Malacca-based Vendfun, a hospitality kiosk solutions provider, recently launched Vendfun Hybrid Kiosk, a 2-in-1 kiosk that combines self-service check-in and check-out features with vending machine capabilities.
The latest kiosk comes equipped with a 50-inch touch-screen panel that allows guests to check in and check out, redeem promo vouchers and purchase products such as food and drinks.
“We are thrilled to introduce Vendfun Hybrid Kiosk to the market because we know many hotel operators are dealing with persistent human resources issues while scrambling to cut costs to weather the COVID-19 pandemic,” Vendfun founder and CEO Benny Wee (pictured above) said in a statement.
“So, we want to help them by automating check-in and check-out services to increase operational efficiency and provide convenience to hotel guests.”
The patent-pending kiosks are currently marketed to budget hotels and homestays in Malaysia and available on a Rent-to-Own (RTO) bases directly from Vendfun.
Other features of Vendfun Hybrid Kiosk are a cashless payment facility, a passport scanner, a receipt printer, a room card dispenser, and built-in vending capabilities.
The hybrid kiosk is also compatible with any hotel property management system (PMS) software to allow hotels to customise features of their preference.
Besides automation, the kiosk also aims to provide a new income stream for hoteliers as they can start selling drinks, snacks, and personal care products through the machine.
To date, three units of the Vendfun Hybrid Kiosk have been installed in Fenix Inn Hotel in Melaka, Sky View Hotel in Dengkil, Selangor, and GM Hotel Sunway Metro, Selangor.
The company also plans to add memberships, e-concierge services and an artificial intelligence component to its kiosks soon.
“We want to add AI so that hotels can offer more personalised services such as, when the system detects guests checking in with a child, the kiosk can dispense a special welcome gift for the child, as a warm gesture to appreciate their patronage.
“Another use of AI would be to enhance security where we will look into using facial recognition to cross-check guest ID cards to ensure the person on the card is the same person checking in,” Wee said.
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