January 2012 - Protouch

High Street Stores To Become Tech Savvy In 2012

Posted on 24th January 2012 by Tom Quarry

According to a recent report, all high street stores will transform into hi-tech, high touch ‘experience’ centres in 2012.

Predicted findings by Manhattan Associates, a global solutions provider for supply chain leaders, reveal that many retailers are set to change to meet the demand of a multichannel world. The industry experts foretold that more products will be sold online and that items sold in-store will focus on a narrower more personalised range. But the corporation envisages that more retailers will look to make their high street presence more experiential to cater to the evolving needs and tastes of shopper. The company also believes that self-checkouts and sales assistants armed with mobile devices will renovate the way customers interact with sales staff.

A recent example which confirms the forecast is a store in Paris which opened an interactive lab where consumers could test out the kitchen equipment in-store before ordering online. But the report states that retailers need to be prepared for customers to buy through a variety of channels and to offer them an array of shopping experiences for them to research, buy and collect wherever they want. Craig Sears- Black, UK managing director of Manhattan Associates, said that 2012 will be a challenging year for the retail industry but that at the same time, the opportunities for retailers to serve consumers better will be greater than ever because of new technologies. Protouch touch screen software can help any retail business meet the growing needs of consumers. Just have a look and see how our touch screen kiosks aided leading clothing and homeware retailer, Matalan.

The Importance Of Touch Screen Technology Being Accessible To All Users

Posted on 20th January 2012 by Tom Quarry

The firm behind the deployment of DVD-rental kiosks has been sued by an advocate group that claims that they discriminate against blind customers. Redbox has been taken to court by a San Francisco group that is campaigning on behalf of the visually impaired, who allege that the rental touch screen kiosks make it impossible or difficult for visually impaired customers to use the technology. The activists, “Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired”, say that the advancement of technology is limiting for the visually impaired. One legally blind supporter argues that she enjoys sharing movies with her sighted husband and their son but that she is left feeling embarrassed and helpless when trying to use the units. Kiosk technology has been installed across industry sectors in airports, retail, and hospitality, but the design needs to consider accessibility for everyone.

Protouch offer guidance on the placement of touch screen technology in order to enable all users use the kiosk. By featuring internet access on the machines, help instructions can also be offered to those few people who find it difficult to use, not just the disabled. Further advice is to provide audio features to help instruct consumers use the technology. The advocates reported that they sued Redbox in the hope it will encourage other companies to include accessible software. Here at Protouch, we believe that it is vital that all units tend to a customer’s needs and are designed appropriately to ensure the person can access it with ease and without effort. Whether someone has difficulties reading and needs a specially designed kiosk that increases their confidence and ability; or a wheelchair user cannot reach the interface display, it is important that the touch screen technology is accessible for all and does not discriminate.

Self-Service Technology Trends For 2012

Posted on 3rd January 2012 by Tom Quarry

The New Year has arrived and with it comes optimism for the upcoming year for the self-service industry. Technology is constantly advancing and sectors undergo trends which can be easily predicted based on the latest gadgets and gizmos. Here at Protouch kiosk manufacturers, we strive to be up-to-date with the latest industry news. The KioskMarketplace.com has scoured the industry to talk to experts on what the major trends for 2012 might be and the findings reveal that;

– The retail sector is to embrace the technology the most

– Mobile technology will rise

– The health care industry will cut costs by deploying technology

– Vending machines

RETAIL;

Touch screen kiosks are extremely beneficial for many areas but the retail and consumer good division is particularly helpful. According to the new verdicts, retailers will clinch kiosk solutions and tablets more than ever before and invest in the technology to increase growth. An in-store kiosk can display information on products that are only available online and by being deployed on the floor; consumers can interact and look through transactions easily and quickly. They are also a great alternative due to low cost maintenance.

MOBILE;

The trend of mobile is already present but this is set to grow in the upcoming year with smartphone technology being the instrument that transcends all platforms for convenience and allows the shopper the greatest experience at home and on the move.

HEALTH CARE;

The UK government has cut a lot of public spending in order to tackle the country’s deficit and in a bid to reduce costs; the health care sector will reap self-service technology. Only last year did we save around £80,000 at The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust after it deployed check-in and information kiosks from Protouch.

VENDING MACHINES;

There have been multiple examples of touch screen vending kiosks such as wine dispensing kiosks, ice cream dispensing technology, bread distributing and rail ticketing. Industry experts forecast that more vending kiosks will arise over 2012.