Live from Photokina 2010

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At photokina 2010, it is clear that the trend, seen two years ago at the last photokina, for printing customised items at photokiosks, like photobooks, calendars and greeting cards, is set to continue. In addition, photokiosks are getting more compact to fit into retailers’ space limitations and software is developing to make it easier for consumers to get the most from photokiosks.
 
What was also clearer to me this time is that the business model for photokiosks is dramatically different to that of self-service solutions in general. This certainly isn’t a market concerned with selling hardware or software; it’s about ongoing partnerships between photokiosk manufacturers and retailers. The ROI in such projects is driven by the services delivered and by the products produced at the photokiosk. As one manufacturer described it to me today, it’s more akin to a vending machine than an informational kiosk.
 
I’ve been at photokina for just one day, so I can’t yet provide you with a comprehensive overview of the self-service solutions on show, just a snapshot (if you’ll excuse the pun) of the innovations I’ve seen so far.

• HP are showing a new dry MiniLab which can print single- and double-sided to produce photobooks and greetings cards. In addition, new compact photokiosks are on show for retailers with limited floorspace.
• Kodak are launching photobooks with Smartfit technology that creates photobooks more quickly and easily as well as new software for their photokiosk range.
• Sony demonstrates a new range of Dry MiniLab systems as well as two new kiosks in their compact SnapLab series.
• Noritsu’s stand features kiosks from their partner Lucidiom and their own new dry duplex MiniLab.
• Mitsubishi Electric presents a new series of photo kiosk printers with compact dimensions, in addition to new photokiosks.
• KIS Photo-Me has introduced a photokiosk which can create photobooks itself, a new compact wall-mounted kiosk and a new self-service photokiosk for unattended locations.
• Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Bielefeld and Flensburg have merged to form Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe. The merger will streamline in-house processes, organizational structures and increase efficiencies.
• Xerox are showing their own photo publishing solutions on Fujifilm’s stand. Two kiosks are present: one a Xerox photokiosk running software from Xerox and Fujifilm and another a kiosk from Fujifilm UK.
• What you won’t find at LC Technology Europe’s stand is kiosks. What you will find, though, is an interesting business proposition for photokiosks. LC Technology are a data recovery company that proposes to add value at photokiosks by integrating flash card and USB drive data recovery in photokiosk solutions, giving customers an additional reason to use photokiosks.
• Hiti are showing a compact tabletop photokiosk and a dry MiniLab solution.

If you’re at photokina, do drop by KIOSK EUROPE’s stand in Hall 6.1, Stand C064. We’ll be producing a more in-depth overview of photokina in due course.