Oftentimes, it is technology that replaces the jobs of humans and it usually does so efficiently. You’ve probably seen the news lately, telling us that many fast food restaurants are adopting digital kiosks that can take customer orders quicker and more accurately than their human counterparts. We’ve seen this recent wave happening more and more due to economic and political changes. But, the truth is, this trend was inevitable. Banking is becoming digitalized, car washes are automatic, and ad posters are turning into interactive kiosks in malls around the world. This only means one thing: Kiosks are the wave of our economic future. Most, if not all, hospitality and consumer-facing, service-based industries will be directly impacted by these new and constantly evolving technologies in the next 5 to 10 years.

Fast Food

If you’ve read or watched the news in the last three years, it’s evident that certain economic and political changes have aided in quicker implementations of kiosk technology. Especially in the fast food world. Like it or not, these kiosks will continue to replace cashiers and order takers, as well as help to level out restaurant turnover rates and boost their bottom lines. For the patron, these machines may come as a bit of a displeasure at first, but, as they become more and more common, customers will begin to realize that these kiosks actually make their experiences better. Orders are more accurate and efficiency is maximized in the back of the house, which means orders come out quicker. Not only is it inevitable that we’ll see order kiosks in most fast food restaurants by the end of 2020, but, it’s also probably a good thing.

Banking & Financial

ATMs have been around since the 1970s. That was about the last major innovation until recently. Today, banks and other financial institutions are spearheading the digital banking movement — known as “Fintec” — by transitioning their bricks-and-mortar locations into digital, interactive kiosks. Customers can deposit and withdraw money using these kiosks, we asll we request loans and set up new accounts.

The idea is that these sorts of technologies are generally safer than tradition banking methods. One of the oftentimes overlooked benefits of these kiosks is that they can verify your identity with a fingerprint or scan of the eye. This level of authentication is more accurate than pin numbers and card readers and will inevitably aid in the combat against credit and social security fraud. This is a win for the banking industry and the economy as a whole.

Insurance

In 2013, Insurance Journal reported that digital kiosks may be the wave of the future for the insurance industry. This will help to boost these insurer’s favorability and save the companies and consumers time and money. Esurance lit the way for web-based insurance transactions. Since then, many other startups have popped up; all aiming to disrupt the insurance industry in their own way. As a result, larger, less versatile insurance companies will hop on the bandwagon, smelling a trend they just can’t avoid. The smart players will plan meticulously to implement these new technologies. The lackeys, however, are doing it just because they have to and will presumably be the ones that wither away slowly but surely.

Travel, Hospitality & Medical

Health and medical industries are all starting to hop on the digital kiosk bandwagon. And, they’ll benefit greatly from doing so. Kiosks can be used to automate the patient intake process and guest check-ins, take food orders, and book travel plans. We can already check-in to our hotel room, order room service, and book our travel itinerary right from a kiosk.

Likewise, seeing a doctor may soon be as easy as walking into a Walgreens. After all, we can already see a board-certified medical doctor through a mobile app. The limits are endless as to ways digital kiosks will benefit hospitality- and medical-based industries.

The Truth About Digital Kiosks

These industries are some of the first to accept and implement “forward-thinking” technologies. Technologies to enhance their customer’s user experience and increase efficiency. It will become more cost-efficient and time-saving for these technologies to replace humans.

Sure, there will be an underlying economic effect that ripples through our global economy. People are scared of this coming trend, but really, they should be excited! Some jobs will be lost, but more technical jobs will open up. Low-level labor positions such as cashiers and bank tellers will begin to dwindle out, but kiosk managers, software engineers, mechanical engineers, and certified electricians will all be in-demand. We should embrace it and stop trying to demonize corporations for implementing these technologies. It’s a win for us and it’s a win for them.