Article
Will tablets replace traditional kiosks?
Tablet kiosks appear to be taking the kiosk market by storm. However, are tablets truly superior to traditional designs?
July 29, 2015 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
What is a kiosk anyway? Traditionally speaking, a kiosk was a large enclosure with a screen. Now tablets have entered the kiosk market, and many manufacturers and businesses alike have seen the appeal. However, simply because a tool is new and innovative does not make it ideal for every situation. Every tool has its pros and cons when it comes to design and functionality. Tablet kiosks are no exception to this rule.
One major reason tablet kiosks are becoming popular is related to price. For example, traditional display kiosks can be quite expensive. "The price point can also be prohibitive — generally ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and higher," Heckler Design CEO Dean Heckler said. A tablet kiosk can often be purchased for less than $1,000. In addition, consumers are familiar with tablets and are comfortable using them, according to Heckler.
"Over the last several years, the industry has started shifting toward tablet kiosks for ease of use and portability," Heckler said. The size of the tablet is always going to be a big plus for retailers and manufactures alike. Retail space is valuable, and inevitably having a smaller device will save money on that front. However, traditional display kiosks also offer several advantages.
"Most traditional display kiosks fall into the monolith design category. These are great for large public areas where the screen needs to be visually accessible to numerous people at once," Heckler said. "This type of design can accommodate larger screens and, if it is designed correctly, can be more durable for high-traffic areas."
With tablets, visibility is also a concern. Customers won't pay attention to screens they can barely see. Elo Touch Solutions CMO Trent Waterhouse believes manufacturers should deploy tablets with 15- or 22-inch screens as these can be seen unaided from a distance.
One key issue with this discussion is the functionality of tablet kiosks in general. "The problem is not design, the issue is functionality of the solution in conjunction with components like printers and card readers," said Ben Wheeler, director of marketing forRedyref Interactive Kiosks. Peripherals can be a challenge for the tablet design.
"Peripherals in consumer tablets are rarely hardwired," Elo Touch Director of Business Luke Wilwerding said. "By the time you wrap this beautiful tablet with all these appendages, you have made it ugly." This is especially challenging when you want to integrate several tools such as biometrics, printers, card readers and other devices. According to Wilwerding, adding all these devices can also increase the price dramatically, to the point where it's simply more efficient to deploy traditional display kiosks.
Another issue with tablet kiosks is simply being able to adapt a consumer mobile device into a locked-down retail device. For example, on tablet kiosks, consumers might see upgrade messages and pop ups, which are unsightly, according to Wilwerding. In addition, it can be difficult to lock down tablet kiosk software to prevent users from using it to access app stores. Also, if the tablet isn't properly bolted, it can become a target for theft from disgruntled employees who want to use it as a personal device. As a counterpoint, there are software packages designed to block popups and restrict access, and tablet enclosures designed to prevent theft and vandalism.
Although reports have shown an increase in tablet kiosk usage, the devices still come with a set of flaws, like any tool. For several manufacturers, the functionality of traditional display kiosks remains superior to consumer tablets. It remains to be seen whether this trend of tablet kiosks will completely overwhelm traditional kiosks.
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