SECOND QUARTER 2026  19
The Realities of Automation with Kiosks 
Kiosks automate your operations, but implementing them 
is a hands-on affair
By Kenya McCullum, Correspondent
WHILE SOME CLEANERS HAD ALREADY INTEGRATED KIOSKS INTO THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES, THE COVID-19 
PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE USE OF THESE MACHINES IN THE INDUSTRY. Now that lockdowns are behind us, 
“adoption by necessity” has transformed into “standard operating procedure” for many companies. The use of kiosks has 
gone a long way toward retaining current customers, attracting new ones, and boosting the bottom line for many cleaners. 
For example, Wil Waterstraat of Helena’s Cleaners in Seattle, Washington, reports that when he implemented the first 
of three kiosks, the location experienced a significant jump in revenue—from about $43,000 per month to $72,000 
per month.
For Jason Loeb of Sudsies in Miami, Florida, the benefits of having three kiosks cannot be calculated in terms of 
dollars and cents. Instead, the ROI is clearly seen in how happy his customers are. 
Emily Machesney of Pratt Abbott Garment Care in Portland, Maine, said having a kiosk has alleviated major staff­
ing concerns because she had trouble finding the right workers for the location that serviced her most demanding 
clientele—particularly during the pandemic. 
 
IMPLEMENTING AUTOMATION THROUGH KIOSKS
The upsides of incorporating kiosks into cleaners’ operations are clear, but what are the best ways to reap these 
benefits? Although kiosks make the process of servicing customers more automated, the process of implementing the 
machines is anything but. Cleaners utilize proactive strategies at every stage of implementation to make kiosks work for 
their company.
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A customer signs into a Sudsies kiosk system in Miami, Florida, to drop off items for cleaning. This issue’s 
cover story focuses on how cleaners can implement this technology to increase customer convenience.
COVER STORY

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