LAS VEGAS--If you're interested in the self-service marketplace then KioskCom 2004 is the place to be. In its eighth year, the focus of this year's show is achieving ROI in the world of service technology.
Leading manufacturers and deployers gathered for the first day of KioskCom 2004 looking for the chance to promote their products and identify kiosk solutions. KioskCom 2004 managing director, Lawrence Dvorchik, said there are more than 100 exhibitors and 40 educational sessions for attendees to get in-depth information from kiosk industry leaders.
Before introducing the opening keynote speaker, Robert Goodwin, managing vice president for Gartner Group, Dvorchik kicked off the first day of the conference by welcoming attendees to the fabulous Mandalay Bay resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
According to Dvorchik, KioskCom 2004 has been overwhelming. "By noon on the first day we registered 20 percent more than last year and checked in 20 percent more than last year," said Dvorchik. The show is busy, it's standing room only in most sessions, the sessions have been genuinely thought provoking. I'm looking forward to day two."
Dvorchik is excited about the show and the kiosk industry. "There has been so much growth," he said. It's exciting to see all the new technology and applications."
In his opening presentation, Goodwin said that Gartner's third annual Kiosk Benchmark Study revealed that businesses are looking for one stop shops for their kiosk needs. "They [deployers] want a one-stop shop," said Goodwin. "They want one throat to choke when things go wrong."
Leading market drivers for kiosk deployment include profit, ROI, tech-friendly consumers and new sales channels.
According to Goodwin, 51 percent of respondents said kiosks were very beneficial to their business and 21 percent said they are vital. The study also revealed that deployers rate kiosk expertise followed by costs/price, as the most important criteria in vendor selection.
