Commentary

Self-service technology makes new inroads in amusements

Self-service automation is yet another movement making inroads in today’s multifaceted entertainment scene.

Image: Semnox Solutions

January 1, 2024 by Kevin Williams

Self-service kiosks are expanding rapidly across many industries, boosted by increased consumer acceptance of self service, improving technology and a massive fallout in the availability of labor.

The trend is also making big inroads in the amusement sector, as evidenced by exhibits at the recent IAPPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Kiosk touchscreens mainly allow audience services in arcades and location based entertainment centers. This is split into three areas, the first is guest registrations, with touchscreen terminals that are even printing the wristbands to the guest. Next are the photobooth kiosks, offering unique features and physical printouts.

Finally, there are guest information services supplied through the kiosk systems, with many offering smart search features.

These systems also support accessibility for challenged guests, widening the inclusivity of the venue. This includes the creation of memories and memorable takeaways, which are becoming more important to the modern facility guest, supporting both physical images, as well as digital and social media distributed ones.

Integrated payments, robotics bring change

The expansion of integrated payment systems and robotics is creating more opportunities for entertainment centers to offer automated services for guests, which result in faster access to amusements for more patrons.

The reality of the modern market is that amusement venues have started a massive rollout of e-payment systems. Card readers are becoming a major investment across all sites, building on the momentum of the global health crisis and the move to a cashless environment.

Intercard, a cashless payment technology provider, introduced its new "iQ" reader and kiosk platform, based on QR code reading and intended for amusement center payment deployment.

Semnox Solutions, a provider of technology solutions for the entertainment and leisure industries, has installed its venue management software across several venues, including "The Zone" and "Kokomo Joe's Rolla" venues, including e-commerce and ticketing, point of sale, self-service kiosks, cashless payments, tap-to-play functionality in the arcade with card roaming between locations, data reporting across all platforms, and inventory management with redemption.

The install is part of a strategic initiative by owners Eva and Justin Furse to improve operational efficiency between these two locations, enhance customer engagement with a better self-driven experience and facilitate seamless management of all aspects of the business with an all-in-one integrated solution.

Integrations expand

Meanwhile, accesso Technology Group presented its "accesso Passport" e-commerce ticketing platform which includes integration with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo and Amazon Pay; open banking functionality; integration with Uplift, a leading provider of "Buy Now, Pay Later" payment options; checkout donations with roundups; and integration with Protecht ticket insurance.

FECFIN, a financial services provider for the amusement industry, showed its "Pulse" terminal — a credit card point-of-sales unit that is targeting both vendors and amusement deployment.

Easy RFID Pro presented its tracking system for guests and services, supported by a perfusion of the latest cashless payment management systems, such as from Embed, reflecting the stirring in the industry about excessive licensing and subscription fees.

Embed, a cashless payment system provider, also promoted its mobile wallet system, offering 12 months of free support, and also offered a payment gateway consultant, reflecting what had previously been covered in recent Stinger Report podcasts (through its LBE Collective collaboration) about the need to handle the valuable data collected through these payment systems — such as the company's "smartTouch" card reader platform.

Robots on the move

Bowlmarc Robotics presented its "Bella" service robot, an all-in-one robotic platform for the bowling industry, clearing tables and delivering services, now being applied across all aspects of the entertainment venue scene.

Hospitality Robot presented its third-party representation of popular service robot system range from RobotLabs.

Smart Industries presented its "JJ Bot" crane machine with a robotic arm and an animated avatar screen as the company celebrates its 97th anniversary, the first amusement piece being "Erie Digger" in 1926.

The deployment of robot arms within the amusement system was also seen from Sweet Robo LLC and its "Vendortainment" range of cotton candy and ice-cream robot vended machines. All falling into the smart "Vendortainment" trend.

Self-service automation is yet another movement making inroads in today's multifaceted entertainment scene.

(Editor's note: Extracts from this blog are from recent coverage in The Stinger Report, published in collaboration with the LBX Collective and publisher, Kevin Williams, the leading interactive out-of-home entertainment news service covering the immersive frontier and beyond.)

About Kevin Williams

Along with advisory positions with other entrants into the market he is founder and publisher of the Stinger Report, “a-must-read” e-zine for those working or investing in the amusement, attractions and entertainment industry. He is a prolific writer and provides regular news columns for main trade publications. He also travels the globe as a keynote speaker, moderator and panelist at numerous industry conferences and events. Author of “The Out-of-Home Immersive Entertainment Frontier: Expanding Interactive Boundaries in Leisure Facilities,” the only book on this aspect of the market, with the second edition scheduled for a 2023 release.

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