Digital Kiosk: Types, Hardware and How to Choose
A digital kiosk is a display, an enclosure and a computer working as one self-service point. Here are the main types, what they are made of, and how to spec the right one — built factory-direct.
A digital kiosk is a self-contained station — a display, an enclosure and a built-in computer — that lets people get information or complete a task without staff. You see them as self-order points in restaurants, check-in stands in hotels and clinics, interactive maps in malls and airports, and information posts in city centres.
This page is the overview: the main kiosk types, the hardware they share, and how to choose. EKINTRY manufactures the kiosk hardware factory-direct — you (or your software partner) run the application on it.
Who custom screens are for
- Retail, QSR and hospitality adding self-service.
- Malls, airports, campuses and hospitals needing wayfinding/info.
- Government and transit deploying public-information points.
- Integrators and software vendors sourcing kiosk hardware.
The main types of digital kiosk
Most kiosks fall into a few families — pick by the job it does:
- Self-service / ordering / payment — order food, self-checkout, pay bills, check in.
- Wayfinding — interactive maps and directories for large venues.
- Information / advertising — promotions, notices, digital signage with optional touch.
- Outdoor — weatherproof, high-brightness units for streets, transit and stadiums.
What a kiosk is made of
Whatever the type, the hardware stack is similar — and all of it is what EKINTRY builds:
- Display — commercial LCD or LED, often PCAP multi-touch, any size from ~22″ to 65″+.
- Enclosure — powder-coated steel or aluminium, freestanding/wall/counter, custom-branded.
- Compute — built-in Android, or a Windows OPS module for Windows software.
- Optional peripherals — camera, scanner, card reader, receipt printer, speakers.
Hardware vs software — who does what
EKINTRY supplies the kiosk hardware platform. The application — the ordering menu, the wayfinding map, the check-in flow — is your own or a third-party software partner’s, running on the kiosk’s Android or Windows. We make sure the hardware (touch, OS, peripherals, mounting) fits your software.
How to choose
Start from the task and the place: indoor or outdoor, touch or not, the size for the content, and any peripherals your workflow needs (scanner, printer, reader). Tell us those and we recommend a configuration and quote it factory-direct.
| Display | 22″–65″+ LCD/LED, PCAP touch optional |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Steel/aluminium, freestanding/wall/counter, branded |
| Compute | Android · Windows OPS |
| Peripherals | Camera, scanner, printer, card reader |
| Environment | Indoor or weatherproof outdoor |
Information we need to quote you
- What the kiosk does (order, check-in, wayfinding, info).
- Indoor or outdoor.
- Display size and touch or non-touch.
- Peripherals needed (scanner, printer, reader, camera).
- Quantity and delivery country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a digital kiosk?
A self-contained station — display, enclosure and built-in computer — that lets people get information or complete a task on their own, such as ordering, checking in or finding their way.
What are the main types of digital kiosk?
Self-service/ordering/payment, wayfinding (interactive maps), information/advertising, and outdoor weatherproof kiosks. We build the hardware for all of them.
Does a kiosk have to be touch?
No — informational and advertising kiosks can be non-touch digital signage. Self-service and wayfinding kiosks use PCAP touch.
Do you provide the kiosk software?
We supply the hardware platform (display, enclosure, Android/Windows, peripherals). The application is your own or a software partner’s; we make sure the hardware fits it.
Android or Windows?
Both — built-in Android for lightweight apps, or a Windows OPS module if your software needs Windows.
Can the enclosure carry our branding?
Yes — enclosures are powder-coated steel or aluminium and can be finished in your colours and branding.