Endless Aisle. Omnichannel. Virtual Merchandising. Unified Commerce. These terms might sound like retail jargon, but they represent a fundamental shift in how we shop and how businesses operate. At REDYREF, we've been at the forefront of kiosk technology for over 100 years (yes, you read that right!), and we're seeing firsthand how these concepts are transforming the retail landscape. We've helped countless businesses navigate these changes, and we can help you too.
Let's face it, the retail industry is evolving faster than ever. Consumers are more connected and informed than ever before. They're no longer satisfied with a standard in-store experience. They expect seamless, personalized experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds. This is where retail automation, particularly through interactive kiosks, comes into play. Think of it this way: your customers are already living in a digitally-connected world – shouldn't your retail experience match that?
Let's break down some of the key concepts shaping the future of retail (and we'll try to keep from getting too bogged down in technicalities):
Imagine a customer browsing essential oils in a store. With a unified commerce system, powered by our technology, they could:
This level of personalization and convenience is what sets unified commerce apart, and it's what today's customers are starting to expect. It is not just about convenience, it is about creating a better experience that builds loyalty and boosts sales.
Automated retail kiosks are experiencing explosive growth, and for good reason. These aren't your typical vending machines. They're sophisticated, interactive systems capable of dispensing high-value products and providing personalized experiences. We're talking about kiosks that can sell anything from luxury cosmetics to electronics, and even cars!
At REDYREF, we take pride in helping businesses leverage the power of interactive kiosks and digital technology to transform their retail operations. We offer a wide range of customizable kiosk solutions, suitable for applications from endless aisle and virtual merchandising to fully integrated unified commerce platforms. Our expertise spans design, engineering, manufacturing, and deployment, making us a one-stop shop for all your retail automation needs. We don't just sell kiosks; we build long-term partnerships. We take the time to understand your specific needs and goals, and we work closely with you to develop a solution that's tailored to your business. Our experience and track record of success with leading brands prove that we are a trusted authority in this field.
The lines between physical and digital retail are blurring. Consumers expect seamless, personalized experiences, and businesses that embrace retail automation will be best positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape. Don't get left behind!
Ready to explore how retail automation can benefit your business and take it to the next level? Give us a call at (800) 628-3603 ext 525 or submit a request for a proposal online. Our team of experienced professionals is here to guide you every step of the way, from initial concept to successful implementation. Let's shape the future of retail together.
While traditional printed, handwritten, or analog building directories still have a place in some spaces, the shift to digital directories and wayfinding solutions has gained significant traction over the past decade. With advancements in technology making these solutions more affordable, even small businesses are adopting digital directories to enhance the visitor experience and streamline operations.
If you’re considering making the switch, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. A successful digital directory rollout requires thoughtful planning, from design and engineering to software development and deployment. But with the right partner, you can create a solution that meets the needs of both your business and your end users while avoiding common pitfalls.
1. Effortless Updates:
One of the biggest frustrations with traditional directories is the time and effort required to update them. Digital and interactive directories allow for real-time updates, ensuring information is always accurate and relevant.
2. Improved Accessibility:
Digital directories can integrate features like multilingual support, audio guidance, or enhanced visual clarity, making them more inclusive for all users, including those with disabilities.
3. Enhanced User Experience:
With interactive touchscreens and intuitive interfaces, digital directories provide an effortless way for visitors to find what they need quickly, whether it’s a specific office, department, or amenity.
4. Space for More Information:
Digital solutions can display more information than a static directory. From real-time event schedules to detailed interactive wayfinding maps, digital directories offer unmatched flexibility.
5. Branding Opportunities:
A sleek, modern digital directory reinforces your company’s brand image and can even display promotional content or advertising, creating additional revenue streams.
Selecting a partner to bring your digital directory to life is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in this process. Look for a provider with end-to-end capabilities, including design, engineering, fabrication, and directory and wayfinding software development. This vertical integration eliminates the need to juggle multiple vendors and minimizes the risk of miscommunication, saving both time and money.
A fully integrated partner, like REDYREF, simplifies project management by serving as a single point of contact. From initial concept to final deployment, every step is handled in-house, ensuring efficiency and accountability.
Before the design process even begins, your kiosk partner should work closely with you to understand the unique needs of your business and your users. Key questions might include:
•What are the main challenges with your current directory system?
•Are frequent updates causing delays or logistical issues?
•What specific information is most valuable to end users?
•How do users interact with the directory now, and what features would improve their experience?
This collaborative approach ensures that the final design is not only functional but also highly intuitive for users. The result? A solution that enhances the user experience while addressing your business challenges.
With REDYREF’s vertically integrated kiosk manufacturing process, your digital directory goes through every stage of development under one roof. Here’s what you can expect:
•Custom Design: A team of industrial designers and engineers works to create a solution tailored to your needs.
•Fabrication: Components are produced using state-of-the-art techniques, ensuring durability and precision.
•Finishing Touches: From powder coating to custom branding wraps, every detail is fine-tuned.
•Hardware Integration: Cutting-edge components like touchscreens, NFC payment systems, and printers can be seamlessly incorporated.
•Custom Software Development: REDYREF’s in-house team ensures your directory operates smoothly with features that align with your specific requirements.
•On-Site Installation: Your digital directory is delivered and installed, ready to enhance your space from day one.
Switching to a digital directory doesn’t have to be a daunting process. By partnering with a team that can manage every aspect of the project, you can enjoy a streamlined experience that ensures a successful deployment.
Whether you’re a small business looking for a single directory or a large organization in need of a multi-location rollout, REDYREF has the expertise and resources to make it happen. Ready to bring your space into the future?
Contact us today to learn how REDYREF can transform your directory system into a modern, efficient, and user-friendly solution.
Over the last ten years, self-service kiosks have drastically changed how businesses connect with their customers. These digital kiosks make life easier for everyone, offering a faster, more convenient, and even enjoyable way to handle tasks like making purchases, looking up information, or placing orders. By simplifying processes and reducing the need for staff involvement, they’re making life easier for businesses and users alike. Let’s dive into what makes self-service kiosks so impactful.
Self service kiosks aren’t just about automation—they’re about delivering smarter, faster, and more personalized customer experiences. Here are 10 key benefits of implementing self-service kiosks:
1. Convenience: Customers can handle tasks on their own time, whether it’s placing an order or checking information, even outside regular business hours.
2. Efficiency: With streamlined processes, kiosks minimize wait times and improve operations, keeping lines moving and customers satisfied.
3. Accuracy: Customers input their own information, reducing errors and ensuring seamless transactions.
4. Customization: Kiosks can be tailored to display personalized recommendations, reflect a brand’s aesthetic, or meet specific business needs.
5. Data Collection: Valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences help businesses make data-driven decisions to improve services.
6. Customer Engagement: Interactive features like maps, product catalogs, and multimedia displays make the experience more engaging and enjoyable.
7. Cost Savings: By handling routine tasks, kiosks reduce staffing needs, cutting labor costs while freeing employees for high-value roles.
8. Upselling Opportunities: Strategic prompts encourage customers to explore additional products or services, boosting revenue.
9. Queue Management: Kiosks reduce congestion at service counters, making peak hours more manageable and improving customer flow.
10. Accessibility: Designed to accommodate everyone, kiosks can include features like large text, audio output, and tactile interfaces for those with disabilities.
Businesses across industries are finding innovative ways to leverage self service kiosks. Here are 7 common types and how they’re used:
1. Retail Kiosks: Perfect for tasks like order placement, product browsing, and self-checkout. Customers enjoy a more seamless shopping experience while businesses benefit from reduced checkout lines.
2. Foodservice Kiosks: Allow diners to customize meals, place orders, and make payments—speeding up service and reducing order errors.
3. Financial Kiosks: Offer services like reverse ATM cash-to-card transactions, withdrawals, fund transfers, and account balance checks, saving time for customers and financial institutions alike.
4. Ticketing Kiosks: Simplify ticket purchases for events, travel, or attractions, reducing wait times and enhancing user convenience.
5. Healthcare Kiosks: Streamline check-ins, appointment scheduling, and payments, improving patient flow and reducing administrative workloads.
6. Information Kiosks: Provide visitors with maps, directions, and facility details at locations like malls, airports, and tourist attractions.
7. Interactive Wayfinding Kiosks: Help users navigate complex spaces with real-time directions and information about nearby amenities or points of interest.
Each type of kiosk is designed to meet specific business needs, offering a tailored solution to improve customer interactions and operational efficiency.
With decades of experience and a reputation for innovation, REDYREF is a trusted leader in kiosk manufacturing. Here’s what sets us apart:
• Comprehensive Solutions: REDYREF offers customizable indoor and outdoor kiosks for industries ranging from retail and hospitality to healthcare and transportation.
• High-Quality Craftsmanship: Our kiosks are built to last, with durable materials like stainless steel and advanced technology that ensures reliability.
• Full-Service Support: From design and manufacturing to installation, maintenance, and repair, we’re with you every step of the way.
• Customization Options: Tailor your kiosk to reflect your brand with features like custom wraps, powder coating, and software integrations.
• Data-Driven Insights: Our kiosks are designed to collect actionable data, helping businesses optimize their operations and better serve their customers.
By investing in self-service kiosks, businesses can streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. Whether you’re looking to reduce wait times, enhance personalization, or gather valuable customer insights, kiosks offer a scalable solution for almost any industry.
Ready to explore the possibilities? Contact us today or call 1-800-626-3603 to learn how our innovative kiosks can transform your business. Let’s build the future of customer interaction—together.
Kiosks are a great way to boost any business and are an incredible asset -- if you can find the right manufacturer. Choosing the right partner is crucial to helping your business as not every kiosk manufacturer will understand your particular industry. Before choosing the right one for you, consider the following:
Digital kiosks have become a common sight in many environments, because they are suitable for a range of different applications. They are can be easier to maintain than many traditional forms of advertisements while also offering functionality not possible via other marketing avenues. In fact, self-service kiosks offer a range of benefits, including being:
When selecting a kiosk manufacturer, there are a few factors to consider.
Below are some of the key points to take into consideration before selecting a kiosk manufacturing partner.
The most important part of purchasing a kiosk is knowing exactly what you intend to do with it. Kiosks are capable of performing many tasks, so isolating and understanding what your needs are before moving forward with vendor selection should be the first order of business. Do you see a large influx of visitors in a specific location? Is your business equipped to handle a large volume of customers all at once? Understanding the problem your kiosk needs to solve is the first step to figuring out which manufacturer is right for you.
Similar to the first concept, but in reverse. Your audience’s needs are paramount, and if having a kiosk solves many of their complaints, you will see repeat business. The right kiosk can demonstrate that your business is adaptable and customer-centric. An example of this would be a quick-service restaurant that sees a large volume of customers that their limited staff can’t handle. The restaurant then installs a kiosk which streamlines much of the process, ensuring that the staff and the customers are happy. However, if a kiosk would not be viewed by customers as something that simplifies their lives, the opposite would be true.
Understanding budget limitations is just as important a consideration as anything else. If your company can only afford one kiosk, then understand that and be adaptable. This is one reason why it's so important to know exactly what you need the kiosk to do, and in what environment. Kiosks can be designed to do any number of things, but they certainly don't have to (and frankly, shouldn't) do all of them. In fact, many kiosks are designed so that they may later be upgraded if additional functionality is desired in the future.
As mentioned above, kiosks have a great deal of utility, but like any machine or computer, they have limitations. Knowing what's absolutely required in terms of functionality will help inform which components, integrations, and software are needed, and which you can do without. When purchasing a kiosk, understand what role they need to fulfill and take the necessary steps to ensure that it is designed to meet those specific needs. If a kiosk is meant for brand awareness, ensure that the display is large and the brand is consistently visible. If a kiosk is meant for NFC payments or transactions, ensure that it is configured properly in terms of components, integrations, and software.
Purchasing a kiosk should be viewed as a type of long-term investment. Generally, while the ROI can be substantial, it isn't usually instant. This means that it's in your company's best interest to ensure that the kiosk manufacturer selected doesn't just make the kiosk, but is also above to help maintain it over time so the maximum financial benefits can be realized.
Similar to understanding your kiosk needs, understanding whether or not you need a custom kiosk solution is important. Kiosks are available in an almost limitless number of configurations and offer a wide variety of software to enable different functionality. If your company requires custom kiosk software or needs a specific kiosk enclosure design to fit a particular environment, it is important that you find a manufacturer that can manufacture custom kiosk solutions. Not all manufacturers have custom kiosk design and manufacturing capabilities, and they typically tend to be more expensive than stock offerings. Knowing this upfront is an important factor in choosing the right partner.
Before choosing a manufacturer, it is important to understand what benefits they will have for your business not just in terms of immediate financial gains, but also long-term as it relates to brand building. The point of kiosk branding is to create a look and design that is consistent in the public consciousness. The overall design should be consistent with what is seen in all of your marketing materials. As with any advertising, kiosk branding should be done in such a way that customers will positively associate the kiosk and design with your company.
As mentioned previously, self-service kiosks are a long term investment and as such, the ROI might not be as fast as you might expect, depending on the application. If it's primarily a way to market your business, and way to connect to your customer base, the return won't be as obvious as it might be if the kiosk is more transactional in nature. Having reasonable expectations regarding the financial benefits of your kiosk is important.
An important metric for measuring the success of your kiosk deployment is understanding what success looks like. One way to do this is to examine different case studies about kiosk use in similar environments to your own to get an idea of what the direct and indirect benefits tend to be. Remember that kiosks are a long term investment and can provide excellent ROI, but ROI can be measured in more than one way, and can mean different things to different businesses.
Kiosks provide a great deal of utility, but they are machines at the end of the day -- ones that are subjected to quite a bit of wear and tear over time. When choosing a manufacturer, it is important to choose a company that issues warranties and can provide post-deployment kiosk service and maintenance. Your kiosks will require routine servicing and software updates, so this step is important to lessen headaches down the road.
Kiosks provide an excellent asset to many companies but finding the right manufacturer with which to do business can be complicated. Understanding your company’s needs and what a kiosk can do for you is crucial before choosing a kiosk manufacturing partner.
REDYREF Interactive Kiosks has developed new, touchless employee and visitor management kiosks with built-in wellness integrations including contactless temperature monitoring and hand sanitizer dispensing. The wellness kiosk can be configured with a range of software. This includes applications capable of tracking self-reported employee health in order to verify their readiness to safely return to work, and building access control solutions able to flag potentially ill visitors and employees before they enter the facility. These kiosks offer organizations new ways to create safer indoor environments for all during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
Riverdale, NJ: As the world re-opens in the wake of COVID-19, there is an increasing demand for technology that will allow businesses to do so as safely as possible. REDYREF Interactive, a global leader in kiosk manufacturing and self-service solutions, is pleased to announce the release of its new touchless wellness kiosk to assist organizations in getting their employees back to work as safely as possible.
Developed as an all-in-one solution to address visitor and employee health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the contactless kiosk features a software application for employee health self-assessment, alongside hardware integrations such as contactless temperature monitoring and hand sanitizer dispensing. Other innovative kiosk software solutions include touchless building directories, “always-on” digital signage, virtual concierge applications, and building access control options that help limit the entry of potentially sick individuals.
REDYREF’s wellness kiosks are integrated with innovative hardware including contactless thermal imaging capabilities to check employees’ and visitors’ temperatures prior to accessing the building. A touchless hand sanitizer dispensing station is positioned below a digital display that can be programmed with messaging encouraging users to do their part by washing their hands frequently and using sanitizer when available.
One of the most unique aspects of the new self-service kiosk solution is the available building access control software that is able to flag visitors and employees displaying symptoms before they even enter the main facility. “Reducing building access for those individuals displaying COVID-19 symptoms creates a safer indoor environment not just during the current pandemic, but for all future cold and flu seasons as well,” says Will Pymm, REDYREF’s managing partner. “It’s an investment in wellness that will pay dividends into the next decade and beyond.”
The software enables companies to automate the process of monitoring COVID-19 and influenza symptoms for both employees and visitors. The system operates on a novel pass system based on a self-reported questionnaire. Employees at low risk for transmitting the virus are issued a patent-pending GreenPass™. The pass, in turn, is able to be integrated with onsite access control systems that allow entry only to those to whom the pass has been issued.
Other features of the platform include:
For companies that do not have building access control needs but still wish to enhance the visitor experience, a wide range of low-touch/no-touch software is also available, including building directory, wayfinding, and virtual concierge applications able to broadcast key public health messaging. Many of these applications allow users to send this information directly to their mobile devices without ever touching the kiosk itself, therefore decreasing touchpoints and helping to limit the transmission of potential pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
When utilizing touchless technology is not feasible for a given business requirement, REDYREF offers optional “safer-to-touch” kiosk integrations as well. These combine lower-touch visitor management software solutions with innovations like antimicrobial film and hand-sanitizing wipe dispensers to help keep surfaces as clean as possible between users.
REDYREF offers kiosk solutions across markets and applications, including:
Although every industry has its own specific challenges related to the pandemic, the universal theme of adopting employee and visitor management technology that keeps public health considerations front-of-mind will remain paramount for the foreseeable future. And while it may be impossible to precisely predict what to expect from the post-COVID-19 new normal, what we do know is that organizations will be expected to incorporate the best technology to ensure this happens. Touchless, low-touch, and safer-to-touch wellness kiosk solutions, like those available from REDYREF, are available now to help companies do exactly that.
Find out more about REDYREF's new wellness kiosks. Download the presentation, read more on our website, or contact us now.
Since 1913, REDYREF has been a proud, U.S.-based kiosk manufacturer. Our facilities comprise more than 250,000 square feet of world-class design, engineering, fabrication and finishing space that allows us to control the entire kiosk manufacturing process from start to finish. This “all under one roof” philosophy enables the rapid prototyping and customization of kiosk hardware ranging from health monitoring and bill payment to QSR kiosks and outdoor digital directories, giving our customers both flexibility and room to innovate in a rapidly-changing market. REDYREF.COM
Riverdale, NJ (PRWEB) July 11, 2017 REDYREF Interactive has launched a new and innovative wayfinding software suite: enGAGE.Touch. The core of this system is the cutting-edge digital building directory module, which can be seamlessly integrated with additional software modules and semi-custom enclosures for environments that require more complex solutions.
REDYREF’s enGAGE.Touch digital building directories go further than just helping visitors to quickly locate companies, departments or personnel, says Will Pymm, Vice President and Managing Partner. “The new enGAGE.Touch Mobile Handover feature makes it easy for guests to transfer maps and directions from the directory right to their smartphone. Integration with Google Maps means wayfinding information is always accurate and up-to-date, not just within the facility, but also for those requiring assistance with the surrounding area. It’s truly an all-in-one solution.”
enGAGE.Touch electronic directory systems may be customized to meet a wide range of business needs, including support for multiple floor and campus maps. User experience is enhanced by allowing interactive directory search by multiple criteria, including employee, company, department, floor or room name/number. Updates are simplified by allowing editing permissions to be granted to multiple users, including office tenants.
With multiple opportunities for customization, enGAGE.Touch digital directory software is the premier choice for multiple deployment environments. From electronic lobby directories to educational campus signage, the easy-to-use, interactive directory interface enhances visitor satisfaction by reducing the stress of wayfinding, and tenant satisfaction by allowing anyone with access to manage their own data, reducing and often eliminating common data entry issues. Visitors and tenants alike benefit when critical building and campus updates and information are communicated digitally and able to be updated as needed.
enGAGE.Touch electronic building directory software was developed to be integrated with any of REDYREF's kiosk enclosures, all of which are designed and manufactured in-house. From custom, built-to-order digital building directories, to modular self-service kiosks from the semi-custom enGAGE line, REDYREF's kiosk enclosures can be tailored to the exact use case and environment. When combined with the new enGAGE.Touch software suite, guests are able to navigate a single office building or a large multi-facility campus using detailed floor and campus maps, ensuring they are able to reach their intended destinations on-time and without unnecessary stress or frustration.
Established more than 100 years ago, REDYREF Interactive is a vertically-integrated manufacturer and developer of electronic building directories, digital wayfinding solutions and self-service kiosks.
Interest in Digital License Plates is Gearing Up
Will digital license plates become the new standard with the dawn of the driverless car era? Compliance Innovations, a South Carolina start-up, thinks so, at least as it pertains to vehicle fleets, like the kind that will someday be owned by Uber and Lyft. The license plate is actually a screen, which can show plate information when the car is driving, but when parked, can be used to show advertisements or other relevant messaging that has been customized based on the vehicle’s location. It has already been approved for use in California and Florida, with Texas on the way, and at least six more states are reviewing this technology for potential future use.
Please Do Not Lick Your Fingers Before Using KFC’s New Self-Service Kiosks
Kentucky Fried Chicken is on the verge of launching a 5000 store roll-out of interactive kiosks with facial recognition across China. The kiosks feature artificial intelligence software that will allow them to predict what a customer may want to order. The deployment is coming on the heels of its successful test of the technology in Beijing. However, KFC will likely have to reckon with the fact that many customers may not want the facial impressions generated by the software stored in a database. Concerns about privacy are only becoming stronger with advances in technology, so it remains to be seen how users will react to this idea over time.
Shares of Panera Bread Company Hit Record High, Assisted by New Leaps in Self-Service Technologies
Shares of Panera Bread just hit a record high, and company executives firmly believe that success lies in the deployment of new customer-centric interactive technologies. Panera has invested heavily over the last two years in both in-store digital kiosks and in their smartphone app that helps customers place, pay for and pick up their orders easily and seamlessly. These changes also appear to be offsetting some of Panera’s labor costs, which would be especially impactful in areas with higher minimum wages, such as New York, Washington and California.
Think interactive kiosks and are right for your company? We’re happy to help you find out. Contact RedyRef today at (800) 628-3603 today or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your self-service kiosk program meets every one of your business’ unique needs and goals.
Cash collection kiosks have been around for decades, most notably in the form of automated teller machines (ATMs). However, in the years between the debut of ATMs and today, the need for new and more sophisticated cash collection kiosks has soared far beyond banking, and into such industries as gaming, medical marijuana dispensing and others where security is of paramount importance and average transactions are generally higher-dollar amounts.
Manufacturers like REDYREF are combining the best of new technology with old-school fraud protection to help their customers keep their kiosks secure. For example, a medical marijuana dispensary kiosk must be able to handle cash deposits, as many dispensaries only handle cash transactions. So kiosks have to be secure not just physically, but also technologically.
The kiosk itself must incorporate levels of fail-safes such as shutters and other physical barriers to prevent theft; on the other hand, it must also marry these measures to modern fraud-prevention features, such as cash tracking sensors, bill counter/handlers and sophisticated digital kiosk software that is able to recognize counterfeit bills and coins. This last issue is one of the more difficult for those in the security industry to deal with, as it’s only become easier to create fake currency over the last decade. Therefore, security specialists have to constantly stay one step ahead of criminals, rather than simply responding to problems as they occur.
There are devices available for use within cash collection kiosks that are able to analyze the UV signature of the ink on printed bills, or the precise density of accepted coins; these are two of the most common types of fraud prevention technology. There are also devices that can detect the metallic strip integrated into most American paper currency, analyzing its position and even chemical makeup. This is truly an area of research that seems to have no end in sight at the moment, and with the self-service kiosk industry continuing to gain steam, it stands to reason that security advances like the ones listed here will only keep coming.
Even though technology does its best to keep up, cash handling is never likely to be a simple process. However, it is a necessary one for many businesses in this day and age. Because it takes many levels of precise coordination in order to ensure transactions are secure, the key to success is partnering with an experienced, vertically integrated manufacturer like REDYREF. Contact us today at (800) 628-3603 today or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your cash collection kiosk meets every one of your business’ security needs for its unique deployment environment.
Last week, we began a discussion around interactive kiosk usability, because although they are experiencing massive growth across multiple industries, there are still plenty of kiosk programs that ultimately fail. And those failures are generally related to poor UX. As we said previously, there are some key factors that are universal to designing a best-in-class experience for end-users. This week, we continue to expand upon our list of considerations for creating self-service kiosk usability that translates into successful deployment in the field.
Check back next week for our final kiosk UX blog installment. In the meantime, if your business is ready to enter the brave new world of interactive kiosks now, RedyRef, an end-to-end manufacturer of vertically integrated kiosk solutions, works with companies of all sizes to ensure the success of their self-service kiosk programs. Submit a request for proposal online or call (800) 628-3603 today for more information.
The EMV liability switch has caused concerns for foodservice professionals and operators on several different levels. Last week, we talked about how chip readers (and the inherent delays they can cause) affect overall customer satisfaction. This week, decided to focus more on some of the operational issues that have surfaced over the last six months.
Interactive kiosks are not new to the foodservice industry, but right now, they appear to be having their moment in the sun, so to speak. With restaurants like McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Taco Bell and Panera all rolling out some version of a self-service kiosk over the last couple of years, all eyes are on them as the industry wonders if they’ll be a big hit, complete miss or fall somewhere in between.
One very positive aspect of utilizing self-service kiosks in food service environments is the lower cost of implementing the new chip-based (non-PIN) EMV systems in these types of environments. Because -- for better or for worse, depending on who you ask -- U.S.-based companies are not required to integrate PIN-entry devices (PEDs) into their EMV chip readers, it makes it much less expensive to deploy them.
In truth, putting chip and pin-based EMV readers into fast food and quick service restaurants is a little like gilding the lily for the most part, anyway. These aren’t high-dollar transactions. The average order at most quick service restaurants like Burger King or Arby’s is only around $5 -- not exactly the most-attractive target for those hoping to commit credit card fraud. These lower-dollar transactions add up to a smaller necessary investment when it comes to the type of EMV reader required.
We spoke with Rob Chilcoat, president of North American operations for Unattended Card Payments, Inc. (UCP), and an expert in EMV technology, to learn more. “If the client doesn’t have an expectation of accepting PIN debit, SNAP, or EBT,” he said, “then you can use a much less costly device such as the OTI Trio which doesn’t have all the security bells and whistles that come along with an unattended PED.” Based on current pricing, this can amount to a savings of as much as $1000 per reader, compared to the other more high-profile brands.
“Really, using a PED is more relevant in high-tech vending situations, selling iPads, for example, where you want to take that extra step to verify a customer’s identity using a CVM (cardholder verification method),” he added. “An unattended kiosk where a thief can use a stolen credit card to purchase high-value goods that can be fenced for cash are most at risk, because no CVM means anyone can use a stolen credit card there.”
While the EMV liability switch has certainly caused its fair share of headaches to QSR outlets, at least the additional pain of high-priced chip-and-pin readers has been kept at bay. For now, anyway.
RedyRef, a provider of vertically integrated kiosk solutions, is helping food service companies of all sizes navigate the complexities of the liability shift. Looking for assistance? Submit a request for proposal online or call (800) 628-3603 today for more information.