News

Self-service big at NACS

October 18, 2004

LAS VEGAS - "We are living in a self-service world," said Thomas O. Palmer, a partner of IDS Engineering. Palmer is one of more than 1,400 exhibitors at the NACS trade show, where his company showcased its Xpedient kiosk for indoor and outdoor applications.

Another company at the show, ReComm Prepaid Wireless, featured its cellular phone kiosk. At ReComm's kiosk, customers can purchase cell phones and prepaid minutes using cash, debit or credit cards.

Looking toward a more financially stable economy, Radiant Systems, also at the show, displayed a number of solutions, including its Sheetz self-ordering kiosks. Douglas Henderson, director of product sales for Radiant Systems, said he expects the profits convenience store owners earn from self-ordering kiosks to increase as the margins for gasoline and cigarettes decline or remain flat. "We see kiosks as a good driver for revenue growth through up-sells throughout the transaction, the privacy factor, being able to order what you what, cross-merchandising and cross-selling," Henderson said.

Purpose Solutions showed off its secure debit card for those underserved by traditional banks at the show. All the customer information for the Purpose Solutions debit card is scanned from the customer's driver license. No paperwork is required. And a temporary debit card is issued and loaded with funds from the customer, with a permanent card to follow within two weeks.

The temporary debit card can be used immediately in kiosks and ATMs, said Dwight Harris, executive vice president of Purpose Solutions. The card offers emergency loans, check cashing, prepaid wireless and bill payment online for the under-banked population, he added.