CPARS RATING: Exceptional

Preface: All US Government contracts are reviewed by the Contracting Officer (CO) who represent the United States Government. CPARS is a Government-wide system used by federal agencies to report the performance of contractor work.

The past year has been an exciting one for Advanced Kiosks, with the company completing several projects for government entities. Advanced Kiosks’ performance has resulted in an Exceptional rating on its recent Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluation. The CPARS rating is used in part to document contractor performance on federal contracts.

The main project was Advanced Kiosks’ partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA).  The system, consisting of Advanced Kiosks’ Aegis Booth, allows members of Native American Tribes to securely talk by video conferencing to a Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) representative and access federal benefits.

Recognition of excellence

Advanced Kiosks’ performance on the Fort Peck project has resulted in an Exceptional rating on its recent Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluation. The CPARS rating is used in part to document contractor performance on federal awards. According to the CPARS website that information includes “the contractor’s record of conforming to requirements and to standards of good workmanship; forecasting and controlling costs; adherence to schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance; reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; reporting into databases; integrity and business ethics; and business-like concern for the interest of the customer.”

Government agencies use a company’s CPARS rating when considering future contract awards. Here are a few comments about Advanced Kiosks that were included in the evaluation:

Quality: The contractor exceeded the contract requirements in terms of Quality. The Contractor consistently provided deliverables that are detailed, polished, and professional that included all the contract requirements. This is shown in the form of the kiosk booth, with the contractor using high quality materials for the booth-enclosure, integrating a high-quality design and technology throughout the booth. The quality of the kiosk application is also exceptional, with a clear, clean, and easy to use interface for a higher-level User Experience.

Schedule: The Contractor performed at a Very Good rating in terms of the Schedule. The Contractor met all deadline timeframes. The Contractor accomplished this by maintaining consistent communication with the Gov't.

Cost Control: The Contractor performed at the Very Good rating for Cost Control. The Contractor performed all requirements at the agreed upon costs and any modifications/upgrades that were identified and requested by the Govt were provided a quotation timely and modifications/upgrades were integrated timely and within agreed upon costs.

Management: The Contractor performed at the Exceptional rating for Management. The Contractor maintained consistent communication with the Govt. The Contractor provided regular updates and collaborated with the Govt on any issues.

Small Business Subcontracting: The Contractor performed at the Exceptional rating or Small Business. The Contractor provided a high quality and functioning kiosk to the Govt while at the same time being flexible with the Govt needs and objectives. This allowed for the Govt to receive dedicated 1-on-1 time and attention to the kiosk project that resulted in a high-quality product with the flexibility and attention of a small business.

“Our Exceptional rating reflects the dedication and hard work of our entire team,” said Advanced Kiosks CEO Howard Horn. “We are deeply committed to delivering the highest level of quality, adhering to schedules, maintaining cost control, and managing projects with excellence. This achievement would not have been possible without the trust and collaboration of our valued clients and partners; specifically the BTFA and our friends at New Hampshire APEX Accelerator”  Horn said. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each one of you for your continued support and partnership.”

Advanced Kiosks is also an approved vendor to the ‘General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage!’ program. The GSA is an organization that provides products, services, and facilities to federal, state, and local Government agencies so that they may serve the public. Any GSA Advantage member gets a significant discount off Advanced Kiosks products to ensure that government organizations get the absolute lowest price for their project.

For additional information or to discuss your own self-service project, contact us today!

Self-service applications have become a cornerstone of user interaction across various industries. These applications empower users to complete tasks, make purchases, and access services without the direct aid of customer service representatives. At the heart of these self-service applications lies an essential component—formflow.

What is Formflow?

Formflow refers to the logical sequence and design of forms within a self-service application. It encompasses the flow from one field to another, the layout of questions, and how information is collected and processed.

What Makes a Formflow Successful?

An optimal formflow design ensures that users can navigate through forms intuitively, inputting necessary information without confusion or frustration. It guides users through a seamless journey, making complex processes feel simple and manageable. It reduces cognitive load by presenting information and input fields in a logical order, minimizing the likelihood of errors and the need for corrections.

Another objective of a formflow is to minimize the number of steps required to complete a form, thereby reducing the time users spend on the application. Logically structuring the input fields helps to improve the accuracy of the information collected.

This accuracy is vital for organizations that rely on this data to provide services, fulfill orders, or make decisions. A good formflow is accessible to users with various abilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies.

Why is Formflow Important to Self-Service Technology?

When users are able to complete forms without issues, the demand for customer support decreases. Fewer inquiries and help requests translate to lower operational costs for organizations.

This efficiency allows companies to allocate resources to other areas of development, improving overall service quality. When users find a form easy to complete, their satisfaction with the service increases, leading to higher engagement rates and loyalty.

 The Power of Advanced Kiosks FormFlow

Integrating Advanced Kiosks FormFlow on your touchscreen kiosk can greatly simplify the process of filling out complex forms for users. It’s a key feature of Advanced Kiosks’ Zamok Kiosk Management Software and the Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0 solution.

Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0 is a complete hardware and software solution that can be configured to your needs, enabling organizations to offer the convenience of 24-hour customer access while automating services and paperwork.

The system is designed to interact with your customer to help fill out forms, scan and submit documents, look up services, check in to appointments, and print forms and documents as needed. It communicates back to you what it is doing and sends the appropriate people or person scanned documents, completed forms, and reports as needed.

Advanced Kiosks FormFlow streamlines the user experience and ensures that all necessary information is collected efficiently and transferred directly into a legal form. You are not simply receiving the form submission data, you are receiving the legal form itself, filled out with that data.

Users can easily navigate through the form, tapping on fields to input information and using touch gestures to scroll or paginate as needed.

The importance of FormFlow in self-service applications cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in enhancing user experience, increasing efficiency, reducing support costs, facilitating accessibility, and encouraging valuable data collection.

Click here to find out more about how Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0’s FormFlow feature can benefit your organization.

The world is constantly evolving, and it’s no different when it comes to the self-service industry. New applications, new hardware and new software are being introduced on nearly a daily basis.

Advanced Kiosks is proud to be at the forefront of many of those changes. And to share what’s taking place at the company and the new offerings we’ve introduced, we’ve launched a quarterly newsletter.

Here’s a sample of what’s been happening at our New Hampshire headquarters and beyond:

New software

Advanced Kiosks recently released Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0, a groundbreaking update to its popular self-service office management system. This update is in conjunction with a major update of Zamok 3.0, Advanced Kiosks’ proprietary kiosk management software.

Key features of Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0 that have been updated and added include new translation capabilities, new and improved secure file upload, human detection technology and much more.

Expanded deployments

Validating the value of those new features is a project that’s taking place in Prince William County, Va. In an effort led by Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith and funded by Virginia Technology grants, the Circuit Court of Prince William County has rolled out 11 of Advanced Kiosks’ Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 3.0 kiosks to increase public access to services.

The kiosks are located in several locations throughout the county (no longer just the courthouse) to accommodate the busy lifestyles of residents who are unable to visit the courthouse during restrictive office hours. Here’s our case study on this project.

New hardware

For those who need self-service solutions in places where deploying a traditional kiosk might be difficult or impossible, Advanced Kiosks has introduced a new No-Power Kiosk, a tablet kiosk that does not require 110 power. Instead, it draws electricity via an ethernet cable that serves as an all-in-one power source and internet connection. The No-Power Kiosk is offered in both a wall-mounted or counter-based version, making it ideal for uses where space is tight and access to an electrical source is limited.

Because the No-Power Kiosk doesn’t require a power outlet, it opens the door to new possibilities for customer engagement or information dissemination. It can be easily moved around and placed in unconventional or remote locations such as temporary events, trade shows, conferences, or pop-up installations.

Value-added services

And to help ensure each self-service project is a success, Advanced Kiosks provides an onboarding service, an essential offering that gets customers up and running quickly and helps deliver maximum results. The onboarding service includes everything needed to get your solution deployed. An onboarding specialist continually monitors the production timeline and schedules regular check-ins to keep your project running smoothly.

These are just a few of the exciting things happening here at Advanced Kiosks, so be sure and check out the newsletter page to see what else is happening. If you’d like to learn more about what we do and read a few or our success stories, visit our Resources page.

Keep an eye out for the next edition of the newsletter, slated to come out in December. If you’re interested in exploring self-service solutions for your operation, contact one of our experts.

The court system in the United States is undergoing dramatic changes as part of an effort to cut costs, reduce face-to-face contact and provide more efficient services.

To help explain those changes and outline ways to spur courthouse modernization, Advanced Kiosks is producing a series looking at the challenges of courthouse modernization and how implementing self-service kiosks can help address those challenges.

As the court system comes under increasing pressure to provide more services with fewer resources, many are finding kiosk technology to be the solution. Still, even with the most advanced equipment, there’s only so much an individual can accomplish on their own.

Although an attorney may have no problem e-filing forms, applying for a building permit, or accomplishing other tasks, there will always be average citizens who need assistance but don’t have access to an attorney. In many cases, the courthouse may not have the personnel available to offer that assistance.

That’s where assisted self-service can help.

A helping hand

At its core, assisted self-service involves the use of a kiosk outfitted with videoconferencing equipment that allows users of self-service technology to reach a live agent. That agent can then help the user perform tasks they may not be able to handle on their own.

Consider, for example, cases where users have multiple and/or complex pages of paperwork to print, scan, or email, or they don’t understand the question on a legal form. At a touch of a button, they can connect with an agent who can walk them through the process or answer their question.

An assisted self-service solution can help combat some of the most troubling issues when it comes to providing access to legal services: A lack of awareness of the resources available and difficulties in accessing those resources. A study conducted by the Center for Court Innovation spotlighted a recurring theme among respondents to a survey they conducted: those who did not take action to address their legal issues did not know how or where to seek assistance, or they were unaware that the problem they faced was actionable at all. Additionally, many respondents did not have a firm idea of services currently available in their area.

An assisted self-service kiosk located in a courthouse can help address those issues by providing easy access to the legal information and services people need.

Adding to those benefits is the increased quality of the information gathered when using an assisted self-service model. Several recent research studies have demonstrated that the data gathered during an assisted self-service interaction is significantly more accurate than that gathered in cases where the user entered information on their own, reducing situations where a person’s paperwork may be rejected because they made a mistake filling out a form.

The complete solution

To help address the need for assisted self-service, Advanced Kiosks has developed its Assisted Self Service Kiosk 3.0.

More than simply a workstation, the A.S.K. 3.0 allows the user to instantly chat with your help representative with live video assistance with complicated forms or processes.

A.S.K. 3.0 leverages the Aegis Desk along with Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 2.0 and cutting-edge videoconferencing equipment including webcams, 4K monitors, and directional soundbars to recreate a person-to-person experience with technology. The transfer of data and documents is secure and easy.

With A.S.K. 3.0, users can request step-by-step assistance while filling out & submitting forms, printing documents, and paying fines and fees via a secure third-party portal. They can also upload files for secure file transfer and receive step-by-step help with screen sharing. Additionally, those at the kiosk can place VOIP calls through a directory or slideshow of quick-dial buttons via the built-in microphone and speakers.

A service agent can remotely control any of the desk’s functions, including document scanning, printing, screen-sharing, or navigation.

A.S.K 3.0 sets the standard for assisted self-service interactions in courthouses or any other venue where users might require assistance.

Contact sales to learn more!

Advanced Kiosks has for nearly 20 years been a leader in developing self-service solutions for many areas where we conduct business, and courthouses are no exception.

Our products make it easy for citizens to check in to appointments with probation officers, file legal documents, apply for permits and perform a host of other court-related functions.

Contact us today to see how we can assist in your courthouse modernization efforts.

The court system in the United States is undergoing dramatic changes as part of an effort to cut costs, reduce face-to-face contact and provide more efficient services.

To help explain those changes and outline ways to spur courthouse modernization, Advanced Kiosks is producing a series looking at the challenges of courthouse modernization and how implementing self-service kiosks can help address those challenges.

Although English is the most common language spoken in the United States, it’s not the only one. According to World Atlas, nearly 38 million people speak Spanish as their primary language at home, and nearly 3 million speak one of several Chinese dialects. Other languages in common use include Tagalog, Vietnamese, German, and Portuguese. Additionally, as many as 500,000 people in the country rely on American Sign Language to communicate.

In fact, there are hundreds of languages spoken regularly in the United States. And although many of those individuals can also speak English, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 8.3% of the U.S. population, or nearly 28 million people, rate their ability to speak it as less than “very well.” In some parts of the country, more than 32% of the local population has difficulty speaking and understanding English. 

That can be a significant challenge for U.S. courts. Under the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, if someone involved in a civil or criminal case has limited proficiency in English, state courts that receive federal funding are required to provide an interpreter free of charge. The same rules apply in federal courts.

At the same time, courts are under increasing budgetary pressures, in part due to the impact of COVID-19 on tax revenues. In Orange County, Calif., according to LawFirms.com, budget cuts over the past 3-6 years have forced attorneys and litigants to endure delays in obtaining a hearing or trial date. Access to court resources such as court reporters, custody mediators, and evaluators continues to be reduced.

Providing interpretation services can be costly as well, especially if the language at issue is one where it’s difficult to find a qualified interpreter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2021 median pay for interpreters topped $23.61 per hour. The cost can be significantly higher if the interpreter needs to travel a long distance. 

There has to be a better way.

Equal access to justice 

To address issues in providing interpreting services, many courts are turning to technology as part of their modernization efforts.

In Florida, for example, courts are exploring the use of remote interpreting systems to help control the costs of providing those services. The state continues to experience significant growth in its non-English speaking population, according to the Florida Courts website, with many cases and other matters involving parties or witnesses who have limited English proficiency.  

One solution to providing remote interpretation and translation services to those who struggle with English is the InterpreStation from Advanced Kiosks.

The InterpreStation allows citizens who do not speak English as a first language to ask complex questions and receive answers instantly through a human translator, at a fraction of the cost of hiring an interpreter. By leveraging the services of LanguageLine Solutions, the kiosk offers interpretation and translation services in 240 languages plus American Sign Language, with weekly usage reports and personal information security.

The countertop kiosk features a built-in webcam and a 4K monitor large enough to capture details including facial expressions and hand gestures. The system includes two VOIP handsets for crisp, clear audio communication.

InterpreStation is an excellent fit for any situation where regular clients may not speak English. Along with courthouses, hospitals, government facilities, universities, and housing authorities are all industries that can benefit from the InterpreStation solution. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and users can pay by the minute for substantial savings.

Click here to learn more!

Advanced Kiosks has for nearly 20 years been a leader in developing self-service solutions for many areas where we conduct business, and courthouses are no exception.

Our products make it easy for citizens to check in to appointments with probation officers, file legal documents, apply for permits and perform a host of other court-related functions.

Contact us today to see how we can assist in your courthouse modernization efforts.

The court system in the United States is undergoing dramatic changes as part of an effort to cut costs, reduce face-to-face contact and provide more efficient services.

To help explain those changes and outline ways to spur courthouse modernization, Advanced Kiosks is producing a series looking at the challenges of courthouse modernization and how implementing self-service kiosks can help address those challenges.

As discussed in Part 2 of our Courthouse Modernization series, the ability to e-file legal documents promises to provide increased access to the courts for average citizens, but it does present some challenges. Not everyone has access to a computer and/or Internet access at home, and the jargon contained in many of those documents can be difficult for non-lawyers to understand. It’s unlikely that courthouse staff will assist in filling out and submitting those documents.

The result, then, will be the opposite of what court systems intended when implementing e-filing. Once again, the legal system will be available for those with the knowledge to fill out those forms, or the resources to pay for assistance.

E-filing is just the first step in improving access. Courthouses need to provide an efficient, easy-to-understand, on-site way for people to e-file documents and handle other basic legal tasks.

Simplifying the process

One way courthouses are improving services and increasing access is through the implementation of self-service kiosks.

With self-service kiosks, residents can conduct courthouse business on their own time. Kiosks automate paperwork-related functions, freeing up court workers to tackle more complicated issues. The kiosk interface can be programmed to walk users through the form fill process with easy-to-understand instructions, with an option to deliver those instructions in a variety of languages if needed.

An ADA-compliant document kiosk, for example, can perform a variety of courthouse-related tasks, including:

• Marriage licensing
• Permits
• Payment of government fines and fees
• Document printing and scanner
• Notary services
• And more

The customer-facing software used for courthouse services can also provide additional features such as scanning, printing, information access, wayfinding, and more.

A success story

The Prince William County court system in Virginia serves more than 470,000 residents, many of whom face a challenge common to many citizens across the United States: lack of convenient access to government services. Prince William County residents regularly needed to take an entire day off work to complete essential government business during limited business hours.

Recognizing the need to make these services accessible for everyone, court officials in the community turned to Advanced Kiosks to find a solution that allows citizens to handle their business on their time.

Court clerks recognized that something needed to change to accommodate all its residents. The solution? Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 2.0 and the self-service document kiosk.

“In our community, we have one courthouse centrally located in the county,” said Clerk of Court Jacqueline Smith. “Still, for people who live on one side or the other, if they don’t have reliable transportation, it takes them up to 3.5 hours to get here by bus.”

With Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 2.0, residents can access essential court services outside of court office hours at times convenient for them. The kiosks are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accessible in both the courts and the local public library. For longer interactions, courthouses have the option of deploying the Zamok Kiosk Office Suite Desk, allowing users to sit comfortably while filing their documents.

“Long-term, the kiosks are going to allow everyone in the population to exercise their fundamental rights,” Smith said. “I don’t think there’s any greater thing that any piece of technology could do for us right now than to allow people to access those systems without any burden.”

Up next in the Court Modernization Series: Part 4 - On-Demand Interpretation Services

Advanced Kiosks has for nearly 20 years been a leader in developing self-service solutions for many areas where we conduct business, and courthouses are no exception.

Our products make it easy for citizens to check in to appointments with probation officers, file legal documents, apply for permits and perform a host of other court-related functions.

Contact us today to see how we can assist in your courthouse modernization efforts.

The court system in the United States is undergoing dramatic changes as part of an effort to cut costs, reduce face-to-face contact and provide more efficient services.

To help explain those changes and outline ways to spur courthouse modernization, Advanced Kiosks is producing a series looking at the challenges of courthouse modernization and how implementing self-service kiosks can help address those challenges.

Over the past several years, courts throughout the United States have implemented e-filing systems for legal documents in an effort to streamline courthouse operations and minimize the use of paper.

E-filing offers a host of benefits for users. According to Direct Legal Support, a provider of court support services in California, benefits of e-filing include:

• Saves time, money, and transportation costs
• Reduces delays in retrieving court documents
• Enhances virtual filing accessibility from the convenience of home or the office
• Enables attorneys and court clerks to work more efficiently by reducing the time and effort needed to manage case files
• Allows most legal professionals (attorneys and paralegals) to receive notices, orders, and judgments from the court electronically
• Eco-friendly

E-filing is quickly becoming the preferred method of submitting legal documents. Attorneys, paralegals, process servers and other legal support service professionals likely use e-filing regularly. They can typically file documents from anywhere, at any time of the day, eliminating the need to make multiple trips to the courthouse and wait in line to file. In some jurisdictions and with certain types of cases, e-filing is mandatory.

Users are provided with a receipt once an e-filed document has been accepted by the system, meaning there’s no doubt about when documents were filed if there’s a deadline, and documents are easily retrieved if needed. And because participants in a case are notified instantly when documents are e-filed, the process can help speed up the resolution of a case.

Challenges remain

E-filing can also be used by those representing themselves, increasing access to the legal system. According to the Pew Research Center, 30 million Americans each year deal with legal issues in court without a lawyer. That equates to 1 in 3 U.S. households, with housing, family or debt problems the most common issues.

“These are cases that can have significant life consequences,” said Pew’s Qudsiya Naqui in an article posted on the center’s website. “For example, if you are not able to get online and modify your child support payment because you lost your job due to the pandemic, you could end up in arrears for child support that can result in incarceration in some states.”

Naqui co-authored a Pew report, “How Courts Embraced Technology, Met the Pandemic Challenge, and Revolutionized Their Operations.”

That does create some issues, though. People may not have a computer and/or Internet access at home. A 2021 Census Bureau study found that 8% of the U.S. population doesn’t have access to a laptop or desktop computer at home, and 15% don’t have broadband Internet access. Those living in rural areas and those with lower income were the least likely to have computers and/or broadband; they are also the most likely to have to interact with the legal system without legal help.

Additionally, legal terminology can be difficult to understand without proper training, Pew studies found, especially for those with disabilities or limited English skills. That puts them at a tremendous disadvantage compared with debt collectors or other organizations that may have a large legal staff at their disposal.

To overcome these issues, courthouses need to provide an easy-to-understand, on-site way for people to e-file documents.

Up next in the Court Modernization Series: Part 3 - Streamlining Legal Form Fill & Submission

Advanced Kiosks has for nearly 20 years been a leader in developing self-service solutions for many areas where we conduct business, and courthouses are no exception.

Our products make it easy for citizens to check in to appointments with probation officers, file legal documents, apply for permits and perform a host of other court-related functions.

Contact us today to see how we can assist in your courthouse modernization efforts.

The court system in the United States is undergoing dramatic changes as part of an effort to cut costs, reduce face-to-face contact and provide more efficient services.

To help explain those changes and outline ways to spur courthouse modernization, Advanced Kiosks is producing a series looking at the challenges of courthouse modernization and how implementing self-service kiosks can help address those challenges.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 in early 2020 prompted some nearly instantaneous changes in all areas of life, and courts were no exception. Some courthouses shut down completely, while others handled many legal issues via web conferencing. Plexiglass shields became standard, and visitors were no longer allowed to observe legal proceedings.

Although many of the changes implemented at the beginning of the pandemic are going away, some will be with us for a long time, if not for good. And while some court proceedings will continue to be held in a face-to-face setting, others will be accomplished via technological tools.

Access a foundation of liberty

A 2021 Thomson Reuters Institute study, The Impacts of the Pandemic on State & Local Courts, surveyed approximately 240 court professionals ranging from judges to clerks at the state, county, and municipal courts level, and found several common denominators. Nearly every court (93%) moved to some form of remote proceedings to continue operations and the height of the pandemic, and most (89%) are continuing to use some form of remote proceedings.

The study arrived at several conclusions regarding the future of technology and the legal system. Courts should continue to find ways to provide more technological help to litigants, particularly self-represented parties.

“Without equal and fair access to our courts, individuals risk the loss of their liberty, property, and much more,” the study authors wrote. “When citizens do not have the same access to knowledge of their rights or an understanding of courts’ processes, we are left with a weakened and unbalanced justice system. The technology changes we have seen accelerating over the past 18 months are a positive step forward for court professionals and our nation’s citizens.”

Digital divide remains an issue

One of the immediate benefits of technology in the courts was an improved participation rate. A project conducted by the Pew Research Center, for example, found that Arizona civil courts saw an 8% year-over-year drop in June 2020 in the rate of default judgments due to defendants failing to appear in court. Officials from across the country, including judges, administrators, and attorneys, are reporting increases in civil court appearance rates, Pew found.

Still, while modernization of the court system with technology is improving access for litigants, not everyone is reaping the benefits. Although defendants have the right to legal counsel in criminal courts, no such rights exist for this in civil court proceedings. Those without legal representation, especially those with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency, continue to face significant disadvantages, Pew found. A lack of a computer or high-speed Internet access can create a significant hurdle for those trying to access the courts with technology.

Because of those issues, an on-site technological method of accessing courthouse services will be a key part of any courthouse modernization effort.

Up next in the Court Modernization Series: Process Simplification with eFiling in Modern Courts

Advanced Kiosks has for nearly 20 years been a leader in developing self-service solutions for many areas where we conduct business, and courthouses are no exception.

Our products make it easy for citizens to check in to appointments with probation officers, file legal documents, apply for permits and perform a host of other court-related functions.

Contact us today to see how we can assist in your courthouse modernization efforts.

Self-service kiosks are a great way to allow users to handle quick tasks on their own, such as paying bills, ordering food, checking in at a health care facility or looking up information in a product catalog or building directory. They’re short transactions that self-service kiosks accomplish in thousands of stores, restaurants, and other venues every day. Organizations of all types have been adopting kiosks to provide a better customer experience via self-service.  

But while such tasks are easily accomplished while the user is standing, kiosks are increasingly being used in situations where the interaction is more complicated and takes much more time. For tasks such as filling out job applications, notarizing documents, help with lengthy court, tax or insurance document submissions, video conferencing with a case manager, telehealth sessions, applying for an apartment or communicating with HR, it’s unreasonable to expect people to stand for the entire process. In addition, occasions arise where users will need to scan and submit a variety of paperwork, and they’ll likely need space to spread out and organize forms.

In those cases, a desk and a chair will be required.

Not standing room only

Standards are difficult to quantify, but retail consumers tend to believe that 5 to 10 minutes is the maximum amount of time that they are prepared to stand in a line. It’s a good bet that kiosk users have similar feelings. If a kiosk interaction requires the user to stand for more than 5 or 10 minutes, it’s common courtesy to deploy a solution that incorporates a chair for the user to sit.

Those who may need to be seated when conducting business via kiosk include:

• People filing court papers such as restraining orders, petition for an appointment, or motion
• Citizens working with government agencies to apply for benefits such as Social Security, health insurance, public housing, and more
• Applying for a building permit at the local city hall
• Disaster victims working with FEMA to secure aid
• Banking customers interacting with a remote loan officer or customer service personnel
• Employees filling out new hire paperwork with the company’s HR department 

The answer to these issues is the A.S.K. (Assisted Self-Service Kiosk) 3.0 solution from Advanced Kiosks.

A.S.K. 3.0 leverages the Aegis Desk, Zamok Kiosk Office Suite 2.0, and cutting-edge videoconferencing equipment including webcams, 4K monitors, and directional soundbars to recreate a person-to-person experience with technology. The transfer of data and documents is secure and easy.

This self-service station affords users comfort as well as the tools to get more done. The desk is tamper-proof, with all switches, wires, and ports under lock and key.

For more on how A.S.K. 3.0 can help your organization better serve your customers, reach out to the experts at Advanced Kiosks.