Competing with the ease of online shopping, brick-and-mortar retail has been facing challenges for a long time, and the pandemic has only exacerbated these issues. Retail needs a major overhaul, one that effectively links in-person shopping with online purchasing.
One solution is the self-ordering kiosk, proven to eliminate unnecessary human contact, increase revenue, and decrease labor costs. Businesses that embrace technology and adapt will be uniquely equipped to survive these hard times. Self-ordering kiosks in particular will become a lifeline for restaurants, retail, and all industries that serve customers in person.
When customers can browse the inventory via an in-store kiosk, the technology eliminates face-to-face contact. Crucially, when kiosks are placed throughout the store, they also minimize lines, prevent crowding, and make customers more confident about shopping in person.
Kiosks also bring the efficiency and convenience of online shopping to the in-store experience, allowing customers to browse online catalogs, order products, pay and choose delivery options all in one place.
In the coming months, in-person shopping may move partially outdoors, conducting business on sidewalks and outside storefronts. However, outdoor shopping is not a viable solution in winter, when most customers will inevitably stick to online and indoor shopping. That is why an omnichannel model, including self-ordering kiosks, online ordering, a variety of delivery options, and curbside pickup, will be crucial moving forward.
Today the greatest challenge facing retail is the fear of COVID-19, but tomorrow it will be the reality of unsustainable labor costs. Many states have now raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour, making the months ahead even more difficult for employers who need to cut costs to stay in business. Technology will be integral to navigating this challenge. Self-ordering kiosks significantly decrease labor costs by eliminating the need for cashiers and acting as efficient, zero-per-hour employees.
As stores reopen their doors, they must limit human contact as well as reduce expenses. In terms of cost and safety, cashiers no longer make sense for a post-COVID retail model. An omnichannel model, including self-ordering kiosks, will be key to linking online ease with the in-store experience, and it will be fundamental in making stores safer and more efficient during the pandemic and beyond.
