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From the Edge to the Cloud — Advantech Innovates Smart Self-Service Solutions

1/19/2022
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From the Edge to the Cloud — Advantech Innovates Smart Self-Service Solutions

Contactless interactions have become the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this new reality, Advantech has collaborated with its domain-focused systems integrator(DFSI) and software developer partners to innovate more forward-looking, smart, self-service solutions by leveraging software and hardware that utilizes contactless technology and AI-based designs.

Interview with Joy Chiu, Sector Director, Service-IoT Group, Advantech

More than a year has passed since the emergence of COVID-19. With the crisis still ongoing, remote transactions and contactless interactions have become a part of everyday life. Accordingly, Advantech is channeling its knowledge of self-service software, hardware, and cloud platforms into the development of new forward-looking applications. This effort has spanned a variety of sectors related to public spaces, such as retail, restaurants, airports, and hotels. Connecting and collaborating with various partners has allowed Advantech to innovate self-service solutions for the edge through to the cloud. These solutions are enabling businesses to maintain operations and helping people safely get on with their lives while following social distancing rules in public spaces.

Emerging demand for contactless Self-Service kiosks

According to Joy Chiu, Sector Director of the Advantech Service-IoT Group, the pandemic has changed consumer behaviors completely, prompting a notable shift from existing service models. The preference for contactless transactions has increased the demand for self-service kiosks, and many businesses are now also using multimedia streaming devices to integrate their online and offline processes in order to realize omnichannel sales models. Additionally, with AI and big data used increasingly to personalize the sales experience, smart retailing is fast emerging as the next major industry trend.

With most countries in the world still affected by COVID-19, the possibility that viruses can survive on device surfaces and touchscreens poses a significant risk to public health and safety. Thus, in an effort to prevent viral transmission via direct contact, industry demands for contactless self-service devices have increased dramatically. From a technical perspective, various technologies, including infrared (IR) pressure-sensitive touch, holographic projection touch, gesture tracking control, eye-tracking predictive touch, and voice control, can be used to produce contactless self-service solutions. Of the various technologies, IR pressure-sensitive touch is currently the most feasible for mass deployment. Although holographic projection touch has been realized, the technology requires further development to overcome any technical or cost barriers to large-scale implementation.

Considering the limited availability of contactless technology, in the first quarter of 2021, Advantech launched a contactless self-service kiosk equipped with IR pressure-sensitive touch technology. Ms. Chiu explained that the integrated IR touch sensor module uses a built-in micro IR transmitter and receiver to determine finger position for touch control. The kiosk has since been adopted by a well-known American fast-food chain to provide customers with an option for self-ordering service. This not only limits in-person contact, which reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but it also reduces personnel costs by streamlining their workloads.

Synchronous software and hardware upgrades for smart services

In addition to contactless self-service kiosks, Advantech has developed a range of products and solutions that support specific COVID-19-related applications to help businesses maintain stable operations. One renowned retail chain improved its Omni-channel service by upgrading the in-store kiosk display sizes from 20 to 32 inches. Larger screens improve image clarity and detail in order to enhance the overall customer shopping experience. Advantech has also helped a well-known bakery chain implement AI to improve the checkout process. 

Another emerging industry trend is personalized procurement combined with AI. According to Ms. Chiu, many businesses have already integrated AI into their kiosks for analyzing consumer information and providing product suggestions for future purchases. Streamlining the steps required to navigate kiosks significantly reduces in-person contact and, thus, minimizes virus transmission risks.

In terms of hardware, because restaurants in the U.S.and many European countries have created outdoor dining areas to accommodate social distancing, self-service kiosks are more likely to be exposed to extreme weather conditions, which can cause equipment malfunctions. To address this issue, Advantech has launched a kiosk that can withstand operation in a wide temperature range(-20~60°C/-4~140°F).

Going forward, Advantech will continue to innovate hardware and software solutions for self-service applications while also collaborating with partners to build comprehensive edge-to-cloud solutions based on its WISE-PaaS platform and I.App products. Indeed, Advantech’s DeviceOn/iService intelligent remote device management platform is designed to facilitate remote monitoring and management of numerous geographically dispersed equipment in real-time.

Ms. Chiu highlighted how various public spaces in smart cities require different smart application models. With over 30 years of industry experience, Advantech has gained a thorough understanding of how the market needs change with different consumer lifestyles and behaviors. By combining this knowledge with partners’ expertise, Advantech hopes to continue driving the realization of an intelligent planet, even after the pandemic is over.