As you’re probably aware by now, we talk a lot about digital kiosks on this blog. Which kiosks to invest in, where to install them, and why ours are the best in the business.
But today we’re going to look a little closer and explore what you should display on your kiosks after they’re set up, and what you can do to improve their effectiveness.
Why you Need Digital Screens
The screen of your digital kiosks is the most important part of the machine. Payment peripherals and the shell are vital too, but they’d be useless without the display and touchscreen controls that all modern digital kiosks utilise.
Some digital kiosks are almost all screen. Our information and wayfinding kiosks, for example, don’t need any peripherals and instead provide all the necessary information via the screen.
This can be purely visual or fully interactive, with the latter allowing people to zoom, scroll, and browse to find out more about where they are and where they can go. In a large application like an event venue, cinema, or shopping centre, these wayfinding kiosks are essential.
The Importance of Interactivity
The more interactive your digital kiosks are, the better they are for users. With a touchscreen you can pack in more features for people to use, either your team, your customers, or both.
If they’re interactive, digital kiosks can be multi-purpose too. In the lobby of a cinema, your customers can use a single screen to browse showings, purchase tickets, or collect tickets they ordered in advance. When this can all be done with a few taps of a screen, you’ll keep queues short, and your visitors satisfied.
20 years ago, touch screens were still a novelty, with the only ones we interacted with being cash machines or the occasional self-checkout. But these days, with touch screens in our pockets, in our offices, and in almost every public place, people expect to see them. If your kiosks are still using buttons, your business will look outdated and long overdue for an upgrade.
But just investing in these advanced screens isn’t enough, you also need to know how to use their displays.
How to Use Digital Kiosk Displays
A lot of digital kiosks use software that creates their displays, it’s rare that you have to design and install everything yourself. With advertising screens the images will be provided by the advertiser, it’s just your responsibility to install them onto your screens, usually on a rolling display that shows multiple over a set period of time.
However, you can have some control over what your screens show, it just depends on the type of digital kiosks you have.
For example, if you own or run a restaurant, one that isn’t part of a chain, the digital kiosks you invest in first might be digital menu boards. These should be packed with your delicious food and drink options, but also plenty of personal touches that show off your brand.
By personalising the designs you include on your menus, you add that little bit of flair that your rivals may lack. This can work for franchises too; although the food you serve may be the same, you can customise your menus, signs, and other displays to make yours stand out.
Ensuring your Digital Kiosk Display is Accessible
There are over 2 million people with sight loss in the UK, with around 300 thousand being legally blind, and therefore have sight issues that cannot be compensated for with glasses or contact lenses. There are also a lot of people who may struggle with reading comprehension or there may be a language barrier. That’s a lot of potential customers for your business who may be unable to use your digital kiosks if they don’t include accessibility features.
Modern digital kiosks can include screen readers, multiple language options, and ways to adjust or change the font to make text easier to read. If these features are clear and easy to access, your kiosks will be far more accessible than others on the market.
Your text should be clear regardless of who is using your kiosks. If its too small or isn’t front and centre valuable information can be missed, frustrating users. The layout is very important to get right, which it’s why it is ideal to bring in a designer to help you before you settle on a format that might not be right for you.
The Best Digital Screens
Although your displays aren’t something we’re directly involved with after we’ve installed your kiosks, we thought it would still be useful to provide you with some advice.
Digital kiosks are a big investment, so you want to make the most of them. But if you aren’t sure how to use them post-installation, we’re only a phone call or email away, ready to help you if you need it.
At 10Squared, we value the personal touch. All our digital kiosks are bespoke, customised to suit you and your customers. We meet with you to establish your exact goals and consult with you throughout the design process so you’re 100% satisfied with what we produce.
Unlike other digital kiosk providers, we manufacture everything in-house, instead of shipping in parts and just assembling them. This allows us to provide more regular updates and progress reports, and you can visit our facility to see your kiosks being made.
