How Korea and Japan's food ordering teaches a UX lesson
Why Asia's self-service kiosks outperform the West
1Daily life convenience in Asia
Kristina Volchek's experiences in Asian countries highlight how self-service kiosks simplify daily life. Spending 6 months in Japan and 1 month in Korea, Volchek describes the culture shock upon returning to the West. Unlike Asia's walkable and accessible cities, car-dependent Western cities make ordering food a more challenging experience.
2The power of visual menus
Self-service kiosks in Asia feature photo menus, allowing users to clearly see what they're ordering. In contrast, Western menus are often text-only, making it harder for users to understand their choices. This simple yet effective detail significantly enhances the user experience in Asia.
3Ordering in 30 seconds
At a Twosome Place cafe in Seoul, Volchek placed an order in just 30 seconds using an English-language kiosk. This quick and efficient process exemplifies Asia's user-friendly designs. In the West, ordering still requires catching a staff member's attention and navigating lengthy menus.
4Overcoming language barriers
Asian kiosks offer multiple language options, greatly assisting foreign visitors. As Volchek experienced, English menu options eliminate language barriers. Many Western restaurants lack foreign language support, creating significant hurdles for tourists.
5Reducing staff interaction
Self-service kiosks minimize customer-staff interaction, saving time and reducing social anxiety. In Asia, this system provides great convenience, especially during peak hours. In the West, ordering still requires direct communication with staff.
6The importance of design
The success of Asian kiosks underscores the importance of user experience design. Simple, intuitive, and visually rich interfaces help users easily understand the system. Many Western restaurants overlook these design details, offering less user-friendly solutions.
7Tourism and technology
Asian countries shape technology to meet tourists' needs. Self-service kiosks allow foreign visitors to comfortably order at local restaurants. This approach provides a significant advantage in the tourism sector and serves as an example for Western countries.
8The future of ordering systems
Asia's self-service kiosk experience offers important insights into the future of ordering systems. User-friendly design, multilingual support, and fast processing times should become standard for Western restaurants. These systems increase customer satisfaction and improve business efficiency.
Original article: UX Collective - Medium — Kore ve Japonya'nın yemek siparişinde UX dersi