I-bon kiosks embraced by consumers in Taiwan

2015/08/19

Expanded i-bon kiosk system functions are making daily living in Taiwan more convenient, according to local 7-Eleven convenience store chain operator President Chain Store Corp.

More than 150 million transactions were conducted last year using the i-bon app or 5,000-plus kiosks installed at 5,040 company outlets nationwide. During the first six months of the year, the machines served 350,000 patrons per day, with transaction volume growing 10 percent year on year to 78 million.

“We forecast this number to hit 180 million by the end of 2015,” a PCSC official said Aug. 17.

Since the first i-bon machine was set up 10 years ago, the public has taken to the system with gusto. It offers more than 700 kinds of services through partnerships with 300 plus firms, including bill and fine payments, credit card bonus point redemption, document printing and uploading, merchandise delivery, ticket purchases and travel bookings.

In addition to catering to a growing customer base, the system generates big data recording distinctive local consumer behavior patterns.

One example cited by the official was a rise of 15 percent in parking fee and violation ticket payments for the first six months of the year as low oil prices saw consumers opting to drive instead of taking public transportation. Other interesting trends in light of the sluggish economy are a 9 percent increase in transportation ticket purchases and 40 percent surge for store-delivered purchases from microsellers during the same period.

“Foreign residents in Taiwan can also benefit from i-bon services,” the official said, adding that they can purchase transportation tickets and deposit money for remittance to their home countries in Southeast Asia.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=233915&ctNode=413)