News & Media From Elliot Maras

The dark side of restaurant automation: data management challenges

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Self-service kiosks, and other automation technologies, deliver greater efficiencies to restaurants, but managing the data for managing equipment presents more…

read now

Airport travelers smile for World Smile Day to create 'hashtag mosaic'

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Travelers to John F. Kennedy International Airport were greeted by a billboard display encouraging them to take pictures of themselves using their smartphones…

read now

Micro market acquisition speaks volumes about self-service progress

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The acquisition attests to the fact that the micro market improved the customer experience in the unattended break room — such as being able to touch a product…

read now

The politics of self-service technology strikes; strong stomach needed

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Retail and foodservice are on the front lines of the way automation is impacting jobs since they are the most visible workplaces the public sees on a regular…

read now

Taco Bell finds self-order kiosks improve menu appreciation

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The self-order kiosks being rolled out to Taco Bell stores are encouraging customers to explore the menu more than they have in the past.

read now

US-China trade war alarms kiosk providers; long-term outlook uncertain

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Kiosk manufacturers are watching the developments closely, but decision makers hold mixed views on what the long-term impact will be on their business.

read now

Concern rising over touchscreen sanitation

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

More than 70% of respondents in the U.K. are worried about using public touchscreens due to possible exposure to contamination. The kiosk industry has to a…

read now

'Times Square Everywhere' – OOH ready to revolutionize retail as we know it

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Out-of-home digital, known as OOH, is making major strides and promises big changes in consumer shopping behavior. Interactive kiosks and digital signage will…

read now

Improving shopper satisfaction with BOPIS points to kiosk growth opportunity

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Shopper satisfaction with BOPIS continues to improve, especially for purchases made using mobile devices. Automated pick up solutions have proven particularly…

read now

How BOPIS lockers enhance the click-and-collect shopping experience

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Automated buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) lockers let consumers place orders online and pick up at convenient locations. Use cases include food order pick…

read now

24/7 Germ-Free Touchscreens – Protection for Life

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

“24/7 Germ-Free Touchscreens – Protection for Life” sponsored by Kastus explores the important issue ensuring that customer touchscreens are safe for customers…

listen now

In search of coffee excellence: Entrepreneur invests 6 years in self-serve brewing technology

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Entrepreneur Jeff Osburn custom designed his own self-service coffee brewer to achieve the product he wanted. After six years of study and development, he…

read now

Brands concur: experimental ‘phygital’ store delivered proof of concept

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Executives for the two brands that participated in The Fitting Room, which combined both digital and physical customer experiences, agreed the one-month…

read now

The Fitting Room merges physical and digital

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The Fitting Room converted a 63-square-meter space in a retail mall into a store that allowed customers to browse merchandise on interactive kiosks, try on…

read now

Interactive touchscreens put avocado education in the driver's seat

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The Avo-Matic food truck now uses interactive touchscreens to offer free avocados and educate millennials about their benefits.

read now

How Dairy Queen franchisee introduced self-order kiosks

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Teaming with Panasonic, a Texas Dairy Queen franchisee was able to install self-order kiosks that have resulted in higher tickets, consistently.

read now

Network interoperability and secure payments: the twin pillars of EV charging infrastructure

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

EV charging stations are projected to post a 14.3% combined annual growth rate from 2019 to 2025. Network interoperability and secure payments are key to the…

read now

Fresh food vending operation debuts plastic-free machines, chef-crafted meals in New York City

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Fresh.Bowl, a fresh food vending service provider that features plastic-free machines, launched its first machines throughout New York City following a…

read now

Texas Dairy Queen franchisee pioneers self-order kiosk

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Michael Clarke, a Texas Dairy Queen franchisee, recently became the chain's first franchisee to introduce self-order kiosks and has boosted tickets in high…

read now

Cashierless stores? The jury's still out but self-service is coming despite challenges

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Panelists at the Interactive Customer Experience Summit agreed cashierless technology has a role to play in retail, but it will not remove the human element.

read now