SELF SERVICE TECHNOLOGY


Bespoke kiosks transform user experience at leisure centre


B


espoke kiosk technology specialist, imageHOLDERS has allowed Places Leisure to ensure a state-of-the-art


visitor experience from the moment of arrival at its new £20 million flagship centre in Camberley The company has delivered an intuitive


and efficient user journey and visitor management system including car park access-control and interactive reception kiosks enabling self-check-in to the centre as well as a range of other services. Places Leisure prides itself on using


the latest equipment at its gym and leisure centres and has worked with imageHOLDERS on visitor management technology at previous locations. But the new centre’s space and technical


requirements meant existing digital kiosk used throughout the other leisure centres in the Places Leisure estate would not suit. All equipment needed to be in keeping with the interior design of the space and be accessible, safe and tidy with all cables


hidden and in total be in keeping with a £20 Million state of the art facility. Another requirement of the site was a


separate car park access control system. Visitors using the car park were to be asked to register their registration number through an touch screen using a different system that could not be integrated with the normal membership management application. The two companies worked closely


from concept stage, through building site visits to deployment. Bespoke kiosks were delivered to successfully address a range of requirements including compact design, QR code and barcode scanner support, payment systems and even interaction with the local council’s car parking app. The range of kiosks – including a custom- designed countertop - incorporate a blend of technologies, including PCs, tablets and cameras, with all cables and connectivity hidden for a sleek look. The final touch was a ‘Chicago Concrete’ finish to seamlessly blend into their surroundings.


Ice vending trends to watch in 2023


The year 2022 saw record-breaking temperatures and this trend is predicted to continue. As such, ice machine manufacturers and vendors can expect to see strong market growth this year. Dan Doromal, co-owner and vice president of operations for Everest Ice and Water Systems (pictured) comments.


Due to its high ROI and low-cost business


model, ice vending is currently the fastest- growing segment of the USD 4.6 billion global retail ice market. For 2023, there will be multiple factors at play that will drive


22 | vendinginternational-online.com


further growth in this market, some of which have been in motion for a few years already. With last year reported to have been the warmest year on record, one of these factors is rising global temperatures leading to a high demand for ice products. Retailers and entrepreneurs who get in early on this market demand are likely to see the best returns, and more retailers will likely be getting in on the growing ice vending market. The current labour shortage on the UK has been especially hard on the accommodation and food service industry and this means more businesses are likely to look for automation and self-service technology. The after effects of the pandemic still see many people exercising caution. It means many people are likely to appreciate any service that allows them to accomplish social distancing. Automatic ice vending fits that bill entirely, providing a safe, sanitary, and socially distanced means of accessing services. As the costs for goods and services continue to rise, businesses are having a harder time keeping their operations up


and running. As a result, many wholesalers resort to shrinking their packages, providing less of their product but at the same price to retailers. This is known as “sinkflation,” or “meltflation,” when it comes to packaged ice. Retailers bear the brunt of this sneaky


practice and, considering the unpromising predictions for the UK economy in 2023, it’s likely that more ice makers will continue to shrink their package sizes. With that in mind, more retailers are likely


to see the benefits of investing in an ice vending machine, which will allow them to eliminate the need for a supplier while also enjoying full control of their ice inventory.


FINAL THOUGHTS


While ice vending machines have already been around for a while, it’s only in the last few years that technological advances have increased the quality and trust in these machines. They’re now widely in use among retailers and independent businesses and are likely to become even more popular in 2023 due to the trends mentioned above.


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