Need,for,Interactive,Informati computer Need for an Interactive Information Kiosk at Malls

----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc

What are the needs/ requirementsand concerns of mall users / visitors / shoppers?Theinteractive kiosk should engage, attract, inform and serve customers, shoppers andvisitors to provide a competitive business edge that results in improved selfservice, increased sales and higher customer satisfaction. The requirements and needs of a Shopper, Visitor andCustomer are diverse and it is a tedious process to attend to their queries atan individual level. This is where an interactive kiosk can bridge the gap andensure that visitors and customers can avail the best services and information.The interactive information kiosk can be designed to function in variousscenarios such as - Multi-lingual communicationI don’t speak English and the regional languagePath-Finder/Store Locator How to go to Store X? Where is the restroom? Where is the lounge? How to get to the cinema theatre? What brands are available and where are they located? What restaurants are here and where are they located?Feedback / SurveyI want to give feedbackI want to compliment the mall staffI want to give them few suggestionsI want to complain Need for Information I need information on which movie is being shown in which screen, timings of shows and availability of tickets I want information on city, hotels, restaurants, hotspots and other tourist spotsI want price listing and product catalogues of company X I want to check offers running at stores and shops across the mall I wish to see live news I want specific information such as time in X country, currency and exchange rates, travelers guide etcAdvertise I wish to view offers and discounts running at a storeI want to view an interactive advertisement hereWhat are the needs/ requirementsand concerns of a mall administrator / owner?The mallsadministrators and owners constantly keep working towards improving andproviding the best service to their customers. An information kiosk can beutilized strategically to not only dispense information and answer queries, butalso act as an interface to study customer behavior patterns and obtaininformation regarding the same. A kiosk also provides advertising opportunitiesand can double as a digital signage display. Thus, the information kiosk cannot only be a source to dispense information but to garner informationregarding customer behaviors and revenue sources.How does an Interactive/Informationkiosk help mall users / Visitors / shoppers?Having considered the various situations and scenariosthat a kiosk can attend to, the solutions which can be provided by the MallAdministration are summarized below: An interactive kiosk which is capable of multilingual support ensures that foreign nationals and outsiders have no trouble in accessing the required informationWay finding – interactive and animated path from source to destination or static maps for an overview of the facility helps visitors to find their way about.Information Dispensing: o       Relevant to Facility: Provides all relevant informationregarding the facility and the mall. The information may vary from thediscounts and offers at different shops, restaurants, movies, commodities etc.There can be a section to address the catalogues and menus of the various shopsand retail chains. There can be live flash to display the latest news fromaround the globe. The administrators can provide information regarding thetransportation facilities available at the mall. The kiosk can even be utilizedto dispense information about the company profile and factsheets. o       General city information:The kiosk can function as ageneral information kiosk that helps tourists and outsiders to answer a varietyof questions such as              Main tourist attractions, museums, galleries, city park, important buildings, etc Data about cultural and natural heritage Information about the tourist agency, hotels and accommodation Information about restaurants, cafe bars, clubs Calendar of cultural events in the city Information about public transport Information about emergency services, hospital, police, fire, etc. Banks and money exchange Feedback system For compliments, complaints, suggestions and general feedback Capable of conducting Surveys to understand the customers/visitors/buyers with an inbuilt reporting system.Point of sale The kiosk can be a source ofrevenue by functioning as a strategically placed point of sale device whichAllows shop owners, brands, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and suppliers to target customers and digitally provide them information of the complete product range. Self checkout empowers retailers to re-assign counter staff to more productive sales and customer service roles. Remotely locating interactive kiosks and digital signage system enables retailers to target customers more effectively by placing virtual stores across an unlimited geographical footprint.Improves customers’ in-store experience and loyalty The ticket vending kiosks for a multiplex/cinema theater can be kept on any floor for customers to see what is running and to pick up and buy tickets.Advertisement display system A Single screen or dual screen kiosk can be used for displaying advertisements. The kiosk can showcase products under relevant categories and subcategories as static information. For example the advertisers can opt to view content under “Offers” or “New Arrivals” categories or subcategories. Advertisements can be displayed as screen savers.I would like to add that the information kioskis going to change the face of help desks and support staff at the malls. Itprovides the next step towards virtual assistance and floor staff. Theinteractive information kiosk has a lot of potential in the present time aspeople are becoming more inclined towards technology and want information andservice at their finger tips without waiting in long queues. The application ofan interactive information kiosk solution is umpteen. A few areas where theinteractive information kiosk has been implemented successfully are: Airports,Museums, Trade Shows, Events, Exhibitions, Educational Institutions, Universities,Health care, Hospitals, Hospitality Industry, Hotels, Railway Stations, BusStations, Airports, Property Management, Real Estate, Banks, etc to name a fewamongst the customer service sectors.