A preventive maintenance checklist
When it comes to the devices that keep your business humming, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a mere pound of cure.
April 2, 2006 by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance
When it comes to the devices that keep your business humming, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a mere pound of cure. Service calls are a necessary part of kiosk ownership, but every effort should be made to minimize them.
Here are a few practical things that will keep your self-service devices up and running, and keep the maintenance man at bay.
- Operate the device in the proper manner, in the proper environment
. Don't place an indoor-rated kiosk outside or in an area with a high level of dust or particles in the air. Don't subject a light-duty device to heavy-duty usage.
Keep the area around the kiosk free of clutter. "The same applies for the kiosk work surfaces," said Joseph Kloss, spokesperson for
Pitney Bowes. "Don't use the kiosk as a temporary storage area for anything not related to the operation of the kiosk."
Keep the machine clean. Touchscreens are especially important when it comes to cleanliness - and given their specialized nature, it's also important to follow the manufacturer's specifications for cleaning supplies and methods. Keep a can of compressed air handy to do occasional cleaning on the keyboards, bill acceptors, printers, etc.
Use only manufacturer-approved consumables. Thinking about saving a few bucks on a generic brand of ink or replacement part? Think again. Pennies saved by such methods can turn into dollars lost when failure occurs.
Put it through its paces on a regular basis. Schedule a system of in-house testing - use the machine yourself to see if everything is operating as it should. Delegate regular testing to key staff members - for instance, let one individual be responsible for testing the printer, another the cash system, etc.
Double-check the software. Are transactions being properly posted to the database? Are results reconciling with cash activity? Is any data being lost or scrambled in the transaction process? Software needs to be checked in much the same way that hardware does - periodically do an internal audit to make sure every 0 and 1 is ending up in the right place.
Know when to ask for help
Despite your best efforts at preventive maintenance, there will still come a time when a professional is needed. Building an ongoing relationship with a service provider will ensure that you've got a name and number when that pivotal moment of machine failure comes (and it will come).
About James Bickers
