You can get most anything at a kiosk
Miami Herald article on buying most anything at a kiosk. Pictures highlight movie ticketing, video DVD rental and cruise ship boarding.
You can get most anything at a kiosk - Technology - MiamiHerald.com
BY BRIDGET CAREY
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Consumers accustomed to using self-service kiosks to withdraw cash, pay for groceries and check in for flights are finding do-it-yourself computer stations across South Florida in new and sometimes unexpected places.
Some doctors' offices are using self-service stations to check in patients. At hotels, guests can check in or even buy accessories like bathing suits. Movie tickets, cruise line boarding passes and DVD movie rentals can, in many places, be picked up with the swipe of a credit card.
``We're seeing self-service technology take off in really in every industry,'' said Jeff Dudash, spokesman for NCR -- the company that creates most of these machines and invented the ATM machine.
That's because customers are used to having more control, and for the most part, they're loving it, say trend researchers. Forrester Research, a leader in tracking technology trends, reported 61 percent of U.S. adults who are active online want to scan and pay for purchases using self-checkout options, and 74 percent who have used kiosks say it is useful.
BuzzBack Market Research, which managed a survey for its client NCR, said 81 percent of North Americans surveyed were more likely to choose retailers that let them use self-service options.
Although kiosks can save business owners some staff costs, many who have adopted self-service technology have found the real advantages are saving time and putting staff to work on other customer service areas.
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Posted by staff at August 20, 2010 12:35 PM