Apostore introduces Digital Butler

• Contactless admission system for access monitoring in pharmacies
• Stress-free waiting thanks to signals that work across language and cultural barriers
• Customers can also use the digital kiosk to find information

Apostore GmbH launches the multi-system “Digital Butler” onto the market. Compatible with existing Apostore solutions and ready for the future, the product is available starting in May 2020. The current social distancing rules will very likely be with us for quite a while, calling for the development of a digital kiosk for contactless communication and admission control for customers waiting to enter pharmacies. The kiosk is equipped with software and an integrated touch screen, so customers can also use it to find information for themselves.

“Because of the Corona crisis, we have to face the fact that only a limited number of people may be in the pharmacy at the same time. Pharmacies and other retailers are therefore obliged to limit access to their premises,” explains Christopher Thielen, Managing Director, Apostore GmbH. Queues are the inevitable result in such a situation. What we’ve learned, especially from hospital emergency departments, is that such queues can be very stressful. The main stressors are unclear procedures and a lack of information. “With our Digital Butler, we offer a solution suited to pharmacies and retailers addressing that important first customer contact,” says Thielen.

The Digital Butler is a multi-system, ready for any future challenges. It can be used both for contactless admission control and for customer information. Signals and safety instructions are easy to understand, regardless of customers’ language and culture. This ensures fair and transparent proceedings. “Knowledge makes the wait time seem shorter. For this reason, the Digital Butler allows the presentation of additional information between the traffic light signals,” the Managing Director adds. Targeted information on services and special offers can be shown to waiting customers. The content shown can be controlled from the pharmacy counter or with mobile devices to regulate the customer flow.

If required, the Digital Butler can also be used to provide information to the customers. As it has an inbuilt LTE router, this is also possible where there is no WLAN network. This way, customers can use digital services and browse products wherever the kiosk is located. The touch screen is a standard feature, providing this function. However, Apostore does not recommend using this interactive function as long as the current hygiene requirements are in place. The pre-installed software allows the extended functions to be activated later without problem.

The Digital Butler uses adcommander, the same software used in all digital Apostore solutions, making it compatible with existing products. Other add-ons are in the works: “We are constantly developing our products. Sensor-controlled admission control will soon be available,” explains Thielen.