With or without a vehicle: the future belongs to self-service
What is self-service?
The idea is as clever as it is familiar: Where there is little staff, the customer has to help themselves. Self-service first appeared in the 19th century, when the idea that customers could serve themselves became widespread in retail.
Self-service has now spread far beyond the retail trade, the hotel and hospitality industry and airports to the industrial sector: Using terminal or kiosk systems, companies allow external persons to check in or out themselves - with or without a delivery vehicle.
This self-service check-in and check-out ensures full transparency of access, even when no gate staff are present. The access controls in the companies comply with information security management in accordance with ISO 27001 , meaning that companies operate in accordance with the standards required by KRITIS and NIS 2.
The self-service access request via a self-service terminal system can be automatically linked to an individual security briefing. Access is then linked to knowledge of the security regulations - in accordance with the standards and regulations. This range of options enables companies of all sizes to welcome their guests, tradesmen and service providers, suppliers or partners without waiting times. The retrieval of security-relevant data becomes just as automatic as the targeted communication of security regulations and their acknowledgement.
Modern self-service is international
Whether visitors, tradesmen or other external service providers: a self-service takes over the registration and deregistration of a person from outside the company. Technologies such as those from VISIT are designed for internationality through language packages. Whether standard languages such as English or sophisticated languages such as Arabic or Portuguese: modern self services open doors for business partners from the Middle East as well as for craftsmen from Lower Bavaria.
In addition to providing support, self-service technologies are also protective mechanisms for companies that make it transparent who is on the company premises, when, where and for what purpose.
Self services via terminal systems such as VISIT also help to ensure high security standards through scalable modules, even when conditions change: The number of external companies working on the company premises at the same time is increasing, e.g. due to an industrial construction site? Has the number of visitors to the company increased? The access frequency on a company site fluctuates greatly? Questions like these can be easily “answered” with Self Service.
What technology is behind terminal/kiosk systems for self-service?
Kiosk systems for self-service are offered in two variants: Indoor systems and outdoor systems. The difference lies in the technical design, appearance and size of the devices, which need to be robust as well as attractively designed for outdoor use.
Terminal systems for self-service generally consist of a screen (touchscreen display), the software, which can be divided into the operating system and the actual application, physical lines and (mobile) connections via which the data is transmitted. There are terminal systems such as VISIT, which are web-based and therefore open to all common operating systems.
Modern self-service via a kiosk system such as VISIT is based on real-time data: All transactions are processed via an internet connection - either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The necessary flexibility in managing external visitors is achieved through an individual access and zone concept , which is available in most companies.
The physical self-service process
can be divided into the following steps, which are carried out on a terminal or a tablet, depending on the equipment:
1) Identification:
The user is asked to identify themselves (and their vehicle or delivery), which can be done by entering a user name, scanning a QR code or using biometric data.
1) Identification:
Note: There are terminal systems, such as VISIT, which can be used to send invitations to visitors directly from the tool, in which individual PINs or QR codes are stored. Boarding passes work in a similar way, where the passenger's data authorizes them to enter the gate.
2) Automated workflow:
After selecting the national language, the system automatically guides visitors through the workflows and processes required for their visit, e.g. safety instructions.
3) Data processing:
Once all the data required for this visitor has been recorded and the security questions confirmed, the data processing/plausibility check and transfer of all information to the system takes place. Access authorization is confirmed by issuing a receipt or visitor card.
Termination of the order:
After completion of the job , the visitor/worker leaves the premises by checking out. The tickets are returned or the access authorization expires.
Why does self-service belong to the future?
Safety first - this applies not only to machines, but also when entering company premises and protects visitors and companies alike. This is why KRITIS companies also rely on self-service.
This is often the case in industrial manufacturing, energy suppliers and public authorities, for example. This is because when industrial companies have a traditional gatekeeper , they are generally not authorized to give visitors security instructions. Without this, however, it is often not even permitted to enter the company premises. This is where self-service provides relief through the combination of data collection, targeted instruction and logging. Both sides gain legal certainty.
Another important point: depending on the industry, the gates must be manned around the clock. In addition to the problem of qualified staff being hard to find, there are considerable personnel costs here - depending on the federal state. Uncertainties due to possible absences due to illness also need to be factored into the budget and personnel costs.
Self-service not only closes the gaps in personnel recruitment: delivery, freight and passenger traffic on land, in the air and at sea is becoming increasingly complex and fast in times of globalization. This requires higher control and handling capacities and takes up correspondingly more time. It is also highly relevant: The wealth of variants within the data volumes. There are currently 190 countries and with them more than 50,000 document variants that need to be checked reliably. Globalization simply means that visitors, tradespeople or suppliers come from every continent in the world and must be able to identify themselves reliably. This requires terminal solutions in companies, public authorities, airports, border controls and many other areas of application that work efficiently, securely and in compliance with data protection regulations.
How does ASTRUM IT VISIT technically implement the terminal systems for self-service?
A large food company opted for VISIT, a terminal solution from ASTRUM IT. The background: In addition to increasing staffing problems, the wage costs for reception staff were also rising. With the introduction of the self-service model, these uncertainties have been eliminated and the saved budget now flows into value-adding processes. The Group now has a solution that gives it maximum transparency about which external persons are on the company premises and in what capacity.
Thanks to the self-service, managers know which business partners are where in the administration, which service providers are at relevant interfaces such as goods handling, which tradesmen are carrying out repairs or which school class is currently taking part in a company tour. VISIT records all data in real time, makes it available to authorized persons and manages the archiving after the end of the visit. The advantage of such self-service via a kiosk system: human error can be 100% ruled out and there is legal certainty.
Technically, ASTRUM implements the software-supported document scanning of ID cards, passports and driving licenses with a software-based application that is also used worldwide at airports for electronic passport control, thus symbolizing the extremely high security standards. Similar to the gate at the airport, self-service in the company can also be combined with license plate recognition systems: QR code, RFID or potential-free contact: the variants for registration are now diverse and open barriers or doors in companies with the same self-image as the barrier to the gate.
ASTRUM IT implements IT for security-oriented companies either on-premise or as a cloud solution with hosting on ASTRUM IT's own data center infrastructure (D). Cloud-based solutions require a connection to the customer's IT infrastructure, which the experts at ASTRUM IT are happy to support.
In addition to Windows, the web-based self-service is also available on Apple and Android devices (with the exception of various hardware components). Regardless of the technical implementation, customers can expect an implementation time of 8 to 12 weeks from placing the order.