A recent article in KioskMarketplace highlighted that KFC is planning to implement self-service kiosks in their 5,000 restaurant locations by 2020. This doesn’t come as a surprise as their parent company, Yum Brands, had announced a plan for kiosks in Taco Bell only last year and many other quick service restaurants (QSR) chains have either already implemented a similar solution or are actively looking to.
Customers today have become very tech savvy and expect the same level of technological sophistication wherever they shop. In this fast-paced environment, consumers are looking to buy things quickly – whether they are grabbing a phone charger from a vending machine at a mall, or they are printing a boarding pass on a kiosk at the airport, their dependence on and desire for unattended solutions is quickly increasing. Apart from traditional retail environments, unattended kiosks are becoming more common in the food & beverage industry, particularly in quick-service restaurants (QSRs).
In today’s purchasing environment, business strategies need to be more customer-centric to successfully capture consumer demand and capitalize on spending habits. Unattended payment solutions support this strategy by addressing consumer wants and needs as they relate to speed, security, convenience and overall purchase experience.
The use of credit cards in the US is rising and new payment options such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, etc. are gaining popularity. In the midst of this payment evolution, industries using unattended kiosks or vending machines that don’t take all card types or forms of payment can be at a disadvantage. According to a recent study, cashless payments when compared to cash payments, contributed directly to positive sales development in the vending industry.
