consumers have become increasingly technology-driven, digital signage has emerged as an effective advertising and information sharing platform. As a result, this transformation has successfully enhanced the ways in which businesses and organizations promote themselves to consumers.

To learn more about Meridian’s self-service digital signage hardware and software solutions, visit our digital signage page.

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FAQ, Member, Meridian, picks

Five Ways of Implementing Digital Signage and Kiosks at Universities

Five Ways of Implementing Digital Signage and Kiosks at Universities

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Visit any college or university academic building and you’ll most likely be overwhelmed with an abundance of technology. Classrooms are digitized, libraries are home to countless computers, cameras, and equipment, and if you asked any student what kind of technology they had in their bookbag, their list would probably include some combination of a laptop, tablet, and smartphone. Odds are, that laptop, tablet, and smartphone also house a few online textbooks, and sometimes even the curriculum for an entire semester-long course.

 

University Kiosk Digital SignageThere’s no denying that students and professors, alike, are more tech-savvy than ever—they’re incorporating digital learning into their lectures, presentations, homework, and projects. However, while many colleges and universities are incorporating technology into the learning environment, many are just beginning to invest in technology outside of the classroom. While technology is certainly a useful learning tool, universities and colleges can benefit greatly from exploring other innovative ways to incorporate it into other aspects of their campus.

 

Digital signage and kiosks utilize the technology that students, professors, and visitors know and love to promote information sharing, efficiency, and accessibility across campus.

 

Colleges and universities can implement digital kiosks and signage for:

 

Information Sharing

College and university campuses of all sizes are home to a plethora of events on any given day. From clubs and greek life, to sporting events, professional organizations, and career fairs—it can be difficult for students to stay in the know with all that’s going on. Digital signage, placed strategically throughout campus, can serve as a unique information hub for students to reference as they’re walking from class to class, or planning their afternoon or weekend.

 

Tuition & Bill Payment

While most colleges and universities offer an online portal on which students and parents can pay tuition and fees, those sites are typically only compatible with debit or credit card payments. Tuition and bill payment kiosks, on the other hand, allow students to make payments with cash, check, credit, or debit card at their own convenience. The solutions are both secure and user friendly, allowing them to be placed in common areas, such as student unions, dining halls, and administration buildings, where students have 24/7 access.

 

Wayfinding

Though college and university campuses vary in size, they can still be difficult to navigate—especially for visitors or new students. Wayfinding kiosks can be strategically placed throughout campuses in central locations and designed to include interactive maps, directories, and listings that provide additional information about the selected destination. They can also be equipped with printing and mobile integration capabilities, making it even easier for students and visitors to find their destination.

 

Banner ID & Card Printing

Students and on-campus staff use their ID cards for a multitude of daily tasks, from swiping into buildings, to buying food in the dining hall, and checking out materials or computers from the library. So in the instance that someone loses their ID card, they’ll most likely want to replace it immediately. While most colleges and universities have an office where students and staff can replace their cards during business hours, banner ID and card printing kiosks allow for 24/7 access. Students and staff can simply take their picture, pay for, and retrieve their card all through the kiosk and in a matter of minutes.

 

Check-In

Whether it’s visitors and prospective students checking in for a tour, or current students checking in for an academic advising or tutoring appointment, digital check-in kiosks allow users to bypass the traditional check-in process at the administration desk. Users are able to interact with the kiosk to check in, confirm their information, and electronically complete any necessary documentation. Check-in kiosks also enable university employees, who would have previously been tasked with the check-in process, to be available to answer questions and provide any necessary guidance to visitors or students.

 

College and university classrooms and libraries are home to some of the latest and most advanced technology, but many schools are just beginning to take the first steps toward fully integrating technology throughout campus. Digital kiosks and signage are a great place to start, as they incorporate the technology students, professors, and visitors already use in other aspects of their everyday life to simplify their on-campus experience.

 

To learn more about Meridian’s digital kiosk and signage solutions, visit meridiankiosks.com.

 

Automotive Kiosks, Member, picks

How Automotive Kiosks Are Changing the Car Buying Experience

Automotive Kiosks and Car Buying

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For most, the car buying process is long, tedious, and filled with lots of waiting. Think back to the last time you bought a car. Odds are, you probably started by conducting some online research before you even went to the dealership. If so, you probably looked at a few different brands, models, and years to determine which would be the best fit for your needs. You may have made note of any special features you wanted and considered how much you were willing to spend. Finally, at some point you made your way to the dealership.

By the time you arrived at the dealership you were probably ready to take a test drive, and ultimately prepared to make a purchase. automotive kiosk by meridianHowever, upon your arrival, one of two things happened—either you got lucky and someone was ready and willing to help you, or the showroom was full of people waiting to be helped when you arrived, putting you at the back of the line. What if there had been a third option—a self-serve automotive kiosk, perhaps? Rather than sitting around and waiting for a salesperson to finish up with the customer they were helping, the kiosk could have helped you get started on the sales process.

Sound appealing? Whether you’re the customer or the salesperson, the answer is most likely yes. As consumers’ lives have become increasingly busy, the value of convenient time-saving and self-serve solutions has skyrocketed. And it’s no secret that busy customers value efficient service. For this reason, among others, digital automotive kiosks are completely transforming the car buying experience in dealerships across the country.

Automotive kiosks don’t just make the car buying process easier for consumers, though, they simplify the process for car salespeople as well—increasing the number of customers being helped at the same time, speeding up the process, and creating happier customers all make salespeople’s jobs easier. Automotive kiosks are decreasing transaction time, improving customer service, and providing a personalized buying experience.

Decreasing Transaction Time

Prior to embarking on their car shopping journey, most car shoppers accept the fact that the process, from initial research to making their purchase, will be time consuming. Digital automotive kiosks cut down on transaction time by engaging shoppers from the moment they enter the dealership. If a salesperson is not immediately available to help them, shoppers are redirected to the kiosks where they can begin the process by entering their personal information—license information, phone number, and email address. They may also be given the option to peruse loan information, get approved for loans, and browse the dealership’s inventory. In addition, shoppers are able to complete any necessary paperwork while they wait, reducing the need for the salesperson to complete it, and thus making the purchasing process quicker and more efficient.

Improving Customer Service

As with any industry, one of the main benefits of a digital kiosk in a car dealership setting is that it has the capability to take some of the more menial, automated tasks out of the hands of the salespeople. By shifting some of their responsibilities to the kiosks, salespeople have more time to help and build relationships with customers—joining them on test drives, explaining and demonstrating key features, answering questions, and completing sales. Automotive kiosks can also collect valuable customer information, making it easier for salespeople to follow up and check-in with customers once they depart from the dealership.

Providing a Personalized Buying Experience

Having an interactive digital kiosk in a car dealership puts the shopper in control of their buying experience from beginning to end. All of the inventory, vehicle, and loan information is presented in a way that’s straightforward, transparent, and perfectly catered to each individual customer’s unique needs and budgetary requirements. It also allows customers to navigate the process in a way that best meets their needs. For those who are unable to conduct research prior to visiting the dealership, automotive kiosks afford them the opportunity to still do so before meeting with a salesperson.

Automotive kiosks are also highly adaptable and designed to comply with standards set forth by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding reach and accessibility. Automotive kiosks can also be designed to address visual and hearing impairments through, Voice Over IP (VoIP) and Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) technologies. These additional aspects take personalization to the next level, ensuring that all customers have access to the same information and services through the kiosk.

Though the car buying process will never be a simple one, digital kiosks are transforming the shopper experience—reducing wait times, improving transparency and customer service, and making the process more personalized.

To learn more about Meridian’s self-service digital kiosks, visit meridiankiosks.com.

Automotive Kiosks, Member

Meridian Introduces Automotive Kiosk Solutions

Meridian Introduces Automotive Kiosk Solutions

automotive kiosk
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Aberdeen, N.C. – June 12, 2018 – Meridian, an industry leading kiosk manufacturer and software developer, has expanded their self-service solutions to include a lineup of automotive specific kiosks. “Automotive manufacturers and dealers are looking to improve the consumer journey and deliver the dealership experience of the future,” said Todd Marcelle, Director of Automotive Solutions. “Consumers are used to self service technology across many other retailing environments and expect the same from the automotive industry.”

The new automotive solutions are designed to improve and enhance the automotive customer experience by providing an end to end fully integrated DMS and CRM solution comprised of software, hardware and analytics. “Our automotive kiosks help dealerships interact with retail and service customers in a way that leaves them more satisfied and more likely to return,” said Meridian founder and CEO, Chris Gilder. “Our kiosks have proven to reduce transactions times, improve CSI and increase revenue producing a demonstrable ROI for dealerships.” Meridian’s kiosk solutions are currently deployed with major brands at select dealerships including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford, KIA, VW, Porsche and Nissan.

Meridian’s automotive solutions are comprised of the Showroom Digital HUB, Virtual Service Advisor and Smart Service Kiosk. The Digital HUB provides a digital shopping experience for customers within a showroom. Mike Nyguen, GM of Jack Taylor Toyota stated: “With the digital HUB, we are now capturing 99% of customers correct contact information into our CRM system and our CSI scores are well over 96%. Our customers recover an average of 1.5 to 2 hours from the car buying process.”

The Virtual Service Advisor (VSA) and Smart Service Kiosk (SSK) streamline automotive service for customers and businesses. “Our goal was to create a complimentary experience for those consumers that prefer self–service similar to the banking, travel and restaurant experiences. The solution mirrors a service advisors workflow providing recall, trade appraisals, upsells and electronic signatures,” said Marcelle. “The most compelling result is that over 95% consumers have said they would use the kiosks again and it made the experience easier.”

Meridian’s automotive solutions are designed and manufactured from their headquarters in North Carolina. “All of our products are built from start to finish by our own team of experts, ensuring the combination of engaging design and reliability,” said Gilder.

To learn more about Meridian’s automotive solutions, visit meridiankiosks.com.

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kiosk manufacturer, Kiosk Software, Member, picks

Kiosk Manufacturer – Meridian Celebrates Decade of Kiosk Software Development

Meridian Celebrates a Decade of Kiosk Software Development

Aberdeen, N.C. –  May 23, 2018 – Meridian, an industry leading kiosk manufacturer and kiosk software developer, is celebrating its 10th year of developing kiosk driven software. “Manufacturing our own kiosks and developing our own software has brought tremendous value to our customers,” said Meridian Founder and CEO, Chris Gilder. “We’re able to provide them with a seamless solution and guide them through each step of the process.”

kiosk manufacturer kiosk softwareMeridian’s kiosk software solutions include a secure browser software platform, remote kiosk management software, a software development kit and a suite of off-the-shelf software solutions. “Our software suite is designed and developed to create a cohesive experience for our clients and provide a better solution for their users,” Said Paul Burden, Director of Software at Meridian.

Meridian’s MzeroPlatform serves as the foundation that all of Meridian’s software solutions are built on top of. As a standalone product, MzeroPlatform functions as a secure kiosk browser allowing companies to deploy web based kiosks with web applications and URL whitelisting and blacklisting.

Meridian’s remote management software, MzeroManage, is designed to manage multiple kiosks from remote locations. “MzeroManage is Ideal for businesses requiring system security and remote performance management,” said Gilder. The remote management tool allows businesses to remotely access their kiosks to monitor health, customize alerts and run diagnostic reports and analytics.

MzeroCreate is Meridian’s proprietary Software Development Kit (SDK), which provides a suite of developer tools that allow full customization of Mzero Platform. The SDK is designed with development modules, allowing users to develop kiosk applications that integrate with pre-integrated kiosk components. Integrated components include scanners, cameras, payment devices, dispensing devices and more. “MzeroCreate provides software developers with the environment to quickly and efficiently develop and deploy compelling solutions,” said Gilder.

Over the last decade, MzeroCreate has been utilized to develop kiosk applications for some of the biggest names in the retail, automotive, insurance, and higher education industries. “We collaborated with Meridian to leverage their SDK. We used MzeroCreate to build a scalable, consistent, and exceptional software program that successfully supports our global kiosk deployments for our OEM clients, ” said Todd Marcelle, CEO and Co-Founder of GoMoto.

Meridian’s existing software infrastructure has allowed the company to develop a full suite of off-the-shelf kiosk software solutions. The suite includes MzeroPay bill payment, MzeroInterAct digital signage and MzeroDirectMe directory solutions. Meridian’s off-the-shelf solutions have been deployed in various locations across the country, including airports, town centers and corporate buildings.

To learn more about Meridian’s kiosk software solutions, visit meridiankiosks.com.

Member, People, picks

Meridian Kiosks Growing – New Project Manager Amanda Jordan

Meridian Kiosks Growing – New Project Manager Amanda Jordan

Aberdeen, N.C. – April 19, 2018 – Meridian, an industry leading kiosk manufacturer, has welcomed Senior Project Manager, Amanda Jordan to its growing team of self-service kiosk experts. “Amanda’s experience is invaluable to the Meridian team, with her years at some of the worlds finest companies and her drive to continually improve the environment she works in,” said Meridian Founder and CEO, Chris Gilder.

Jordan has worked extensively in project product development in the automotive, electronic and medical industries (Siemens AG) in Europe, North America and Asia.“Successful projects are built on team cooperation and communication in dynamic and complex environments,” said Jordan. “Becoming a successful leader in project management involves recognizing and encouraging everyone’s contribution to the successful completion of a project and speaking their language.”

As Meridian’s Senior Project Manager, Jordan will strategically guide clients through each project. “As we continue to grow we see more and more projects happening simultaneously, and as I’ve heard it said, ‘kiosks are simple, you just have to get a thousand different things right.’ Having key leadership in that area is critical to doing just that,” said Gilder. Jordan will be helping overhaul Meridian’s internal systems and procedures to improve day to day operations and help manage growth.

“Meridian is a leading kiosk manufacturing company with a clear entrepreneurial flair, where independent thinking is encouraged to foster company success,” said Jordan. “People are what make any organization successful and as a project leader, it’s your job to bring a team together to drive success for the business.”

Visit the Meridian website for more information. You can view Amanda’s LinkedIn profile here.

Kiosk Manufacturer Self Service