Self-service kiosks have been popping up all over. From shopping malls to airports and restaurants to grocery stores, kiosks are enhancing the customer service experience.
Business owners who have incorporated kiosks into their business plans can see the positive effects on their bottom line. Optimizing and streamlining a business has never been more accessible.
If you are a restaurant owner considering investing in a self-service kiosk, this article can answer some common questions, like:
What are the different types of kiosks?
What factors influence kiosk pricing?
How much does a kiosk cost?
What are the benefits of self-service kiosks for restaurants?
A kiosk is an interactive machine that allows users to carry out various tasks. There are several types of kiosks that a business can use, and each one has a different functionality.
Some kiosks connect with a point-of-sale (POS) system to allow customers to order food or make a purchase directly; others are there simply to provide users with information.
Let’s look at the different types available.
Wayfinding kiosks are usually large touchscreen kiosks that allow users to plan a route or (as the name suggests) find their way to a particular place.
You’ll often encounter wayfinding kiosks in large shopping malls, like Mall of America, as they are a very convenient way of showing customers the fastest route to a particular store.
Check-in kiosks are becoming more and more common at travel hubs like airports and hotels. They’re used to automate the check-in process and reduce wait times for travelers.
Instead of waiting for a staffed desk, you can head to a check-in kiosk to complete the same tasks, such as scanning the barcode on a boarding pass to check yourself in.
Another type of interactive kiosk is the kind you may have seen in retail stores or supermarkets.
Retail kiosks are effectively contactless POS systems. Shoppers use the self-service machine and barcode scanner for their purchases.
Some retail kiosks just have a card reader so that customers can pay with either debit or credit card. Others are also equipped with the functionality to let users pay with cash instead.
It’s also becoming increasingly common for restaurants to use self-service kiosks for ordering and checking out. They’re particularly popular in fast-food or quick-service restaurants. Places like Burger King, Taco Bell, and McDonald’s have large touchscreen kiosks set up to let customers look up menu items and place contactless orders.
But there are other styles of self-service kiosks that restaurants can use, too, such as small kiosks on the countertop, like tablet-based ones that you can hang on a wall or attach to a VESA mount. Tablet-based kiosks can be especially useful for small businesses or outdoor eateries, like street food stalls or market sellers, as they’re easy to set up on the go.
There are several things that affect the cost of self-service kiosks, and business owners will need to consider each of these factors to make the best decision for their unique circumstances:
Kiosk size and style: There are different sizes and styles, like large, freestanding kiosks; countertop devices; and tablet-based kiosk apps. Each of these comes at different price points, and tablet-based kiosks are the most accessible for businesses of all sizes.
Durability: Some kiosks are designed to be weatherproof for outdoor use, while others are intended for indoor use. This can affect their overall cost, so think about your use case to avoid paying for more than you need.
Peripherals: Some businesses will need features like credit card readers, receipt printers, mounting hardware, and kitchen display systems. While you can often get these peripherals affordably, it will contribute to the total cost of your kiosk setup.
Quantity: The size of the business and projected growth will be factors in how many kiosks are needed.
Customization: Consider whether a prebuilt kiosk solution will work or if a branded and completely custom kiosk is a better option. While a multinational corporation like McDonald’s will have the resources to commission a bespoke kiosk style and system, most small and midsize businesses will want to use a prebuilt kiosk solution.
Installation: Large, freestanding kiosks will likely need professional installation, which will add to the cost. However, tablet-based kiosks are easy to set up on your own.
Maintenance: Some larger kiosks will need routine maintenance, while smaller or tablet-based solutions will likely have little to no maintenance costs.
Software: Most kiosk software will have a monthly or annual fee, so this will influence the cost of your kiosk setup.
As we’ve mentioned, kiosk price ranges will depend on many factors. Large, freestanding kiosks usually cost between $1,000 and $4,000. Mid-range kiosks (such as countertop kiosks) are generally priced between $700 and $1,000. Meanwhile, outdoor kiosks are usually far more expensive than indoor kiosks, as they’ll need to be weatherproof. You could pay up to $20,000 for a custom outdoor kiosk with lots of features.
If those ranges give you sticker shock, don’t worry. Self-service kiosks aren’t out of reach for smaller restaurants and food trucks. A tablet-based kiosk solution is much more affordable. You can get started with just a tablet (like an iPad), a credit card reader, and a kiosk app, like KioskBuddy.
As of February 2024, you can buy an iPad for as little as $329 and a Square Kiosk for just $149. The Square Kiosk keeps your tablet secure, has built-in contactless and chip credit card readers, and lets you easily install and mount your tablet on a countertop or wall. You can also attach it to a VESA-compatible floor stand.
Then, depending on your sales volume, you may be able to get started with kiosk software for as little as $500 per year.
Given the costs of purchasing and maintaining a kiosk, you may be wondering whether it’s worth it for your restaurant business. There are several benefits of self-service kiosks.
They can be a fantastic way to elevate the customer experience and streamline your overall processes. From speedier service to higher foot traffic, the pros of a self-service machine are numerous.
One of the best things about self-service kiosks is that you can use them to upsell your products. If your customers use an interactive machine to order their food, you can customize the ordering process to suggest sides, sauces, or extra dishes to go with it.
Some restaurants have revealed that their customers order more food when they use a kiosk to place their order. For example, in 2023, David W. Gibbs, the CEO of Yum! Brands, said of the Habit Burger Grill, “On average kiosk sales see 10% higher checks compared with front counter sales.”
Increased sales from kiosks could be due to customers feeling less embarrassment or fear of judgment for placing a large order. It might also be because kiosks allow them to see all their possible customization and add-on options.
It’s all too common for staff to mishear or misunderstand what a customer says. When these mistakes happen, they lead to unhappy customers and increased food waste.
Since customers input their own orders when using a kiosk, they can clearly see exactly what they’re ordering because it’s on the screen in front of them.
When it’s time for the lunchtime rush, you can initiate faster service and reduce customer wait times by combining in-person ordering with self-service machines. Kiosks can be set up to combine with POS systems and can even send orders directly to the kitchen. The sooner orders arrive in the kitchen, the more your back-of-house team can prepare, meaning you can complete more orders.
Since kiosks ensure a quicker order processing time, you’re less likely to have queues in your restaurant, meaning more drop-in customers.
Kiosks can even be used to remind customers of your loyalty program. You can set up your self-service machines to sync with your loyalty points system.
Customers can also use kiosk systems to cash in their loyalty points in-store, exchanging them for rewards. This means they’ll be more likely to keep coming back for more.
Health and hygiene practices have always been important in the restaurant industry, and in recent years, they have become even more of a concern for diners. This has made contactless ordering the new normal in the dining out experience.
With a self-service kiosk, customers can place their orders at a safe distance from other diners and staff. Plus, the machines are easy to clean and keep sanitized.
Kiosks of all kinds are becoming increasingly popular in the worlds of retail, dining, and travel. From grocery stores and restaurants to airports and malls, there are several different kinds of kiosks available, each of which is easy to tailor to the needs of a particular business.
From small businesses and startups to larger companies and multinational corporations, interactive touchscreen machines can provide an excellent solution to increasing demands for contactless customer service.
The cost of these devices can vary widely, depending on the size, the quality of the hardware, the software requirements, and whether or not it needs to be suitable for the outdoors.
If you’re interested in a kiosk for your business but don’t want to pay a hefty upfront fee, KioskBuddy could be the answer. KioskBuddy provides an easy way to turn your tablet into a touchscreen kiosk and self-ordering machine. There are several pricing tiers to suit any budget.
Sign up for KioskBuddy today and discover the benefits of a self-service kiosk.