Kiosks - Kiosks Offer Benefits To Consumers And Retailers

KIOSKS OFFER BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS AND RETAILERS

Kiosks are used to offer information, provide Internet access, and allow customers to shop online. Web kiosks enable retailers to bring the Internet into their stores. While in the store, customers can shop online at the kiosk at the store's Web site. In-store kiosks can help sell a retailer's Web site and direct traffic there. Kiosks can also be a way to introduce non-Internet users to the Internet and encourage them to do more online shopping.

Kiosks are also a cost-effective way to increase the number of products available. They help retailers capture sales that might have been lost due to out-of-stock merchandise. If kiosks became widely accepted by consumers, retailers would be free to build smaller stores and let the kiosks provide access to a wider range of products.

Within the store, kiosks must be strategically placed and user-friendly. It is also helpful if they provide more information than is available at the retailer's Web site. They can be used as a source of additional product information, both by sales staff and by shoppers.

Compared to online shopping from home, kiosks offer several unique benefits to both consumers and retailers. Using an in-store kiosk allows customers to still touch and feel merchandise. At the same time, retailers can keep smaller quantities of merchandise in stock and let the kiosk offer customers access to products in a range of sizes and colors. For large items that are difficult to ship, such as furniture, customers can see floor samples in the store and order the merchandise online through the kiosk. Kiosks also offer more payment options than shopping online from home. Customers using an in-store kiosk are often given the option of paying for their order with cash or a check at the register.