Article

4 features of a robust kiosk printer

Down printers are a big cause of kiosk failure. Here's how to keep them up.

July 9, 2011

by Tim Dreyer

In the past decade, personal technology has increasingly become a part of our everyday lives, and retailers are tapping into our behavior as they look for ways to better reach their customers. One of these ways, according to a recent study by Aberdeen, can be seen in how retailers are focusing on technology related to consumer empowerment.

When it comes to technology and the in-store experience, the Aberdeen study found that 29 percent of retailers are providing self-service kiosks as a key point of service for consumers. For retailers, self-service kiosks can provide increased efficiency and productivity, especially during peak selling times.

Approximately 90 percent of the kiosks sold on the market today have some sort of printed output. They are key components, but because of their complexity, printers remain the primary cause of kiosk downtime due to jams, running out of paper, or improper loading. Oftentimes, when the printer is down, so is the kiosk.

Here are a few key features to look for to ensure optimum printer productivity and uptime:

• Looping presenter. A looping presenter prevents the user from accessing the printout until it is completely printed and cut, decreasing the chance of premature pulling or tearing that can jam the printer.
• Guillotine cutter. A guillotine cutter smoothly separates the printout from the paper roll, not only creating a nice edge, but also preventing jams by keeping the end of the roll available for the next printout.
• Large roll capacity. A large roll capacity reduces reloading trips as well as the number of times the kiosk is opened, virtually eliminating improper loading or the amount of times a retailer has to load.
• Remote monitoring. Remote monitoring provides notifications when paper is jammed or low.

Proper printer selection and maintenance can help retailers ensure their kiosks stay up and continue to provide an excellent, trouble-free experience for customers.

Image by ben_onthemove.