Commentary
5 reasons when to cover your digital kiosk
While kiosks are built to withstand ongoing use, there are circumstances when a cover can protect it from damage and extend its useful life.
August 14, 2023 | by Kate O’Neill, Equip Inc.
The kiosk industry is growing and is expected to continue in this upward trend for years to come. These devices of convenience have been around for over 40 years, but their use has really exploded in the last 10.
Kiosks are built to withstand. They can be designed to hold up to constant use, foul weather and vandalism. What are the scenarios where a cover would be applicable?
1. Protection from humans
Unfortunately, kiosks are as susceptible to physical vandalism as any other public fixture. Sometimes these crimes are motivated and planned, while other times they happen at random.
When 24-hour video surveillance is not an option, a lockable cover may deter those who would cause damage.
Another valid concern is theft of information. While most kiosk software is designed to safeguard sensitive data, no system is completely failsafe. Hackers can find and exploit any weakness in network infrastructure. This puts credit card information, human resources data, HIPAA restricted medical records and more at risk. A denial-of-service attack causes a loss of revenue even without data theft.
Threat mitigation is more desirable than damage control after these types of compromises. Clearly, a physically protected kiosk doesn't eliminate the possibility of network breaches, but it may deter an individual long enough that they move along to another target.
2. Deterioration from environmental factors
Outdoor kiosks are built to withstand wind, moisture, heat and anything else nature throws at them. Even with ruggedized components, no equipment lasts indefinitely. Protecting crucial electronic circuitry from constant changes in temperature and moisture can prolong their operational lifespan. Covering these kiosks protects the initial investment by adding to the longevity of the hardware.
3. Need for restricted usage
As well-engineered as our modern kiosks are, there may be a time where it needs to power down. Physical maintenance, server issues and just general upkeep may cause a kiosk to be temporarily out of order.
A powered down kiosk gives the impression of failed equipment and lack of management. A covered kiosk gives the user the immediate impression that the kiosk is simply not available right now, and that the user should seek another option.
Some kiosks may need to be covered after normal usage hours. Zoos, museums, amusement parks and other tourist attractions usually operate on a schedule. Just as a shuttered ticket window suggests "We are Closed," so too does a covered self-service ticketing kiosk.
4. Sanitation and cleanliness
As a society, we have recently become much more concerned with the spread of infectious disease. Frequent sanitation and disinfection are necessary in high traffic areas.
Many medical facilities have moved toward the use of the electronic kiosk to streamline their processes. There is a clear need to control introduction of any impurities in these scenarios. Aside from medical applications, laboratories and research facilities often call for dust and contaminant-free settings. Covering equipment and kiosks is a reliable way to maintain the purity of these environments.
5. Crowd management
Self-service kiosks work wonders for efficiency. In a post-pandemic economy, users expect and demand convenience. Time is money. In many ways, a covered kiosk can offer the same benefits as the one available 24/7.
Airports use kiosks for ticketing and check-ins. A covered kiosk immediately gives the traveler a visual cue to move to a different location.
Imagine kiosks for badge printing and check-in at an industry expo. Covering a kiosk temporarily causes some to reroute to another entrance and aids in proportional crowd dispersion. This can apply anywhere there are people en masse.
Small crowds can also be routed in this way to an actual staffed ticket window, which can increase the possibility of upselling (for example: memberships, add-ons, etc.).
Regardless of the scenario, the key to success in any industry is the flexibility to adapt. Using electronic kiosks is one crucial piece of the puzzle, and sometimes that means restricting their use.
Kate O'Neill handles the marketing and graphic design at Equip Inc., a manufacturer of custom cover solutions.
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