Is a self-service kiosk right for my business?

A self-service kiosk helps most when customers can choose their purchases themselves and payment takes up staff time. Whether it fits depends on your products, customers and space. Before buying, find out where service slows down today and what an employee could do while the customer pays.

Where does self-service help?

In a lunch restaurant, the customer can choose a lunch and pay at the end of the line. In a fast food restaurant, self-service can also take the order. In a shop, on the other hand, it matters that the customer can easily find or recognise the right product.

If customers usually need a lot of advice before buying, staff service may be a more natural starting point. You can still use self-service for a limited range or at a particular point of sale.

Find out what actually slows the queue

A self-service kiosk helps with ordering and paying. On its own it doesn't make food ready faster, speed up packing or hand over orders.

In a lunch restaurant, for example, moving payment to the customer can give an employee time to refill the line. If the queue already forms where portions are served, that step needs attention too. First watch a few ordinary service situations and write down where the time goes.

Try products and payment methods in practice

In a demo, ask to make an ordinary purchase from your business. Product names, pictures and options need to be clear to a customer who doesn't know your range.

Check every payment method you need and how they combine. At the Solmio self-service kiosk, the customer can pay part of the lunch with Edenred or ePassi and the rest with a bank card. Go through whether other payment methods fit based on the chosen device and service.

Place the device on the customer's route

The customer needs to notice the kiosk and understand what to do next. Is the next step going to a table, collecting the dish or showing the receipt to staff?

Leave room for using the device, for purchases and for people passing by. Also check that the screen and the payment terminal can be reached when seated. Clear signs and an employee within easy reach help first-time customers.

One device or two at the same time?

A Solmio till device can be switched from a staff till to self-service mode. The same device works in one mode at a time. If a staff till and a self-service kiosk need to serve at the same time, you need two till devices.

There is no separate monthly fee for self-service mode. Still include the device, software and payment terminal costs of a possible extra till in the total. See the options on the pricing page.

Assess the benefit during a trial

Compare ordinary, similar sales periods. Follow how self-service is used, how often help is needed and what staff time is freed up for. The number of self-service purchases alone doesn't tell you whether work has become easier.

Before buying, make sure of these:

• Customers can choose products without long instructions.
• The payment methods you need also work in self-service.
• There is a suitable place for the device and the queue.
• Customers know where to collect the order and whom to ask for help.
• Staff tasks and how to handle exceptions have been agreed.
• The total price of the devices and services you need is clear.

See the Solmio self-service kiosk or ask for a demo where we try your own business's purchase situations.