Demand for outdoor, interactive kiosks is on the upswing. How do we know? That’s easy; our customers are letting us know! We probably answer a few inquiries a day here at RedyRef in regard to outdoor kiosks, from the basics of implementation to complicated matters involving kiosk security. Whenever we start to see an idea or concept trend, we know it’s probably time to address it publicly so we’re able to help as many people as possible. So it is with that in mind that we are starting a blog series today, beginning with what you’re reading right now: our version of a 101 “basics” class. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Let’s start with cost, because this is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. The truth is that outdoor kiosks are often (but not always) more expensive than their indoor counterparts, which leaves many people initially wondering, well, “Why??” Which is understandable; they can look quite similar!
While there are many reasons for differences in cost, the most impactful is the following: If you think typical, indoor kiosks take a beating, just imagine what an outdoor kiosk has to deal with.
For example, an indoor, interactive kiosk placed in a shopping mall setting is protected by both the elements AND a security team. And malls close at night, which means 12+ hours a day they are inaccessible by the public at all. The same goes for almost any indoor kiosk, from those in office buildings to those in fast-casual restaurant environments. They just aren’t subjected to the same kind of stress or security risks.
Outdoor kiosks, on the other hand, have to withstand not just typical use, but also severe wind, rain, snow, storms, hurricanes, flooding, vandalism and attempted security breaches. As you might imagine, these can be a bit hard on a kiosk. That means they must be built to handle an entire range of circumstances typical indoor kiosks will never endure. That’s why it’s important to figure out if you really need an outdoor kiosk, or if an indoor kiosk might work just as well for your circumstances.
As a company that prides itself on return clients and their overall satisfaction, our job at RedyRef is to ensure that our customers end up with the best solution for their needs, not just the most costly one that will pad our own bottom line. So while there are many circumstances that would make an outdoor kiosk well worth the investment, that doesn’t mean they are universally the optimal choice. We are here to help you decide what will work best and create the most potential for ROI, so you’ll come back to us again in the future. However, if your situation simply begs for an outdoor kiosk deployment, we’ll be here every step of the way from design to roll out in order to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your choice.
On that note, if you are already convinced an outdoor kiosk solution may be right for your organization, join us next week when we’ll begin covering the 5 Ws of outdoor kiosk implementation: Who, What, Where, When & Why. And if you’re still on the fence about outdoor kiosks, we’re happy to help you better understand the kinds of kiosks that are out there and which one might be best for your unique application. Contact RedyRef today at (800) 628-3603 or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way.