Kiosks - Introduction, uses and advantages over conventional systems

The extensive use of information technology in various business sectors has clearly demonstrated its impact in the administrative process, one of the main purposes of this is to streamline the administrative work of the organization. Currently Kiosks have been used in sectors like banking, healthcare, tourism, telecommunication, retail sector, education, water and electricity bill payment, e-governance and many other sectors. Using Kiosk has brought significant changes in their business.

In the past, customers were forced to pay their service bills in the respective offices and the bill payment schedule used to be confined to office working hours. Due to this, customers had to wait in a long queue to pay their bills. The arrival of banking kiosk application has completely changed the rules of the business. Customers can now use this banking kiosk software on their own without any assistance from anyone and pay their bills.

These services can be availed throughout the day provided the users can have access to the internet and power supply. It can be as per the convenience of the customers. It accepts credit cards, debit cards, cash, coins, cheques and demand draft. These interactive touch screen devices can detect the fake currency notes instantly.

Many small and medium scale industries are using these touch screen devices to bring efficiency in the work culture of the day to day administrative activities of the organization. It has become an integral part of the work as it helps both service providers and the customers. Many business firms consider these devices as great asset as they improve the business prospect and efficiency in the organization.

Through these devices, many things can be easily achieved by both customers and service providers such as: it ensures safety and security of the customers, it can be easily shifted from one place to another, provides around-the-clock service, used for brand imaging and promotional activities, it can be placed in strategic locations to improve the business, swift action and feedback, enhances the tech savvy image of the business firm, customers can check their previous transaction, balance amount, unlimited data storage, in-built printer facility, easily configurable software applications, cost effective, flexible, adaptive, automatic closure of the transaction details after each transaction, users can access different application forms, it sends SMS and emails as alerts regarding each transaction information, reduction in unnecessary human resources, huge gain of profits and thus increases effectiveness.

Though the most developed countries are using these interactive devices in most of the commercial ventures, it is steadily gaining the prominence in under-developed and developing countries. Many private and public companies are strategizing and exploring the options to implement these devices.

Another important feature of this device is that most of the software applications installed are user-friendly and they are inter-related. In a competitive business environment, it is quite necessary for the emerging business firms to follow the latest trends in technology. Using these modern technological devices does enhance the image of the company and many customers prefer technology-oriented services as it removes the unnecessary barriers.