Vending Kiosks Automation in Selling
Presented By P.Baskaran, P.Baskaran, Senior Lecturer, IFET
College of Engineerng, Gangarampalayam, Villupuram
Definition:A "Kiosk" by definition is a small standstandalone
unit that performs a specific function, generally without
management intervention and are generally intended to provide
information to those that use it. Kiosks are generally small,
mobile, and are designed to help the consumer find information and
they can be strategically placed anywhere you wish to have a
presence but cannot or do not wish to have a person staff the
location.
Kiosk venues Tradeshows and consumer events, malls, grocery
stores, doctor offices or anywhere else that your potential clients
may visit. Kiosk functions Kiosks can be made to do just about
anything you want. A simple kiosk will attractively display this
information in a way that consumers can easily find what they are
looking for. Maintain your kiosk While the kiosk has incredible
advantages, they do require that someone periodically check on them
to make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to do. Keep
your kiosk looking good, clean, take care of blemishes, and make
sure everything is working properly.
Types of kiosks:
Telekiosk Financial services kiosk Photo kiosk An Internet kiosk
Ticketing kiosk Vending kiosk Visitor management and security kiosk
Building directory and wayfinding kiosk Mall Kiosk Custom Kiosk
The Key to Kiosks( Karen M. Krol -2000) 2000)
Starting
a program It takes money to make money Not for everyone Working
Out the Kinks A Wireless Future
Checking out kiosks (Karen M Kroll, (Karen 2000) 2000)
Advantages of KiosksFinancial Service which includes: Bill payment,
Check cashing and Credit applications Retail product information
such as in-store product lookup and ininformation Customer check-in
such as airlines and hotels. check Internet access Visitor
management and security Human Resources for benefits information
Retail check-out POS systems in grocery stores and hardware
checkstores. Business benefits
Reduction in staff and real estate requirements since one
employee can monitor multiple Self-Service Kiosks SelfUnattended
operation with extended service hours and off-site locations
offProvide users with a more enjoyable experience boosting customer
satisfaction Track usage statistics
Innovations
Vending Machine:
An older soda vending machine. One of the newest vending
innovations is telemetry. (*Michael telemetry. (*Michael Kasavana
2000). 2000). New innovations in service vending machines include
internet kiosks and DVD vending. Cashless vending now allows
consumers to use debit cards or precharged 'keys' such as the U-Key
for added convenience. Vending is a multi-billion multidollar
industry, and growing. OffOff-grid fuel cell based vending machines
with swappable hydrogen storage tanks are entering the marketDrink
Vending Machines Japan Automatiek Snack Bar Dutch Netherlands
Newspaper vending machine in Dsseldorf
Real time Applications of Vending machine Bulk candy and gumball
vending Cigarette vending Full line vending Healthy vending
Specialized vending Issues relating to Kiosks: Safety
Malfunctions
Kiosk Retailing A Sample Study in a Regional Platform
(Pondicherry)Need for the Study: The following aspects stimulated
the researcher to go for this research. The growing customer base
and their convenience expectation during buying process. The
necessity for finding solution to reduce the stress of human
components involved in the selling process. The need to identify
the better alternative for applying 24 X 7 availability and
marketing concept in the selling essential commodities (like water,
milk, food snack, etc) Objectives of the study : Primary Objective:
To identify the Consumer parameters of kiosks for checking its
technical feasibility and commercial feasibility those enable its
implementation in a regional market. Secondary Objective: To
identify the customer awareness about the utility of the kiosks. To
find the common perception among the consumers about kiosks. To
analyse the customer expectation and its matching facilities
available with the kiosks. To suggest the means of implementing in
a metro or regional market.
Scope of the study: * Based upon this study the corporate sector
can takedecisions regarding the utilization of kiosks in their
selected product lines at their discretion. * This can even be
applied in spares and and accessories retailing. * This research
work enables the corporate sector to optimize the utility of kiosks
in their relevant product lines or items.
Users: Users:This study can be used by the * Companies in the
FMCG Industry * Retailers and Retail Chain of outlets (like Food
world, * Subhiksha. Reliance, etc.) * Supermarket owners.
General Observations and findings from the Responses:
Few respondents feel that the implementation of kiosk induces
laziness in the attitude of the consuming population. It has got
more security threats and consumer feels that there is probability
of inaccurate product delivery and service gap. If the companies
are about install kiosks to concentrate front end retailing,
chances of cannibalizing Intermediaries margins are like to happen
affecting the balance economic growth. In other side, Customers /
Consumers are likely to be benefitted as there is probability of
getting products at relatively lower price. The installation of
kiosks may create employment of skilled segment and all likely to
create disguised unemployment.
Now also some individuals hesitate to use ATM itself due to the
fear of their operation knowledge and lack of awareness about its
utility.People doubt it s pricing and billing mechanism as they
exposed to difficulty in Coin PCOs. It requires technical
maintenance and regular supervision to ensure absolute service to
the buyers. The require combination of interactive options in
product kiosk with accessibility to Internet and Customer feedback
processing and due assurance of serving customer expectations
through kiosks. It needs change in attitude of population surviving
in cosmos and towns. Consumers want simple operating procedures in
kiosks. The respondents reflected their fear of losing their money
without product delivery. delivery. The respondents are in need of
appropriate awareness and knowledge to use kiosks through corporate
ads. ads.
Analytical Findings & Remarks: Remarks:
Except a few, All most all the respondents are seeking for 24/ 7
availability of certain FMCG products which they are about to use
on day to day life. Among the respondents seeking for 24/7
availability, the requirement of milk and other soft drinks is
prevalent among the consumers followed by groceries. Majority of
the respondents say that they require automated selling machine
which is free from emotional stress on non stop service. The most
suitable location as expected by the respondents in setting or
installing kiosk is Residential areas followed by Bus stops and
Railway station based upon its security and utility. The most
volatile life style of regional population is the major factor
identified for the introduction of selling machines like kiosks
followed by changes in working timings. The respondent feel the
working population with frequent changes in their work schedules
will be more benefitted from kiosks, relatively with professionals
followed by home executives. Almost the 3/4th of the respondents
says that the implementation of kiosks in cosmos and towns of state
like Tamil nadu. 3/4th of the respondents believe that they will
more benefit than the profit seeking producers as consumers. Nearly
3/4th of the respondents are expecting their product availability
at they access due to situation rather than their own attitude.
Suggestions:
The corporate players need to identify that all the customers
expecting 24/7 availability of certain identified FMCG products
like Milk and other soft drinks and so they should think of an
alternative like Product Selling Kiosks which widely used in the
developed countries like US, Japan,..etc., From this study the
Business seekers can think of technology transfer from other
countries so as to install and implement the product kiosks in
vulnerable points like Residential areas, Bus stops and Railway
stations so as to ensure the availability of their essentially
required FMCG products. The current customer are confident and
ready to accept and use product kiosks and the companies should not
hesitate the implement them in semi urban and sub urban areas As
the customers surviving in semi urban areas are influenced by
situations and the growing exposures create situations that induces
the expectation of immediate satisfaction of arising needs and that
can be fulfilled by Kiosks to some extent. As the customer
themselves believe that kiosk will benefit them than the business
holders, the corporate can think of implementing kiosk at least as
a trial in certain test markets.
An older soda vending machine.
An Internet kiosk with a touchscreen in Vienna, Austria in
2007
A typical American snack vending machine
Newspaper vending machine in Dsseldorf
The Vendstar 3000, a typical bulk candy machine
A Dutch 'automatiek' Netherlands
A machine that made fresh French fries, Australia
Rice vending machines, Japan
Instant-noodles vending machine, Tokyo
Book vending machine, United Kingdom
Photo booth, Germany
Fishingbait machine, Spain
Dunbar Armored ATM Techs watching over ATMs that have been
installed in a van.
A South Korean ATM with mobile bank port and bar code reader
Conclusion:
The continuous change in the regional population life style and
their expectation forces the researchers and business blue chips to
think of new ways satisfying their customer needs as the growing
customer world is adaptive and seeking for advanced changes in
existing market ensuring availability. This study will certainly
give new input and confidence level to the companies in bringing
the automated concept of Innovation in Marketing Management which
in widely existing other developed countries and in some metros of
our country itself.
Thank you ?! Please