This article originally published in Self-Service World magazine, January 2007.
Perhaps more than any other single factor, the flow of traffic around your kiosk will have an enormous impact on its level of success. Too many self-service systems have been stymied by poor placement: the back corner of a store, a concourse seldom visited or near an exit rather than an entrance.
Before scheduling delivery of your new devices, use these rules of thumb to help you determine optimal placement:
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| The first rule of kiosk placement is location. Put the kiosk where the traffic is, except when there's too much traffic for the transaction. Having longer transaction devices in an alcove, as these photo kiosks are, ensures users won't disturb the traffic pattern in the rest of the store. |
1. Kiosks in the busiest areas will get used the most. This may appear to be common sense, but it is key above all. If you want a machine to get used a lot, put it where a lot of people are.
2. Sometimes a lower-traffic area is appropriate — it depends on the type of kiosk and transaction it provides. For instance, devices like photo kiosks demand a longer transaction time. These should be placed in areas where users won't create traffic flow problems while they complete their transactions.
3. Don't be subservient to wiring. It is tempting to place kiosks based on availability of electrical outlets, but this often leads to poor, unintuitive placement. A kiosk placed out of the way is far less cost-effective than hiring an electrician to run wiring to where the kiosk needs to reside.
4. Remember accessibility for your users. Don't place machines near elements that might restrict usage — narrow aisles, corners, furniture, etc.
5. Remember accessibility for your maintenance person. It's not enough that the front of the kiosk be accessible; if something inside needs attention, chances are you'll need access to the back as well. Having ample floor space around the kiosk will enable you to move it as needed, and provide plenty of working space for maintenance staff.
