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Choosing and sourcing quality kiosk components part 2

Last time, we discussed how to choose the right kiosk components for a project. This week, we conclude with the second stage of kiosk development and component selection: sourcing the actual components to be used in the final design, and the choices that will need to be made around these decisions.

November 18, 2015 by Ben Wheeler — Director of Marketing and Sales, RedyRef

Let’s say there are two companies -- Company X and Company Y.

Company X has worked with an engineering firm to design their latest product. Because this company does not handle fabrication and component sourcing, Company X is now basically on its own.

The company's executives will likely need to:

Utilize the Internet to search for what they need, based on general component descriptions
Contact multiple companies to find out who produces the necessary components
Figure out if the (multiple) companies they will need to source product from provide quality parts

Once Company X has sourced the appropriate components, there are still obstacles to overcome, and questions that will need answers, including:

Acquiring samples of each component, requiring communication with several different resources and often a sizable financial investment
Sourcing the right software for the kiosk’s intended purpose in the marketplace
Deciding on an operating system, based on which OS the components are most easily able to “talk” to
Finding out if the chosen components include an existing SDK (Software Development Kit)
Assembling and testing the components together to be sure that they work not just in theory, but also in practice
Contracting with a fabricator who can integrate the component set and software into a metal enclosure that is suited for its ultimate purpose

Company Y can improve its chances by choosing the right kiosk manufacturer at the start of the kiosk project. If the company selects an end-to-end, vertically-integrated kiosk manufacturer, it can provide Company Y with a single, focused resource from kiosk design through installation -- including component selection and sourcing. This allows the executives to focus on their business, instead of wasting days or even weeks researching and contacting different manufacturers for each kiosk requirement.

Company Y could also benefit by selecting a manufacturer that designs or contracts out the actual hardware. If the manufacturer designs the software, it can then ensure that every component Company Y chooses will run on it. Essentially, it takes the guesswork out of the process by helping the company choose components that we know will work the way they want them to, on the operating system of their choosing, be it Linux, Windows or iOS; whether or not they include an SDK; regardless of the type of configuration.

Additionally, the manufacturer will be able to verify that all selected components work/function as expected by building a working set on a test bench (also in house) before the kiosk undergoes the final, critical stages of engineering and production.

By utilizing these steps, Company Y’s customer experience will beat Company X’s by a mile.