7-Eleven looking at further uses of web-based kiosks

Although store kiosk-based web access services may be a long-term goal for 7-Eleven Inc., the company understands there are a variety of possibilities with web kiosk technology. For now, 7-Eleven is focusing on providing financial services through its Vcom kiosk program in 100 stores in Florida and Texas. But future applications could include allowing for web purchases or even allowing customers to tap into 7-Eleven’s daily distribution of fresh food and even hot-off-the-press magazine issues, 7-Eleven says.

"We have thought about bundling an Internet service as part of our convenience retail strategy. We could leverage our distribution infrastructure and combine that with an online shopping option so customers could have a choice of what they want, when they want it and where they want the items delivered," a company spokesperson says, noting that no plans are set for such applications. Still, 7-Eleven is optimistic that web kiosks will make sense as a convenience service and expects to do a national rollout to 5,200 remaining U.S. stores later this year.