Findings by the 2012 SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey revealed that the vast majority of travellers crave independence and control during travel. The key verdict found is that customers want more self-service offerings to reduce their stress levels.

The highlights include:

• 89% vote self-boarding as their top technology
• 79% of travellers use websites regularly or occasionally to self- check-in
• 77% of passengers use kiosks to check-in
• 66.6% used a self-service channel to check-in on the day of the survey
• 80% of passengers use both the internet and kiosks
• Mobile check-in and boarding increased in popularity too

Why do people desire self-service technology?

According to the findings, the excitement of travelling by plane has been replaced by unpleasant experiences and stress. Airports have become crowded, passenger numbers are rising and security checks have increased.

The main reasons causing customers to get anxious and tense are:

• Long waiting times and queues
• Unexpected changes/lack of information
• Lack of control

Tom Knierim, senior manager of marketing and insight at SITA, said: “To understand what can be done to improve travel, we need to understand how passengers feel about travel.

“The loss of time is the number one concern. The passenger named lack of info the most challenging. Not having correct information available at the right time or place is a main reason for stress while traveling.”

Over 2,500 passengers from more than 70 countries were surveyed and the airports focused on consisted of Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Frankfurt, Atlanta, Abu Dhabi and Beijing.

How can Protouch help?

Almost all passengers interviewed welcomed the idea of automated self-boarding gates and kiosks for flight transfer. Protouch are making life easier by installing state-of-the-art express lanes…” so you’re appealing to the airline passengers themselves.

We have already helped Birmingham International Airport by deploying our Xen X6 kiosks for premium express lane and priority processing. Just check out the case study here for more information.

You can take away the stress of queuing for your customers and improve staff efficiency with our Queue Manager solution.

KLX 2012 is the UK’s only conference and exhibition completed dedicated to the self-service industry and from the 17-18^th October, Protouch will be proudly exhibiting at The Barbican Centre.

The exhibition is returning for the second year-in-a-row and it promises to be a thrilling event! Here at Protouch we firmly believe in staying up-to-date and ahead of the latest industry trends which is why we will be exhibiting some of our best performing kiosks and kiosk software at the show for you to go along and see.

We are showcasing a wide variety of solutions for all sectors to find out how self-service technology can benefit your business. The kiosks displayed have made a huge impact on particular industries and brands across the UK, including express lanes for Birmingham Airport, self-service EPoS kiosks for clothing retailer Matalan, and patient flow management kiosk solution for Nottingham University Hospital.

Kiosk London Expo aims to deliver comprehensive seminars offering information on all of the industry’s hot topics and cutting-edge technology. The show is organised by HF Network, Europe’s leading business-to-business publisher and events organiser. The firm also organises Kiosk Europe Expo, which is the world’s largest self-service event.

Come and see us!

Come down and discuss your self-service solution requirements with the experts. Whether you require ticketing, fast-track, payment, translator or browser features; our technology can help. Protouch equipment suits any brand for any function, any place.

It is a must for business leaders determined to grow their enterprises and better still, is it is free to attend. Located in the heart of London, it is easily accessible by rail, underground and road.

KLX 2012 offers a host of networking opportunities and it is the perfect platform for the industry to meet face to face.

The Barbican Centre

The Barbican Centre is one of the world’s leading arts centres and it is renowned for world class customer experience. It is Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue and over the past year they have installed several on-site self-service kiosks from Protouch which are vital to maintain high quality service to the three million plus visitors each year.

To arrange a meeting with Protouch at the show, contact us today.

Our clean, contemporary appearance ensures the services are more accessible and the blocked categories mean you know where to look, for whatever it is that you need.

The new site offers:

• Simple navigation
• Improve overall user experience
• Much more readable
• Easy to understand information

Need some more information but not sure who to speak to? Our contact page is straightforward and clear-cut with the dedicated numbers listed; and there is a quick and easy enquiry form so if you have any questions about a particular product, you can fill it in in a matter of minutes and receive a call back.

It’s the little things like this that we believe will keep our customers happy and the ease of navigation means that in just a couple of clicks you find the answers to your questions.

We are extremely focused on complete turnkey solutions including software, which is why we now have a dedicated solutions page which offers a comprehensive in-depth guide. Our website might be new but our ethos and philosophy remains the same; improvement through evolution.

As Europe’s no1 supplier of touchscreen self-service solutions, we strike to deliver the software, hardware, installation and maintenance you need on time and within budget. We can honestly say that we have the best and most reliable multifunction kiosks that we know of in the market today, and this is reflected in the new design- just read the testimonials for yourself!

Click here to check out the new Protouch website and please feel free to let us know what you think.

There has been a big shift in consumer trends and now the concept of being environmentally friendly is a big aspect of many homeowners and businesses. The notion of having a positive impact on the world and being ‘green’ is becoming more and more popular and as a result, there has been an emphasis placed on people striving to reduce their carbon footprint.

In such a tech-savvy society, it would make sense to hear that touch screen technology can help. It has been claimed that the self-service sector is lagging behind in going conservational but not only can the equipment improve its material credentials to be ecological, it can also benefit with recycling features.

So how can kiosks help the sustainable industry?

• Education

There are numerous kiosks that have been manufactured to offer information and guidance on helping the environment. These machines offer advice to consumers on how they can cut their energy usage, therefore educating them with tips and knowledge.

E.g. there are some touch screen monitors deployed at Manchester Airport by the train station to inform travellers on how they can be more sustainable.

• ‘Green’ technology

Some kiosks are installed with technology that enables the user to manage the unit’s power and energy consumption. There are also some interfaces and touch screens that are solar-powered; click here for more information on solar powered kiosks.

• Recycling

Kiosks can also offer conservational features like recycling. There are units which can recycle old mobile phones such as the ones by American firm ecoATM. Without assistance from a human, the kiosks evaluate mobile phones to problems like chipped covers and cracked screens and they offer a price. Cash is given instantly and the phones can are recycled or resold.

But it isn’t juts mobile phones that can be recycled. Check out one of our previous posts on how Pepsi deployed touch screen technology to encourage customers to recycle their cans and plastic bottles after use.

Here at Protouch, we specialise in innovative touch screens and kiosks that are affordable, high quality and reliable. Our kiosk systems are accredited to the required standard of Quality Management Systems and work within these guidelines.

For award-winning technology, speak to us today; Europe’s no1 supplier of touch screen self-service solutions.

Hotels and restaurants can experience a surge in demand during the winter season. Many Britons travel to stay at far away destinations to meet family in the holiday, and many families choose to eat out at restaurants for Christmas Day dinner.

Hotel can also experience a rush in conference bookings, as businesses embark on setting out their strategies for 2013. Many people seek a last-minute getaway before the Christmas period gets underway and some individuals choose to spend the special occasion away instead of at home.

So with the number of consumers visiting hospitality establishments increasing, touch screen technology can definitely help. Here are the top 4 reasons by the experts at Protouch.

• Check-in

Simple tasks can be automated with user-friendly service kiosks, thereby enabling staff to become more effective at customer service. A touch screen unit can check customers in without the assistance of a receptionist; this gives the consumer more independence and allows them to check themselves in 24/7.

• Payment

Many families choose to eat out at Christmas so the demand on restaurants to cater to large numbers of people can be overwhelming. A kiosk can help the person order their own food and even pay for it, quick and easy. This means they get served faster because there are reduced waiting queues and therefore they have a more enjoyable meal.

• Booking

If the wintry weather delays a customer’s travelling time and they arrive in the middle of the night, a self-service kiosk can help by enabling them to book a room.

Elsewhere, a business can enquire about conference slots and book a room out at a resort to hold important meetings. They can pop along, see what time periods are available, and they can book and pay for the conference. Administration tasks like these are tedious and time-consuming and the staff can instead concentrate their efforts on ensuring all the facilities are to a high-standard.

• Wayfinding

It is often the case that a guest can get lost in a hotel they have never been in before but if the establishment is overcome with guests, it can be difficult for staff to have the time to direct them to where they want to go. Touch screen technology can include wayfinding features which offer information and guidance to help consumers find specific facilities.

If your business is in the hospitality sector and you need help to cater to the surge in customers this Christmas, get in touch today via our contact page.

The versatile units embody various features and this makes them ideal to help elderly people. But just how can the technology help senior citizens? Here is a guide from the experts at Protouch.

• Care homes

A kiosk can help care homes by providing information for both patients and the family members. It can be distressing putting a loved one in care but touch screen technology can help by providing access to information 24 hours a day to ease any nerves. By offering the latest up-to-date information and news such as laws, it helps to support the aging.

It also aids staff and visitors with vital information such as what room the resident is living in and regular family members can just check themselves in instead of filling out tedious forms every single visit.

Visitors can check-in via the kiosk and make appointments to look around, reducing the burden of administration duties. This therefore gives the staff more time to actually care for the patients.

But it can also act as a form of socialising portal as the kiosks can include information on local groups, meetings or clubs for the patient to get involved in. This will boost their mixing and encourage them to meet new people and enjoy new hobbies.

• Community education

Kiosks installed in local community establishments can help to educate them on relevant information such as benefits or health advice. Research by a national charity called Turn2us found that 80% of low-income pensioners are unaware of their entitlement to pension credit, so they do not claim what is lawfully theirs.

Thousands of retired people in the UK are missing out on £3billion due to not claiming pension credit but a touch screen can help OAPs learn more on such issues and how to take action.

By deploying the units in various locations like a library, church, community centre, clinic or town hall, the technology can offer insightful information and tips on care, home energy savings and medicine etc.

There are multiple ways that a kiosk can help the elderly; so get in touch today to install the touch screen technology in your local community.

In a research trip to Dubai, it was found that kiosk usage has grown in popularity over the last few years and the highest areas for growth are the Pacific Rim and Middle East.

The study, by GenKiosk, showed that:

• Kiosks offer greater choice for the customer as the payment is displayed in one location
• Kiosks offer more competitive transfer rates
• Kiosks inform customers better and give them the control of their payment
• Kiosks offer value-added service as well as more convenience of transferring money

The technology has various functions as well as payment including:

• Ordering
• Loyalty
• Information
• Product browser
• Shop online
• Top-up
• Gift voucher
• Wayfinder
• Promotional
• Help
• Feedback
• Internet
• Queue busting

Here at Protouch, we take great care to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and software. We strive to know what is going on and to stay ahead to better customer’s experiences.

Retail environments are hotspots for self-service kiosk activity and payment kiosks are more commonly situated here but touch screen devices can benefit numerous industries.

At the start of 2012, mobile technology was definitely an upcoming solution to install in businesses and whilst it is still a phenomenon, kiosks are far from being saturated.

Increase in touch…

The biggest trend for 2013 is the increased use of touch. Touch interfaces are becoming more and more common and soon they will inhabit the majority of all businesses and homes. The comfort level of the technology has soared and now it is almost required by any consumer.

Whatever the latest trends, take note that Protouch will be leading the way with the newest software solutions. Businesses are embracing self-service kiosks to empower customers, reduce staffing costs and improve efficiency and the stepping stone will only become widespread over the next decade.

It is true that businesses can benefit from the digital platform, boosting sales and marketing efforts. But high street stores are still important to the consumer and kiosks can help to keep them alive.

Here is a guide by Protouch on how kiosks can keep consumers in-store.

High street v online

There are numerous advantages to the internet; it is easy, fast and extremely accessible. Society’s needs have evolved and the World Wide Web caters to these growing requirements but high street can too by updating its technologies and services.

A study by Local Corporation, an e-tailing group, found that 90% of shoppers still believe brick and mortar stores are important.

Sherry Thomas-Zon, Vice president of Local Corporation, said: “The challenge for national brands and retail marketers is to keep pace with consumers as they move among devices and locations and to provide timely, compelling, engaging information that guides them to the purchase.”

So can how touch screen technology help?

More and more consumers are utilising the latest technology such as smartphones, tablets and kiosks to improve their experience so it is important that you deploy the technology in your store.

Consumers are researching and purchasing items via these products and so they have become a vital role in the shopping process of the retail sector.

• Web

An increasing number of consumers are browsing and shopping online and so you should be flexible and adjust to this behaviour. You can do this, by having kiosks in-store that have internet access. Customers will be able to browse products online that you don’t have in-store and gain more information.

• Competitiveness

In order to beat your competition you need to stand out from the crowd and touch screen technology can help you do this. By offering the latest technology, it shows that you are a serious, reputable business and it will boost your status in the local area.

As well as displaying that you are a cut above the rest, you can also show your competitor’s prices. Don’t be afraid to show rival rates- it will demonstrate that you are fair.

• Reviews

Kiosks can display product reviews and ratings which will help shoppers make informed purchase decisions. Often or not a consumer may need expert advice when they are stuck buying a particular item and a touch screen unit can help if a sales employee is unavailable.

• Loyalty programs

Kiosks can help to boost consumer loyalty schemes. Shoppers can get access to discounts, coupons and special offers. In such difficult economic times, it is becoming more and more important to try and save money and consumers are always looking for the best deal. A kiosk can dispense ticketing vouchers.

A survey by research firm NCR found that mainstream America favour self-checkouts because of the reduced waiting times. A massive 78% said they prefer it because it is faster than going through cashier-assisted lines.

And now another survey recently published confirms that self-checkout is rising in significance. IHL Group found that that technology continues to increase in popularity for retailers across North America.

Key findings from the 2012 North American Kiosk study reveal:

• Self-checkout shipments rose 8% year-to-year
• Self-checkout transactions exceeded $255 billion annually (around £160 billion)
• Self-checkout transactions rose more than 7% per year
• Transactions at self-service kiosks expected to reach $1 trillion by 2014

It took into account ticketing, check-in, postal, food ordering, self-checkout and DVD/other kiosks when analysing the research.

UK deployment trend

The rise in self-checkout popularity isn’t just in the US but the UK too. So why is the technology so widespread? Benefits include:

• Reduce waiting times
• Improve staff efficiency
• Boost consumer independence

Various industries can take advantage of the self-service checkout technology and these consist of:

• Supermarkets
• Department stores
• Post offices
• Shopping malls
• Banks
• Leisure centre
• Attractions
• Train station
• Car park
• Exhibition
• Canteen

The list of environments that can utilise payment functioning is endless and here at Protouch we can help you profit from kiosk technology, whatever sector your business is in.

The tech-savvy world which we live in is saying goodbye to tills and hello to self-service technology; it really is the top dog aspect to succeed. Customer’s needs have grown and it’s simply a case of out the traditional slow paced service in favour of modern, fast and convenient.

As customer’s expectations evolve, it is the case that self-service technology will increase in demand as businesses compete to stay afloat.

If you are interested in gaining a greater per-customer ROI, you do need to deploy kiosks into your premises. Check out this 3-step how to guide to boost your in-store sales.

In the last week alone Irving Oil announced that it has deployed interactive self-service technology at several of its gas pumps in New Hampshire and Maine in the United States of America.

The digital signage provides drivers access to community news, local sports, promotions, weather information as well as safe driving tips. What is more, there are live webcams for local traffic monitoring to help the user travel around the area with ease.

So just how can the technology help petrol stations around the world and why are they becoming so popular? Protouch has compiled the main elements…

Key features include:

• Self-service

The kiosks let users fill their cars with fuel independently and pay for their fuel without assistance of a staff member. This gives the driver freedom and self-sufficiency which is an increasing need demanded from today’s society.

• Reduce waiting times

The technology quickens waiting times for drivers which improve their overall customer experience. It also increases sales as more people are tended to in a shorter space of time.

• Payment

One of the main benefits for kiosks in petrol stations is that the driver can pay for their fuel at the unit without the need to walk into the store. Obviously only card payments are taken but it means that the complete processes are quickened. It is vital that the payment information is kept secure for confidentiality reasons.

• Save lives

Protouch reported back in 2010 how a touch screen kiosk calculator was being deployed at service stations to allow drivers to calculate how tired they are. Developed by Natalie Tindale and Professor Drew Dawson, director of the Centre for Sleep Research at the University of South Australia, it allows users to score their fatigue levels and it recommends the amount of sleep needed before continuing to drive.

It was hoped the system would reduce road accidents related to lack of sleep and help to save lives.

Do you want to install touch screen technology in your business to cut waiting times, improve staff efficiency and better customer experience? Contact us today.