Reading Frenzy and Amazon Book Sale Digital Kiosk

 

AI Generated Image of Kiosk

These days, most of our household purchases are from Reliance Fresh outlet near Kd'puram, Tvm. Earlier, we were regular shopper at QRS Nilgris near LIC. The shift from one shop to another was primary the price factor. Also, Reliance Fresh store had young energetic staff and they had regular offers!.

So, this is the primer for the post, but that's not all! 

Today, while I was in evening shower, I was feeling good that I finished reading the book The road to Better Habits, by  Darius Foroux. And after finishing this book, my intention is to carry the same reading pace to start the next book. In this context, I was thinking of visiting a book store. But, the closest book store was at Statue ( Modern Books), but that was quite a distance. Also, ordering book through Amazon was not in my mind! 

This is when I thought of this plan - not sure if it's feasible! However, it's this.

Amazon Book Kiosk - Pushing Amazon Brand

Imagine, if Reliance Fresh or QRS keeps an ATM type machine with screen or a similar looking big screen box which displays the latest books in the market. For example, the home screen will look like Netflix home screen. So, users will get the touch option to choose ( Fiction or Non Fiction), English or other language, etc. In each option, it will display all the books available and which are delivered on the same day or the next day delivery. 

At first I thought, this scheme could be tied with local books store like Modern Books or Current books, but looking at the scope of the project, it looks like it can only be done by Amazon or big players like Flipkart or Barnes and Noble, etc.

So, here's the premise of the plan.

Amazon will distribute such digital kiosks at shopping malls, departmental stores, offices like Secretariat, or  Food Court of Technopark or Lobby space of Civil Station or in Public Library, or one at Engineering college Kolathoor, Medical College Tvm, Thampanoor Railway station, etc. 

 How it works!

1. Users can use the touch screen to view the books, see the listing, read the snippets, etc ( Just like on the Amazon app, but in a bigger and richer feel)
   
   
2. This kiosk will have special effects will get some hologram or 3D type reading experience for users ( Is it fictional one)
   
   
3. Once the book is selected and the digital payment is done, the book will be delivered to the address on the same day, or even in 2 hrs time or as per the time mentioned.
   
   
4. Amazon will pay a small commission to the shop or institution where it's kept. 

What the advantage of kiosk, when we can order the same from Amazon app in a mobile.

1. This kiosk will give a better feel of reading through some high-tech 3D experience or some-sort of 𝟑𝐃 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬. Could this be possible?

2. Kiosk located in places where there are high footfalls, where there will get more buying interest. Also, for the shop keepers, it's a value-added thing. 

3. Imagine, if Amazon does a special ( express) delivery for those ordering from such kiosks. For example, if a person orders a book while shopping at Lulu mall, Tvm and he or she gets the delivery by the time they reach home! Won't it be great!

 Btw, in Lulu mall there isn't a good shop for people to buy or browse book. The only store is a Landmark book store which has limited collection. So, a kiosk would be a good thing to start. 

4. Such kiosks will push the sale of book in places like Engineering Colleges or Medical colleges where students are busy with their assignment. 

For example, if the kiosk installed at Medical college is able to understand the buying pattern of students and lists out the top study books for each topic, then it's will make things faster for students. If shopping is done on Amazon app, it will only give suggestion based on the entire data of users. 

So, imagine if user is given a toggle option, either to choose the typical suggestion given by Amazon or they can get suggestion based on the purchases made by medical students in the University. Will such suggestions make more sense? What do you say of this plan? Will such data usage and suggestions help such tribe? Or will that will be an data privacy? 

5. In shops like QRS, there's just one or two magazine racks.So, a book reader has no option to buy a book while in this store. Just image a spouse who has tagged along with the partner to the department store is forced to go around the aisle, picking stuffs. 

Just image, if there's a Amazon kiosks, then he or she can use the shopping time to browse on the kiosk and find some rare books or view the snippet of the book or read the book as a holographic flip book. Even AR glasses could be used to get a spectacular reading effect!

Gemini Generated Image of a Kiosk

Will such Hypothetical frameworks work? Or is this just an Utopian Concept!

After typing all these, I feel this is going to be yet another trash and fictional stuff that is not commercial viable plan. However, I get some kind of thrill to share what has come across my mind. And, luckily I have this blog to pen all the uttering without disturbing anyone with my idea. 

How to Share Idea or Suggestions to Amazon or any Big Biz?

This could be a question most people have. There are many who gets rewarded for fixing a bug for a company and they know how to send the fixes to the company. But, for a novice like me, what are the ways to share my plans? Will my suggestion reach them or it just goes in the cyber black hole.

 Is there a mail id to send? Or should I share it to an Amazon employee and then they will have to share it through their official channel! 

P.S - After I wrote this post, I  had a chat with chat support representative. I never thought it will happen on a platform like Amazon. Anyways, I was able to share this blog link with the person and he was helpful by patiently listening to what I had to say! That was cool! 5 Stars for him!

NB - Such kiosk could also provide a short games for gamers. So, if they like the preview and effects on this screen, then they can buy or download to their phone. 

Such kiosks can be extension of Amazon brand's icon in big city centre, Times Square, etc. Apart from selling books, it can bring many other services to people. 


Suggestions to Govt Departments? Any listening posts for Govt?

Also, I wish every Govt department has a feedback form or an idea suggestion spot on their website, to get suggestions from public. Right now, I don't think a proper system to track the suggestion, or thank people for suggestion or even an acknowledgement for the idea. However, all these needs to be fixed. 

I remember one good plan I sent by an email with a suggestion to run special lottery in Kerala during Football world cup.  I had sent the plan to couple of email addresses of  govt officials who are related to  Kerala Lottery department and the Minister too. And, predictably, I didn't get any acknowledgment of the letter sent to them. What a shame! 

Here's the link to the idea about lottery sale during Qatar Worldcup Football.

Btw, it looks like Amazon hasn't bothered to look at this kiosk idea! ( This the reality 😞 after the euphoria)

So, what's the plan B. Well, I have to settle that it's no worth-idea or I should send the  pitch to other biz. Also, I wonder how much would a kiosk of this type cost? One cost would be the hardware, then the software which has to run, the power, backup power, etc. 

How about Reliance using a Kiosk in all their department stores to sell selected bestsellers. After all they have a good network, and they can tie-up with a local bookstore to do this part?