Self-service kiosks are a common fixture in many modern lives today. Whether going for a fast method to checkout and pick up food from a store, shopping at an airport, or utilizing information points at conferences, airports, on roadways or in train stations, these units come in many shapes and sizes. One of the most popular and most utilized is the touch screen unit. While there are benefits to this form of kiosk, it has also been found to be less than effective and can result in mistakes if not used properly. In this guide, we will look at how to avoid some of these common pitfalls.

Not all touch screen self-service kiosks are created equal. Some of the newer and possibly more expensive ones will have a built in stylus and allow for interactive functions through its use. This may be great if you are running a business with customers entering your location and giving their information via tablet, keyboard, or voice recognition interface. The problem is that some of the cheaper models will not have this luxury and could have even more problems if not installed properly.

If your kiosk is in a high-traffic area, make sure that it is well maintained and protected. Some of the newer models will come with covers and canopies which shield the tablet from damage and prevent it from being scratched, scuffed, or cut. Some of these kiosks will also be equipped with security measures such as fingerprint readers and other types of locking mechanisms to prevent tampering or even opening. Be sure that you ask the Kiosk Company owner about what security measures they have put into place. Some of the more basic kiosks do not require any special locks at all and can be left unprotected if you so desire.

Something else that you should keep in mind is what your customers tend to like. For example, some customers tend to like tablets that are easy to hold. Many of the newer lightweight tablets will be very easy to hold. Some of them are text only and don’t even have a backlight. You need to consider what your customers are going to be most comfortable with. Most importantly, you want to make sure that they can order food and beverages as well as place their finger on the screen.

Many kiosks in today’s modern world do offer some form of notification about their availability. If you are considering purchasing one, make sure that it offers real-time notification. Self-order kiosks which do not inform the customers about their time-frame in which they can place an order will lead to long wait times. A real-time self-order kiosk should inform the customer that they can place an order and then immediately show them how long the wait time is. There should also be clearly displayed the time that they have remaining and what will happen if they choose not to place an order right there.

Many customers want to make a reservation but don’t because they feel that they are too busy or they want to see what’s available first. You need to think about what your customers want to do when they aren’t in the mood for eating or trying out a meal. Often, customers want to walk around and look at the various items that are for sale. This is what they will be more excited about. You should incorporate this into your Self-Service Kiosk to attract them to place their finger on the screen.

Another thing that you need to consider is how quickly the customer service representatives interact with the customers. While self-order kiosks are great and the customer service representatives working them are excellent, your kiosk may not be able to support the growing volume of orders that you receive if the staff isn’t well trained. Training your staff in order to effectively handle these situations will help your kiosk survive in this market. You should consider adding training for the ordering process as well as how to deal with any problems that may arise in the line of ordering.

The Self-Service Kiosk has proven to be very successful in the fast-paced retail environment that most Kiosks are placed in. When placing your Self Service Kiosk into a new location, you need to consider where it will be placed. If you are using a Self-Service Kiosk in a high traffic environment, you will need to add a higher level of staffing on-staff to handle any issues that may arise during the day. Your kiosk will also need to handle the extra traffic that occurs after hours on Friday nights. If you don’t already have a high-quality self-checkout lane inside of your store, you need to definitely add one now! By having your Self Service Kiosk stocked and staffed with knowledgeable employees that are trained in the Self Service Kiosk process, you are ensuring that your kiosk is equipped to handle any situation that may come before it.