There was a time when kiosks were simply a convenience, useful for quick tasks, but not something most people relied on. That’s changed. Today, they’re woven into daily life in ways we barely notice. You might check in at a hotel without speaking to anyone, grab a coffee without waiting in line, or print a boarding pass without approaching a counter. These machines are doing more than ever, and they’re doing it well.
As people have grown used to faster, low-contact interactions, the shift toward self-service has picked up speed. What started as a practical solution during the pandemic has become standard in many places.
In this post, we’ll look at how kiosks are being used across industries, how AI is making them more personalized, and how businesses are managing them behind the scenes. We’ll also explore why reliable connectivity is essential and take a look at some of the newest trends shaping the future of kiosk technology.
Self-service kiosks are now a familiar sight across a variety of sectors, quietly working to eliminate lines, reduce friction, and improve accessibility. Their impact is felt in areas such as:
Kiosks are also getting smarter. Contactless features like voice commands, facial recognition, and QR code scanning create a more hygienic and intuitive experience. With multilingual options and ADA-compliant design, modern kiosks are built to serve everyone.
Rather than just speeding up transactions, kiosks are starting to understand the people using them. With AI and machine learning built in, many kiosks can now adapt their content and recommendations in real time based on who’s in front of the screen, or even the time of day.
At a fast-food restaurant, a kiosk might highlight a breakfast combo in the morning, then switch to a family meal deal later in the day. If you’ve ordered something before, it can suggest that item again or show a related promotion. In some cases, it may even recognize your loyalty account and greet you by name.
In retail, kiosks can suggest product bundles, offer limited-time discounts, or recommend accessories based on what a shopper is already browsing. A customer buying a camera, for example, might see prompts for a memory card, carrying case, or protection plan. These recommendations feel timely and helpful, not pushy, because they’re based on real behavior.
Airports and hotels are also exploring this kind of personalization. A traveler checking in at a kiosk might be offered a lounge pass if they’ve flown that route before, or shown a room upgrade based on availability and past preferences.
Even small touches can make a difference. A multilingual kiosk that remembers your language choice or one that adapts its layout for left-handed users shows attention to detail—something that adds up over time.
These experiences are about more than just convenience. They help businesses stand out in crowded spaces, increase conversion rates, and build loyalty without requiring more staff on site. When kiosks are powered by AI, they stop being static machines and start becoming useful, adaptive points of engagement.
Managing a few kiosks in one location is one thing. Managing hundreds across different cities, or even countries, is a different story entirely. That’s where centralized management tools come in. With the right platform, operators don’t have to be on-site to know what’s happening, make updates, or solve issues. Everything runs through a cloud-based dashboard, accessible from anywhere.
From a single interface, teams can push new content to all kiosks at once, whether it’s a limited-time offer, a seasonal design update, or a change in pricing. This kind of remote content management is especially valuable for retailers and restaurants that rely on promotions to drive traffic.
Maintenance also becomes smarter. Instead of reacting to outages, operators can monitor device status in real time and receive alerts when something isn’t working as expected. If a touchscreen isn’t responding, or a payment reader is down, they’ll know before customers start walking away.
These systems also collect valuable data. Businesses can see which screens people are tapping on, how long sessions last, and what users are skipping. This kind of insight can lead to better UI decisions, improved flow, and stronger conversion rates.
For brands operating at scale, like fast-food chains, transport hubs, or retail franchises, remote kiosk management isn’t just convenient. It’s essential for staying consistent, efficient, and responsive across locations.
As kiosks become more deeply embedded in customer-facing operations, new technologies are expanding what they can do. Businesses adopting kiosks today are already exploring these forward-looking features:
These aren’t just concepts being floated around at trade shows. Many of these innovations are already being deployed in airports, hotels, retail stores, and public spaces.
A kiosk can only do its job if it stays connected. Whether it's handling a payment, pulling the latest pricing, or sending data back to a central system, a steady connection is what keeps things moving.
When that connection drops, even for a moment, the impact is immediate. Transactions fail. Content goes out of date. People walk away frustrated. And what should feel quick and convenient suddenly feels unreliable.
At POND IoT, we understand how important it is to keep kiosks online. That’s why we offer multi-carrier connectivity solutions that give each device access to more than one network. If one network goes down or weakens, the kiosk can switch to another, automatically.
This kind of flexibility is especially important when you’re managing kiosks in different cities, buildings, or environments. Some are inside busy stores. Others are outdoors, in transport stations or hospital parking lots. No matter where they are, they need to work.
Our Smart SIM technology is built for this kind of setup. It helps businesses reduce downtime and deliver a smoother experience, whether they’re running a few kiosks or a few thousand.