Customer Experience
Top 10 Kiosk Marketplace stories of 2021: Pandemic dominates reader interest
The pandemic's impact on retail dominated the best read content in Kiosk Marketplace in 2021.
January 3, 2022 by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times
The pandemic dominated much of the content on Kiosk Marketplace in 2021, as retail, hospitality and government decision makers embraced self-service to reduce human interaction.
The 10 best read articles focused largely on retail applications, which is not surprising, given that retail organizations comprise the largest number of self-serve kiosk deployers.
Following are the top 10 articles in 2021.
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| Image courtesy of Diebold Nixdorf. |
1. Diebold Nixdorf introduces modular, open, self-service solutions
The most read story in 2021 was Diebold Nixdorf's announcement of its Series Easy, a set of modular self-service retail kiosks designed to improve store efficiency, enhance the consumer shopping experience and reduce operating costs. The story posted on Jan. 26, 2021.
The kiosks use one core technology platform. Retailers can add different modules for varying use cases.
The units feature remote servicing and leverage machine learning to predict and fix issues before they happen.
The company's Vynamic software with flexible APIs enable faster integration and more personalization.
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| Image courtesy of Cleveron. |
2. Albertsons introduces contactless pickup locker in Chicago
The second most read story was an announcement by Albertsons Companies of its automated grocery PickUp kiosk made by Cleveron at a Jewel-Osco store in Chicago. The story posted Jan. 7, 2021.
The temperature-controlled kiosk, installed on a test basis, offers customers who select the "Kiosk PickUp" two-hour time slots during which to pick up their groceries.
Customers scan a code on their phone at the kiosk and their groceries are delivered robotically to the front of the unit for pick up. A customer's order can be stored in two different temperature zones — regular and deep freeze — and be delivered in the same console for pick up.
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| Image provided by iStock. |
3. Podcast explores: Kiosks and the self-service consumer journey
The third most read story was an announcement about a podcast exploring "Kiosks and the self-service consumer journey," featuring Carl von Sydow, director of self-service for the Americas at Diebold Nixdorf.
The Diebold Nixdorf executive discussed why this trend is emerging in a variety of retail sectors and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, even beyond COVID-19.
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| Photo courtesy of ITI. |
4. How self-service DMV kiosks boost user convenience, efficiencies
The fourth best read article was a story sponsored by Frank Mayer and Associates Inc. on how self-service DMV kiosks improve user convenience and DMV efficiencies.
The article, posted Feb. 24, 2021, explored the expansion of vehicle registration and/or license renewal kiosks by state and local governments which have recognized the time saving benefits the kiosks provide motorists.
Frank Amoruso, the chief growth officer at Intellectual Technology Inc., a Fort Wayne, Indiana based technology company, offered his insights on the expansion of DMV kiosks, noting that more growth is expected.
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| Image courtesy of Stop the Spread Solutions. |
5. UK PPE vending machines offer COVID-19 test kit
The fifth best read article was a report on the introduction of PPE vending machines in the U.K. offering a COVID-19 test kit. The report posted on Dec. 7, 2020.
Stop The Spread Solutions, a U.K. company offering touchless PPE vending machines, introducd Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test kits.
The user waves their hand over an image of the product on the machine's exterior, then waves a contactless credit card near the payment reader and pays. A delivery chute cover opens at the bottom and delivers the boxed test kit. Results are available in under 15 minutes at the machine and on the user's phone.
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| Image provided by iStock. |
6. Pandemic brings new role for unattended retail in 2021
The sixth best read article was a report on a roundtable session at the inaugural Self-Service Innovation Summit focusing on the role self-service technology played during the pandemic. The inaugural Self-Service Innovation Summit was a virtual event in December of 2020. The article posted on Jan. 4, 2021.
The six industry thought leaders agreed that the pandemic has remapped the customer journey and has impacted how companies interact with consumers in the areas of product discovery and purchase.
The panel included Jean-Pierre Lacroix, president of Shikatani Lacroix Design; Bill Stutzman, vice president of strategic initiatives at Ventus; Bepin Jose, president of Semnox Solutions; John Keys, strategic account manager at Embed; Mark Smith, business development manager at Bitcoin Depot and Stuart Rogers, CEO of Agora Brands Group.
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| Photo courtesy of Truebird. |
7. 10 robots automating restaurant operations
The seventh most read story was a blog by Chen Feller, digital marketing manager at Israel based GKI Group, on 10 robots automating restaurant operations. The blog posted on July 21, 2021.
Feller noted that food preparation robots automate the food or beverage making process, save costs, improve menus, improve accuracy, reduce food waste and operate 24/7. In light of COVID-19, robots also reduce human contact.
The robots included the Chowbotics salad maker, the Cecilia.ai interactive bartender, the Picnic automatic pizza maker, the Mini Bakery automated loaf maker, the Miso Robotics Flippy robotic burger and fries maker, the Kitchen Robotics robotic dark kitchen, the TrueBird automated micro-café, the Smile Robotics plate collector, the Solato gelato maker and the Milkit milk on tap solution.
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| Photo courtesy of Kind Love. |
8. Colorado cannabis dispensary automates purchases with vending machines
The eighth top read article was a feature story on a Colorado cannabis dispensary that uses vending machines to automate purchases. The article posted on May 5, 2021.
The story, part two in a four-part series on cannabis kiosks, profiled Kind Love, a Glendale Colorado dispensary that installed a vending machine that dispenses cannabis. The technology differed from other cannabis solutions in that it dispensed the product at the machine rather than requiring the customer to pick up the product at a manned checkout station.
As states legalize recreational cannabis, dispensaries are finding that self-service concepts provide efficient ways to allow customers to shop.
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| Image courtesy of Ultraleap. |
9. Self-Service Innovation Virtual Summit honors inaugural Innovation Awards winners
The ninth best read article was the feature honoring the inaugural Self-Service Innovation Awards which were presented at the first Self-Service Innovation Summit in December of 2020, a virtual event. The article posted Dec. 9, 2020.
The winners were:
- Innovation of the Year (B2B): PicoCooler, submitted by 365 Retail Markets.
- Innovation of the Year (B2C): Freestyle Contactless Pouring on a Smartphone, submitted by the Coca-Cola Co.
- Best COVID-19 Solution: TouchFree, submitted by Ultraleap.
- Reader's Choice Award: Innovator of the Year (Company) Chowbotics.
- Reader's Choice Award: Innovator of the Year (Person) Krishna Vedula, COO, 365 Retail Markets.
Image provided by iStock.
10. Why retailers must rethink their reverse logistics strategy
The tenth best read article was a blog by Mo Cheema, director of omnichannel solutions design at Position Imaging, on why retailers must rethink their reverse logistics strategy. The blog posted on July 5, 2021.
Cheema noted retailers are increasingly offering to pick up return packages, a costly proposition that can be made more economical with the use of self-serve pick up kiosks.
Self-serve kiosks can play a role in a platform where the physical goods are held in a secure fashion and supports chain of custody.
About Elliot Maras
Elliot Maras is the editor of Kiosk Marketplace and Vending Times. He brings three decades covering unattended retail and commercial foodservice.
Included In This Story
Frank Mayer and Associates
Kiosk Design | Manufacturer
Frank Mayer Kiosks and Displays specializes in large-scale rollouts of custom digital kiosks for enterprise and growth-oriented brands. With a relentless focus on premium design, customization, and end-to-end service, we manufacture self-service customer engagement solutions that expand market reach, boost sales, and enhance brand equity.
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