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News Archive |
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Wednesday, 31 December 2008
AMonline.com: Self-Service Networks, a provider of turnkey self-service solutions, has announced GiftWise, a complete program for selling, activating and dispensing gift cards within the retail setting. GiftWise bills itself as a self-service program that offers a consistent experience while decreasing operational costs. Users purchase their gift cards at an interactive kiosk, equipped with a touchscreen interface.
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Wednesday, 31 December 2008
POSEN, Ill. -- Corporate Safe Specialists is upgrading its MenuSOS kiosk software platform to support more applications, including .net framework 3.05, Windows Presentation and Communication Foundations (WPF and WCF) and SQL Express.
Corporate Safe Specialists kiosk solutions are designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses quickly implement self-service systems with a lower initial investment. MenuSOS is offered as an enhancement to the CSS kiosk platform, which, according to a news release, is the only kiosk system to accept credit/debit cards and cash, validate and count currency, and store it directly to a business rated safe. Notes are deposited directly into a business rated safe and CSS kiosk security can be made ready for armored car pick-up.
MenuSOS offers rapid self-configuration through a scripted, user-friendly process that non-technical users can complete within a few hours. Restaurant and retail establishments would then have a working kiosk platform that would provide benefits to both the business ower and customers.
According to the release, customers will now have the ability to order and pay for products and services through a touchscreen interface. The design objective for the user interface was a superior customer experience that shed associations with order entry via a personal computer.
Business owners are able to service a greater number of customers without hiring additional staff. The MenuSOS will also enable small business owners to offer their customers the self-service options that have become increasingly popular at larger competitors. The MenuSOS module can also be used as a digital chalkboard to communicate daily specials and other information to customers.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. -- MIE Solutions, a provider of software tailored for the manufacturing industry, has unveiled its new MIE Trak Kiosk.
According to a news release, the MIE Trak Kiosk is designed to collect shop floor employee data without involving the use of paper or barcodes. The kiosk comes with a user-friendly interface including large buttons that enable employees to clock in and out for the day, as well as in and out of specific jobs. Employees can also issue a bill of materials for job costing purposes, all at the kiosk.
The MIE Trak Kiosk user interface is unique, according to the release, because it has the capability to highlight all of the jobs an employee is scheduled to work on.
Dragging and dropping jobs onto the scheduling whiteboard will immediately change the jobs employees see as they clock in to their machine and associated job. Eliminating keystrokes is a key to managing data collection and the MIE kiosk does this as recently viewed items are shown in plain sight on the computer screen. In order to reduce paper waste, the kiosk can display drawings, blueprints and models on the computer screen.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Utilities and creditors have always struggled with getting some consumers to pay on time, and sometimes to pay at all. As the economic news continues to worsen, those billers are finding the challenge to be harder than ever.
To make it easier for debtors to pay, and to lower the cost of collecting payments, many billers are now turning to kiosks. A new special report, published by Self-Service World and sponsored by U.S. Payments, provides detailed information on the benefits, including higher payment rates and an improved customer experience. In addition, the kiosks significantly reduce the likelihood of human error in the transaction. Because the kiosks can accept cash, they serve as an ideal payment vehicle for many of the 40 million U.S. residents who don’t have bank accounts or who prefer paying in cash.
Retailers who have employed billpay kiosks have reported measurable cost savings and the machines have proven to be reliable. The machines cut customer wait times and free up staff for other duties. They also reduce errors by limiting the number of employees who handle cash.
An RVA Marketing, Research and Consulting survey showed a majority of customers are comfortable transacting with self-service kiosks, though many potential users still need to be better educated about them. The survey also said that when given a list of reasons for using a kiosk versus other payment methods, about 90 percent of respondents rated "convenient or time-saving way to pay," "I get immediate receipt of payment" and "fast notification of the biller" as important motivations.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Home Media Magazine: Despite recent attempts by Universal Studios to cut off its supply of DVDs to redbox, the company is still stocking Universal titles in its DVD kiosks. On Dec. 23, redbox announced that it is now stocking more than 100,000 copies of "Mamma Mia! The Movie" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer." Universal refused to allow commercial distributors Ingram and VPD to sell to redbox after redbox refused to sign a revenue sharing agreement that would limit the types of movie offerings available at its DVD kiosks. Since then, redbox has been obtaining Universal DVDs through different outlets.
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Monday, 29 December 2008
The Paypers: The State Bank of India has deployed its first Internet banking kiosk. Located in the Mumbai Central Railway station, the kiosk provides railway travelers with a portal to access their Internet banking accounts. Users can also purchase railway tickets at the self-service device. It's the first in a network of 383 similar kiosks to be unveiled at railway stations across the country.
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Monday, 29 December 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Air travelers at the San Francisco International Airport will soon be able to pay restitution for the carbon emissions caused by their trip. This spring, the airport plans to unveil self-service kiosk stations where users can purchase carbon offsets. The experimental program will make the airport the first in the nation to offer such a plan.
"We'd like people to stop and consider the impacts of flying," said Steve McDougal, executive vice president for 3Degrees, a San Francisco firm that sells renewable energy and carbon-reduction investments and is teaming up with the airport and the city on the project.
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Monday, 29 December 2008
PADERBORN, Germany -- Indonesia's BCA has chosen Wincor Nixdorf to provide kiosk and ATM technologies as the financial institution moves to expand its multichannel self-service network.
As Indonesia's largest transactional bank, BCA has more than seven million customers.
According to a news release, BCA will deploy 283 ProCash1500xe ATMs and 200 ProInfo 1000 kiosk systems (in addition to the existing 1,090 Wincor Nixdorf kiosks installed since 2003.) In addition to installing the systems, Wincor Nixdorf will assume responsibility for maintenance of both the kiosks and ATMs through its extensive service coverage in the archipelago.
Financial institutions such as BCA are now beginning to migrate their deposit and withdrawal transactions to self-service zones in the branch and at offsite locations to improve service to individual and business consumers.
BCA took on a pioneering role to move teller transactions to ATMs migrating 70 percent of teller transactions to self-service outlets in 2007. And to enhance customer service further, BCA has now migrated up to 30 percent of non-cash transactions from the bank's ATMs to more than 1,000 existing ProInfo 1000 kiosk terminals reducing customer wait times at ATMs.
Examples of more complex transactions handled by this terminal include registration for e-banking and payment functions for 70 different types of bills, purchases of vouchers and airline tickets and funds transfers.
"We are very satisfied with the advanced technology from Wincor Nixdorf and our customers are satisfied with us because of the ease of use and the feeling as a part of the modern society," said Stephen Liestyo, senior general manager of BCA's Consumer Banking Division. "Furthermore, we are not only gaining a competitive advantage by using the kiosks, we are also saving money, since the transaction costs at the terminals are 30 percent lower compared with transaction costs at the ATM."
Monday, 29 December 2008
(Albany, NY) WRGB, Channel 6: The New York State Consumer Protection Board is reviewing plans to deploy self-service recall notification kiosks in area Target stores. The kiosks would enable shoppers to check if a particular product has been recalled. Although the board says it supports any program that will help to protect consumers, it wants to review the new system to ensure it meets state requirements.
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Monday, 29 December 2008
MEDFIELD, Ma. -- Comark Corp., a designer and manufacturer of kiosk
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Comark's 15-inch "Rugged Kiosk."
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and digital signage solutions, has unveiled its new 15-inch Rugged Kiosk.
According to a news release, the portrait mode, wall-mountable kiosk features a "virtually indestructable" metallic enclosure, as well as a touchscreen and wireless capability.
"The kiosk is a compact, rugged solution for self-service applications in a touch environment, such as warehouse stores or back room applications," said Paul Laracy, director of sales at Comark Corp.
The kiosk is configured with a VESA mounting pattern, which allows for multiple mounting options in addition to wall mounting. The internal computer is available with a range of processors and memory options and is capable of running Windows- or Linux-based applications. Storage options include hard drive and/or compact flash, available up to 120GB and 32GB respectively.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Co-Op Financial Services has enhanced its Falcon Fraud Manager by adding Falcon Real-time Decisioning, an optional service that allows highest-risk transactions to get evaluated by Falcon before authorization of the transaction. To date, all transactions are evaluated after the authorization decision. The enhanced Falcon allows potential fraud to be detected and prevented earlier.
Webinar on Falcon Real-time Decisioning
Co-Op Financial Services will host a webinar on Falcon Real-time Decisioning on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. PST. For additional details about registration, visit Co-Op's Web site.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Home Media Magazine: Redbox chief executive Gregg Kaplan says redbox will continue to expand its footprint and bring forth innovations that reinforce the company's position in DVD rental. With more than 12,000 locations, Kaplan says redbox expects to continue its deployments in high-traffic locations in residential and commercial areas.
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Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Variety: Mark Burnett, the producer of shows such as "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader," has inked a deal to use Studio One Media’s MyStudio service to audition reality show contestants. From kiosks in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, the Scottsdale, Ariz., company’s program lets people create a high-def audition video for about $20. Studio One also operates a Web-based product so that auditions can be directly uploaded online.
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Wednesday, 24 December 2008
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Mitch Goldstone, president and chief executive of ScanMyPhotos International, credits the quality of prints from Eastman KODAK technology for an uptick in business during the economic downturn.
According to a news release, ScanMyPhotos International provides photo scanning services, specialized photo services and photo printing from digital files via an Internet site, ScanMyPhotos.com, and has a brick-and-mortar store in Irvine, Calif., for closer-to-home business.
"My sales this year have exceeded any other since founding my company in 1990," said Goldstone. "Today, I have three times the number of people employed compared to a year ago and we are all working 20-hour shifts, not because of the holidays, as my business model is not reliant on seasonal fluctuations. I owe it all to KODAK Technology."
Goldstone recently purchase two additional KODAK i660 Scanners to supplement his one original. Recently, he has started offering KODAK Picture Movie DVD services online.
For the walkup self-service side of his business, Goldstone purchased Kodak's new modular, thermal dry lab system for making digital prints, the KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange. It is connected to a bank of self-service KODAK Picture Kiosk G4s at the Irvine location.
Goldstone said his business has grown largely through online orders.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
In December 2007, a man showed up at an elementary school in the northern suburbs of Charlotte, N.C., to have lunch with a student. Upon entering the school, he encountered a digital kiosk and followed the sign-in instructions by entering his name and date of birth. As he waited for his visitor's badge to print, the kiosk notified school officials that the man's information matched the identity of a registered sex offender. The police were called, and a few minutes later, the man was quietly escorted from the school. He was a registered sex offender.
The kiosk that alerted school officials of the sex offender was manufactured by LobbyGuard Solutions LLC, a Raleigh, N.C.-based provider of visitor-management security systems. Founded in 1999, LobbyGuard was one of the first players in the visitor-management space, and over the years has evolved from a pieced-together PC/touchscreen configuration to the all-in-one kiosk model it unveiled in March 2006 and continues to use today.
LobbyGuard updates its database each month, based on public information provided by each state, which usually includes more than 500,000 sex offenders.
"LobbyGuard was developed out of a perceived need for small businesses that do not employ front-desk personnel," said LobbyGuard president Kevin Allen. "Essentially, visitors would sign in through LobbyGuard, and the appropriate employee would be notified. Our product was developed as a kiosk because of the need for self-service in such an environment."
Recently, LobbyGuard’s focus has shifted to schools, where, as the story above illustrates, visitor management is especially sensitive. Allen said that LobbyGuard kiosks are currently installed in "hundreds" of school districts covering the lower 48 states and three foreign countries, where more than 1,000 kiosks handle more than 10,000 visitor sign-ins each day.
"LobbyGuard works within the framework of our customers' policies," Allen said. "For example, when a sex offender or other unwanted visitor signs in, LobbyGuard can send instant notifications to any cell phone or e-mail address, alerting security or police of the issue. If the customer wishes to have the LobbyGuard kiosk notify police, it can do so. LobbyGuard identifies sex offenders, no matter where they are registered · meaning an offender can be registered in Oregon and still be stopped by LobbyGuard in Florida. This is important to law enforcement, since many sex offenders fail to register when they move to a new area."
The LobbyGuard kiosk, which comes in a desktop model or as a stand-alone unit, incorporates a touchscreen kiosk interface, camera, driver's license scanner, barcode scanner and visitor badge printer to provide the user with a simple and complete method for signing in and out of a location. It records all visitor and employee traffic details, runs instant background checks, prints photo ID badges and provides access to a full menu of visitor traffic reports that are accessible via the Internet.
The Chesapeake, Va., school district is piloting LobbyGuard at three of its schools, in search of a better way to process visitors and alert school officials when sex offenders enter the premises.
Brian Allen, of Cii Associates Inc., a LobbyGuard distributor, has worked with school officials to establish the pilot program.
LobbyGuard was installed in April 2008, and so far the reception has been very positive.
"It serves a useful purpose," said Craig D. Jones, principal of Western Branch Middle School, one of the Chesapeake schools piloting the program. "It gives us a permanent record of all visitors to the school. It automatically checks visitors against the sex (offender) registry and provides a quick method for visitors to enter and register in the building."
The parents who balked at the new system were worried about how the information would be stored. But Jones said the kiosks merely flag undesirable or questionable visitors and do not supply or store any specific information.
Scott Slucher is a free-lance writer who regularly covers stories about self-service technology. To submit a comment about this story, please email the editor, .
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
PADERBORN, Germany — Wincor Nixdorf AG is enhancing its consulting portfolio for the banking business.
According to a news release, Wincor Nixdorf plans to expand its business intelligence into its overall consulting business. Wincor Nixdorf says it is responding to the increased demand for specialized knowledge in the area of designing and integrating business-intelligence solutions.
A Business Week survey, in which some 700 European and American companies were polled, shows that nearly 80 percent of managers complain that they have insufficient or imprecise information for important business decisions. The same number of managers also reported knowing of bad decisions that were made on the basis of insufficient information.
"First, we analyze the starting situation, pin down goals and develop the project strategy," Wincor says. "In a second step, we identify the various processes and user concerns, define the key figures and determine the recipients, contents and structure of the reports. These first two steps are followed by the development of the new process and system design. A test environment is developed on this basis and a prototype BI solution installed. System, applications and data quality are then examined in a test phase, after which the system is configured and is put into operation."
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Solidcore Systems Inc., provider of security software, and Esprida Corp., a remote management software producer, have partnered to help retailers remotely manage kiosk systems.
According to a news release, the partnership seeks to ensure that remotely managed kiosks can only be altered with Esprida LiveControl’s automated administrative software, which automates administrative tasks to give businesses complete visibility and control over a kiosk network with security provided by Solidcore’s POS Check and Control software, which addresses all of the PCI and security requirements of a kiosk system.
Solidcore also protects the kiosk from malware, zero-day vulnerabilities and any unauthorized local changes that might include reading or copying protected files off of the system.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Solidcore to deliver a more comprehensive offering that addresses key concerns for anyone deploying intelligent devices, such as kiosks," said Anila Jobanputra, president of Esprida. "By combining our technology offerings we make it easier for kiosk deployers to meet and exceed security protocols and service expectations."
Anne Bonaparte, president and CEO of Solidcore, said the partnership will address challenges in security, change audit and configuration control caused by the remote locations of the kiosks.
"Working together with Esprida will help simplify the most challenging aspects of kiosk deployments so retailers can focus on growing their businesses and servicing their customers," she said.
Monday, 22 December 2008
LONDON — The Barclays branch at Picaddilly Circus is reportedly the first bank to incorporate Microsoft Surface technology.
The Surface program allows users to "grab" digital content with their hands and navigate information about Barclays’ Premier banking offering with simple gestures and touches.
According to a news release, the branch will have a large self-service area that includes a foreign ATM dispensing dollars and euros, and deposit machines for cash, checks and coins.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Bank Systems & Technology: Though mobile banking seems to get a lot of attention, JPMorgan Chase & Co. ($1.24 trillion in assets) is focusing attention on upgrading or replacing its 5,000 envelope-based, deposit-taking ATMs with image-based machines. The New York-based institution is rolling out 900 no-envelope ATMs. "By 2010, all of our deposit-taking ATMs across the country will be no-envelope machines," said Tom Kelly, a Chase spokesman. Chase is deploying 600 Wincor Nixdorf multicheck ATMs and plans to install an additional 300 multicheck ATMs from its primary supplier, NCR, which also will provide the back-office software to process check-images.
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Monday, 22 December 2008
Chelsea Now: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York unveiled a new “talking kiosk” to help visually impaired customers navigate Penn Station’s concourses, passageways and platforms. The kiosk features a touch-activated map of the station, visual displays for the partially sighted and a voice designed for phonetic clarity. Customers touch different parts of the map, and the kiosk describes the corresponding location and gives directions. The kiosk costs $23,000, or less than half the cost of a previous model, which was removed earlier this year.
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Friday, 19 December 2008
TORONTO -- Digital signage and smartphones are being combined to facilitate the first real-time giant video game application on Toronto's Eaton Centre Media Tower at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Using Rogers Wireless BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphones, the public can communicate with the Outdoor Broadcast Network's massive video board located in the square. OBN secured the exclusive rights to "Dial to Play" software distributed by iGotcha Media and took the idea to Rogers Wireless through its agencies, MediaCom and Publicis. The software has been integrated into the operating system of the 40-inch x 30-inch digital display on the tower, enabling smartphone users to interact with it.
Rogers will station event teams at the square until the end of the year, inviting up to 10 people at a time to try out one of the new BlackBerry Flip smartphones, which use voice recognition to play the game in real time. Each player controls an avatar by shouting "Flip" into a mobile phone to make the character's hand reach up to a Christmas stocking and grab phones that appear to tumble from the sky. OBN has incorporated the game into the regular programming run of advertising on the digital display.
Friday, 19 December 2008
CNN: A pair of German researchers have designed a prototype kiosk that gives iPhone users their first taste of the semantic Web. The semantic Web is just one component of what many tech analysts are calling "Web 3.0" -- the next generation of online interaction. Generally, it refers to an emerging Internet experience in which all things on the Web will be described with descriptor languages so computers can "understand" what they are. An object marked as baseball bat could be identified by the computer and the Web could immediately display related data, such as information on catchers' mits, baseballs, uniforms, etc. After the user places his iPhone on the kiosk surface, a circle appears around it displaying -- among other things -artists and albums similar to the MP3 tunes loaded on the iPhone.
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Thursday, 18 December 2008
Cash-cycle management, branch optimization, sales/marketing consultation and automation, automated checkout and managed services are expected highlights for January's Wincor World 2009. The annual banking and retail solutions trade show, held at Wincor Nixdorf AG's global headquarters in Paderborn, Germany, is gearing up for an attendance turnout of about 8,000 · in line with what the show has attracted in years past.
A number of solutions to be highlighted this year revolve around operational efficiencies and cash-cycle management · two expected focal points for both financial institutions and retailers in the coming year, said Dado Nesic, the show's organizer for banking solutions.
"More efficiencies in the branch and self-service technology generally will be a focus," Nesic said. "And there will be focus on our extended range of services, and how we are tailoring our solutions for the banks and leaning on our third-party providers for enhancements."
Cash-cycle management will be one key · highlighting the importance of cash-point optimization across the board, from banking to retail, from the ATM to the point of sale. The ProClassic/Enterprise Retail Banking Solution Suite, overall, will take center stage, especially when professional services and security are discussed · where Wincor Nixdorf's new ProTect security features will be highlighted.
Self-service: A strong message
Despite the cross-industry hype about mobile solutions and applications, Wincor Nixdorf said it expects self-service to remain one of the central product offerings.
"Mobile solutions have grown in importance for us," Nesic said. "But, on the banking side in particular, self-service will be a strong feature, in addition to mobile."
Mobile banking will be a part of the ProClassic/Enterprise presentation, where mobile interaction with numerous channels, including a television, a Nintendo Wii or a BlackBerry, as well as person-to-person payments and remittances, is expected to garner attention.
Self-service, however, will maintain the spotlight.
Self-service to watch …
- ProCash 6400 ATS system, or automated teller safe system, which is based on the technology of the ProCash 4000 series and includes cash-recycling for the teller
- ProCash 3000 with a next-generation cash/check deposit module, which allows mixed bundle deposits
- ProCash 4000 series with additional functionalities in a sidecar.
- iCASH, a cash and coin recycling solution
"Those will be highlights, as will our new concept for the bank branch that we call 'WIN@Branch,'" Nesic said. "We are a full-service provider for branch solutions, and we are offering solutions this year in response to current and future challenges retail banks face for the branch. For one, there will be questions about future architecture for branch design, and there will be questions about IT infrastructure and how to make the branch more efficient."
Answers to those questions, whether from retail or banking, said Wincor Nixdorf press officer Ulrich Nolte, will also come from Wincor Nixdorf's software solution portfolio. Adopting and customizing the existing software to the needs of other industries are one of Wincor Nixdorf's self-identified strengths, Nolte said.
This year, the company will tout its new PC/E Postal Solutions suite, which builds on functionalities from the company's retail and banking portfolios. It's an ability the company has been displaying at Wincor World, alongside its 70 or so partners, for the last eight years.
Banking remains the strength, and cash-cycle management solutions that cross industries will no doubt consume a majority of the show floor.
Cash and retail
"One of the biggest growth areas we see (in the retail and banking spaces) is in cash management, like cash recycling at the teller line, which eliminates the very labor-intensive process of counting the money," said Wincor Nixdorf's new U.S. chief, Patrick Wright.
And with the use of cash on the rise, helping retailers automate cash processes will be a driving force for Wincor Nixdorf. An estimated 35 percent of U.S. retail consumers use cash for everyday purchases · a percentage speculated to go up as the economic outlook continues to spiral downward.
But some interesting hardware also is emerging from the retail side.
Reshaping the retail checkout area, by separating payment from checkout, is something Wincor solutions has over its competitors, Wincor Nixdorf said.
Take self-checkout with separate payment as an example. For years, the service has been met with success in Europe. Now, Wincor Nixdorf is pushing the same automated checkout solution in the United States with iCASH.
In April 2008, Wincor Nixdorf introduced its cash and coin recycling solution called iCASH to the United States.
"It can be cashier-facing and assist with transactions with self-service features; or it can be totally customer-facing, where the cashier never touches cash; or it can be a combination of both," said Chad Wagner, Wincor Nixdorf's director of marketing in the United States.
The iCASH 15 is a closed-coin-recycling system for attended self-service in-payments and out-payments. It features automatic coin-handling instead of a cash drawer.
The iCASH 10 features automatic note handling at the POS, and the iCASH 50 and iCASH 100 are each a closed-note-recycling system for the POS or cash office.
Wincor World 2009 runs Jan. 20 through Jan. 22 in Paderborn, Germany.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Zvetco Biometrics has announced that its Verifi M5000 USB Fingerprint Reader is now available.
According to a news release, the Verifi M5000 is a heavy duty fingerprint reader, designed to be deployed in harsh environments. The fingerprint reader's case design is waterproof and can be mounted in kiosk, Nema enclosures, police cars and door jams.
Like the P5000, an earlier model on which it is based, the M5000 can handle the largest one-to-many (1:N) identification schemes, in government, enterprise or Web transactions. It features a high-resolution UPEK large area silicon sensor that captures larger and more detailed fingerprint images, making them suitable for large-scale searches.
"Zvetco's M5000 provides a perfect biometric tool for military, police and government agencies where identifying unique individuals from within extremely large databases is the requirement, often in harsh environments," said Zavi Cohen, chief executive of Zvetco Biometrics. "It uses significantly larger sensors that capture more minutia points from the fingerprint image, ensuring the highest accuracy match for every user. This technology introduces a cost-effective solution for one-to-many authentication and complements FIPS-201 deployments with quick and accurate identification of an individual fingerprint from within even the largest government or enterprise database."
The M5000 features solid aluminum construction and protection against dust and fluids, along with commercial grade powder coat finishing and ESD immunity. According to the release, it is ideal for many government, police and private sector applications.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
ComputerWeekly.com: HMV, the popular music and movie retailer, is continuing to roll out its "next generation" store, complete with self-service kiosks that allows consumers to download music onto USB sticks. The kiosks also enable users to search for product information, including trailers, album-track listings and in-stock availability of a product. HMV is testing the kiosks at a few stores and is tracking customer usage through Christmas. HMV is counting on the kiosks to help it compete with online retailers such as Amazon.com and Play.com.
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -- CO-OP Financial Services, one of the nation's largest credit union-owned EFT networks and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced enhancements to its Falcon Fraud Manager product.
Falcon Fraud Manager assists credit card issuers in combatting identity theft by identifying suspicious transaction patterns.
According to a news release, CO-OP Financial services has added Falcon Real-time Decisioning, an optional service that evaluates high-risk transactions prior to determining whether or not to authorize the transaction, as opposed to after authorization has already taken place. The enhanced Falcon Real-time Decisioning detects potential fraud earlier in the transaction process, helping credit unions reduce loss.
Michael Ver Schuur, executive vice-president of United Heritage Credit Union, said he was pleased with Falcon Real-time Decisioning.
"Falcon Real-time Decisioning exceeded our expectations," said Ver Schuur. "It saves us time and money by preventing the riskiest fraudulent spending before authorization was completed. The product has already paid for itself."
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
TORONTO -- Macy's Convenience Stores Inc., Ontario's largest c-store operator, has partnered with Signifi Solutions Inc. to launch a pilot program in which Signifi's Movie Spot kiosks will be deployed in selected Macy's c-stores in Ontario.
Movie Spot is a new network of DVD rental kiosks in Canada that focuses on deployment locations such as convenience stores, grocers and other popular retail destinations. Movie Spot kiosks can hold up to 1,000 DVDs and typically feature about 300 different movie titles. The cost of a Movie Spot DVD rental is CAN $1.99 a night (U.S. $1.65).
"We are excited to work with Signifi's Movie Spot to offer our customers even greater value and convenience," said George Kioussis, director of merchandising and marketing at Macy's Convenience Stores Inc. "Today's time-starved consumer demands convenience above all else. We believe this proposition not only offers tremendous value to our current loyal customer base, but it can also become a differentiator in our channel, increase foot traffic and attract new customers."
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser: Alabama's top election official is looking for a better system for military members stationed overseas to vote, and she may have just found one. Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman recently heard a presentation by Pat Hollarn, supervisor of elections for Okaloosa County in Florida, on an Internet voting pilot program she ran earlier this year. The program involved the use of secure Internet voting kiosks deployed in England, Germany and Japan. Chapman says she's eyeing the results of that program closely and may adopt something similar for her state.
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Home Media Magazine: C-store chain 7-Eleven has quietly launched a program to deploy redbox DVD rental kiosks in 2,600 stores throughout the U.S., according to a reporter for Home Media Magazine. "7-Eleven is testing the redbox program in a couple of markets, but has made no announcement about an expansion," said a 7-Eleven spokesperson, who later confirmed that the rollout was to continue through 2009. Redbox DVD kiosks have also been cropping up in select airports and gas stations of late, a new tactic for a company that has traditionally focused on retail and fast food locations.
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Bernama.com: EON Bank Bhd has plans to spend roughly RM30 million (U.S. $8.5 million) to upgrade its self-service offerings over the next 2-3 years. That's in addition to RM16.2 million (U.S. $4.6 million) spent to purchase 216 ATMs and 91 cash-deposit terminals from Wincor Nixdorf. "The bank is investing in the machines and terminals to improve our services to customers by making things a little bit simpler and convenient for them," said Michael Lor, head of group consumer banking for EON Bank.
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008
 For more than two decades, Washor & Associates has provided comprehensive legal services to clients in the ATM and cash advance, kiosk and self-service, and credit card processing industries. We provide customized legal solutions to a full range of clients from start-ups to public companies. Our services include contract negotiation and preparation, portfolio purchase and sale, industry-related business litigation, securities registration and reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and other related corporate legal services. We can help your business grow.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
(Devon, England) Herald Express: Brixham Library, located in Devon, England, is prepping for a two-week shutdown. During the downtime, the library will not only be getting more books, more computers and a new inquiry counter, but also brand-new self-service kiosks. The library will be the first in its area to enable its patrons to issue and return their own books and DVDs, as well as make reservations and pay overdue charges.
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Tuesday, 16 December 2008
The (Riverside, Calif.) Press-Enterprise: Recently, Candice Brown of Hemet, Calif., was waiting painfully in line at the local post office, when her eyes fell upon one of the U.S. Postal Service's blue Automated Postal Center kiosks. "I just had major surgery. Waiting in line while holding that box was killing me," said Candice Brown. She tried it. She liked it. Now she says she'll never wait in line again.
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Tuesday, 16 December 2008
The (Lakeland, Fla.) Ledger: Polk County, Fla., has been invaded by a slew of red boxes that crop up in or around big-box retail locations. Not to fear — these invaders don't fire ray guns. Instead, these redbox kiosks dispense DVDs of the latest motion-picture releases. Redbox introduced its self-service DVD rental kiosks in the Tampa market in November 2007 and the Polk County market last month. A search of redbox locations in Polk County on the company's Web site shows 17 locations at Wal-Mart and Walgreens stores in the county. A handful of redboxes are located inside the stores.
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Tuesday, 16 December 2008
The Denver Post: As Dec. 25 nears, so does the mailing deadline to guarantee that Christmas presents will arrive on time. Lines are backing up at the Montclair Post Office in Denver. One person waiting in the queue was Mary Anne Sine, a teacher at nearby Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School. Find out how Sine felt about using one of the USPS's Automated Postal Center kiosks.
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Monday, 15 December 2008
Beaver County (Beaver, Pa.) Times: As the recession continues, many cash-strapped airline companies are looking for new sources of revenue. That means travelers could face some kind of convenience fee the next time they try to check in with a self-service check-in kiosk. Jay Sorenson of IdeaWorks, a Wisconsin-based consulting firm for the airline industry, says some airlines are giving the fee careful consideration, just as FlyBe, a British airline, did earlier this year.
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Monday, 15 December 2008
The (Lakehurst, N.J.) Brick Times: Brick Memorial High School in Brick, N.J., will soon be powered completely by the sun, as the school district has voted to install solar panels on the roof of the building. The move is expected to reduce fossil fuel consumption and lower gas emissions — something the public has asked for. The school also will install an interactive kiosk to educate students about solar power and renewable energy.
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Monday, 15 December 2008
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — NEXXO Financial Corp., a company that provides self-service remittance services to the Hispanic demographic, has announced an extended partnership with TIO Networks Corp., a multiretailer network of financial services kiosks for the cash-preferred consumer marketplace in North America. The partnership will enable NEXXO to offer its patent-pending self-service remittance technology on TIO's network of bill-payment kiosks at Circle K and other participating retail stores.
Currently, the NEXXO solution is available in several U.S. cities across California and Texas. The partnership will bring remittance services to an additional 427 locations in Texas as well as in Arizona. The expansion is the result of several successful market tests of the remittance program in Phoenix.
"There remains a strong need in the Hispanic community for sending funds to loved ones back home in a safe, easy and cost-effective manner," said David Alvarez, NEXXO's chief executive. "Our continued relationship with TIO will allow more individuals in these communities who want to transfer money the control and access 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
This is the latest in expansion for NEXXO, which offers its service directly to consumers through its own NEXXO kiosks as well as via partnerships in locations that meet the needs of the Hispanic community.
"The TIO Networks self-serve money-transfer program powered by NEXXO is a strong product category for the consumer demographics of our retail partners," said Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO Networks. "Given recent economic conditions, now more than ever, it is important for consumers to have a lower-priced competent alternative as we have done with our partnership with NEXXO."
Monday, 15 December 2008
CINCINNATI — Electronic Art, an agency that focuses on customized hardware and software for interactive kiosks, digital signage and integrated Web sites, has deployed digital signage for Gardner Publications in Newtown, Ohio.
Founded in Cincinnati in 1928, Gardner Publications specializes in magazine publication and Web site construction for industrial clients. The company's focus on the manufacturing industry has led to its production of publications including "Modern Machine Shop," "Production Machining," "Plastics Technology," "Products Finishing," "Moldmaking Technology," "Automotive Design & Production," "Composites Technology and High Performance Composites" and "Time Compression."
"Gardner's new visuals will really impact how they are seen by everyone who visits their facility," said Tim Burke, president of Electronic Art. "We provided a state-of-the-art look and feel that is flexible and will provide the information visitors need. We also created a content management tool to allow the receptionist to change the messaging on-screen as often as needed."
Friday, 12 December 2008
Customers who want to rent a car at Thrifty Car Rental are going to have to get in line for a customer service rep from now on.
According to a news release, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc., owner of the Thrifty Car Rental chain, has terminated a pilot to explore the advantages of deploying self-service kiosk technology, after a brief trial in Houston. The transactional kiosks would have enabled users to rent their own vehicles, minimizing interaction with customer-service representatives.
The group plans to record a non-cash pre-tax charge of $4.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 to write off all costs related to the program.
Scott L. Thompson, president and chief executive of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, says it's all a matter of providing good customer service to Thrifty's consumer base.
"While we were pleased with some aspects of the pilot program that we implemented in April 2008 at our Houston location, we have concluded that the use of kiosks in the customer-service experience reduced our interaction with the customer, detracting from the high level of personal service that our customers have come to expect from us," Thompson said. "Additionally, the pilot project did not satisfy our minimum return on invested capital, thus we concluded that continued full-scale development of self-service kiosks was not in our shareholders' best interest."
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Executive Director David Drain
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But David Drain, executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, of which Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group is a member, says that while he respects the company's decision to whack the kiosk program, he questions the prudence of the action, given current trends in consumer demand.
"If Dollar Thrifty can provide consistently good customer service without making people wait, then that's great," Drain said. "However, travelers today have become so accustomed to the speed of check in through self-service kiosks at airports that they have come to expect it. I know that I don't want to stand in line longer than a few minutes or I come away with a bad impression of that company."
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group recently joined the association as a new deployer member.
Friday, 12 December 2008
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Laufer Film, distributor of the motion picture "Christmas at Maxwell's," has found a way for holiday travelers to enjoy the film on the go.
According to a news release, the distributor has signed a deal with LightSpeed Cinema, deployer of Movie Booth video-on-demand movie kiosks, to offer the film at airport kiosks throughout the country.
"We have been looking for a partner to bring Christmas at Maxwell's to travelers at major U.S. airports and we love the Movie Booth kiosks concept," said Bill Laufer, president of Laufer Film. "With today's air travel concerns, people most often rush to get to their gate to confirm travel details, but once there, they have time and are looking for a productive way to spend it. The Movie Booth concept is a perfect complement to help make air travel a pleasant experience."
The kiosks enable travelers to download DVD quality movies, TV shows and multigigabyte games in minutes
Friday, 12 December 2008
PARIS -- SITA, provider of IT solutions for the air-travel industry, has released a new global survey of consumer trends that indicates Paris Charles de Gaulle airport leads the pack in getting travelers to adopt self-service check-in.
Of all the passengers who fly in and out of the airport, those flying Air France are most likely to use the technology, a release from SITA says.
At the same time, only 29.9 percent of travelers used the service on the day of the survey, desipte the fact that 69 percent of Paris Charles de Gaulle travelers expressed a preference for self-service check in.
The low usage rate is explained by the fact that 82.3 percent of the non-Air France passengers declared that self-service check-in was not available to them on the day of the survey and only 7.3 of these non-Air France passengers used it.
On the other hand, 58.2 percent of Air France passengers used self-service check-in. This was higher than the 56.2 percent usage rate which was recorded at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.
A closer look at the results for CDG shows that passengers had a three-to-one preference for using kiosks (22.7 percent) compared to the Web (7.2 percent) for check-in.
Passenger willingness to use self-service kiosks for flight transfers at CDG was the highest across all six airports surveyed, at 65 percent, compared to a global average of 54 percent.
The SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey takes an in-depth look at the attitudes and habits of a representative sample of the 232 million passengers who use six of the world's busiest airports across five continents: Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta; Mumbai International; Charles de Gaulle, Paris; Moscow Domodedovo; Sao Paulo Guarulhos, Brazil; and OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
Friday, 12 December 2008
PADERBORN, Germany -- Wincor Nixdorf AG will provide 500 reverse-vending machines for NETTO Marken-Discount, a subsidiary of Germany-based EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft, according to a news release.
Wincor also will provide service for the machines for two years. The machines are scheduled to be installed throughout 2009.
The contract comes as a win for Wincor Nixdorf, which is attempting to strengthen its position as a vendor of self-service and automation solutions for retail chains. The systems are suitable for all types of empties and will be used at NETTO for the return of bottles and beverage crates.
NETTO has ordered Revendo 9000 systems, which can identify both individual containers and crates. The machines are touted for being flexible and having customizable background technology, which ensures smoother operation and high availability.
Netto Marken-Discount GmbH & Co. oHG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Edeka Handelsgesellschaft. NETTO operates solely in Germany and, following its merger with PLUS Warenhandelsgesellschaft mbH, has a network of approximately 3,800 stores, more than 50,000 employees, and generates total sales of 10 billion euros (U.S. $13.4 billion).
Thursday, 11 December 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. -- DIY Technologies, a custom software development company that actively targets the do-it-yourself home-construction/home-maintenance industry, has announced the release of 3-D Visualizer, its latest Web-based 3-D deck designer and visualization tool.
According to a news release, the 3-D deck visualization tool allows users on the Internet, in the store and at a kiosk to create complex deck designs in 3-D, while in real time change decking and railing materials to view the impact of different materials, styles, colors and textures on the look of their custom deck design. Adding features such as walls, windows, doors and deck accessories further allows users to visualize completed deck projects.
"The release of the 3-D deck visualization tool is a major milestone in true intra- and Internet-based tools," said Michael Heisler, president of DIY Technologies. "The user can immediately see the impact of selecting different materials and colors, as well as still provide them with a customized specification kit."
The kit includes material and cut lists, instructions and building permit information, which provides everything that is required based on the deck type or the residential zip code. The kit can even provide a list of contractors.
DIY Technologies has already begun deploying the 3-D Visualizer to home centers, composite decking manufacturers, railing manufacturers and providers of outdoor deck accessories.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Contactmusic.com: In an effort to curb its losses to DVD kiosk operators like redbox, Blockbuster is cutting prices on some DVD rentals. According to Contactmusic.com, the brick-and-mortar DVD retailer will soon be renting older movies for 99 cents a day, compared with $1 redbox charges for new releases. "The 99-cents plan is targeted at the value-conscious consumer in this challenging economy," said Jim Keyes, chairman and chief executive of Blockbuster.
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Wednesday, 10 December 2008
The Associated Press: Self-service-wagering kiosks may soon begin cropping up in various locations throughout North Dakota, if the state's racing commission has any say. The North Dakota Racing Commission may install walk-up wagering kiosks to increase the number of off-track betting locations in the state to 100 within a couple of years. The kiosks are being developed by Lien Games Racing of Fargo and Bam Software and Services of Walnut Creek, Calif.
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Wednesday, 10 December 2008
As transactions for the acquisition of some of the biggest names in the ATM industry are digested, it's uncertain what will come next as the U.S. economy continues to slow down.
In 2008, TSYS Acquiring Solutions, based in Columbus, Ga., acquired Infonox, a California-based technology firm that specializes in payment technology.
The takeover of Tranax Technologies, based in Hayward, Calif., by Korea-based Eltna Group, appears to be complete.
In Long Beach, Miss., staffers at Triton Systems await Department of Justice approval for the acquisition by Seoul, Korea-based Nautilus Hyosung Inc. And while some industry insiders have speculated about whether the deal will actually go through, Nautilus Hyosung executives say they expect the acquisition to wrap before the close of the first quarter of 2009.
Meanwhile, Elan Financial Services, a U.S. Bank company, has nearly finished integrating people and operations from its acquisition of Palm Desert National Bank's Electronic Banking Division, which includes ATM and kiosk-management services and cash-management and vault-cash operations. (PDNB is now diversifying and plans to focus its remaining business on prepaid products.)
ATM consolidation
Unlike some mergers in the news, this consolidation in the ATM space seems to be driven by a desire for product growth and market penetration, not defensive posturing.
"The mergers and acquisitions that have taken place in the market in 2008 are probably a combination of defensive and offensive moves — defensive in that they know they need each other to continue to compete and offensive because they are not waiting until profitability starts to decline to make it happen," said Nicole Sturgill, research director of delivery channels for TowerGroup, a Boston-based financial consultancy.
TSYS says it expects to offer to its existing client base Infonox’s "plug-and-play" platforms for debit, credit, prepaid, money transfer and checks. Infonox's interface connects multiple payment devices and channels of service delivery such as mobile phones, ATMs and bill-payment kiosks.
"This is perhaps the first time a major processor like TSYS has executed a strategy to get closer to the end point of the device," said Dr. Safwan Shah, president and chief executive of Infonox. "TYSYS gets the ability to sell new products to their existing distribution."
TYSYS gives Infonox the ability to be a clearinghouse of multiple financial services.
"We now have the ability to push more transaction types to the self-service channel, such as check cashing, loyalty products, bill payment," Shah said. "We were doing all those things, but by merging the two entities, we're able to do it at a much larger scale."
For ATM manufacturer Tranax, becoming an independent operating company of Eltna Group in August 2008 means that it will continue to serve the lower end of the retail ATM market, which is subject to the most intense pricing pressure. As fee income for ISOs declines, the acquisition price for an ATM can make or break the profitability of a location. ISOs will look to Tranax for value-priced machines.
"Off-premise(s) ATMs are designed so that they don’t need a lot of transactions to make the economics work," Sturgill said. "But ISOs have to come up with new revenue streams because I don't see how surcharge income can continue as it is."
Bill Dunn, Tranax's vice president of sales, said he expects ISOs and retail ATM buyers to consider value over brand loyalty.
"Among ISOs, brand loyalty doesn't mean a lot. As long as they can get competitive prices on machines, they don't care," he said.
Nautilus Hyosung Inc. expects Department of Justice approval for its acquisition of Triton in mid to late 2009. The merged companies expect to extend their penetration into both the financial-institution and merchant markets.
"One organization might be strong in the off-premise market, and one might be stronger in the on-premise market, and we could use the best of both worlds to push one brand into the financial market a little deeper and the other into the retail side a littler deeper," said James Phillips, Triton's director of North American sales.
ATM, economy options?
However, even with consolidations among current manufacturers, Phillips points out that more options exist for merchants and financial institutions than in the days when Tidel and Triton dominated the retail market. "There will still be more options for merchants and ISOs than they used to have," Phillips said.
The Elan Financial Services unit of U.S. Bank, the lead bank of U.S. Bancorp, has integrated Palm Desert National Bank's Electronic Banking Division. The deal included California-based PDNB's ATM and kiosk-management services, as well as its cash-management and vault-cash operations, which managed nearly $1 billion in vault cash for more than 22,000 ATMs and kiosks in the United States.
Industry watchers expect other providers to take advantage of the changes under way in the dominant force in the industry. Cash Connect, the ATM division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, has more than $225 million in vault cash circulating in ATMs nationwide, making it one of the largest vault-cash providers in the nation. John Clatworthy, senior vice president of Cash Connect, said he expects ISOs to seek stability and longevity in their cash supplies.
"Anytime there are changes in the industry, that creates opportunity," Clatworthy said. "We're now the longest-standing vault-cash operator, operating for 11 years as part of a 175-year-old bank."
Elan has worked hard to keep customers, introducing its new portfolio of services at a users' conference.
"Customers like the combination of processing and cash services," said Gary Staub, executive vice president strategic initiatives for Elan. "They can work with one group to get two services, and that makes their job easier. The ISOs can put more time into selling."
Staub said the company has begun migrating Elan's customer base to PDNB's Tracker platform, which automates back-room management, from cash forecasting and ordering to reconciliation and settlement.
Hamed Shahbazi, chairman and chief executive of TIO Networks Corp., a former PDNB customer, said the transition to Elan Financial Services has gone well.
"We don't anticipate any degradation in service at all," he said. They've signaled an intent and interest in being in this business, and from our perspective, it's all positive."
Gary Wollenhaupt is a regular contributor to ATM Marketplace. To submit a comment about this article, please e-mail the editor.
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
Bill payment and the self-checkout lane are transforming under the shadow of economic and political pressures · pressure that led Fiserv Inc., which provides technology services for the financial industry, to develop a barcode-based, in-lane billpay option for the CheckFreePay platform, which Fiserv acquired in December 2007.
New pressures facing the billpay industry include compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and mounting discontent from consumer-advocacy groups related to the fees payday lenders charge for their services.
It's all coming together to create a prime opportunity for aggregated billpay options at the checkout lane, according to Fiserv.
TowerGroup in 2007 estimated that walk-in billpay accounts for about 6 percent of all bill payments in the United States. And most of the people who use the service are cash-preferred or underbanked · a group that represents about 40 million households. That segment typically pays and buys prepaid cell phone minutes at convenience stores, neighborhood bodegas and payday lenders, not traditional financial institutions.
ADA compliance, consumer advocacy drive self-checkout change
Many retailers, because they are not banks, have opted for self-service billpay offerings, rather than tying up clerk time behind the counter for transactions that could hinder regular retail business. But the use of a self-service terminal or kiosk poses its own challenges · namely when things such as audio-enabled transactions and keyboard or keypad height are required to meet strict guidelines set by the government for ADA compliance.
And more and more states are starting to take the ADA and financial services issues very seriously.
In California, proposed legislation would require that any location that accepts utility payments meet ADA requirements. In Ohio, pressure from consumer groups led to tightened legislation that put caps on the interest rates payday lenders can charge. And in Cleveland, Tenn., Check Into Cash, another CheckFreePay customer, announced plans to shutter 32 of its 92 shops because of similar business pressures. Other states are expected to follow because of economic pressures and concerns about the high interest rates payday lenders charge.
As a result, many payday lenders in Ohio have closed or are closing, and those closures are pinching CheckFreePay's business in those states, said Paul Harrison, senior vice president and general manager of Fiserv’s CheckFreePay.
Many of those payday lenders are agents for CheckFreePay, and if they close, CheckFreePay has to replace those locations so that its billers maintain sites for payments acceptance, Harrison said.
"It would be very difficult and expensive for these small stores to be ADA-compliant," he added.
So CheckFreePay has developed a barcoded system that allows users to pay bills at the checkout lane, and it expects to promote and, perhaps, soon launch its solution to the likes of Kroger, Wal-mart, etc., to help reduce its reliance on payday lenders.
"At CheckFreePay alone, 38 percent of the walk-in locations we support in Ohio are payday lenders," Harrison said. "We will have to replace these agents to keep support for our billers."
Overall, CheckFreePay processes payments for about 160 billing clients at more than 13,000 agent locations.
The changing landscape led Fiserv Inc. to partner with PayScan America Inc. through an exclusive license for PayScan’s patented barcoded payment process. The system integrates the PayScan process with the Fiserv CheckFreePay Link platform.
With the barcode system, CheckFreePay will offer walk-in consumers the ability to pay household bills at retail checkout lanes. The smart barcode will store processing rules and customer information, including the account number. And the system can be deployed at an existing point-of-sale terminal, whether it's in a self-checkout lane or in an assisted checkout lane.
CheckFreePay plans to launch a pilot program in early 2009.
The bills can be paid by cash or debit. Harrison said interchange fees on credit cards make payment by credit cost-prohibitive.
Consumer fees range from $1 to $1.50 per transaction. And in states that prohibit user fees on utility payments, the biller will pay the surcharge, Harrison said. The agents and CheckFreePay will share the fee income.
Challenges in store for billpay at checkout
To be successful, CheckFreePay will have to change the behavior of cash-preferred consumers if it wants utilities and agent locations to sign up for the service, said Hamed Shahbazi, chief executive of TIO Networks Corp., a recognized leader in aggregated self-service payments.
"We don't see in-lane bill paying becoming a material consideration in the marketplace, at least for a while," Shahbazi said.
Why? Cash-preferred consumers may currently use CheckFreePay or another billpay system through a kiosk or clerk-assisted transaction at their favorite check-cashing spot or convenience store, Shahbazi said. But they aren't likely to use the service at checkout.
Others, like Jennifer Roth, a TowerGroup analyst, agreed. The new CheckFreePay format may likely find success at grocery stores and discount retailers but not so much at payday-lender sites, where cash-preferred users are accustomed to having financial services fulfilled and met.
"If a consumer is going to a check casher, why would they then go to a supermarket to pay their bills, when they could pay them at the check casher, unless difference in fees is large enough," said Jennifer Roth, research director of global payments services at TowerGroup. "I don't see how they're going to move consumers to use a new service."
Roth did see growth potential in walk-in bill payment services as the economic downturn means consumers may struggle to pay bills on time. Cardtronics in November announced a deal with MoneyGram International to provide MoneyGram money transfer and ExpressPayment urgent bill payment services at advanced-function ATMs in 7-Eleven convenience stores in the United States.
"With the financial crisis, people will be making more last-minute payments, and if they don't pay online or over the phone, they may be more likely to use walk-in bill payment," Roth said. "Providers like Fiserv and MoneyGram are looking for other channels to pull people in."
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
Summit Research Associates wants to make an offer you can't refuse.
The consulting firm, which focuses solely on the self-service industry, is offering deployers a copy its report, "Interactive Kiosks: Best Practices," with one little catch: Readers must first take an online survey about the current economic crisis is affecting their plans to roll out self-service solutions.
"Our prime motivation for doing the survey at this time is to get a sense of how the economic meltdown has affected the kiosk business," said Francie Mendelsohn, president and founder of Summit Research. "Everybody is asking and nobody knows for certain. Some responses so far have said, 'Yeah, everything is great,' but others have said, 'Well, we're proceeding, but much more cautiously.'"
Mendelsohn says she's been shocked not only by the sheer number of layoffs, but by the companies actually doing the downsizing.
"Some of the people who have already been laid off are from companies I would have thought were the biggest of them all," she said. "So that's what concerns me, not just the little guys."
A release instructs users to visit a link where they can complete the survey. Mendelsohn says the survey results will be kept confidential. Users who complete the survey by Dec. 31 will receive the report.
Mendelsohn says time will tell whether this economic recession will drive more deployers to self-service tech.
"You can certainly make the case that now more than ever you need kiosks, because as you're downsizing people, kiosks can perform those functions at a far lower cost," she said.
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Consumers in Australia will soon have another option for printing their digital images.
According to a news release, Kodak has signed a strategic alliance with Officeworks to install Kodak's Adaptive Picture Exchange dry photo labs in stores nationwide.
Kodak's APEX lab and associated Picture Kiosk order stations are expected to be installed in up to 118 Officeworks stores by April 2009. The national rollout will enable every store to offer quality Kodak digital prints using the latest cutting-edge imaging technology.
"Kodak was selected by Officeworks as its preferred photo print partner due to the superior features and benefits of the APEX photo-lab, to both their business and to their customers," said Grant Smith, business general manager of Kodak Australia's Consumer Digital Group. "Officeworks will be able to offer its customers a fast, reliable, environmentally friendly and cost effective print service which will help them drive their bottom line, while growing their photo printing business."
The Kodak APEX system is a modular, behind-the-counter thermal dry lab system that allows consumers to print high quality Kodak digital prints, enlargements, calendars and collages — as well as to burn Picture Movie DVDs — using the optimum printing technology for each application.
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
Cnet Australia: Art afficionados now have a new means of obtaining classic artwork reproductions on canvas or silk. Canon and Foto Riesel, a photographic retailer, have opened their first "digital darkroom" concept store in Sydney, Australia. The store, which is located next to Foto Riesel's main outlet on Kent Street, allows consumers and professionals to print high quality images on a range of Canon printers and plotters. An art-on-demand touchscreen kiosk is one of the key features of the new store. The kiosk allows users to select from an image bank of more 7,000 artworks by artists such as Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt.
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Monday, 08 December 2008
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. -- MediaTile, provider of cellular digital signage solutions, has announced that Heather Whalen has joined as vice president of North American sales in support of the company's continued growth and demand for its popular and unique "Digital Sign in a Box" and "Kiosk in a Box" solutions.
"I'm delighted to be part of the MediaTile team and to help drive the accelerated adoption of cellular digital signage and media services in key market segments and enterprises," said Whalen.
Whalen is responsible for MediaTile's North American sales strategy, distribution network and segment-based sales teams.
"Heather is a digital signage veteran with a rich background in both the industry and in building award-winning national sales teams," said Simon Wilson, chief executive of MediaTile. "Her past experience in management with cellular carriers and digital signage providers is a perfect fit with MediaTile's product offering and business value proposition."
Before joining MediaTile, Whalen held a variety of leadership positions at Symon Communications, Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Xerox Corp. Her 17 years of sales, operations and management experience has enabled her to build winning sales teams and accelerated product adoption.
Monday, 08 December 2008
SmartCompany.com.au: Heathrow airport in London now has a kiosk in the international terminal that allows travellers to create their own magazines. Banking giant HSBC has set up a kiosk that allows travellers to select magazine articles that staff bind into a hardback format.
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Monday, 08 December 2008
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- Redbox, the fully automated DVD rental system featuring new release rentals for $1 per night, is choosing to defy attempts by Universal Studios to limit its ability to stock new releases at its kiosks. According to a news release, redbox is now offering more than 100,000 copies of the hit film "Wanted," and the title is on pace to become the company's top weekly rental in the week following its DVD release.
"Redbox is working to uphold our cornerstone principles, providing customers with all major new release DVDs - when they are released -- for just $1 per night," said Gregg Kaplan, chief executive of redbox. "Redbox is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service and value, and we will continue to acquire DVD titles despite attempts to limit consumer access to titles at our kiosks."
To uphold consumer commitment, redbox developed new distribution arrangements and incurred additional costs that allowed the company to circulate more than 100,000 copies of "Wanted" within three days of release date and in time for the weekend movie rush. Redbox did not pass added costs on to customers, preserving the company's unique value proposition and $1 per night price point. Redbox will continue to streamline the distribution process of Universal Studios titles to limit customer impact despite pending litigation.
On Oct. 10, redbox Automated Retail filed suit in Delaware Federal Court against Universal Studios Home Entertainment LLC and three of its affiliates. Redbox filed the action because the company believes that new distribution terms proposed by USHE would prohibit redbox from renting Universal Studios DVDs for 45 days after their public release, would limit how many Universal Studios DVDs each redbox kiosk could carry, and would require redbox to destroy, rather than sell at a discount, previously viewed DVDs from its kiosks. Redbox took action against the studio to protect its business model and continue to offer consumers the latest new releases for $1 per night.
Friday, 05 December 2008
 For more than twenty-five years, Lock America International has developed, manufactured and marketed high security locks and security hardware for a variety of industries. Lock America provides hand assembled registered high security locks for the vending, gaming, self-storage and self-service and kiosk markets. Their high security master-keyed systems deliver security and convenience for their customers and the businesses they serve.
Friday, 05 December 2008
DRAPER, Utah — AVinci Media Corp. recently launched the myMovieMaker Gold Plus product line on photo kiosks across the United States. MyMovieMaker Gold Plus offers fully licensed music, new themes with Hollywood-style special effects and beautifully designed DVD cover packaging. Themes for the photo movies include Christmas, "The Polar Express" Christmas, general occasions, vacations, weddings, baby arrivals, achievements and more.
According to a news release, a new feature allows customers to order matching photo books and posters with a single click. Customers simply choose a theme and add the photos, and myMovieMaker does the rest. Once the order is submitted, the finished product is available for pickup at the retail store within days.
AVinci's Gold Plus products are now available on photo kiosks in approximately 3,300 Wal-Mart stores across the United States.
Friday, 05 December 2008
CNET: Blockbuster and Microsoft are working to use Microsoft's Live Mesh data synchronization solution to give consumers a way to reach their video content from a variety of devices. A Microsoft representative said on Monday that Microsoft's Live Services team is working with Blockbuster on "building some demo Mesh apps." It's the latest tie-up between the companies. Blockbuster already is one of the early customers for Microsoft's Exchange Online hosted e-mail service.
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Friday, 05 December 2008
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Ingram Micro's Data Capture and Point-of-Sale Division has announced an expansion of its mobile data capture portfolio, adding Baracoda's comprehensive range of Bluetooth barcode devices and adapters that enable multiple applications with PCs, Mac, POS, PDAs, terminals, mobile phones, robot and LAN networks.
"Demand for mobile workforce solutions is on the rise — especially in vertical markets such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation where precision and service levels are top priorities," said Justin Scopaz, vice president and general manager of Ingram Micro's Data Capture and POS Division. "By leveraging mobile wireless technologies such as Baracoda's scanners and adapters, IT service providers can help companies achieve operational experience and clearly demonstrate ROI by increasing workforce productivity and introducing more efficiency."
Baracoda's entire line of Bluetooth barcode scanners and adapters, which includes D-flys, Pencils, Roadrunners, Scanwear, Tagrunners and Toughrunners, is now available to Ingram Micro solution providers in the United States. No certifications are necessary. Training and solution-focused technical support services are available from Ingram Micro.
Thursday, 04 December 2008
iTWire: NEC Australia has announced the winning of a contract to provide the technology, nationwide network and management for the Australian government's national "Broadband for Seniors" initiative. NEC will deliver Internet kiosks to support the Broadband for Seniors initiative and increase the confidence and skills of older Australians in using computers and the Internet.
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Thursday, 04 December 2008
DesignTaxi.com: Self-service deployers have an opportunity to shine the spotlight on some of their latest innovations. The 15th Annual Communication Arts Interactive Design Competition is accepting entries. Any interactive project created for digital distribution on the Web, CD-ROM, interactive kiosk or handheld device is eligible. Winning entries will be published in the print and online editions of the 2009 Interactive Annual of Communication Arts. More than 70,000 copies are expected to be distributed.
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Thursday, 04 December 2008
New Hampshire Public Radio: Most people would be surprised to learn that more men use self-service checkout aisles than women. People might also be intrigued to hear representatives of NCR Corp., one of the largest providers of self-service solutions in the world, say that no cashier ever lost his job to a self-service device. Those are just some of the claims to come out of an NHPR report on the state of the self-service checkout industry. A transcript and audio recording of that report are available online.
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Thursday, 04 December 2008
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — Opinionmeter International Ltd., developer of survey and user feedback systems, has signed with Elo Systems for Elo's line of touchcomputers, which will be used by Opinionmeter to capture real-time, in-store customer feedback.
According to a news release, the company's devices use Elo TouchSystems touchcomputers and touchmonitors to deliver state-of-the-art electronic customer satisfaction feedback surveys.
Opinionmeter is transforming traditional market research methods with interactive, Web-enabled survey devices called Opinionmeters that capture customer feedback at the "point of experience." Traditional methods for collecting this data have included using interviews, focus groups, paper-based surveys and mystery shoppers, all of which can be cost-prohibitive for companies and time-intensive for customers.
"We get the pulse of the customer before they leave the store, the clinic or the museum," explained Morgan Strickland, chief executive of Opinionmeter. "Our solution delivers fresh, real-time feedback to organizations, allowing them to improve their customers' experiences, sometimes immediately. We are thrilled to be working with Elo TouchSystems on improving the product experience for our customers."
Elo's touchcomputers and touchmonitors can be mounted in numerous ways and now constitute all of Opinionmeter's tabletop, wall-mounted and kiosk solutions. Many currently use IntelliTouch surface-wave technology, although Opinionmeter is migrating to acoustic pulse recognition technology to take advantage of the ability to detect stylus and finger touches.
"What I value most is Elo TouchSystems' rock-solid products," said Strickland. "They're intuitive, durable and reliable. Elo is a great fit for our business model because it is a watertight solution. We haven't had a single touchmonitor or touch technology issue. That frees us to focus on our core competency, which is delivering great customer feedback technology tools."
The devices have many practical features, including ports that are hidden from public view, adjustable-height stands and lockable controls to prevent unit tampering. When the systems are not in use, digital signage displays, including multimedia presentations, are often used to catch the public's eye and to provide an additional marketing venue.
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
The Daily Gleaner: Air Canada has installed two self-service kiosks at the Fredericton International Airport. The kiosks also can be used to change seat selections, request earlier departures or get upgrades.
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
LAS VEGAS · With customers more mindful of their spending than they have been in years, retailers are reaching out for new ways to differentiate themselves. And according to Peter Hoyt, executive director of last week's In-Store Marketing Expo in Las Vegas, shopper marketing is where the action is.
"Shopper marketing is red hot right now · they're actually hiring in shopper marketing right now," he said. "It's moving to a strategic level. It's merchandising, but merchandising with strategy."
Hoyt likened the current trend in retail thinking to Gale Sayers' book "I Am Third," which popularized the concept of "God first, then family, then self."
"Today, for brands, it's shopper first, then retail chain, then brand," he said. "So, figure out what's good for the shopper, then what's good for the retailer, and you'll succeed."
More than 300 exhibitors comprised the show floor, which was heavy on innovative and new ways to put the good of the shopper above all else.
Illinois-based Digital Aisle had two interactive selling agents at the show, one of which is already established in its niche, the other fresh from the drawing board. The "Virtual Bartender," which is already installed in more than 500 liquor and party stores, guides customers through the various attributes and lifestyle images associated with premium spirits.
The "Virtual Beauty Consultant," a joint effort between the company and Proctor & Gamble, is currently being tested in 20 Kroger locations. A virtual expert invites shoppers to touch the screen, then enter all of their pertinent information · age, skin tone, color preference. It then offers suggestions on exactly which products to buy in each category. View video.
The show took place Nov. 12 to 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendance figures have not yet been released.
Another "virtual expert" was nearby, this one much larger and more in-your-face. At the Modernistic booth, the Minnesota-based company projected moving imagery of a shopper's assistant onto a life-sized piece of half-inch-thick polymer · which had been cut into the shape of a man. Equal parts creepy and brilliant, the technique netted a DIGI Award for the company for its work for Best Buy.
At the Inventive Media booth, focus was on a metallic pedestal with a digital screen built into the top. Covering the front of each unit was a full-color skin, attached by magnetic strips. In about ten seconds, the unit can be totally repurposed with new static graphics by peeling off the skin and popping on a new one; as for the dynamic graphics, those are just as easily changed by swapping out a flash card.
The Microsoft FutureVision Gallery offered a half-dozen different tech implementations, but the emphasis was on a consistent user experience · the same assets were used, no matter what the delivery method or point of interaction. "Why should the customer experience be something that looks like X here, but like Y over here?" asked Steve Sparrow, senior retail marketing manager for Microsoft.
On one side of the booth, a giant touchscreen used simple, intuitive controls to let the user browse through product options. View video. On the other side, the Media Cart system allowed retailers to track shopper movement through the store and offer relevant ads and enticements on a cart-mounted screen. View video.
The hardware that was running at the iSign booth earned its keep during the show. The system automatically scans for Bluetooth devices within range and sends all of them an invite to view a special offer. (You can only imagine how many it found over the course of the show.) The device is currently in use at a Canadian restaurant, where it pings nearby Bluetooth users with an offer to come in and get a free appetizer.
The giant iPhone-esque displays at the Ecast booth tantalized attendees with the promise of on-demand music videos and interactive games. The company currently has 10,000 machines deployed, primarily in hospitality and nightlife locations, with an increasing emphasis on using the technology for interactive product demonstrations at retail. View video.
Madix Store Fixtures offered demonstrations of its ShelfCast interactive branding shelves. Each shelf contains a small touchscreen, flush with the surface of the shelf. Content on the screens ties in with the printed graphics on the shelf and the surrounding merchandise areas. View video.
The Capital Networks booth was also massive, but probably the most crowd-catching thing in it was very, very small. Staffers wore the company's "personal digital signage" device on their lapels · a 2.5-inch, high-brite screen that loops content and grabs eyeballs. Aimed at retail sales teams, the devices get 8 hours of life on a single battery charge; those batteries are charged up on a docking station that also uploads new content and new scheduling rules each time the devices are plugged in.
One of several smart carts on the floor, the entry from Cabco stood out thanks to its inclusion of a tiny TV set inside to occupy children while parents shop.
The massive booth of PRN by Thompson contained several industry-specific solutions, all aimed at making mundane shopping trips spectacular. The company's well-known Checkout TV was represented, but nearby was the up-and-coming multimedia shopping cart from Cabco. The colorful carts, aimed at harried parents who just want to do some shopping in peace, are built around a car-like sitting area for the kids · which contains a tiny display that shows content like "Dora the Explorer" and "The Wiggles." A control panel on the top of the cart lets parents control what is being shown on that screen · and future iterations will bring more functions and features to the "parent-facing screen."
Elsewhere at the PRN booth, eight displays shared a wall; a nearby kiosk allowed shoppers to pick which ones they were interested in, then showed the same bit of content across the selected screens. The result is an easy and intuitive way to test different brands of screens against one another with real-world content.
Nearby, startup Springboard Retail Networks demonstrated its own smart cart, its "Concierge Cart." A large, bright touchscreen on the handle of the cart allows shoppers to search for items in the store, then add them to a shopping list, complete with aisle numbers and pricing. The first Concierge Cart recently launched at a Food Lion location in North Carolina. View video.
For merchandisers, few things are more valuable than real data on what product assortments and arrangements pull shoppers in. The technology featured at the Tobii booth aims to provide that data. The company's elaborate camera systems, employed during specialized testing sessions, follow shopper eye movements when presented with a particular shelving pattern; it then distills those movements down into visual hotspots, showing instantly what items and arrangements attract the human eye.
Tuesday, 02 December 2008
CHICAGO — TEKchand LLC, a supplier of server-side, Web-based software applications for ATM management, has launched its new ATM content-management application, ATMContentPro.
According to a news release, the new application provides remote management of screen and receipt marketing on ATMs and kiosks from multiple vendors, and TEKchand says ATMContentPro is the first in a series of appliance-based products specifically designed for ATM deployers with fewer than 50 terminals.
The appliance model means that support for the entire solution, hardware, software and application is consolidated within a single company for simplified maintenance, TEKchand says. The appliance comprises hardware, operating software, application software, firewalls and database functionality, all pre-loaded and locked down to create a secure architecture that’s ready to implement on a client's network.
“We’ve taken the pain out of a complex integration process by delivering a secure server appliance preconfigured with our core application and accepted ATM industry security standards,” said Rajeev Bahri, managing director of TEKchand. "This makes our appliance model easy to purchase, implement, use and, most of all, afford, for organizations with even the smallest ATM deployment base."
ATMContentPro is a pre-configured appliance delivering TEKchand’s flagship application, ATMContent Manager, which allows users to design, schedule, modify, implement and dynamically control screen graphics, receipt and marketing messaging on ATMs, regardless of the manufacturer or operating software.
“Since our core benefit of an agnostic solution that can manage multivendor ATM hardware remains intact with ATMContentPro, clients can choose what they feel is the best hardware or terminal software, both now and in the future, and still have a common marketing and management solution for this important customer touchpoint,” Bahri said. “This is the first introduction of TEKchand’s new appliance-based approach, which will expand in 2009 to include our entire product suite, especially PCI-compliant cardholder preferences.”
TEKchand says it has been able to reduce the cost of delivery for ATMContentPro by using open standards to deliver ATM-management capabilities that many smaller organizations want, but thought too expensive.
Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Penki kontinentai: Self-Service Exhibition 2008 (SSE-2008), reportedly one of the largest self-service shows in Eastern Europe, opens tomorrow in Moscow. Lithuanian companies will present the newest solutions in ATM-network optimization, cash management, self-service devices, and show organizers say 70 percent of Russian billpay terminal and kiosks manufacturers are expected to attend. Exhibitors are expected from Great Britain, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Korea, France, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and China.
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Travel Daily News: SITA, the aviation IT specialist, and Malaysia Airlines have announced plans to replace in-house reservations system as part of a $130 million IT-driven turnaround program that has helped bring the Asian carrier back to profitability, with annual expenses cut by more than $140 million. Over the last 10 years, SITA has launched an e-ticketing and self-service check-in option for passengers of Malaysia Airlines. “SITA delivered a new passenger-services system for the airline in record time, including one of the fastest e-ticketing implementations ever seen by IATA," said managing director and chief executive of the airlines, Idris Jala. "It was done in 11 months, resulting in $6 savings for each ticket sold."
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Just Enjoy, LLC
2967 Michelson Dr
Suite G146
Irvine, CA
Phone: 800--709-1224
Fax: 951-279-0336
Just Enjoy LLC is a systems integrator and developer of middleware solutions specifically for the Hospitality Industry.
Monday, 01 December 2008
Computerworld: Kiosks running Linux are more secure than those running Windows, says Mac Jones of Whangarei-based Netstop after Computerworld’s report on attack-code targeting Windows kiosks. The Windows operating system was designed for people at home and in offices, who, naturally, wouldn’t try to hack their own computers. But now, most 15-year-olds can pull up information on the Internet and hack a Windows computer, he said. To Jones, it proved too hard to make kiosks safe using Windows and he switched to the Linux OS. Last week, Computerworld reported that an attack tool, targeting Internet kiosks and terminals running Windows, had been released by a New Zealand security researcher, Paul Craig, who works for consultancy Security-Assessment.com. Craig released his findings at the world’s largest hacking conference, DEF CON, in Las Vegas in August.
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Monday, 01 December 2008
Retail Solutions Online: The release of the new Elo TouchSystems 2240L wide-aspect, high-resolution LCD touchmonitor is the latest addition to Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems portfolio of open-frame touchmonitor solutions. The company unveiled the new touchmonitor Nov. 18 to 20, during the annual Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. Designed for use in high-traffic casino gaming, video-game entertainment and self-service kiosk environments, the 2240L claims to offer the widest viewing angle of any 22-inch touchmonitor, without sacrificing color and graphic clarity.
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Monday, 01 December 2008
Business Weekly (England): Barclays branches at High Street Colchester and Princes Street, Ipswich were officially relaunched last week after major refurbishment. The renovated branches have contemporary layouts, with self-service areas containing new cash and check-deposit machines, account-manager kiosks (which allow customers to obtain statements and view their online banking accounts) and new open tills. Twelve personal bankers also will be situated in each branch's banking hall.
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Monday, 01 December 2008
BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp., provider of a self-service and multichannel expedited bill-payment network, reports respective revenue gains and net losses of 12 percent each for the fourth quarter of the year. Revenue for the quarter totaled CAN $4,064,442 (U.S. $3,271,895), compared to the CAN $3,636,153 (U.S. $2,926,948) recorded during the same period last year. Net loss totaled CAN $1,686,898 (U.S. $1,357,791), compared to the CAN $1,507,344 (U.S. $1,212,612) net loss reported in 4Q 2007.
According to a news release, a non-cash write-down of property and equipment totaling CAN $600,000 against the carrying value of the company's kiosk assets impacted net income and EBITDA. But revenue was positively affected during the quarter by an increased number of activated network endpoints — now totaling 11,815 locations, including 1,380 kiosks in retail locations, 2,381 non-kiosk clerk-assisted locations and 8,128 OEM Express locations driven by TIO's application programming interface. The increases represent a 403 percent uptick in activated locations and a 159 percent uptick in the number of transacting locations.
Revenue for the fiscal year, which ended July 31, was up 6 percent while net losses almost doubled from last year — going from CAN $3,834,078 (U.S. $3,079,317) in 2007 to CAN $6,251,231 (U.S. $5,021,903) this year.
"Fiscal 2008 represented a period of substantial network growth, expense reduction and transformation from an owner/operator of self-service kiosk infrastructure to a financial-services processor," said Hamed Shahbazi, TIO's chairman and chief executive. "TIO is leveraging its core strength in self-service to acquire more relationships with biller clients and process expedited payments on a much broader range of self-service and clerk assisted systems."
Monday, 01 December 2008
 The Curiosk kiosk is an assisted selling, self service kiosk which enables consumers in
wine and spirits stores to receive intimidation free customer service. Customers scan their bottle of choice at the wine and spirits kiosk for product information, then personalize and print a greeting card containing the product information along with their personal greeting. By implementing the Curiosk wine and spirits kiosk retailers add the ability to enhance customer service, increase basket size, differentiate themselves in the market place and turn browsers into buyers.
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