Interactive kiosks are a relatively new phenomenon in the UK. The most basic description of an interactive kiosk is any connected electronic device that provides customers with additional in-store service. Provided below is a summary of five of the most common uses for interactive kiosks and the associated benefits.
Product Information
Many retailers have limited space or opportunity to provide customers with all the information they require about products. Prices should be marked next to products and most retailers find room to add information about sales and special offers, but other details are all too often excluded.
Interactive kiosks for your business, perhaps in the form of touchscreen displays situated among products, can be used by customers who want to find out more about the goods. This type of system can be used for any product, but it is especially useful for selling electronic items, as customers can compare specifications and features to decide which product is right for them without having to find a customer service agent.
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Some products do not sell themselves, which is why retailers sometimes deploy sales staff around the store to target customers for the hard or soft sell. The obvious disadvantage of this is that customers rarely take kindly to pushy sales staff, so products either go unnoticed or customers are turned off by commission-hungry salespeople. Interactive kiosks resolve this problem by advertising the products available in-store. Video demonstrations of products often run on loop alongside aisles or at the checkout, prompting customers to at least consider the goods. Third-party advertisements can also be displayed to boost revenue.
Gifts, Coupons and Promotions
Gift cards are popular purchases in some stores, especially during the festive period. While most retailers require customers to request gift cards in person, some are utilising interactive kiosks to enable them to buy or top up gift cards electronically. This can help to reduce queues at the checkout during busy times of the year. Interactive gift registry also simplifies the process for customers, who simply enter the desired value and make a payment.
Interactive kiosks can present options for reviewing coupons and promotional offers to customers, who can browse the list of deals in just a few moments on a touchscreen display. These systems might also be used to provide customers with opportunities to apply for in-store credit.
Recruitment and Training
What better way to remind employees of their duties than by utilising interactive displays on the job? Display screens can be used to broadcast corporate policy reminders and training videos. Health and safety is an important issue in the workplace, which is why some employers might use connected devices to convey key messages and training material to staff.
Interactive kiosks provide an effective medium through which internal and external job vacancies can be advertised. As with advertisements, third-party job offers might also be displayed for a fee, thus increasing revenue for the retailer.
Orientation
Some stores are huge, while others might be difficult to navigate. Interactive kiosks, deployed at the edge of each aisle, can be used to help customers find their way around a shop. The systems can also identify the location of specific products, allowing customers to quickly find them, thereby improving sales conversion rates.
