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Three technologies set to change self-service in 2015

From beacons to bitcoin, these technologies are poised to make a major impact on self-service in the coming months.

February 2, 2015 by Marek Narkiewicz — CEO, GWD Media Ltd

It's going to be an interesting year for the self-service industry, that's for sure. Three technologies in particular are set to make a major impact:

Beacons — Bluetooth LE

There's a lot of noise being made about these little gizmos in the "Internet of Things" and mobile app development spaces. I see them as the potential missing link between self-service kiosks and customers. There are still hoops to jump through: the brand needs to get customers using their app (or a third party app that they can add the service into) and not all mobile devices support the technology as yet, but good, engaging implementations with direct benefits to customers will solve both of these problems. In particular I can see beacon technology being used to increase footfall to self-service installations in supermarkets, stadiums, shopping centers and other large venues.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin endured a pretty torrid time in 2014. There were high-profile arrests of bitcoin-related criminals and major bitcoin exchanges suffered attacks, losses and one major bankruptcy which sent shock-waves throughout the bitcoin world. Despite these problems, the underlying technology for transactions remains sound and reliable, and infrastructure development continues at a pace. There are many success stories to be found; in particular, the Bitcoin self-service businesses Robocoin and Lamassu have posted extremely impressive revenue figures for their self-service ATMs. While market speculators will be licking their wounds from losses in 2014, I believe the self-service industry will really begin to embrace bitcoin in this coming year.

Miniature form-factor PCs

While this isn't a new concept, I think a combination of new, cheap, small-form-factor PCs and a desire to replicate the minimalist design of most tablet PCs will drive the kiosk market toward miniaturization. In addition, more payment methods will be adopted, slowly removing the requirement for bulky peripherals like card readers and bill acceptors, which allows for thinner, tablet-style designs rather than the monoliths we're used to. Intel in particular has been driving innovation in that area.

Which technologies do you see making inroads in our market in 2015? Talk about it in the comments below.

About Marek Narkiewicz

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