FAQ - Why every retailer should consider interactive wall-mount kiosks
Nice writeup on KioskMarketplace on why retailers should consider wall-mount systems. Writer is Rich Bernstein with Phoenix Kiosk.
Why every retailer should consider interactive wall-mount kiosks | kioskmarketplace.com
There's a simple way for every retailer to showcase products, increase sales, use space more effectively and save money. And this little Godsend is called an interactive wall-mount kiosk. Although these four benefits are surely welcomed by any retailer, it's surprising how many of them are either not using kiosks or not getting the most bang for their investment's buck.
Before we break down some specific applications for big-box, medium-to-small-sized retailers, convenience stores and restaurants, let's touch on some ways retailers could improve their businesses by incorporating wall-mount kiosks:
Showcasing products/advertising/branding
Although the main purpose of implementing a wall-mount kiosk is often to invite users to approach the kiosk and make a purchase, kiosks are valuable tools by themselves. They provide an excellent opportunity to increase brand awareness, and they can also introduce customers to new products. Many retailers utilize dual-screen kiosks that provide an interactive screen on the bottom with an advertising-only screen above that, in order to captivate potential customers.
Increase efficiency
In-store kiosks provide an efficient way for users to peruse a retailer's entire inventory. Depending on the application (perhaps an auto-parts store, for example), this can allow employees to maximize their time performing essential tasks. Although face-to-face customer service will never disappear, millions of people purchased their Christmas gifts online in 2011. Customers are not afraid to use kiosks and Web-based applications to make purchases.
Increase sales
Although it's hard to predict the percentage of additional sales that can be generated with an interactive wall-mount kiosk, the units provide a way for customers to make a specific search, which makes it more likely they will find the item they need. Kiosks are especially valuable for retailers that have an additional, out-of-store inventory that can be placed on the kiosk, which allows a customer to efficiently order and pay for products that are not in front of them.
Utilize wall-space more efficiently
Of course, every square foot of space is valuable to a retailer. Wall-mount kiosks take up very little space, come in a variety of sizes and can run numerous applications. They can be outfitted with card readers, barcode scanners and even printers. The return on investment can be substantial, based upon the benefits listed above, and the kiosks' small footprints.
Below are more specific benefits listed by the type of retailer that implements wall-mount kiosks:
Big Box
It's easy for customers to be overwhelmed in a large store, and kiosks can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes a customer to find specific items. Wall-mount kiosks can also be used for way-finding purposes, in order to direct the customer to the correct department and specific location of the product. The end result is happy customers with more time to spend in the store, which will hopefully increase their purchases.
Medium/small stores
Many retailers utilize wall-mount kiosks to make life easier for customers in a number of ways. Of course, in-store cataloguing is one of them. However, some stores incorporate additional forms of order fulfillment, such as back orders, "build-your-own" solutions and virtual inventory. If the retailer is part of a chain, he can incorporate his inventories into a network that shows product at all store locations.
Convenience stores and restaurants
Many small retailers use kiosks for a variety of applications that are not product specific. For instance, users might place an order for food, play the lottery, apply for a job or get directions to museums or other landmarks around town.
Summary
As you can see, there's no hiding the benefits of wall-mount kiosks in a retail setting. Retailers have the ability to provide any number of applications for their customers, and they can incorporate optional, larger-sized LCD monitor sthat provide more space on which to advertise, inform and interact. Based on the buying habits of the American public, as well as their high comfort level with interactive kiosks, wall-mount kiosks are something that every retailer should seriously consider.
Why every retailer should consider interactive wall-mount kiosks | kioskmarketplace.com
Posted by staff at January 18, 2011 09:43 AM