“Businesses, particularly those built on service, are desperate for not only a stop-gap solution but also a long-term, permanent solution to futureproof their operations against adverse events such as this,” said Jegil Dugger, CEO and co-founder of self-service solutions firm Pye.

In the face of an historic labor shortage that at one point was deemed an “emergency” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stemming from a number of factors, including the debate over increasing the national minimum wage, kiosks are being cast in a different light. The units increasingly are being brought onboard in restaurants and retailers across the country.

The shallow labor pool has left operators little choice. They aren’t using kiosks to replacing workers. These are their workers.

“The kiosk industry has always touted this technology as a viable piece of most any business that handles transactions, as they generally come at a fixed cost,” Dugger said. “You don’t have to train them. You don’t have to ensure they have breaks. You don’t have to account for times when they aren’t able to make it in for their shifts. They are the new mainstays of the global workforce.”

Pye used the pandemic as an opportunity to change potentially negative perceptions about kiosks and their impact on hiring. The company has talked with many restaurant and retail leaders to explain how self-service solutions fit positively into the strategic mix.

Pye features a number of kiosk options, including free-standing machines and pay-at-the-table tablets. All devices accept card and cash payments.

“Businesses always are looking for something that will give them an edge,” Dugger said. “With the unprecedented challenges today in the food and service industries, there’s perhaps no better time to do that than now.”