Pro-Touch

How Kiosks Are Improving Visitor Management

Self service technologies are becoming increasingly valuable in helping businesses to fulfil a wide range of simple tasks, and, as a result, more and more sectors are realising the full potential of kiosks in improving efficiency and ROI. Many organisations and large enterprises within the health, retail, hospitality and travel sectors are now considering interactive kiosks, as vital components in dealing with the management of digitally native visitors.

Combining new technology with old practices, visitor management kiosks are becoming more and more popular, providing a comprehensive and efficient system to help businesses ensure onsite security. For example, visitor management kiosks can not only pre-register visitors (in order to have tighter control over who is authorized to enter a particular facility), but can also carry out many other basic security checks including;

Features

  • Webcamused for face recognition and photo card badges
  • Keyboard used for data entry
  • Fingerprint scanner used for visitor identification (particularly useful for frequent guests)
  • Card reader used alongside intelligent software to read and recognise visitors stored information
  • Barcode scanner can verify whether the visitor is expected or has been in the facility before
  • Printerupon arrival, kiosk users can print professional-looking, full-colour, customized badges

The surge in the popularity of interactive kiosks can be attributed to several factors; one of which is staffing issues. There are many cases where the reception of a building is unattended, but the company still wants to identify visitors. In the past, visitors would have to rely upon reception staff to check-in, meaning that if the reception desk wasn’t manned guests would have to wait around, or simply not check-in. However, new electronic visitor software, and remote management tools, alleviate these problems allowing visitors to self check in and out at unattended kiosks.

Rather than visitors needing to interact with customer service representatives, or reception assistants, the check-in process is streamlined through automation and the organisation can account for everyone on the premises at all times. Other benefits of visitor management systems include;

Benefits

  • Robust security
  • Improved efficiency for staff
  • Easily accessible to visitors
  • More accurate screening of visitors
  • User friendly
  • Cost effective
  • Wayfinding
  • ID or badge printing

The provision of management solutions is an area of huge growth for interactive kiosk technology; with multiple features, and countless benefits, they are paving the way for the future of guest interaction and visitor management.

 

Image source: Formic.com

Using Kiosks To Improve Security

Touch screen kiosks are being used by businesses, in buildings, rooms, car parks and airports, as a way of tightening security.

For example, airports in the US have an increased need to maximise their security facilities since 9/11. Funded by taxpayers and airline travellers, kiosks are being deployed to assist with the screening process. Security kiosks improve the efficiency of homeland security, whilst reducing costs spent on security staff. They are also valuable for capturing data and storing information for security records. Airports in Canada, such as the Vancouver Internation Airport are also using self-service kiosks in their screening process, to allow passengers to scan their own passports and declaration forms. This particular programme is called the Automated Boarder Clearance, used to reduce queuing times and make their security processes more efficient. 

Access Control can provide your business with a simple security system that controls visitor entry.

  • Manned or un-manned control
  • Video and audio communication
  • Biometric upgrade option
  • Custom access reporting
     

Securing Your Kiosk Network

When deploying kiosk in your business, you must consider the protection of your network. Some kiosks are in unsecure locations or are unmanned, which poses a threat to the overall security. For example, you could be risking information theft or unauthorised access to the software or operating system.

Limiting access to the operating system is one of the most important aspects of securing your kiosk network. With this access to the key areas of the control system, an unknown user can steal information, alter setting and also install harmful viruses on to your kiosk.

The risk of information theft is worth consideration depending on what information is stored on the kiosk. Access to vulnerable data such as passwords, numbers and personal details could present significant issues for a business.

With the security of your kiosk compromised, your software is at risk of virus. This can affect your Internet in allowing unauthorised websites to be displayed. Most importantly, an unexpected virus impairs the performance of your kiosk when it should be at the peak of efficiency.

Secure Browser software can offer a security solution that will manage the following aspects.

  • Protect the operating system
  • Secure access to the Internet
  • Control website viewing
  • Track kiosk usage