IKEA rolls out Protouch kiosks for loyalty scheme
IKEA, the home furnishings giant, has implemented a suite of self service kiosks to improve customer in-store experience. Customers use the self service kiosks to sign up to join the IKEA FAMILY loyalty scheme. IKEA needed a quick, easy and instant way for customers to apply to its IKEA FAMILY loyalty scheme in store and implemented a suite of Xen X5 kiosks as the means to do so.
Studies show that loyalty cards are a vital tool to improve profitability and one of the most cost effective ways to build brand loyalty and improve customer retention. The self-service kiosks offer customers the convenience of signing up in-store and in addition, loyalty scheme customers benefit further by being the first to know of upcoming promotions, sales and events via on screen information targeted solely at them.
Tim Schroons of IKEA Belgium said, "We are very happy with the IKEA FAMILY registration kiosks that are installed in all Belgian IKEA stores. They allow us to have a much more efficient way of recruiting new IKEA FAMILY members without the presence of a co-worker being required. This versatile solution allows us to recruit new members and have existing members print out a temporary card or update their customer profile in a user friendly way".
Quant Marketing created the concept for the kiosk solution during its marketing-led IT projects in 2008 and selected Protouch as its hardware partner.
They are made from Protouch’s Xen X5 kiosk with 19” touch screens, 80mm receipt printers, keyboards and look great in store with full cover branded laminates and bright orange paint work.
Tom Quarry, managing director of Protouch comments: “We are really excited to be involved in Quants’s kiosk solution for IKEA. It is great to see our touch screen kiosks working so well within the project by improving IKEA’s operations and enhancing in-store experience for its customers”.
18 kiosks are currently in use across 6 Belgian stores with a potential rollout to further IKEA stores in Europe.
The Xen X5
The award-winning X5 is the star of the Xen kiosks after winning the Retail Systems Awards 2008 EPoS innovation of the year. Its smart blend of form, function and price has provided a leader for the EPoS market and shows the way for evolving retail environments.
Designed for easy upgrading and available with a number of additional options the EPoS solution it doesn’t stop as an EPoS unit though; many additional features can be added to the X5 to turn it into a ticket collection, customer loyalty or a home delivery system. And, with its extended back the internal parts can be fitted without it losing its slim profile.
Its steel, strong body and vandal resistant powder coat finish are scratch resistant and easy to clean. It can be branded with a customised vinyl logo or full colour graphic covering front and/or back and additionally finished to specific RAL colour. And, if the self service kiosk has no permanent location you can use its custom-made flight case to transport to its next spot.
For more information please contact:
Amanda Wallace at a.wallace@protouch.co.uk.
Notes to the editor
At Protouch we’re all about touch screens; every piece of hardware we sell or rent has one. In fact we’re touch screen people pure and simple.
We roll out touch screen kiosks, monitors & PCs, EPoS systems and large format digital signage across all industries and each one can be specially made to a brief. We think it’s this dedication that’s made us the no.1 supplier of touch screens and kiosks in the UK, because we don’t just sell, we evolve.
Every product and service we offer is there to provide our customers and the industry with the right solution at the right time. We can do everything from in store payment, ordering, product look up, receipt / ticket printing, RFID, Bluetooth, branding and much more.
Our products have optimised the sales and services of clients such as Specsavers, Sports World, Ikea and Kiddicare and currently we are trialling kiosks for several other high profile companies which will lead to further substantial roll outs.
In 2008 we won ‘EPoS innovation of the year’ for our revolutionary in store kiosk solution at the Retail Systems Awards 2008; were awarded ISO 9001 certification in recognition of our high standard of Quality Management Systems and relocated our manufacturing site and offices to a purpose built 22 000ft² facility in Camberley, Surrey.
Protouch As The Official Supplier Of Internet Kiosks At Screen Expo
Protouch is to be the official supplier of show internet kiosks at the 2009 Screen Expo Europe in London.
Held at the National Hall, Olympia, the event will see Protouch allow visitors full access to the internet over the two-day event, as well as being able to try out a wide range of its products including the award winning EPoS Xen X5 Kiosk.
Protouch’s Marketing Manager, Amanda Wallace said, “The idea behind the hub is to give visitors a greater show and product experience of instantly being able to apply what they’re doing to their own business needs.”
Protouch will be showcasing its products alongside its internet hub at stand, F11.
As well as the winning EPoS Xen X5 kiosk products include Full HD large format screens and the newly released Xen X4 which is the wall version of the Xen X5 and the new sales buddy.
Our award winning X5 is the star of the Xen kiosks after winning the Retail Systems Awards 2008 EPoS innovation of the year. Its smart blend of form, function and price has provided a leader for the EPoS market and shows the way for evolving retail environments.
Designed for easy upgrading and available with a number of additional options it doesn’t stop as an EPoS unit though; many additional features can be added to the X5 to turn it into a ticket collection, customer loyalty or a home delivery system. And, with its extended back the internal parts can be fitted without it losing its slim profile.
Its steel, strong body and vandal resistant powder coat finish are scratch resistant and easy to clean. It can be branded with a customised vinyl logo or full colour graphic covering front and/or back and additionally finished to specific RAL colour. And, if the kiosk has no permanent location you can use its custom-made flight case to transport to its next spot.
The Xen X4 is a wall mountable version of the award winning Xen X5 kiosk.
The design of the Xen X4 fits conveniently against an indoor wall or can be neatly mounted onto a custom made floor stand.
The Xen X4 can be manipulated for all business matters, including adding chip and pin and receipt printer making it ideal for busy retail environments such as cinemas or train stations. Alternatively, it can also be used as an information point either wall or floor mounted to maintain a uniform feel within a client’s environment.
The Sales buddy is a convenient and reliable information tool for retail and hospitality environments that delivers outstanding performance at a greener and cheaper price.
Acting as an interactive information point it can offer extra guidance to both staff and customers seeking advice on products and can be located anywhere via its flexible stand or a wall mount arm. It can also enhance in-store service further by adding accessories to transform it into an EPoS point.
HD Infra-red touch screen
This touch screen device is outstanding as an interactive public display for a variety of information, imagery and pictures across a wide range of business sectors.
Its 50” high definition plasma monitor, with an infra-red, super clear touch screen allows clients to show off their products at their best.
With high brightness and contrast ratio, the screen imagery looks stunning used in retail, museums, galleries and corporate receptions
The event
The Screen Expo event will take place on the 7th-8th April, and is expected to see around 130 exhibitors, over 4000 visitors from over 50 countries.
The event will also focus on other variations of the digital age such as hardware, software, measurement systems, such as audience tracking devices, technology solutions, self service systems, network owners and content professionals.
The show will benefit a variety of business sectors including retailers, leisure and hospitality businesses, consumer brand advertisers, public sector etc.
Protouch’s stand is open to all who are interested in making use of the growing advantages of interaction through touch screens and kiosks. This event is one of the best ways for people to interact and meet a variety of people across the industry.
There are countless number of benefits in using Touch screen PC’s
There are countless number of benefits in using Touch screen PC’s
Touch screen monitors have been around us almost since the computers have evolved themselves. Invented by Dr. Samuel Hurst in 1971 the touch screen monitors have found their place in lots of applications. Today these touch screen monitors are widely used in PC’s, according to the professionals of protouch.co.uk. Camberley, date January 2009 “One of the main advantages of touch screen PC’s is that it saves a lot of desk space. The touch screen monitors can replace the traditional, bulky CRT (cathode ray tube). Moreover, as the touch screen monitors serves the purpose of both input and output device, the need of the peripherals like keyboard and mouse could be eliminated. To the added advantage the touch screen PC’s consume very much less power than the traditional PC’s. Statistics indicate that people around the globe saved 40-50% of cash spent in electricity bills by using the touch screen PC’s” says Amanda Wallace of protouch.co.uk.
He added that, “The touch screen monitors are the hardware and hence it requires a software for its functionality. The touch screen software is the one which understands the gestures and the touch direction and displays the output. Apart from different touch screen software, there are different types of touch screen monitors too. There are touch screen monitors with resistive touch screens work by using conductive and a resistive metallic layers between a sheet of normal glass. An electrical current runs through the two layers and when a user touches the screen, interference in the electrical field is caused and the computer then calculates the coordinates. Resistive touch screens are quite durable although they can be scratched which can reduce their efficiency but overall they are the most versatile system.”
Speaking on the move, Amanda Wallace said “While surface acoustic wave technology used in some touch screens uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the panel. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed and this can be measured identifying the location of the touch. Unfortunately surface wave panels are easily damaged and contaminants on the surface will hinder its function but they offer a higher clarity than the resistive system making them better suited to laboratory work. Capacitive touch screen PCs that use an electrical charge that is soaked up when a user touches it rather than being resisted like a resistive system makes them more durable. Capacitive touch screens are therefore a mainstay of industrial computers because of their durability and their imperviousness to moisture, dirt and grease. Other touch screen technology including infra-red or strain gauge are used too but are less common.”
“Touch screen monitors are a viable alternative to the standard monitor, mouse and keyboard assembly adding better durability and resistance to contaminants whilst also forgoing the need for wires and peripherals making them ideal for industrial or manufacturing purposes.” Says Amanda.
About protouch.co.uk
Protouch.co.uk is the best place to look for touch screen PCs. Protouch Manufacturing Ltd is Europe's leading specialist supplier of touch screen equipment. They supply POS/POI kiosks and monitors, EPOS sales systems and large format interactive signage for both indoor and outdoor use.
For more information, visit www.protouch.co.uk