When a new piece of technology becomes widely available, many of us are keen to try it out. We love gadgets, anything that is fun to use or makes our lives easier is a worthwhile investment.
But for some people, not all technology is easy to use. ‘Accessibility’ is one of the most important words in tech, and one we take very seriously when we design our digital kiosks for businesses.
What is Accessibility?
If a device is accessible, it means it can be easily used by everyone. This means simple controls, a clear screen with large text/images, and instructions that can be understood by anyone, regardless of their age or language comprehension.
Accessibility isn’t easy to achieve. There are a lot of aspects to consider, and no single device can claim to be 100% accessible. But the closer you get to 100%, the more people will benefit from your devices, and the more profit you’ll make.
When we are approached by a new client to design digital kiosks, we always emphasize how important accessibility is. Even if you don’t need interactive kiosks, you want displays and screens that are clear, with messaging and images that appeal to the widest audience.
How Accessibility helps to Target Wider Demographics
The more accessible a digital kiosk is, the more people can use it. As a growing business, you’re always thinking about what demographic to target next. Imagine you run a clothing store and want to appeal to the younger generations; a digital kiosk can help you just as much as a new, gen-Z-friendly, product line.
Interactive kiosks are the best way to modernise a clothing store. Our kiosks can contain interactive catalogues that enable shoppers to find and order whatever they want from one convenient location.
Young people don’t want to spend half an hour browsing and then stand in a queue. They’re used to instant gratification; an interactive kiosk will give them what they want in less than half the time. That’s more happy customers and less pressure on your staff at the checkouts.
Speaking of which…
Accessibility for Self-Service Checkouts
Out of all the digital kiosks we produce, these are the ones that need to be the most accessible. They’re used by all people, of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
A self-service checkout needs a clear screen and simple touch-screen navigation so it can be used by people with disabilities, poor eyesight, or reading difficulties. Simplicity is key with these machines, and the more visual imagery you use, the more universal they are.
Self-service checkouts all use a very similar design. This is so that when you use a different one for the first time, the fundamentals are the same. You know to scan your items, put them in the bagging area, and how to pay when you’re ready. If you struggle with reading text due to poor eyesight, or don’t speak much English, this universal language means that anyone can operate any self-service checkout.
Of course, there will always be times when a customer needs help. All our self-service checkouts contain a help button that will summon a friendly member of staff to give them a hand.
Better accessibility also improves efficiency for self-service checkouts. If customers can check out faster, queues will be shorter, and they’ll be more likely to come back again in the future. Investing in a line of self-service checkouts will help improve your bottom line and keep your customers and staff happy – what more could a retail business ask for?
It isn’t just retail either! Small businesses, hotels, even fuel stations can benefit from our digital kiosks.
Balancing Accessibility with Innovation
Designing products that are universally similar can make standing out from the crowd tricky. A new iPhone may look like an older one, but it’s packed with new features that make it a better phone overall.
This isn’t easy to do with digital kiosks. As simplicity is key, you can’t add new features without the machine becoming less accessible. With interactive kiosks, like we mentioned for the retail industry, there are some new innovations like accessing catalogues, but there isn’t much more to add. If a customer spends too much time on an interactive kiosk, they may become confused or overwhelmed, and won’t get what they want.
For us, we innovate tech without making our kiosks inaccessible. We make our kiosks as reliable as possible. When we design some for you, they’ll last for years or even decades with minimal maintenance. For our advertising totems, you can program anything you’d like, so the displays will never look stale or dated.
The world of digital kiosks is developing fast, but our machines are future-proof. With stylish designs and small footprints, they work well in any location and will still look great ten years down the road. Not even the latest iPhone can claim that!
The Most Accessible Digital Kiosks
In the tech world, innovation is everything. And while we go agree that every product, we design should be better than the last, we never let it be at the cost of accessibility.
Accessibility is crucial for customer satisfaction, and it can help you broaden your horizons and soar past your competitors. We don’t just drop a few machines at your door and leave you to it either.
All of our digital kiosks are bespoke. We meet with you to establish your exact needs and requirements, then create a customised solution that will boost your business. After 20+ years of research and development, we know what works best for a number of industries. If you want to target a specific demographic, or have a particular rival you want to challenge, we’ll make it happen.
If you have any questions about accessibility, our products, or anything else we do, please get in touch.
We look forward to hearing from you.
