Nominations open for 2026 Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Awards
by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media
The organizers of the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation (ARKI) Show are accepting nominations for the 2026 ARKI Awards, recognizing the companies, products, deployments and technologies driving innovation across the automated retail, kiosk, vending and self-service industries.
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Ray Friedrich talks AI, automation, next era of self-service
by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media
Ray Friedrich reflects on the lessons learned from introducing some of the industry's earliest self-service technologies, discusses how AI is changing customer experiences and explains why successful automation is about enhancing — not replacing — the human element.
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What 2 studies reveal about self-service success
by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media
Two academic studies suggest the most effective self-service deployments balance automation with accessibility and user-centered design. Although the research examined very different settings, both papers offer practical guidance for kiosk manufacturers, software developers and organizations deploying self-service technology.
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NERSA scholarship fund awards record $147,700 to 21 students
The Allan Z. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded a record $147,700 in financial assistance to 21 students whose parents work for operator and supplier…
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Music & Games
Music and game machines include juke boxes, video games, pinball machines, kiddie rides, crane "claw" machines and lottery machines. Music and game operators often manage amusement centers and arcades.
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