Retail kiosks and interactive capacitive touch screens have brought about one of the biggest shifts in retail since the digital point of sales terminal. Retailers and quick-serve restaurants are moving in droves toward kiosk solutions. Not only do they allow retailers to reduce or redeploy labor, but they also improve customer satisfaction and increase sales.
For systems integrators, the growth of retail kiosks represents a major opportunity to expand and deliver reliable solutions to a growing number of retail chains that want to introduce the technology. Working with a touch screen manufacturer means you can start delivering better kiosks just as the technology becomes ubiquitous. A touch screen manufacturer like A D Metro can help you make decisions such as the type of screen you want:
- PCAP touch screens, also known as capacitive touch screens, allow multi-touch and are the kind of screens you find on your smartphone. PCAP touch screen solutions from A D Metro also come with a common controller, which helps reduce development time and costs.
- Resistive touch screens, which can be operated with gloved hands or a stylus, can only read one input point at a time, but are considerably more durable and better for heavy use.
- ULTRA resistive touch screens, ideal for outdoor applications like ATMs and self check-outs, are impervious to weather and vandal-resistant.
The retail kiosk market is growing rapidly; just look at some of the most recent news including expansions for Walmart, updates for Subway, and rumored changes for Whole Foods.
Walmart – Earlier in the year, Walmart tested a “giant pickup kiosk†at a store in Oklahoma. Customers who ordered online could go in-store and pick up their order without having to talk to anyone. The pilot project was clearly as a success, as in July, the retail giant announced that it was expanding the program.
Subway – It’s the first major change to Subway store design in twenty years, some are saying, but Subway is expanding its drive-thru self-serve kiosk in store, giving customers freedom to craft their sandwiches on the screen, then pay either by credit card or Apple Pay.
Whole Foods – When Amazon made moves to purchase Whole Foods, the whole world began predicting a new era for grocery shopping. While no announcements have been made yet, a recent survey conducted by ChargeItSpot asked Whole Foods customers what they thought could be improved about the grocery chain. The answer was cashier-free checkouts, as more consumers get used to self-checkout kiosks and express a preference toward them. They’re fast, reduce wait times, and allow companies to redeploy labor to the floor or distribution centers. Amazon has said it is not planning to automate cashier jobs, but they may be moving forward cautiously after its big acquisition of the well-known grocery chain.
If you’re eyeing the retail kiosk market, there is still plenty of growth to come. Find out how you can integrate the latest touch screen technology to create durable, reliable, and innovative kiosks and digital signage. Retailers are moving quickly, so work with a company who can get your products to market faster. Touch screen technology is making a lot of waves in the retail and restaurant industries, and you can be a part of the coming change.