Technology doesn’t have to be complicated to improve an operation.
In many arcades, guests eventually run out of credits and have to leave the game to find a kiosk. It may seem like a small interruption, but every extra step creates another opportunity for them to stop playing altogether.
That’s why kioskless payment technology is gaining attention. This month, Tech Talk uses Intercard’s iReader Impulse Plus to explain how kioskless payment systems work and why operators are beginning to adopt them.
KIOSKLESS PAYMENTS, IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Intercard’s iReader Impulse Plus is a game reader that allows guests to pay directly at the game. Guests can pay by credit card, play card, RFID wristband, or mobile payment. Instead of requiring guests to visit a central kiosk, the reader communicates with Intercard’s cloud-based management system through Wi-Fi, cellular service, or Ethernet.
In simple terms, the game becomes its own checkout.
When a guest wants to continue playing, they simply tap, swipe, or use a digital wallet without leaving the attraction.
HOW IT WORKS
Using the technology is straightforward.
- A guest taps a credit card, phone, RFID wristband, or play card.
- The payment is securely processed through the management system.
- Credits are applied instantly.
- Play begins immediately.
For guests, the process feels seamless. Behind the scenes, operators can monitor transactions and connected games through Intercard’s cloud-based management system.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Every time a guest has to leave a game to reload credits, there’s a chance they’ll lose momentum. By allowing guests to reload and pay directly at the game, the technology helps keep the experience moving. That convenience can be especially valuable during busy periods when kiosk lines are long, or staff are focused on other guest needs.
- The technology can also create more flexibility for operators. Smaller arcades, restaurants, bowling centers, arcade bars, and unattended game locations may not have the space or budget for multiple kiosks. Allowing guests to pay directly at the game can simplify the layout while still providing the payment options consumers increasingly expect.
- For locations that still operate coin games, technologies like this also represent one way to modernize the guest experience without replacing every piece of equipment at once.
THE BIGGER TREND
Consumers are used to tapping a card or phone almost everywhere they shop, and entertainment venues are being pushed in the same direction. Whether it’s arcade games, self-service attractions, or unattended locations, payment technology is moving toward fewer steps and less friction between the guest and the next purchase.
Intercard’s iReader Impulse Plus is one example of that larger shift.
At the end of the day, the better question isn’t, “What does this product do?” It’s, “How does this technology make the guest experience smoother and the operation run more efficiently?”
If there’s a piece of technology you’d like us to explain in a future issue of Tech Talk, send your suggestion to [email protected].
WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR YOUR OPERATION
- Less Waiting: Guests can pay without leaving the game.
- More Payment Options: Accepts credit cards, mobile wallets, RFID wristbands, and play cards.
- Fewer Kiosk Bottlenecks: Can reduce congestion during busy periods.
- Flexible Installation: Works well in smaller game rooms and unattended locations.
- Cloud-Based Visibility: Operators can monitor transactions and connected games through the management system.
