We’ve all seen those survey tablets—tucked neatly at store exits, fast-food counters, or outside trial rooms in malls. One-tap smiley ratings, quick feedback questions—it looks simple enough. But ever wondered how those devices are locked down so tightly that customers can’t exit the screen, swipe through settings, or open other apps?
That’s kiosk mode in action.
Kiosk mode is a smart way for IT teams to control what a device can do—and more importantly, what it can’t. For retailers, this means creating focused, tamper-proof feedback touchpoints that don’t need constant tech supervision.
In this blog, we’ll unpack how kiosk mode helps retail businesses set up efficient, distraction-free customer feedback systems—and how IT admins can deploy them at scale without the usual operational chaos.
What is a kiosk survey?
A kiosk survey is a digital feedback form displayed on a touchscreen device that runs in kiosk mode—typically a tablet or smartphone. These devices are placed at key locations like billing counters, product demo areas, or store exits to capture real-time customer feedback.
Because the device is locked into a single app or form, customers can’t navigate away or use it for anything else. The result? Quick, focused, and reliable feedback—right when the customer experience is fresh in their mind.
Retail businesses use kiosk surveys to:
- Measure customer satisfaction at the point of service
- Collect insights on product experience or store layout
- Improve service quality based on immediate responses
Benefits of kiosk surveys for retail IT teams
Implementing kiosk surveys offers both operational and strategic advantages for IT and customer experience teams:
- Instant feedback capture: Customers respond in the moment—when their experience is top-of-mind, increasing both accuracy and volume of responses.
- No distractions: Users see only the feedback app—nothing more. No app switching. No exit options.
- Reduced device misuse: Kiosk mode prevents tampering, accidental app closures, or unauthorized use of devices.
- Centralized control: Through a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform, IT teams can push survey updates, monitor usage, and manage all devices remotely.
- Scalable feedback setup: Roll out hundreds of feedback kiosks across locations with a consistent setup—no need for manual configuration at each store.
- Better engagement with interactive UX: Tablets offer a user-friendly interface—touch, swipe, tap—that’s more engaging than paper forms or static links on receipts.
- Minimal maintenance: Auto-launch settings, scheduled updates, and health checks via UEM reduce the need for on-site IT support.
How to use Kiosk surveys to collect customer feedback?
Deploying devices -tablets or mobile phones to run kiosk surveys require those devices to be in kiosk mode. Lets have a look at some of the practical and effective ways to apply kiosk mode for collecting customer feedback:
1. Using built-in OS features
Devices running on operating systems such as Android, iOS and Windows come with native support for basic kiosk functionality. While they are not ideal for enterprise setup, they can work well for small-scale setups or pilots:
a. Android (screen pinning/Lock Task mode)
Android offers in-built features such as screen pining or lock task mode setting up devices in kiosk mode. Follow the below steps to set Android devices in kiosk mode:
Step 1: Go to Settings app.
Step 2: Navigate to the Security tab and click on Screen pinning.
| Note: If your Android device does not have ‘Screen Pinning’, then you may search for ‘App Pinning’ in the search bar. |
Step 3: Toggle on the Screen Pinning/App Pinning setting.
Step 4: Open the feedback/survey app you want to pin and pin the app.
Ideal for: Single-device deployments and light-traffic stores with low security risks.
b. iOS (Guided Access)
Step 1: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access.
Step 2: Enable and set a passcode.
Step 3: Triple-click the Home or Side button in the feedback app to lock it in.
Ideal for: iPads in customer service zones.
c. Windows (Assigned Access)
Step 1: Create a local standard user account (e.g., SurveyKiosk).
Step 2: Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
Step 3: Under Set up a kiosk, click Get started.
Step 4: Choose the new local user account.
Step 5: Select the app (e.g., your feedback app or browser) to run in kiosk mode.
Step 6: Restart the device and log in with the SurveyKiosk user—only the assigned app will launch, fullscreen and locked.
Ideal for: Retailed environment having existing Windows touch terminals.
Are there any limitations?
a. Limited to small scale deployment, thus, not ideal for large scale and remote devices.
b. Requires manual intervention and offers limited remote control.
2. Using dedicated kiosk software
Dedicated kiosk apps are purpose-built to convert regular tablets into locked-down feedback terminals. They often come with browser lockdown features, auto-launch settings, custom home screens, and basic analytics—making them a quick fix for turning devices into single-use stations.
But while they’re easy to configure, these apps often fall short when deployed at scale:
- No centralized device monitoring – You can’t track device health, battery status, or connectivity in real time.
- Limited remote control – Managing multiple devices across locations becomes tedious without a way to push updates or troubleshoot remotely.
- Scalability concerns – Without device management layers, scaling across stores introduces risk of misconfiguration, downtime, and inconsistent experiences.
- No security enforcement – Device misuse, OS-level tampering, or data vulnerabilities can go unchecked.
Are there any limitations?
Dedicated kiosk apps are great for short-term or small-site rollouts, but they lack the governance and visibility needed for enterprise-scale retail operations.
3. Using a UEM-driven kiosk software solution
A Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform goes far beyond just locking a device to kiosk mode. It’s a comprehensive solution for device security, control, and performance monitoring—making it the go-to choice for enterprise IT teams managing feedback kiosks at scale.
UEM brings the following to the table:
- Full kiosk mode control – Lock devices into single or multi-app mode with deep policy enforcement.
- Real-time monitoring – Track battery health, network connectivity, device uptime, and usage—ensuring continuous feedback capture.
- Instant remote troubleshooting – IT admins can remotely reboot, push updates, or fix issues without visiting the store.
- Session management – Control how long a user session lasts, enforce idle timeout actions, or auto-reset after each survey.
- Data protection and compliance – Enforce encryption, manage app permissions, and ensure compliance with data security policies.
- Scalability made simple – Deploy or wipe hundreds of devices remotely, replicate configurations, and manage everything from a single dashboard.
No drawbacks, only added benefits
UEM platforms don’t just reduce operational overhead—they also minimize risk, optimize user experience, and improve the ROI of your feedback initiatives.
How Scalefusion UEM’s kiosk mode supports customer feedback collection
Scalefusion offers a robust kiosk solution designed to streamline customer feedback capture across retail environments. Whether you’re deploying a single feedback station or managing hundreds of survey devices, Scalefusion equips IT teams with the tools needed for control, security, and scalability.
Key Scalefusion kiosk software features for feedback collection
a. Single App Mode
Lock the device to a single feedback or survey app, ensuring no other applications or settings are accessible. Ideal for distraction-free feedback collection.
b. Kiosk Browser
Restrict Windows devices to a specific feedback website or web application using Scalefusion’s kiosk browser—perfect for web-based survey tools.
c. Password Policies
Enforce strong, custom password rules- password length, complexity, interval period of updating passwords to secure devices against unauthorized access.
d. Device Vital Monitoring
Track critical device metrics such as battery levels, storage usage, and data consumption. Monitor security events and system downtimes to ensure uninterrupted survey collection.
e. Location Tracking & Geofencing
Monitor real-time device locations and apply geofences to ensure devices remain within authorized retail environments.
f. Hardware Key Restrictions
Disable physical buttons and navigation keys to prevent users from exiting the kiosk environment.
g. OS Updates & Patch Management
View available OS updates across Android, iOS/iPadOS, and Windows devices. Configure sync intervals and schedule OS patches, including updates to third-party feedback web apps.
h. Broadcast Messaging
Send instant alerts or instructions to devices in the field—useful for notifying store staff or updating device behavior on the fly.
i. Custom Branding
Personalize kiosk screens with your brand’s logo, colors, and messaging to deliver a consistent customer experience.
j. Application Management
Install, configure, and push feedback collection apps directly from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to all managed devices with zero manual effort.
Turn feedback into retail intelligence with Scalefusion UEM
Customer feedback is only as good as the system that captures it. For IT teams in retail, managing feedback kiosks should be seamless—not a logistical headache. Scalefusion’s UEM platform offers everything needed to lock devices down, manage them remotely, and keep your feedback loop flowing—without interruption. From setup to scaling, it’s built to support secure, stable, and engaging customer interactions that turn data into action.
Want to know more about Scalefusion? Contact our product experts today!
