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News Archive |
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Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Bangkok Post: The Betagro Group plans to offer a smarter point-of-purchase electronic traceability system that not only enables consumers to verify the quality of the group's pork products, but also prints cooking tips and recipes. Since the beginning of this year, the group has successfully installed 11 ''Spy on Me'' kiosks, part of the innovative point-of-purchase e-traceability system at supermarkets under The Mall Group, Emporium and Siam Paragon.
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008
NEW YORK — On the heels of a successful two-year pilot of personal electronic automated retail shops with ZoomSystems, Macy’s announced the rollout of this technology to more than half of its full-line department stores around the country. The new e-Spot automated shops offer the latest consumer electronics at a customer’s fingertips with touchscreen technology that processes the transaction and completes the sale in a matter of minutes. The machines will offer widely demanded brands including Apple, Sony, Canon and MyVu.
"Personal electronics are a massive business in today’s texting, downloading, photo ‘tagging,’ YouTubing world," said Chris Mizer, senior vice president of Macy’s Customer Operations. "And arguably more so than ever before, people’s tech taste is as much an extension of their personal style as their choice of shoe or apparel brands. As we continue to expand the Macy’s brand as the premiere shopping and lifestyle destination, it became increasingly obvious that our customer was looking to us for this caliber of electronic product. They wanted one-stop, no-fuss shopping, and we are responding."
The products available from e-Spot include iPods (Touch, Classic, Nano and Shuffle); Canon 7MP and 8MP digital cameras; Samsung 7MP digital camera and 1GB Camcorder; MyVu Personal Media Viewers; Sony, V-MODA, Bang and Olufsen and Harman Kardon headphones; and mobile accessories by Belkin. Products range from $14.99 to $349.99.
Providing instant gratification faster than online purchasing, e-Spot automated shops can complete a transaction in less than two minutes for knowledgeable, decided customers. The machines also have extensive product information and comparisons that allow customers with less-certain needs to be as thorough as necessary to feel comfortable.
"Customers tell us they love the no-pressure environment e-Spot provides," said Mizer. "Getting product information easily without pressure, and not waiting for someone with a key to unlock a cabinet or get the product from a back room — this is the type of comfortable shopping environment that today’s technology buyer appreciates."
Friday, 14 December 2007
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario · The Home Depot Canada is changing the way customers shop for home improvement projects with the opening of its first project-orientated store in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The new 115,000-square foot store has been redesigned both functionally and aesthetically based on customer demand.
The project store features a new layout that creates a more project-oriented shopping flow; redesigned departments for greater access to project information and expertise; inspirational showrooms; project-oriented customer service; a new seminar area; self-service kiosks for homedepot.ca product orders; more than 40,000 products; a Tool Rental Centre, Installation Services and an 18,000 square-foot Garden Centre.
"The Home Depot has long been Canada's home improvement store, offering the selection, expertise and value customers expect when completing their projects. As the market leader in the industry, we are always challenging ourselves to look for ways to improve our business for our customers," said Annette Verschuren, president of Home Depot Canada and Asia. "By listening to those who shop our stores, we developed an innovative project store concept that is the next evolution in the home improvement shopping experience."
The Richmond Hill store will include new interactive kiosks to provide customers and associates with the opportunity to access homedepot.ca, complete special order transactions, book installations, complete credit card applications and look up a price and product information.
Thursday, 11 October 2007
PORTSMOUTH, RI · Thule Inc., a Swedish car rack manufacturer, chose Self-Service Networks, a provider of turnkey self-service solutions, to create TIPP, a touchscreen kiosk that empowers consumers to quickly match the appropriate Thule rack system to their vehicle and gear carrying needs.
Self-Service Networks designed TIPP as a stand-alone kiosk or as an upgrade to Thule's Rack Patrol point-of-purchase display. Along with rack-vehicle matching tools, the TIPP system features product information and video demonstrations. After selecting a rack system, the selected components can be printed as a shopping list for an efficient sales process.
Sales associates also can use TIPP as a Thule product training tool while better serving customers. Additionally, TIPP gathers usage statistics that can improve other aspects of the Thule shopping experience.
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
The Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minn.) Business Journal: Target Corp. has announced that it would debut in-store kiosks to help customers create shopping and gift-giving lists. Minneapolis-based retailer Target launched its TargetLists system - computer kiosks that contain lists of products a customer can generate. Customers can go online and browse products, create lists, then add items or track items purchased. The system also allows a user to share lists with others, and create lists for occasions like birthdays or holidays. The lists can then be printed out at in-store kiosks or at home.
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Monday, 30 July 2007
NEWARK, Calif. · Tranax Technologies Inc. and Columbus Data Services have parterned to provide a new gift-card function for self-service devices.
According to a news release, the solution is designed for retail and financial-institution markets.
The program will feature Tranax's gift card-dispensing Hybrid ATM platform, which is based on the Tranax Mini-Bank x4000 and HK2000 sidecar. Processing and gift-card support will be provided by CDS.
The Tranax sidecar features a bill acceptor and card dispenser, which supports cash or debit cards. Existing Mini-Bank x4000s also can be upgraded to provide the solution.
The gift card program, called ZIPPAY, features a gift card that can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Friday, 27 July 2007
LOUISVILLE, Colo.· KIOSK Information Systems has formally launched Self-Service Quotes, a Web-based interactive service that allows companies to enter unique configuration inquiries and receive quotes instantly.
According to a news release, users are guided through questions about project pricing, configuration, and service, software and option analysis for their self-service projects.
"The intent is to provide another level of customer service and simplified shopping," said Tom Weaver, vice president of sales and marketing for KIOSK. "Customers can experiment with multiple configurations and receive instant and accurate financial feedback as they process choices."
The quote generator is intended for deployments between one and 10 kiosks, with larger volume quotes coming from KIOSK's direct sales force.
Since the pilot program began in April, KIOSK says it has received thousands of requests for quotes worth a total of about $30 million.
Friday, 20 July 2007
Media Buyer Planner: NBC Universal has reached an agreement with Premier Retail Networks in which NBC U will sell package deals, bundling time on its network with space on PRN's Supermarket Checkout TV.
Supermarket Checkout TV has a presence in more than 1,000 stores, including chains such as Shop Rite and Albertson's, and NBC U said the deal with PRN will yield 45 million impressions a year. More details of the deal, including ad specifics, are expected to be announced soon.
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Thursday, 07 June 2007
Internet News.com: Motorola's latest foray into enterprise technology products is in full swing with the third-generation release of Motorola's MC17 mobile-computer device for retailers. Call it an unfettered kiosk designed to get shoppers to pick it up, play with it, and, most importantly, receive personalized marketing messages.
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Tuesday, 08 May 2007
East Bay Business Times: Portland, Ore.-based Healthnotes, provider of wellness-driven marketing programs for retailers, has partnered with EatingWell magazine, Rodale Inc. and Hyperion Publishing to provide recipes from kiosks in 2,400 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Based on an interactive wellness program for food and drug retailers called Healthnotes Connect, the in-store kiosks incorporate hundreds of recipes from EatingWell magazine and cookbooks published by Rodale Inc. and Hyperion Publishing.
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Thursday, 29 March 2007
RFID World opened in Dallas on Monday, with about 3,000 attendees and 200 booths. Plano, Texas-based Media Cart demonstrated its smart shopping cart in RFID-reader manufacturer ThingMagic's booth. Media Cart C EO Steve Carpenter called it a "kiosk on wheels," which will save shoppers time and money. He said the cart was created to help customers locate products in a store, learn more information about particular products and check out more easily. The carts were deployed March 27 in a northeast grocery store chain on a pilot basis.
The shopping cart is outfitted with a screen on the opposite end of the shopper with a control pad on the cart's handle. Using an RFID reader, the cart will display advertising in the bottom portion of the screen as it passes RFID tags mounted on shelves. For example, an ad for a particular brand of bottled water will appear when the shopper goes near the bottled water aisle. Shoppers can also use the barcode to scan items before placing them in the cart to keep a running total. Once the designated check-out lane is reached, the cart communicates wirelessly to the POS system for quick check out.
Other features include store map and product locator, recipes, shopping lists and cross promotions. The carts only cost retailers about $150 each since Media Cart's main source of revenue comes from advertising. Carpenter said the company has 31 brands participating in the pilot.
The writer is executive director of The Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Christianpost.com: Members of Stevens Creek Community Church in Augusta, Ga., have long been swiping their cards on SecureGive kiosks built by the church's founding pastor, Dr. Marty Baker. With a touchscreen monitor, a secure encrypted PIN pad, and an instant receipt printer, Stevens Creek saw an 18 percent increase in giving since the kiosk came out nearly two years ago.
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Friday, 23 February 2007
COSTA MESA, Calif. · StacoSwitch announced that FormaLogix will be the first company to adopt the Tactile Feedback Touchscreen in a commercial application. StacoSwitch currently manufactures the touchscreen system, which provides users with tactile feedback, for noisy environments such as airplane cockpits, casino kiosks and airport self-service ticket machines. FormaLogix's Virtual Fit is their first venture into the burgeoning footwear industry. The VFit kiosk will be placed in high-traffic environments such as malls and shoe stores.
FormaLogix has developed a solution to one of the footwear industry's oldest problems · finding the right fit. The VFit kiosk uses digital imagers to capture a three-dimensional image of the user's feet and compares that to an exact 3D form of the inside of a specific shoe. FormaLogix VFit technology is able to determine exactly what size a person wears in a particular shoe style and brand without the person ever trying on the shoe. For retailers, the technology improves customer service, validates fit and size, and ultimately reduces the number of returns because of poor fit.
Thursday, 18 January 2007
NEW YORK · Circuit City chief executive Philip J. Schoonover announced a new company focus on self-service and assisted selling during his keynote speech Monday at the National Retail Federation's Convention and Expo at New York's Jacob K. Javitz Center.
Schoonover is widely credited with turning around Circuit City's sales by returning the company's focus to its core competencies. In his NRF presentation, "Information Transformation at Circuit City," he described his forthcoming self-service focus and its importance to satisfying customers.
"In order for strategy to win, it must be different," Schoonover said. "It must matter to the customer and the customer must be willing to pay for that strategy."
Schoonover showed two applications from the stage: an assisted selling tablet PC for sales associates, and a live-assisted kiosk through which customers can communicate via video feed with off-site experts.
In demonstrating the tablet PC, Schoonover played the role of a customer looking for a flat panel television while an employee used the tablet PC. Schoonover reviewed the details of his living room, which the employee sketched out on the screen. It included details like light sources in the room and the viewer's distance from the TV.
Based on the large amount of light in the room, the employee suggested an LCD screen, which is brighter than plasma. He then used the tablet PC to demonstrate the difference of 1080p resolution versus 720p resolution, using an application with a magnifying glass over graphical images of digital screens to illustrate the differing pixel sizes.
After qualifying the sale to a few sets, the employee next showed the TVs' product specs side-by-side. The tablet PCs also showed complementary items such as cables, and information on extended warranties and service packages.
Schoonover said the system provides relief to a vexing and persistent retail dilemma: training employees to be knowledgeable about complicated products, even when many of them are new or, often, seasonal. He said the average Circuit City employee is 23 and that turnover is "quite high."
"Our products are more advanced than ever and our customers are demanding help with their needs," Schoonover said. "This will help us enable associates, even new hires."
He next presented a video demonstration of the live-assisted kiosk application. The kiosk consisted of a big-screen touchscreen turned vertically. The remote assistant's streaming video feed showed on the top half of the screen. In the bottom, the remotely based assistant could show product information and photographs while conferring with the customer about a sale. If the customer agreed to a sale, the remote assistant could send the details of the transaction to a store associate's tablet PC for checkout.
Schoonover said the systems are being piloted in 50 stores. He thanked several companies for contributing to the project, including Cisco, Microsoft and IBM. The live assistant program closely resembled an application developed by Experticity, a Microsoft development partner, but Experticity representatives would not confirm or deny that they developed the Circuit City application.
Schoonover said the solution "took seven months of disciplined innovation."
"We are investing in technology to enhance our customers' experience," Schoonover said. "I hope you sense the engagement of our associates and strategic partners as we transform Circuit City."
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
PROMO: Under the "Use It. Win It." promotion, customers can enter to win a host of prizes, including Chrysler Crossfires, tickets to sporting events and free trips to Florida for using and registering their Dunkin' Donuts cards.
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Friday, 06 October 2006
SYRACUSE, Ind. - RV manufacturer Ameri-Camp is beginning to use interactive kiosks to showcase its RV product lines, the company announced in a news release.
The Syracuse, Ind.-based company is employing the interactive information centers for use in dealer shows, meetings, RV sales centers and even inside the RV units.
Ameri-Camp worked with Video and Sound Productions to create, develop and produce interactive marketing, videos, CD-ROM's and information centers as part of its aggressive marketing strategy.
Ameri-Camp also introduced the information center at its recent dealer meeting and the concept received an enthusiastic response.
"Customer trends are adopting this technology and it's important we give them the latest tools to help in their decisions," said Dave Raphael, Ameri-Camp marketing director. "These interactive information centers are able to deliver information to customers in a fun, effective and affordable way."
The self-contained interactive kiosk features product videos and information, floorplans, picture galleries, page turning brochures and information on the Ameri-Camp company, all accessible from a touchscreen.
RV Manufacturing Enterprises LLC, under the name Ameri-Camp, manufactures a range of travel trailer and fifth-wheel recreational vehicles, and has dealers located throughout the United States and Canada.
Wednesday, 20 September 2006
IT Week: Woolworths has signed a contract to install interactive kiosks in its shops as part of its multichannel push to enable customers to buy items on their own.
The kiosks allow customers to purchase products in-store and have them delivered to the door, which Woolworths hopes will improve customer experience and revenue. The machines are expected to be installed in time for Christmas.
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Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Chicoer.com: Teaching classes that touch on Internet and consumer behavior, one professor believes businesses should carefully weigh all the factors before deciding to jump into technology purchases.
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Tuesday, 21 March 2006
Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company, today announced that BRB Enterprises, an Oregon based franchise of a global oil and gasoline conglomerate, has selected the Symbol LS9203 omni-directional bar code scanner to increase efficiency and accuracy in its "food and fuel" convenience stores across Oregon. The LS9203 scanner has enabled BRB Enterprises to improve in-store inventory control and increase productivity through better stock and product pricing management.
The LS9203 scanner replaces traditional paper-based, manual inventory and cashier operations at the BRB Enterprises convenience stores. Cashiers at BRB Enterprises convenience stores can now instantly access product information by simply scanning an item -- improving customer satisfaction and convenience by reducing wait time in the stores.
"Symbol's scanning solution provides us with the real-time visibility into our inventory that is vital in retail today," said Earl Andrews, operations manager, BRB Enterprises. "We are also now able to manage the fluctuations in pricing more efficiently ensuring that cashiers are simply scanning the product for the correct price, not relying on memory -- dramatically reducing pricing errors that have saved money for both our company and our customers."
Symbol's LS9203 bar code scanner is a high-value, cost-effective scanner, delivering increased durability and ergonomic design in a compact footprint. The LS9203 is designed for both hands-free and handheld scanning of bar codes, and incorporates omnidirectional scanning which eliminates the need to orient the bar code for faster and more accurate read rates. Easy to use, deploy and maintain, the Symbol LS9203 helps BRB Enterprises increase the accuracy of transactions and inventory tracking, while reducing the costs associated with scanner maintenance, training and operations.
"The Symbol LS9203 bar code scanner provides a robust scanning solution for better inventory management with minimal investment, and is designed to enable retailers like BRB Enterprises to gain a competitive advantage," said Bob Sanders, vice president and general manager of Symbol's advanced data capture division. "The LS9203 has provided a rapid return on investment for BRB Enterprises in the form of improved customer service, greater retail efficiencies and increased employee productivity."
About Symbol Technologies
Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company, is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs under the Symbol Enterprise Mobility Services brand. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world's leading companies. www.symbol.com
Thursday, 16 February 2006
In his seminar at The Self-Service & Kiosk Show on Feb. 13, Alex Richardson laid out the trends he's seeing in assisted selling devices in retail. Richardson, founder of software giant and SSKA member Netkey and now managing director for Selling Machine Partners, began with a brief history of the kiosk industry, then jumped forward to discuss how some major retailers are implementing self-service technology.
And he had some interesting insights into those major initiatives.
"Women control almost all purchasing decisions in our economy," he said. "Generally, women buy everything. They run the world."
This point dovetailed into Richardson's analysis of how a typical female customer might view the different components she encounters as she passes through a retail store.
"What problem does she want to solve in those five square feet of space, at that particular time?" he asked, showing that in a typical retail store, a customer might encounter dozens of different points of decision. His advice was to opt for micro-solutions rather than macro · small, non-networked devices that are dedicated to their portion of the store, rather than holistic units that can solve any problem from anywhere.
For examples he pointed to the shelf-front product info kiosk developed for Starbucks, and Home Depot's "Ask Henry" video information box developed by Apunix. With the latter, he emphasized the importance of simplicity: "It comes in one box, the store plugs it in and it works."
Richardson also referenced the successful kiosk initiatives from luxury car company BMW, noting that customers embraced the devices for innately human, psychological reasons.
"Customers trust the computer, but they don't trust the car salesperson," he said. "It's a fairly complicated decision to buy a $75,000 car."
He predicted a "massive proliferation" of digital assisted-selling devices over the next five years, and pointed out that in order to be effective, they need to incorporate rich media.
"Consumers have been so trained on rich media, they expect it inside the store," he said. "You have to have it. " Pictures turn information into understanding."
Tuesday, 31 January 2006
SAN DIEGO, Calif., -- ShoptoCook, Inc. has announced that its unique Recipe-for-Sales Platformsm can now be enhanced with an interface to adjacent digital signage that can show video clips corresponding to products featured on the kiosk's touch-screen.
"We offer branded manufacturers a media channel that places their message where most meal planning takes place — in the perishable aisle," said Frank Beurskens, CEO of ShoptoCook, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. "We use kiosk as a vehicle to promote branded ingredients in the context of a meal solution for a shopper."
Beurskens spoke here today at the Food Marketing Institute's annual MARKETECHNICS convention and trade show. The digital signage interface will be displayed at Booth 852 where he invited retailers and press to stop by for a demonstration.
ShoptoCook's GoCook Centersm uses a touch-screen kiosk located along the perishable perimeter in the supermarket's meat, seafood, produce, wine and cheese departments where meal planning takes place. The kiosk provides printed recipes and accompaniment ideas.
Linking the GoCook Centersm to a digital screen is designed to enhance the information provided on the kiosk about branded products featured in a recipe, or about a certain wine and cheese. Of example, after the shopper has either scanned a specific bottle of wine or inquires about wine by variety, a static image or video clip can be triggered on the plasma screen located near by.
"ShoptoCook continues to develop new media-based applications for the perishable perimeter, with the goal of engaging the consumer in the shopping experience," said Beurskens. "We understand the world of the shopper and we understand the world of technology."
ShoptoCook is installed in more than 200 AholdUSA divisions of Tops, Giant and Martin stores located throughout New York and Pennsylvania. The company also provides the in-store interactive solutions technology in all Bloom stores operated by Food Lion/Delhaize Group.
About ShoptoCook
ShoptoCook, Inc. offers digital solutions to reduce the daily stress of meal planning by providing an unlimited variety of fast, fun and fulfilling meal ideas while the shopper is in the store. ShoptoCook's GoCook Centersm touch-screen kiosks are located along the perishable perimeter where meal planning takes place. With a simple touch of the screen or item scan, shoppers can view and print recipes for a specific product or need on the spot. For more information, contact Frank Beurskens at (716) 362-3168 and or Dick Engl at (716) 362-3168 and . Also visit www.shoptocook.com.
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