kiosk printers
With a far more informed and tech-
savvy customer, retail is having to
provide a seamless shopping experience
across a widening range of connected
channels and social platforms. Added
to this, the dynamics of the customer
base are changing. Point of sale has to
successfully cater to the needs of an
ageing population as well as the dynamic
young customer who is looking to use
a variety of channels and is seeking not
simply a product, solution or service,
but an engaging experience. This is
where interactive kiosks have, and will
increasingly have, an important role to
play in tomorrow’s omnichannel world.
With ‘omni-customers’ alternating
between the online and offline world,
bricks and mortar stores will need to
provide the social interaction and a
physical dimension to the shopping
experience that customers will strive
for. Many customers will want an
environment where shopping is an
event experience with interactive, highly
engaging online and real-world retail
environments. Coupled with retail spaces
potentially reducing in size, stores need
to provide the customer with extended
product choice to deliver a wider array
of product and delivery options, and
kiosks are already meeting this demand
with endless aisle solutions. In terms
of design, slim compact kiosks are
responding to the need for space-saving
yet stylish solutions.
The humble POS printer is facilitating
this. With retailers putting ever greater
demands on kiosk manufacturers to
meet a range of criteria including lower
cost, slimmer yet more intelligent and
powerful kiosks to enhance the in-store
customer experience, solutions need
to be found. The growing use of tablets
in kiosk design is without a doubt being
driven by their lower cost, compact size/
slim profile, ease of use and replacement
as well as connected services. And, having
a printer with a built-in hub provides a
more compact, intelligent solution due to
direct communication between the tablet
and printer.
POS printer options
With printing solutions simplifying
kiosk design, Star is actively aiding
the development of new generation,
compact tablet terminals with a wide
range of printing solutions offering
connectivity at every level. Star’s
robust packaged printers offer ease
of installation, a variety of interface
options and are CloudPRNT compatible
for Internet-connected services, making
them ideal for self-service kiosks where
staff are present to replenish print
media. Providing a lower cost solution
compared with modular printers,
packaged printers are easier to install
and maintain especially with front-
loading printers such as the mC-Print3
from Star.
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