Month: August 2012

Touch screen kiosks are deployed across various locations including retail stores but they are also widely being installed in petrol stations. In the last week alone Irving Oil announced that it has deployed interactive self-service technology at several of its gas pumps in New Hampshire and Maine in the United States of America. The digital signage provides drivers access to community news, local sports, promotions, weather information as well as safe driving tips. What is more, there are live webcams for local traffic monitoring to help the user travel around the area with ease. So just how can the technology help petrol stations around the world and why are they becoming so popular? Protouch has compiled the main elements…

Key features include:

• Self-service

The kiosks let users fill their cars with fuel independently and pay for their fuel without assistance of a staff member. This gives the driver freedom and self-sufficiency which is an increasing need demanded from today’s society.

• Reduce waiting times

The technology quickens waiting times for drivers which improve their overall customer experience. It also increases sales as more people are tended to in a shorter space of time.

• Payment

One of the main benefits for kiosks in petrol stations is that the driver can pay for their fuel at the unit without the need to walk into the store. Obviously only card payments are taken but it means that the complete processes are quickened. It is vital that the payment information is kept secure for confidentiality reasons.

• Save lives

Protouch reported back in 2010 how a touch screen kiosk calculator was being deployed at service stations to allow drivers to calculate how tired they are. Developed by Natalie Tindale and Professor Drew Dawson, director of the Centre for Sleep Research at the University of South Australia, it allows users to score their fatigue levels and it recommends the amount of sleep needed before continuing to drive. It was hoped the system would reduce road accidents related to lack of sleep and help to save lives.   Do you want to install touch screen technology in your business to cut waiting times, improve staff efficiency and better customer experience? Contact us today.

The greater part of all shoppers in America favour self-service technology, according to a recent survey. Findings by research firm NCR reveal that the majority of US consumers use self-checkout and almost 70% of those surveyed agreed that the best part of the technology is the reduced waiting times. A massive 78% admitted that they prefer using the technology because “it is usually faster than going through a cashier-assisted line.” The survey found that in stores that provided a self-checkout option, 64% of shoppers believe retailers who offer self-checkout provide better customer service. A key finding is that consumers would like to see the technology extended to other retail divisions and 70% would like to see self-service kiosks deployed at mass merchants and in drug stores. Further industries which were stipulated to have self-service solution installed included DIY stores (61%) and convenience stores (50%).

So how can kiosks help retail outlets?

• Shop online

A study by Local Corporation found that 46% of shoppers check out prices on a store’s site; kiosks with internet access allow consumers to do this.

• Product browser

The same survey also found that 42% check the inventory before visiting; kiosks enable shoppers to browse products online that are not in-store. This means they can view important information on the product including size dimensions and price.

• Payment

It can be a time-consuming task being served by a cashier but kiosks let the consumer pay for the items themselves and they do not need to exchange cash with a third party.

• Wayfinding

Many retail stores are vast in size so it is no wonder why a consumer can get lost or cannot find a certain product. Kiosks can help shoppers find items by displaying where they are located.

• Queue busting

As evident of the survey, one of the biggest advantages of self-service is that they are much faster to use and can reduce queue waiting times.

• Loyalty

If a store has any special offers on or promotional material, shoppers can get this and utilise it via a kiosk. By offering loyalty schemes a firm can boost its retention rates and keep its customers happy. Protouch are specialists in retail self-service technology; retail environments are hotspots for kiosks and we can help you give your shoppers convenience as well as improve staff efficiency. Speed up the overall service with our expertise. To see an outstanding kiosk success story, read our retail case study on Kiddicare.

UK retail giant Tesco has revealed the pilot deployment of new virtual grocery kiosks at Gatwick Airport in London- the very first UK service of its kind. The solution has been created to help passengers who are fed up of coming home from holiday to an empty fridge. The virtual grocery kiosks aim to allow travellers in the airport departure area to shop via a video screen after realising their refrigerator at home is bare.

What are the pros?

Coming home from holiday to no food or items that have expired can be a hassle but the technology means that passengers can have the products waiting for them when they get home. Customers can view everyday groceries like milk and bread, scan the barcodes with their smartphones, add them to the online basket, book a home delivery slot and checkout. The shopping will then be delivered when the person returns from holiday and it will benefit the 30,000 people that depart from Gatwick each day. The world’s first virtual store launched last year in South Korea which allowed commuters to shop at bus stops and in subways by scanning their mobile phones at billboards. For the first time the concept is being trialled in the UK but with interactive digital displays instead. Ken Towle, Tesco’s Internet Retailing Director, said: “Our business in Korea is teaching us a lot about how customers and technology are transforming shopping. It gives us a unique window into the future and the chance to try out exciting new concepts. The virtual store blends clicks and bricks, bringing together our love of browsing with the convenience of online shopping. “It’s a chance to showcase what we can do to the 30,000 people a day who will depart from Gatwick’s North Terminal, many of whom will need to fill their fridges when they get home, and we’re looking forward to hearing what they think.” As evident of the news, more and more firms at airports are embracing the innovative technology. Here at Protouch, we helped Birmingham airport ease its passenger’s queuing times with our fast track kiosks. If your firm, be it in retail or hospitality, is based at an airport and you want to improve your services for staff and consumers, speak to the experts today by clicking here.