Retail and finance industries turn to Mini PCs for high performance, compact computing power
Whether it’s tucked away on a bookshelf, hidden behind a fitting room mirror or mounted on a digital display, Intel technology-based solutions featuring the Mini PC are helping to power industries as varied as the retail and the financial sectors. Thanks to their energy efficiency, compact design and high performance computing power, these tiny form factors bring full-sized PC power to the smallest of spaces. Here are some real-world examples of the endless possibilities with Mini PCs:
Mini PCs as Part of An Overall Technology Solution for Retail
One of my favorite Mini PC success stories is that of Galleria Rizzoli in Milan, Italy. Galleria Rizzoli saw the impact of digital book sales firsthand, and decided to respond with a complete digital overall of its operations.
With the help of Intel technology, Galleria Rizzoli launched a pilot program that gave their store a complete technology makeover. Mini PCs powered new in-store digital signage and seven new in-store customer kiosks. Mini PCs replaced bulky desktop towers, freeing up valuable store space. Thanks to the technology makeover, sales increased 40 percent.
Galleria Rizzoli is a great example of how Mini PCs can enhance the user experience to help drive sales.
Overall, it’s a winning solution for Intel, for Rizzoli, and for consumers who might be looking to quickly find the perfect kids’ book for a boy who likes to play with trucks. Read the full story of how Mini PCs modernized the bookstore.
Embedded Mini PCs Enable Next-Gen Vending Machines
Whether you’re grabbing a quick snack at the office or simply refueling at the gas station, vending machines today are operating on a complex system of motherboards, dispensing tanks, and printing and credit card machines. Many new OEMs are currently working on consolidating all these disparate parts into one Mini PC solution.
Mini PCs in the Fitting Room
Instead of treating the fitting room like a revolving door, imagine being able to tap a screen to request a different size or color. Some retailers are exploring the idea of using the Mini PC to power touch-screen consoles in fitting rooms to provide instant inventory access to customers while also recommending referential products for purchase.
National Grocery Chains Power POS with Mini PCs
The days of the bulky cash register have given way to more compact Mini PC-powered POS systems in grocery stores as well. Not only do Mini PCs leave a smaller footprint in tight cashier stalls, they also provide the high performance computing power necessary to ring up multiple items in quick succession.
Hospitality Industry Welcomes Mini PCs
Look inside many hotel business centers and you’ll likely see a row of monitors with Mini PCs tucked neatly behind them. The Mini PC offers a compact solution that won’t slow guests down. And some hotels are exploring the use of Mini PCs in guest rooms attached to the TVs along with concierge-type software to enhance the in-room guest experience.
Banks Turn to Mini PCs for Increased Efficiency
A growing number of banks are reaching for Mini PCs, not only for their compact size, but for their energy efficiency and speed. For many clients, a visit to the local bank reveals tellers relying on Mini PCs where desktop towers once stood. Mini PCs free up valuable desk space, offer compact security, and integrate with legacy systems.
Day Traders Turn to Mini PCs for Quick Calculations
For day traders, Mini PCs featuring solid-state-drives (SSDs) are the desktop PCs of choice. While traditional hard disk drives in PCs and laptops are fairly inexpensive, they are also slow. SSDs offer greater capacity, are considered more reliable, and enable faster access to data, which is critical to an industry where seconds matter.
Where have you seen the Mini PC in use? Join the conversation using #IntelDesktop or view our other posts in the Desktop World Series and rediscover the desktop.
To read part 1, click here: Why Choose the Mini PC? Part 1Read more >
The post Why Choose the Mini PC? Part 2 appeared first on Blogs@Intel.