Green is big business and represents a new way to do business, it has a two fold effect and helps improve the bottom line whilst helping the environment. Now digital signage kiosks and enclosures are going green.

There is a movement in the kiosk and enclosure manufacturing industry for greener products, these units will be manufactured from renewal materials and will not damage the environment as previous units did. Coupling this with cutting edge dynamic signage is a winning solution.

There are three key steps to follow: ??

* Adhering to RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
* Using recyclable material
* Reducing power usage

In July 2006 a policy was implemented in Europe for RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), this policy was soon accepted within the businesses throughout Europe and into Asia.

This new policy was seen as a problem by some manufacturers, as it limits the amount of lead and mercury in a particular product as well as specifying which type of flame retardants to use.

The policy was one reason a company decided to buy back any kiosks or enclosures they were replacing and recycle them, by sending the old kiosks or enclosures to a specialised company that melted the steel and plastics then re-processed the product so it could be used again.

This is the way forward, with greener digital signage kiosks everyone wins including the planet!

With the proliferation of kiosks, especially in retail outlets, businesses now have a new weapon in their branding arsenal.
According to the latest version of Summit Research Associate Inc.’s annual report, “Kiosks and Interactive Technology — Global Statistics and Trends,” 1.85 million kiosks were projected to be in use by the end of 2009, with each seeing an average of 94 users per day. Summit forecasts that number to grow to 1.9 million by the end of 2010 and to 2 million in 2011.

Branding is a powerful tool that can be integrated into almost any kiosk, and when done well can significantly increase its effectiveness and value. The branding of today’s retail kiosks carries a tremendous amount of influence when it comes to a customer’s purchasing decision.

Kiosks deliver a range of services 24 hours a day, and what customers experience while using the machine can shape their perception of the product or service offered by the kiosk and the environment in which it is located.

“When it comes to a retail self-service kiosk, 70 percent of the buying decision is made at the point of purchase,” said Ronald Bowers, senior vice president of business development with Grafton, Wis.-based Frank Mayer & Associates. “Media advertising, the identity influence and out-of-store promotion account for 30 percent of the consumers’ decisions.

Self-service solutions seem to be available everywhere these days. You can find eye exam kiosks in convenient locations such as chemists, some parts of town are using kiosks to enable bike sharing, and even some bars and nightclubs are using kiosks to determine if late-night revellers have had one to many to drive home.

One of the fastest growing verticals for self-service screens has been libraries. Many are installing kiosks to help streamline a variety of processes – in the hopes of reducing costs and improving the customer experience. Customers may use the kiosks to place holds on books, to pay fines, and to check out books. Some locations are even closing smaller libraries and replacing them with vending kiosks that actually dispense books. The face of the traditional library is changing, and its long-term viability may be at stake.

For those who continue to utilize the library, there’s great news! Thanks to technology investments, it’s becoming much easier – the self-service kiosks make the trip more convenient than ever. And, thanks to the kiosks enabling less complex tasks, librarians will have more time to spend with customers who need specialized services.

South Africa’s Southern Sun Hotels’ Sandton City is launching what it bills as “Africa’s very first hotel self check-in and check-out kiosks,” according to the chain’s Facebook page – nicely timed for the 2010 World Cup that begins in June.

The touchscreeen-enabled kiosk allows guests to check-in and out and to perform certain in-house hotel functions within the hotel environment. Guests can check in by identifying themselves by reservation number or credit card, and then the kiosk integrates with the hotel’s operational system, allocates a room, authorizes a debit or credit and dispenses a room key card. Check-out follows a similar identification process.

“Our guests already use self check-in facilities at airports and the movies, and at economy, economy plus and brand hotels overseas. Generally, they welcome technology that enables them to ‘do it themselves’ – not to mention quickly,” said Southern Sun managing director Graham Wood.

For those seeking a human interaction, Garden Court Sandton City hostesses will continue to provide check-in services at reception, and will also be available to assist customers with the self check-in terminals if needed.

Why Kiosks will Change Local and Long-Distance Travel:

Kiosks are rapidly changing the travel industry, both on the commercial and administrative side. Deployment of self service kiosks and information points in airports, particularly in immigration settings and check-in areas, has resulted in a significant change in staffing requirements for airlines. With the travel industry shifting away from large staffing requirements, self service kiosks are allowing airlines to minimize per-customer costs and offer more competitive airfares.

Of course, the effects of kiosks aren’t limited to long-distance air travel. Local governments and tourism associations are embracing informational kiosks as a way to make their towns and cities more accessible and traveller-friendly. From mapping kiosks to multi-function information and payment points, kiosks have positively affected the public travel sector.

What Does a Successful Kiosk Deployment Require?

With the advanced that kiosks have caused in these three industries, it’s inevitable that they’ll begin to spread further. However, a successful kiosk deployment depends on more than just presence – effective kiosks need effective placement, on-screen software and navigation systems, and a long-term revenue model.

Self service kiosks can be tailored to an extreme extent – often with specific designs and user-friendly form. On-screen software can be customized to provide limited or relatively open access to information, or even designed with a clear purpose and on-screen journey in mind. From placement to function, accessibility to overall marketing purpose, a range of factors can influence a kiosk deployment.

What is the Future of Kiosks?

The developments in staffing and automation are clear: businesses are embracing automation and self service. Kiosks have, by and large, received a great deal of customer approval. From empowering customers to research independently to reducing staffing costs for businesses, the deployment and usage of self service kiosks has been almost exclusively effective for the businesses and public operations that have employed them.

With this customer and merchant approval, it’s likely that kiosks will spread to more industries and economic sectors. Using retail and travel as a stepping stone, customers should expect to see kiosks become commonplace in public areas, offices, and service-based businesses over the next decade.

Interactive kiosks are quickly shifting from a one-off novelty into a staple asset for businesses. Following the massive success of Redbox – a self service kiosk system placed in shopping malls for DVD rentals – a range of large retail chains, city governments, and travel businesses are beginning to experiment with their own self service kiosks designed for payment, information and education, and automating simple tasks.

Of course, much like business staffing, kiosks are most cost-effective and valuable when optimized for use. For some businesses, this may mean a multi-purpose kiosk designed to minimize overall expenses and streamline in-store operation, while for others it could mean a very defined and single-purpose kiosk, installed with the goal of minimizing specific staffing requirements.

This flexibility is a key aspect of the ever-growing value of touch screen kiosks. From retail to travel, leisure to local government, kiosks can offer value in almost any industry. These three case studies illustrate how kiosks are changing strategy across three different industries: entertainment, retail, and travel.

How Kiosks are Boosting Cinema Profits:
The film industry has been thrown around over the last decade, but a number of recent technical advances are ensuring its profitability. The first is the installation of ticket kiosks in cinemas and theatre lobbies. With the addition of self service ticket points and payment kiosks, cinemas are lowering operating costs and rapidly increasing their profit margins, allowing moviegoers to enjoy relatively lower ticket prices and decreased wait times at cinemas.

Cineworld, one of the UK’s largest cinema chains, have experienced this boost in moviegoer spending first hand. Since installing automated ticket booths, their per-customer spend has greatly increased, alongside higher levels of customer satisfaction and a much more streamlined movie experience. Since installing touch screen kiosks, staff have been able to focus on major customer concerns more immediately, and overall operating costs have been lowered significantly.

The Effects of Self Service Kiosks in Retail:
Self service kiosks are quickly becoming a common sight in retail settings. UK childcare and baby products giant Kiddicare have implemented retail kiosks into their outlets, with some very positive results. Installed with the purpose of freeing staff to focus on customers, the kiosks have achieved their goals effectively, increasing per-customer spend and maximizing Kiddicare’s ability to focus on customer assistance directly.

A range of factors influence the value of these kiosks installations. On-screen software allows merchants to streamline their sales and information process. Similar to the direct sales process, kiosk software is designed to guide customers through a clear on-screen journey. Multi-purpose kiosks, one of the most effective tools for increasing ROI, benefit most from relatively minimal on-screen information and grounded navigational buttons.

As a common alternative to in-store staff, kiosks are quickly changing the economics of retail. As retail stores can often achieve greater ROI with multi-purpose kiosks, the staffing requirements of major retail stores are beginning to dramatically change. With informational kiosks, businesses are able to assign more staff to high priority customer service events, lower their reliance on floor staff, and empower customers to shop independently.

Moves towards self service in retail are likely to trickle down to other service-based industries. As a wider range of major companies experiment with in-store retail self service kiosks, smaller retailers and independent stores are likely to follow. With this comes a distinct shift in the way retail stores operate – staffing commitments are likely to be lowered, resulting in a new dynamic for retail stores and a significantly more lucrative per-customer ROI.

The retail industry is already seeing major shifts towards this model. With Nintendo of Japan’s integration of self service kiosks into their retail gaming outlets, customers are able to shop much more independently than before. With ticket machines taking over public transport, self service payment systems dominating supermarkets and shopping centres, and in-store information kiosks quickly moving into retail, the only question left is how quickly other industries will adapt to the new self service movement.

An electronic touch-screen kiosk at a major hotel was hacked to show an online video demonstrating humorous uses for condoms, prompting an investigation by tourism authorities. The video appeared on a kiosk at the Souk Qaryat al Beri, adjacent to the Shangri-La Hotel and operated by Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority.

“The relevant ADTA department has launched an investigation into this situation, and the kiosk at the Shangri-La has been closed,” said a spokesman for the authority.

ADTA said it would release more information when it became available.

Someone manipulated the kiosk at the Shangri-La to circumvent the visitor advice system and connected to YouTube via a web browser. The prankster appeared to have searched for the word “condom” on the video-sharing site, and the kiosk was displaying the result in full screen.

The Abu Dhabi emirate is renowned for its stringent laws, especially when it comes to the subject of sex.

Mobiles used to be powered by some sort of Duracell-esque energy but these days, with the widespread use of modern day smartphones sapping up juice like a gasping desert wanderer who just found an oasis, there is widespread demand for alternative phone charging methods when people are away from laptops and plug sockets.

Fortunately for those users, who sap their battery with music, videos and web browsing – oh, and the odd phone call – a new kiosk is being deployed that can offer rapid phone charging for little or no money and has already proved successful in Asia. It is now set to be rolled out in the US and then the UK.

Typically comprising of at least one set of connectors for various phone types and a monitor, the kiosks also can include touch capability, a payment mechanism and connectivity for the processing of transactions, remote management and the download of new content for the monitors.

Just as the ATM cash machines provided a new and unique solution for people on the go to acquire cash, the mobile phone-charging kiosk will help them stay connected.

We’ve all heard about the success of movie rental kiosks, such as Redbox, but the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show has thrown up an intriguing industry incumbent.

DVDs you rent can often end up damaged or unplayable and returning them is as much of a hassle as sending an old fashioned rental back to the shop.

So, Symwave and Xona Media have invented a better way.

They’ve created the MK3 DVD+Digital kiosk, and they’ll be showing it off next year at CES 2010. This kiosk uses USB 3.0 technology to deliver full movie downloads to customers in less than 10 seconds, and will carry an almost unlimited selection of films.

If you don’t have a USB 3.0 capable drive, your old 2.0 stuff will still work with the MK3. Using it is still going to be faster and more convenient than any other movie renting experience. Plus, when you’re done with the film, it just gets deleted from your hard drive. You never have to worry about returns.