What Is a Self-Service Kiosk?
A self-service kiosk, also known as an Interactive Kiosk, is a computer terminal that interacts with users through touch, voice or facial recognition. It enables unattended business operations and management while offering customers a new user experience and smart services.
Self-service kiosks support a wide range of industries and functions. They can be found in government departments, commercial buildings and residential buildings. For example, visitors can use a kiosk's facial recognition function to verify their identity when entering an office building. Cinema customers can buy tickets without queuing at a counter, while restaurant customers can place orders through a kiosk's smart ordering system, saving time on queuing and payment. A key feature is that kiosks can operate unattended, 24 hours a day. Below are some main examples of kiosk use in Hong Kong.
Supporting Digital Policing with Self-Service Kiosks
Last September, the police installed a customer service kiosk at Admiralty MTR station, Hong Kong's busiest station, to provide residents and visitors with a one-stop lost-property reporting service. People who lose personal belongings such as wallets, keys or MTR cards while travelling can submit a report themselves, even after leaving the station. With the reporting person's consent, the information is uploaded to the police, who use it to help locate the lost items. Since its installation at the MTR station, the kiosk has helped more than 70% of those who filed reports recover their belongings, a significant result.
A customer service kiosk is also installed outside the police reporting centre in the Passenger Clearance Building at the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. It offers 14 types of electronic reporting services, including lost-property reports. This makes reporting more convenient for the public and helps the police handle cases more efficiently. Customer service kiosks are gradually becoming part of daily life.
Making Visitor Verification More Efficient in Commercial Buildings
Previously, many visitors to commercial buildings had to complete a paper registration in the lobby and obtain an access pass from security staff. Alternatively, someone had to come downstairs to help them enter and leave, taking considerable time and staff effort. The introduction of self-service kiosks has improved this process. Visitors can register at a kiosk on arrival or use a visitor QR Code created in advance by a building tenant through a mobile app. Once verified by the system, they receive permission to enter and leave the building.
Visitor registration through a customer service kiosk creates an unattended environment. Even when security staff are absent, visitors can use the kiosk to enter the building. Staff can also manage access remotely and review visitor entry and exit records through an app.
Improving the Smart Residence Experience
Customer service kiosks also bring contactless experiences to the residential buildings where we live through Smart Residence. When residents want to use clubhouse facilities, they can check available times, dates and charges at a kiosk, then book and pay electronically. They no longer need to register and book with clubhouse management staff, saving unnecessary time.
NineSmart's multifunctional resident mobile app adds further convenience. At the residential lobby entrance, residents can use their QR code in the app to unlock mailboxes, smart lockers and entrance doors. They can also call a lift via Bluetooth and scan their resident QR Code to reach their home floor. Building news and notices in the app keep them informed about community life. NineSmart's one-stop Smart Residence solution helps property managers manage residential buildings more systematically while giving residents a better living experience.
Developing Custom Self-Service Kiosks for Business Needs
The pandemic has made many people less comfortable with personal contact and more conscious of convenience and efficiency at work and in daily life. As AI develops and opportunities for fully unattended operations grow, demand for self-service kiosks is increasing. NineSmart is a PropTech solutions provider focused on using IoT technology to simplify access management and support self-service operations. Whether for smart property solutions in residential buildings, check-in systems in schools and businesses, or access control for government departments, NineSmart can tailor kiosk solutions to different requirements. These solutions reduce staffing needs for management while improving the experience for end users.