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Predicting 2012's top innovations

January 13, 2012

During these turbulent times, it's natural to feel nervous about taking risks. It's also worth noting that after every crash, correction or depression there is a boom at the other side. Often this boom is where wealth is created for the brave who were prepared to drive innovation.

The following is a list of the innovations I predict to come on strong this year.

Surge in contactless payments

This will increase as adoption becomes more mainstream and as consumers become more switched on to the convenience of not having to dig for change anymore.

Tablets are the wonder pill

They will start to be used instead of PCss because they are low cost, easy to swap out and use touch screens as standard.

Androidwill rise

Android, which is free, will boom as it becomes easier to implement. The plethora of payment systems which talk to Windows will be less important to integrators as contactless technology grows and simplification is possible without impairing customer quality.

Kiosks will become social

Kiosks will have their own status pages and be able to interact in a more natural way. This information will be used to drive down costs and increase network capabilities.

Machines to replace people?

Well, not quite, but kiosks will be used ever more by companies to standardise the experience, increase knowledge, reduce queuing and to extend operating.

What we must do as an industry is focus on how kiosks are to be used and fulfil that need. Think about how you use an ATM – it's easier than standing in line right? If kiosks solutions make things more convenient, increase knowledge and take away pain-points they will be real winners.

So what has changed in the past few years? It's mostly about reliability, simplicity and mainstream adoption. People use kiosks to check-in at airports, and check-out goods in grocery stores, but perhaps most important of all they feel more in control.

I, for example, have realized as a busy business owner, father and husband that shopping later at night is far less hassle – when I am in the store what I see is people like me who have the same wants, needs and pressures (so I am not the only one). Self-service plays its part in this by empowering the users. As a kiosk software developer myself, moreover, I understand that I am only part of the eco-system and success is down to the final implementation.

The good news is that kiosk networks can drive down cost and increase profitability. So best of luck in 2012 and please comment right now on this blog or if you any predictions that you would like to share – or dispute!