L-1 Identity Solutions, a provider of identity solutions and services, today announced the release of automated kiosks for processing driver's license renewals and replacements. L-1 says the kiosks will first be deployed today at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) headquarters in Jackson, Miss., and six additional kiosks will be rolled out at other DPS offices across the state by the end of December.

Stephen Simpson, commissioner of the Mississippi DPS, says that automating license renewals and replacements, which account for more than half of all license transactions, will benefit the DPS and its customers:

For us, this is more than just a technological innovation; the kiosks add a new dynamic to the way in which we interact with our customers. Automating the simple, yet time- and labor-consuming tasks of renewal and replacement will boost operational efficiencies while paving the way for reduced wait times, shorter lines and more quality interactions between our staff and the public. We have promoted the kiosks to the public over the last few months and the reaction so far has been very positive.

L-1 says the touchscreen kiosks feature a camera and biometric facial-recognition technology that matches the customer to existing photos in the DMV's database to confirm her identity. The kiosks also are equipped with credit/debit card readers and feature state-of-the-art security technology, the company says.

CSP Daily News: Radiant Systems Inc. said Tuesday it has inked an agreement with Intelio Technologies to become a distributor of Intelio’s Activa car wash activation kiosk and to work with Intelio in integrating the kiosk with Radiant’s electronic payments software.
 
The Activa is a networked self-service kiosk designed to greet, educate and upsell car wash customers. Its “talking head” virtual assistant, touchscreen and stereo sound provide a differentiated customer experience, which often results in a higher average ticket price. The kiosk works with all major car wash manufacturers and can accept codes sold at fuel dispensers.
 
Radiant’s electronic payments software integrates a variety of processing networks globally to process credit, debit, store value, fleet and ACH payments. When the integration is complete, deployers of the technology will have the ability to accept more than 100 distinct payment cards at the Activa, depending on network configuration.
 
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TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND — Alamo Rent A Car, the largest rental car provider to international travelers visiting North America, has announced an exclusive agreement with Virgin Holidays to become its preferred car rental supplier. The agreement will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.
 
"We are proud to be part of such an innovative partnership, especially in today's tough economic climate," said Greg Stubblefield, president of Alamo Rent A Car. "Virgin Holidays and Alamo are both leaders in their respective industries and together can offer leisure travelers even more value, service and convenience than ever before."
 
Alamo's online check-in option, friendly self-service kiosks and leading-edge environmental stewardship were all factors in Virgin Holidays' selection criteria.
 
“We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations, so Alamo feels like a perfect match for us and enables us to offer our customers a unique, state-of-the-art fly/drive product into North America. We are delighted to appoint Alamo as our exclusive vehicle rental provider,” said Amanda Wills, managing director for Virgin Holidays.
 
Beginning Jan. 1, all Virgin Holidays customers will be able to bypass the car rental counter and go straight to Alamo's self-service kiosks to retrieve their rental agreements. The kiosk can also be used for any last minute changes or additions to the car rental booking, including vehicle upgrades, child seats and additional drivers. Virgin Holidays customers also will have access to the Alamo Choice product, whereby they can choose any vehicle at the facility within the category booked.
 
"I believe that Alamo and Virgin Holidays will jointly offer a terrific and memorable customer experience from beginning to end," Stubblefield said. "From Florida to California and from Texas to Canada, we will be working together to set a new standard in the travel industry."

CSP Daily News: 3M Touch Systems Inc. has teamed with Pump Media Inc. to provide a touchscreen kiosk located on top of a gasoline dispenser. The kiosk combines the best assets of digital signage with the functionality of the Internet, the companies said. Motorists receive television ads while they pump fuel and are invited to interact with the touchscreen to access live directions, traffic, news, lottery winning numbers and special offers and coupons from local businesses.

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Chicago Tribune: In the market for a Bentley sports car, a Jean Paul Gaultier dress or a cell phone, but don't feel like dealing with a pesky salesperson? Literally at the touch of a button, visitors to the Mondrian South Beach can buy those items — as well as more prosaic hotel gift-shop staples like toothbrushes — from a new lobby vending machine called a Semi-Automatic.

In a postmodern echo of the early 20th century's Automats, the Semi-Automatic peddles a jumble of more than 60 items priced between $10 and $1.2 million in a large, sleek rectangular display.

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TUCSON, Ariz. - The first SAM kiosks, a first-of-its-kind, drive-up diagnostic tool for cars and light trucks, will begin rolling off the assembly line in one week.

TULSA, Okla. - Alamo Rent A Car announced it will roll out new self-service kiosks at rental locations throughout the United States. The new system cuts check-in time for customers by about 50 percent when compared to average counter check-in times.

The kiosk roll out comes after successful testing by customers in Dallas, Las Vegas and Jacksonville, Fla.

"Self-service eliminates one more hassle from family travel," said Jerry Dow, Alamo's chief marketing officer. "Customers are already comfortable using the check-in kiosk for flights, using a self-service kiosk for car rental is a natural progression."

The touchscreen kiosk allows any customer with a valid driver's license, major credit card and an existing reservation to skip the rental counter and check in directly at the kiosk. After a customer agrees to the terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed and the customer is directed to his or her rental car on the lot. At the exit booth, the customer shows the booth agent his or her rental agreement and driver's license and then drives away.

The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information, upgrade to a larger car class, add additional drivers, and purchase option items such as child car seats, a GPS unit, collision damage waiver and pre-paid gasoline.

By next summer, Alamo expects to have nearly 80 rental locations outfitted with the new touchscreen kiosks. Besides the test markets, the first locations to install the kiosks this month are Orlando, Detroit, Denver and Los Angeles. Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, St. Louis, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta will all have kiosks by March.

24dash.com: Avon and Somerset Constabulary is to link up with one of the region's biggest employers to give people access to the force's Webs ite and multimedia services. A hi-tech Internet kiosk is being installed at the Rolls-Royce plant in Patchway, South Gloucs, England, as part of a partnership between police and the jet engine manufacturer.

• Improved visibility of products, assets, and materials within the enterprise;
• Automated tracking and inventory management of goods and materials;
• Increased operational efficiency and decreased resource expenses;
• Enhanced security and shrinkage reduction;
• Improved cradle-to-grave tracking capability;
• Removal of limited human interaction generally required with bar code systems;
• Improved supply chain collaboration (i.e., reduced warranty cost, shorter response time to open issues); and
• Compliance with current and future industry and customer mandates (NHTSA, AIAG, ODETTE, JAMA/JAPIA, Wal-Mart, etc).