Technology is changing the way consumers interact with retailers. A tech-savvy generation raised with devices in their hands wants the same convenience they get from online shopping when they visit quick-service restaurants, movie theaters, convenience stores and other brick-and-mortar outlets. 

Kiosks are one of the answers. But, if credit cards are the only payment option you accept, you’re segregating a substantial group of your customers. Fortunately, adding cash accepting systems to kiosk is easy … and can boost profits

Cash is still king for many
According to a study by the United States Federal Reserve, cash comprises 26% of all transactions. And for smaller purchases under $10, cash is used for 49% of payments! 

By making sure your kiosks accept cash, you are well-positioned to meet the needs of all shoppers and eliminate confusion. If all payment types are accepted, everyone can easily take advantage of kiosk touch screens. This convenience is critically important to take the friction out of the payment process and leave the choice of payment type to your customer.  Customers simply put their money in and immediately receive the appropriate change.  

Some cities, such as Philadelphia and San Francisco, now require all stores to accept cash. Retailers that previously only accepted electronic payments often cited security as the reason for the strategy. GLORY cash accepting systems eliminate the need for employees to handle currency and also store the cash securely in a way that is not accessible by staff.  

Shift focus to customer service
Help wanted signs are everywhere in this tight employment market. Finding — and retaining — qualified workers is a challenge for all industries, but the retail market has been hit especially hard. For example, according to the TDn2K Restaurant Planning Guide 2019, quick-service restaurants are experiencing 132% hourly staff and 50% manager turnover.

These high churn rates make it challenging to train a revolving cast of employees properly. Brand standards and the customer experience can suffer when workers aren’t sure what is expected of them.

If your self-service kiosks accept all payment types, your staff is free to focus on tasks that enhance the customer experience, such as maintaining the appearance of the sales floor or answering customers’ questions.

Cash accepting systems also reduce cash shrinkage because employees rarely touch or count money. Glory cash automation machines accept, count, sort and dispense change while keeping an accurate accounting of cash on hand. Counterfeit bills detection is also built-in.

AMC Theatres® recently added capabilities to accept cash at their box office kiosks to reduce the time all guests spend to buy tickets. According to Mark Garcia, AMC’s director of operation systems, “The cash automation solution enables guests to use a kiosk for virtually any ticket purchase transaction, which provides theatre teams more time to focus on delivering an exceptional experience by engaging with guests, answering questions and providing assistance.”

More is better
Self-service kiosks are designed to offer consumers additional options for their orders without fail. Over time, add-ons such as avocado on a sandwich or a soda with popcorn can contribute to significant upticks in profits. And cash accepting kiosks make the customer journey consistent.

Real results, real fast
The addition of cash accepting machines produced immediate positive results for PB Boulangerie Bistro in South Wellfleet, Mass. The popular French restaurant is well known for its pastries and breads. Customers routinely line up outside the restaurant every morning to buy goodies when the bakery opens at 7 a.m. 

Before adding GLORY cash accepting machines, staff burned a lot of time changing gloves and washing their hands between assembling orders after touching cash. With the installation of undercounter cash accepting machines, which offer many of the same as cash accepting kiosks, counter staff is now focused solely on quickly fulfilling customer orders.

“The machine changed the life of my staff,” said Phillippe Rispoli, owner and chef. “They can take better care of the customers instead of looking at the cash. It’s cleaner, it’s faster and really makes the staff more comfortable.”

Rispoli reports that customers appreciate the quicker service. He values that faster-moving lines mean more sales. 

Now and later
Cash accepting systems can be incorporated into the rollout of self-service kiosks and added to existing POS systems to securely automate cash handling, minimize the risk of errors and shrinkage and enhance staff productivity and customer service.