As the Internet becomes more and more pervasive, businesses are served well by offering the same sort of interactive and self-service experience to their offline customers via a kiosk desk. Desktop kiosks provide opportunities for retail, service, and hospitality industries to expand their reach to their customers and guests.

Whether you are providing Internet access in a cafe or expanding your available inventory via a catalog kiosk, there are a few things to remember for any tabletop kiosk station:

1. Buy a desktop kiosk style that fits your business atmosphere as well as its intended use.
2. Place the desktop kiosk in a location that optimizes its availability and use.
3. Find customized software or other application services that specifically address your needs.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the style of computer desktop kiosk that best fits your business

You can find suppliers that offer streamlined kiosk stations that can be customized with your business logo, which works well for hospitality or retail desktop kiosk stations that need to draw the attention of the customer or guest. If you're looking to buy a tabletop kiosk but have a small space to work with or are looking for a low-key, cost-effective option, you may want to buy simple components, such as touch screen monitors, and create the kiosk yourself.

I recommend: Kiosk Information Systems provides a wide array of ready-to-order kiosk models. They also offer custom services to create a desktop computer kiosk look and style to match your specific business needs. If you want to create your own kiosk station, Dell offers several models of touchscreen monitors and peripheral accessories to fit your kiosk needs.

Choose the location of your table top kiosk to best fit your business plan

You need to place your desktop kiosk in an area that is easily accessed by your guest or customer. You also want to make sure it's located in a high traffic area, without hindering your non-kiosk traffic flow. For some businesses, this may even include an outdoor computer kiosk, which has the added bonus of reaching customers and guests before they even reach your doors.

I recommend: SurferQuest provides slim designed desktop kiosks that will fit nicely in any needed location. MDKS offers a wide range of rugged and weatherproof outdoor computer kiosks that still have a sleek and appealing design.

Load your desktop kiosk with software designed specifically for your business

You may able to find generic off-the-shelf kiosk software, but this will give your customer a generic off-the-shelf experience. For a more memorable and effective customer experience, use kiosk software that has been customized to reflect your goals and needs. To expand the experience even further, consider using a full fledged kiosk solutions company who will provide not only software but also support, upgrades and feedback.

I recommend: Phoenix Kiosk provides a kiosk software design and development service that will customize your kiosk software to fit your business design and needs. Intava offers robust kiosk solutions that will not only customize your kiosk software but monitor and analyze your customer use to provide you with valuable feedback on the effectiveness of your kiosk station.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider buying your desktop kiosk and the accompanying software design from the same supplier. This will usually allow more streamlined management and support plans, as well as a more integrated look to your kiosk desk station. In some cases, it may also cut costs.