A self-service kiosk is a touch screen terminal that lets customers complete a task themselves – ordering food, checking in, paying, scanning their shopping or finding information – without queuing for a member of staff. You will see them in fast-food restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, hospitals, cinemas and council offices.
How a self-service kiosk works
- The customer interacts with a large capacitive touch screen running the operator’s kiosk software.
- Peripherals do the work – a barcode scanner reads products or QR codes, a card reader or payment terminal takes payment, and a thermal printer issues a receipt or order ticket.
- The kiosk talks to back-end systems – EPOS, kitchen displays, stock, booking or patient systems – over wired LAN or Wi-Fi.
Main types of touch screen kiosk
Self-ordering kiosks
Customers browse a menu, customise items and pay. Countertop models such as the HiStone HS150 suit cafés and takeaways; floor-standing 27″ models like the HS520T suit busy QSRs.
Self-checkout kiosks
Customers scan and pay for their own shopping. The HiStone HS520U is a 27″ Windows 11 scan-and-pay checkout with integrated 80mm printer and 1D/2D scanner.
Information and check-in kiosks
Wayfinding, visitor sign-in, appointment check-in and ticket collection. The 23.8″ HS330U is designed for ordering, payments and customer information points.
Windows, Android or Linux?
Your kiosk software decides. HiStone offers Windows 11 models (HS150, HS330U, HS520U, HK568MSC) and Android models (HS150K, HS330Q, HS520T).
Benefits
- Shorter queues at peak times
- Consistent upselling on every order
- Staff freed up for service and preparation
- Fewer order errors
- 24/7 availability
For the numbers, see our self-service kiosk ROI guide.
The HiStone kiosk range at a glance
| Model | Screen | OS | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS150 | 15.6″ countertop | Windows 11 | Cafés, QSR, takeaways |
| HS150K | 15.6″ countertop | Android 11 | Budget counter ordering, AI camera |
| HK568MSC | 15.6″ sealed, rotating | Windows 11 | Counter/self-service hybrid |
| HS330U | 23.8″ | Windows 11 | Ordering, payment, info points |
| HS330Q | 23.8″ | Android | Floor, desk or wall ordering |
| HS520T | 27″ floor-standing | Android 12 | High-footfall ordering |
| HS520U | 27″ self-checkout | Windows 11 | Supermarket and retail scan-and-pay |
See HiStone self-service kiosks in action
B-Spoke Systems supplies the complete HiStone self-service kiosk range from UK stock in Leicester, for kiosk software providers, EPOS resellers and operators. Book a demo at our Leicester showroom and bring your own software, configure a quote, or call 0116 260 3100 / email sales@b-spokesystems.com.