Customer kiosks keep up with the pace of business

Always updating and visually compelling, kiosks are part of a modern, technology-augmented sales floor.

The wave of convenience that swept across retail as the Internet rose has fundamentally changed the way people shop for products. Once someone has bought an item with a single click, it's hard to forget how easy that experience was. Even in-store interactions have changed as a result of the Internet's ubiquity. Sales floor personnel are constantly competing with online storefronts, and as a result, it's important that retailers streamline their transaction processes as far as is feasible.

While technology has added new pressure to the physical retail market, new tools are also helping salespeople improve their performance. Equipped with touchscreen information kiosks, sellers can deliver convenience and validate the choice to come into a store instead of handling a whole transaction from the couch.

Accurate and compelling
The ability to conjure obscure information on a whim is one of the most notable conveniences to come along with the Internet, and sales professionals should be thinking about how they can provide this benefit in-store. While shoppers could always type queries into their smartphones as they browse, retailers can offer them a better option in the form of kiosks. With large screens and responsive displays, these devices captivate shoppers and deliver information vetted by the brand, with a multitude of specific information about that seller's products while reducing exposure to competitors' products.

While some software systems may rely on streaming online data to display content such as videos and high-resolution images, kiosk systems that store that content locally can prove even more impressive for viewers. Seeing immersive visual materials with no lag time may encourage consumers to use kiosks for longer and look up more facts, becoming more certain of their intent to purchase.

Data contained within kiosks will also be accurate and reflect the very latest releases, provided consumer brand leaders select interactive kiosk systems that receive new updates automatically. With these installations, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for example, can ensure whole networks of automotive dealers have current offerings and promotions. The dealers themselves will allow customers to browse independently at their leisure, secure in the knowledge the information presented is up-to-date and accurate. These terminals can even display exact inventory information, so users know immediately what's in stock.

Data flows from companies to customers via kiosks - and vice versa.

Two-way street
The best kiosks provide information in two directions - they give consumers access to the facts they are seeking while noting their browsing preferences and passing insights to the retailers. In a landscape where the act of independently gathering research has become a huge part of the buying process, businesses can facilitate that search for knowledge and become a trusted ally to their customers. At the same time, they can build a knowledge base to foster stronger relationships with customers.

Marketing efforts must grow and change along with the wishes of the public. With a good stream of incoming data on interests and preferences, decision-makers can get ahead of the curve. By finding out which aspects of the product lines are striking a chord with the consumer base, management can be prepared to adapt and stay current. Touchscreen information kiosks can become the first link in this chain, a useful source of data fully under retailers' control.