Pro-Touch

Is Buying Cheap Chinese Kiosks a False Saving?

There’s no sector of industry that hasn’t been affected by the massive growth of low cost manufacturing in China. Outsourcing will almost certainly cut costs, but is it a proposal worth considering in the kiosk business?

What are the potential downsides of outsourcing?

Firstly, you will have less control over the process. Big companies like Apple outsource their manufacturing and apart from bad publicity about workers’ conditions still have a great reputation for quality. That’s because Apple have the money and the clout to ensure that their rules are followed. If you don’t have that clout, you won’t have that control.

Materials will probably be lower quality, which is vital if your kiosks are going to be used outside. A lot of the components in a kiosk must be high quality to work – touchscreens, CPUs and thermal printers – and they also need to be compatible with your software for a cost-effective operation.

Replacements

Outsourcing also means you will probably have to outsource replacement parts. It’s possible that you won’t be able to find the same materials, industrial materials, particularly in something as complex as a kiosk are no longer simple, generic things.
Standard practice in every possible way are different. Manufacturing laws are less stringent, measurement standards may be different.

Communication

Finally, you are communicating at a great distance. The Chinese have a wonderful command of English, but most of the people you speak to will be communicating in a second language in a very technical area.

Building a kiosk is a demanding business. Lots of delicate machinery needs to fit perfectly in order to interact perfectly. Everything needs to be ventilated, but protected from water. The more complex the design the more likely mistakes are – when you are developing a new model and need to tweak the design, sending it back to the other side of London is much easier than sending it back to the other side of the world for modifications.

Dealing with foreign markets always comes with risks. You’re in a different legal jurisdiction; shipping is another process where delicate machinery can be damaged; and if things go wrong, who do you complain to?

So, buying kiosks from abroad is a tempting way to cut costs, but in the long run, supporting an imported kiosk will soon start to eat into those savings, if you even get a working machine.

[image by Stuart Miles]

Top Tips For Developing Kiosk Software

7 Top Tips to create a better user experience when developing your kiosk software.
 

1. Keep the customer as the focal point

Considering the user before making any decisions is the key to creating a positive self-service experience. This is dependent on the ease of use and simplicity. Your software should be easy to browse, easy to understand and easy to operate by the average Joe.

2. Offer multi-lingual options

Providing multi-language support in your kiosk software widens the profile of users and enhances the user experience. Especially for deployment in high traffic locations where there will be varied types of users or where clear communication is imperative.

3. Minimise the need for manual intervention

The success of your software process will be determined by how well it works from beginning to end without extra assistance. Your automated system aims to make repeated processes efficient and painless.

4. Review the metrics

Measuring the costs and controlling the quality of your software will lead to success. Strive for perfection and aim to constantly improve performance to meet both the business and user needs.

5. Create a visual hierarchy

It is compulsory the process is made simple for the user, knowing which buttons to press when. The screen should display a visual order for example; the important indicators must draw the users attention before other on screen elements. Icons can gain importance through the use of differential size, colour and placement.

 

 

6. Choose a well-designed user interface

There is no point investing in top of the range kiosk software if the interface isn’t sufficient for the required function. A well-considered interface will determine the success of your application’s software. Consistency is key.

7. Collect data/listen to feedback

Reviewing the data can give valuable feedback of the kiosk usage and help to improve aspects of the software if required. Analyse the data to gain a greater understanding of your user to maximise the potential of your application.