If you’ve kept up with the self-service industry over the past few decades, you’ve likely noticed transformations of all kinds—from the appearance and design of self-service solutions, to their overall functionality, just to name a few. Despite the fact that the first digital kiosk was designed for informational purposes, the modern consumer can now use a self-service kiosk to purchase items in a store, check-in for an appointment, find interesting restaurants while on vacation, purchase and print tickets to an event, and much more.
While self-service solutions of all kinds have become increasingly present across industries, one of the most rapidly growing forms of self-service technology is the automated smart locker—and that growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, the 2019 Kiosk Marketplace Census Report cited automated pickup lockers as being one of the self-service solutions with the best opportunities for growth moving forward.
Created with both the front and back-end users in mind, automated pickup lockers can be used to provide a secure, accessible, and fully integrated product pickup and dropoff solution for unattended rentals of all kinds—from library books and laptops to audio visual equipment, sporting goods, and more.
User-Friendly
Designed to simplify and streamline the unattended rentals process, automated smart lockers offer a user-friendly solution for users of all ages. Equipped with the ability to integrate with back office systems and hundreds of different components, including interactive touch screens, scanners, payment terminals, printers, and more, users are able to both pick up and drop off rental items all at the same smart locker. Similarly, back-end locker administrators can utilize remote management software to easily assess locker contents, availability, and statuses.
Secure
Regardless of whether you’re a local library loaning their patrons reading materials for the week or an on-campus tech support department renting a laptop to a student while theirs is being repaired, when it comes to a self-service rental solution, it’s crucial that the items kept inside the locker are securely stored. Crafted from a durable steel enclosure and designed to incorporate tamper-resistant locks, automated smart lockers can be used to ensure the security of its contents in both indoor and outdoor applications.
Accessible
Designed to offer 24/7 access across numerous different industries, automated pickup lockers can also be customized to offer accessibility to patrons of diverse abilities. While the majority of locker doors can be incorporated to fit within ADA reach requirements, additional components, including audio nav-pads can be used to enable users to navigate the touch options and listen to audio recordings of on-screen information.
Convenient
As a truly unattended solution, automated pickup lockers enable users to pay for, schedule, pick up and drop off their rental items at a time that is most convenient for them. Since all of the technicalities can be taken care of ahead of time, when they’re ready to make their pickup or return, users don’t have to worry about waiting in long lines and locker deployers don’t have to concern themselves with predicting or accounting for times of peak congestion.
As the self-service industry as a whole continues to grow, automated smart lockers will likely continue to follow suit. To learn more about Meridian’s automated smart locker solutions, visit www.meridiankiosks.com/solutions/automated-smart-locker-system/ or give us a call at 866-454-6757.