Visitor’s Center implements interactive kiosk

Photo By Halle Thornton | A new monitor, part of the newly implemented kiosk system, is on display in the Visitor’s Center at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, Dec. 11, 2017. Visitors can now choose from three different options on a touch-screen interface system to expedite wait times. (U.S. Air Force photo by Halle Thornton)  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

12.12.2017

Story by Halle Thornton 

50th Space Wing

In mid-October, the Schriever Visitor’s Center implemented a new touch screen interactive kiosk, making customer service and data collection fast and efficient.
Tech. Sgt. Andrew Beer, 50th Security Forces Squadron pass and identification non-commissioned officer in charge, explained the effort modernized the Visitor’s Center services to its 20,000 customers a year.
The kiosk gives customers the opportunity to choose from three different prompts: passes, restricted area badging and other services.
Master Sgt. Todd Vidic, 50th SFS plans and programs section chief, said the system is self-explanatory and easy to navigate through.
“You walk in, you see a sign that says ‘sign in here,’ and it’s an interface where you touch what you need,” he said. “It’s a simple system. A five-year old could do if it if they know how to read.”
From there, disclaimers will appear letting customers know what paperwork is required to continue the process.
If customers do not have corresponding paperwork, a numbered ticket will not be printed, streamlining the process and cutting down on time spent reviewing required paperwork guidelines.
“The kiosk has streamlined everything from us pulling the data to customers knowing exactly what they need when they come up here,” Beer said.
Four stations are set up, and each station corresponds to the kiosk prompts.
The fourth station services all three options, so if only one Airman is manning the desk, they can utilize one profile that queues all options.
“We do a lot of data collection, whether it’s for our own quantifying purposes, law enforcement purposes like trends, analysis on who comes out,” he said. “A lot of times we have to run these numbers, and it takes a long time.”
Previously, to collect data, Airmen had to use pen and paper, spending hours pulling numbers and organizing data.
“This way, we modernize our customer service at the sign in system and it automatically tracks that data,” Beer added. “We’re able to run reports within minutes compared to hours.”
Beer explained 50th SFS leadership wanted to continue to improve the functionality and aesthetic of the base.
“They (leadership) saw how large the Visitor’s Center is and that this is the first building people see when they come on the base, so they wanted to continue improving upon that,” he said.
Increasing efficiency was easier than anticipated.
Security forces chose between vendors, and decided on a system similar to those in the Department of Motor Vehicles.
“We had a couple bugs to begin with, but the vendors stopped by and fixed all the issues,” Beer said.
Visitor’s Center hours are Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m-4 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2017
• Date Posted: 12.14.2017 10:58
• Story ID: 258875
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US