Using IBM self-service kiosks, Sports Authority, the largest full-line sporting goods retailer, has seen sales of lift tickets jump fivefold from last year’s figures. The IBM AnyPlace Kiosks are in 24 Colorado Sports Authority stores.
In the four months since installing the kiosks, ticket sales have increased 500 percent over last year's numbers, according to Sports Authority. Previously skiers at resorts would spend as much as 30 minutes waiting in lines. Using the self-service kiosks, shoppers at Sports Authority can now pay for and print tickets for area resorts in less than a minute.
"This is a perfect example of a great idea that is simple and smart," said David Campisi, president of Sports Authority. "It has been a complete success, and a tremendously appealing program that our customers have quickly embraced. From our end, it's practically turn-key."
A recent U.S. consumer survey showed a 50 percent growth in the use of self-service technology in the past year, with 70 percent of respondents saying they expect businesses to offer more self-service options.