Blog

Is self-service the new tech startup?

June 14, 2012 by Chris Gilder — Founder/CEO, Meridian

Technology incubation is our future. Just try talking to kid — if you can get them to look up from their smartphones! Texting is the new email. Touchpads are the new Keyboards. Everywhere you look, technology is impacting the way we live, thank Steve Jobs (more on that later).

Recently the economic development group in our area, Partners in Progress, wrote an article about Tech Startups playing a key role in the development of our area. Our "micro metro" as it's fondly referred, can benefit from the tech companies moving to the area. While some people refute self-service kiosks as killing our economy, I have to dispute. We've created jobs and training opportunities in our area. We've kept manufacturing (a dying industry) from jumping ship (literally) oversees. Our company has blended traditional manufacturing (building hardware) with new technology (designing software).

Retooling. Reinventing. Recreating. "Re" can be a good thing. Change happens, and watching my kids grow is testament to that. I look at the evolution of our kiosk solutions from over the years and it's amazing. The changes, not only in hardware, software but also the GUI are lightning different.

What I enjoy most about running this company is that fact that I can blend the new with the old. Our community is a traditional area with a tremendous amount of history in golf, equestrian and even in the pine needles — a resort town that many think of as a retirement community. Yet, here we are, bringing the new to a traditional, historic town. Our own self-service valley (more on this later too).

Our town benefits when our clients and prospects visit; our employees benefit because we are growing and creating jobs. Our educational system benefits from training and development programs and that , in my humble opinion , speaks volumes to the American dream. It's cool to know that Meridian is truly a partner-in-progress for our community.

About Chris Gilder

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Chris Gilder, CEO and founder of Meridian Kiosks, brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial successes to the senior management team. Meridian has been recognized as a leader in the self-service kiosk industry and an innovator with the development of the Self Service Technology Center in partnership with Intel, HP, Microsoft, Zebra Technologies and Storm.

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