Self service systems can be ideal as ticketing kiosks to take the pressure off the box office during busy hours. That way the hours of service are extended beyond normal box office hours and can reach remote locations and tap into heavy walk-by traffic.

Main features:

Collecting Tickets 

Customers who have booked to go to the cinema online or by the telephone can collect their pre-paid tickets via a self service kiosk.

Tickets are generally printed using the kiosks internal printer.

Booking and Purchasing Tickets

If the box office is busy or there are no staff around, customers can simply walk in and book and purchase their tickets directly from the touch screen kiosks at their leisure. You can even allow customers to pay by means of gift cards, coupons or credit/debit card.

Collecting tickets via subscription

Subscribers can use subscription card / credit card to collect their event tickets.

Real Time Pricing and Availability

Using a self service kiosks allows customers to know that the tickets are definitely available, that they can choose their own seats and that the pricing is up to date.

Touch Screen Ticketing Interface

The screen should look and feel customisable so that it is easy to use for customers and provides all the relevant information they need to purchase or collect their cinema ticket.

A kiosk manufacturer who has recently helped a cinema chain increase their self service usage is Protouch. The cinema giant rolled out the manufacturers Xen X5 and X4 kiosks into a number of its UK cinemas. The kiosks are used for both Cineworld’s Unlimited film programme and for ticket collection.

John Anderson Cineworld’s Marketing Co-ordinator said, “The Unlimited program is a large and important part of Cineworlds business and distinguishes them from every other cinema company in the UK and Protouch’s X5 kiosk is helping advance the programme.”

For more information about self service kiosks and how they can benefit you visit Protouch today.

Today, retailers are serving a new breed of customers who are tecnology savvy, time contrained and less willing to wait in line than ever before.

Consumers now demand that busy environments are well equipped with quick, easy transaction in-store kiosks that offer full control over the buying process, such as self checkouts, or on-demand information about products or services available.

A recent study by Radiant Systems found that 76 per cent of consumers preferred using kiosks to being served by a store associate.

But what is the main attraction towards technology devices that don’t offer a welcoming smile or general chit-chat at the checkout? Why are so many people attracted to heartless machines?

It’s simple. They have been designed to be easy to use, consumer friendly, efficient, effective and save the customer time and hassle dealing with another person when simply trying to purchase an item or find out some information.

However, this is what a ‘top quality’ self service kiosk should provide, but what Alex Grunsteidl, creater of Digital Well Being found, many companies don’t consider the fundamental points to creating a self service kiosk, such as its physical design.

• Physical Design

At St Pancras the self service kiosks reflect an early nineties design sensibility. Large vertical units trying to fullfil multiple way-finding and information tasks. There are two screens mounted above each other. On top, a general information streaming display, with time, weather and departure info, arranged in portrait format.

Below, a touch screen in landscape format, suggesting some kind of relationship between the two screens where there is none.

Alex said, “On multiple visits I noticed that some of the displays were out of order. In case you are not aware where you are, the designers ensured to splash the St Pancras name/logo in a prominent position on the totem, instead of using this space for meaningful labels to identify, for example, different meeting location throughout the station.”

However, the design and layout of the self service kiosks in Westfield Shopping Mall, West London told a different story.

“This is seriously clever design,” Alex said.  

The design looks light and modern fitting perfectly into the new digital age.

The design is welcoming to customers accommodating for two people either side of the kiosk to avoid queues, as well as holding a table-like setting to allow users to maintain awareness of their environment without having their views blocked.

The design is the first point of call when purchasing a self service kiosk as consumers need to instantly know that what they are seeing is a kiosk for them to use at their leisure.

On top of this, the design need to fit well into your environment to create a uniform feel throughout.

The self service kiosk also needs to be inviting and accommodating for all customers entering your business whatever the circumstance.

Protouch have a range of self service kiosks for your to choose from to fit into your business.

Thier classic designs can be developed and designed with your logo to feature to create a uniform feel throughout.

For more information about their products and services visit Protouch today.

In today’s world, customer demands are constantly on the rise whatever industry you work in.

And as your business continues to grow, you may well find that the original space you started with is too small for you and your staff to work conveniently and comfortably, as well as ensuring that your customers are 100 per cent happy with the services you provide.

On top of this, you may find that the cost of employing and training staff is growing sky high and no longer cost effective in providing excellent customer service for your clients.

If these are the troubles that worry your mind, you may find that a self service kiosk could be the right solution for you, and here are the reasons why.

Self Service Kiosk as a paying point

Customers don’t like to queue. Often, if a person walks into a store and finds the line to the checkout is trailing to the back of the store, they are more likely to walk out and find the items elsewhere.

With a self service kiosk, you can eliminate this problem and allow customers to purchase the items themselves at their own pace. Protouch have a range of self service kiosks which can be installed with a chip and pin device, as well as a receipt printer. That way your customers don’t feel put out in your store, they save time and walk away feeling happy with their purchase.

Self Service Kiosk as a Point of Information

On a busy day, catering for all your customers can be a difficult task. Whether you have limited staff, or they are pre-occupied elsewhere, if your customer has questions they need answering with no one on hand to ask, they will walk away and find someone else to answer their queries for them.

Installing a self service kiosk as a point of information in your store can free up your staff to deal with other problems and allow your customers to freely look for advice and answers to their questions.

You can even feature all of your products on the self service kiosks, so customers can look at all your stock in one place, making sure that they don’t miss a thing.

So don’t think any futher and make sure that you get your self service kiosk order in today at www.protouch.co.uk

You may not know much about self service kiosks, but you probably use them more than you think.

From cash machines to Internet booths at airports we have all had a kiosk experience. and may have found they are move convenient and time efficient.

Many businessess have installed self srvice kiosk systems into their stores and offices, specifically customising them to suit the needs and requirements of their customers.

Using the right software and touch screen company for your business, you can find the best uses for a self service kiosk to suit your needs in whatever your industry you are in.

Self service kiosks are more than a computer in a box and can offer a wide range of services, such as an automated point of information to relieve the use of staff in-store, or a payment system to allow customers to take charge of their visit and purchases in store.

More importantly, kiosks are easy to use. Users simple use the touch screen to find information, services, or merchandise they are looking for.

Another bonus is that they work around the clock, so you don’t need staff on duty to fulfill simple tasks that a self service kiosk can fill.

Another great use of a self service kiosk is that information can easily be added, edited and deleted, as well as full maintenance and software upgrades were necessary.

We have compiled together a few examples of self service kiosks and their involvment within private and public sectors.

Cash Machines - Retailers can offer customers to get quick cash while they shop. Businesses can also put ATM’s into their offices, providing better convenience for their members of staff.

Digital Photos - Installing a digital photo machine in your store allows customers to bring their memory cards and USB’s to your store and browse through the photographs they want to print at their leisure.

Directions - A perfect way to help customers know where to find certain departments or sections in your store is to install a self service kiosk with a layout of your store giving customers directions of where to go and how to get there.

Industrial Use - Factory or Warehouse workers can use extra durable kiosks in harsh environments to pull up planning, inventory information or get shipping data in real-time, cutting the amount of paper printed and generally lost in the workplace.

Advertising - Self service kiosks can display a wide variety of interative advertising specific to your customers likes and interests. These types of self service kiosks are perfect for heavy footed traffic such as department stores or hotel receptions.

Security - Kiosks can also be used for video surveillance and high level methods to prove identity, such as fingerprint variation. These types of kiosks are ideal for airports and police stations.

WiFi Services - Charge your customers a small fee and allow them full access to the Internet so they can check their email. Hoteliers should use WiFI services in their main receptions and allow guests to access it for free, providing excellent customers service throughout.

Medical Facilities - A great way for doctors or nurses to pull up data information of their patients or supply medical inventory. Doctors surgeries will benefit from using self service kiosks to check patients in.

Hospitality - Welcome your guests to a wide range of services and deals on offer currently in your store or hotel. Self service kiosks are great at trade shows to show what your company does and what services/products you have to offer.

Don’t waste a second longer in thinking about self service technology and its benefits to you. Visit www.protouch.co.uk for more information about their services and products.