ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: THE TECHNOLOGY BUILDING THE SMART CITIES OF THE FUTURE SMART APPOINTMENTS: COLLECTING DATA TO IMPROVE APPOINTMENT MANAGEMENT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE 32 MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND AUTOMATED LABEL PRINTING NEW FRONTIERS FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGECONTENTS 2KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE A round up of some of the latest kiosk and digital signage news to hit the editor’s inbox. Science fiction has foreseen many of today’s technical marvels, from robots to self-driving cars and global positioning, meaning it’s hard to get lost anywhere on the planet. Bob Kronman of Kronman Associates looks at the speed that digital technology is developing. Should we be asking “what do we really want and need” to make life better? 2KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE 06 NEWS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 18 NEW FRONTIERS FOR DIGITAL DISPLAYS 14 FIVE MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND AUTOMATED LABEL PRINTING Publisher: Abacus Communications Editor: Laura Vallis Advertising: Hillview Media www.kdseurope.com Abacus Communications Limited 1 Tudor Business Park, Waterhouse Lane, Kingswood, KT20 6EN ISSN 2756-1097 The author and publisher, and its officers and employees, do not accept any liability for any errors that may have occurred, or for any reliance on their contents. All trademarks and brand names are respected within our publication. However, the publishers accept no responsibility for any inadvertent misuse that may occur. This publication is protected by copyright © 2021 and accordingly must not be reproduced in any medium. All rights reserved. When you think of robotics in the workplace what image springs to mind? Dayle Guy, Business Development Manager, Epson (UK) Ltd looks at the opportunities made possible for small- to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by affordable robotic solutions and label printers. With a smart appointment scheduling system, you can collect data from each touchpoint in the customer journey and process it to get insights for continuous improvement. John Wordingham, Qmatic, explains which data to collect and how to improve your organisation with insights from the customer journey. CONTENTS 3 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE 22 SMART APPOINTMENTS Promotions, organisational changes and new recruits across the kiosk and digital signage industry. Today’s smart cities are transforming the way we live, work and play. Matthew Margetts, Director of Sales and Marketing, Smarter Technologies believes that far from being just a 21st- century gimmick, there are significant— even life-changing—advantages to the implementation of smart technology in cities around the world. 26 MEET THE TECHNOLOGY BUILDING THE SMART CITIES OF THE FUTURE 30 MOVERS AND SHAKERS Would you like to contribute to KDS? Please submit news stories, articles, press releases and industry expert opinions to Laura Vallis editor@kdseurope.com. Please include high resolution (300dpi+ CMYK) images. We publish all news and articles that adhere to our editorial guidelines free of charge. This ensures our content is unbiased and relevant to our industry. The views expressed in the articles and technical papers are those of the authors and are not endorsed by the publishers. 4KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE magazine (KDS), is the leading technical journal for manufacturers, integrators and deployers of self-service terminals and digital signage integrators. Previously known as Kiosk Solutions, our team at KDS understands the industry’s growing demands and responded by expanding into kiosk’s complementary digital signage and wayfinding markets and rebranding accordingly. Published six times a year, KDS reaches a readership of 25,000 individuals throughout the UK and Europe, comprised of customer service directors, design engineers, project managers, CIOs, CTOs, CFOs and many more. This presents a unique opportunity to reach a qualified audience not available through any other channel. Independent KDS is an independent publication, aiming to offer an objective view of the industry. Articles may present newsworthy acts and/or opinions of named companies, but all measures are taken to ensure that articles within KDS report the objective facts without bias. Editorial We welcome contributions and submissions of news, features, thought leadership posts and interviews from companies and individuals regarding the kiosk and digital signage industry. Send your story to the editor: Laura Vallis at editor@kdseurope.com. All editorial that we receive from third parties is subject to the editor-in-chief's ultimate approval, and submission of an article is no guarantee of publication. To ensure that all articles meet the editorial policy, we reserve the right to edit the whole or part of any material selected for publication. You can find our editorial policy on our website by clicking HERE. Advertising If you would like to discuss one of our advertising or advertorial packages please contact sales@kdseurope.com.Our contributors to this issue have been getting their heads around the future. What we should be looking at and how much dystopian, science fiction novels and movies have influenced our technological perception of what could, and what shouldn’t be done! Dayle Guy of Epson (UK) Ltd considers the opportunities made possible for SMEs by affordable robotic solutions, while Bob Kronman of Kronman Associates asks what do people really want and need from the digital industry in order to make life better, easier and more comfortable. John Wordingham from Qmatic looks at smart appointment scheduling systems and how to collect data from each touchpoint in the customer journey. He explains what data to collect and how to use it for the organisation’s continuous improvement. The smart queue is just one digital transformation method to ease both the consumer and the organisation/retailer’s journey. Today we have smart cities that are revolutionising the way we live, work and play. Matthew Margetts of Smarter Technologies believes that far from being just a 21st-century gimmick, there may be significant, or maybe even life-changing advantages to the implementation of smart technology in cities around the world. Unfortunately, the one thing that appears to be here for a while longer is Covid-19. However, in recent months, we have seen events starting to throw off their virtual mantel with people emerging from their homes to step foot inside exhibition halls for face-to-face trade events for the first time in almost two years. While this is great news for the events industry, we are very aware that these are still baby steps. There are many people remaining appropriately hesitant in re-embracing our former face-to-face lives. Our team at Kiosk and Digital Signage have recognised this reticence and the real issue of international exhibitors and visitors potentially testing and quarantining, and have therefore decided to postpone KDS 2021. KDS 2021, previously known as Kiosk Summit, is Europe’s only dedicated event for the kiosk and digital signage industry and we want to make it an occasion you are truly proud to be involved with, enjoy networking in and where you appreciate interacting with our seminars and educational sessions. We are presently looking at dates and exploring the possibility of holding the event in Spring 2022. We will of course, release details as soon as we are able. Laura Vallis Editor Kiosk and Digital Signage Magazine FOREWORD 5 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE EDITOR’S NOTEZYTRONIC’S SENSOR TECHNOLOGY HITS BALEARIC BEACHES Touchscreens on the beach? Zytronic’s Iberian partner IBHM has been supplying Majorca-based Hi-Services with Zytronic’s 43in touch sensor since 2018. The touch sensor provides the interactive interface for the company’s Hi-Point outdoor health awareness kiosks installed near beaches across the Balearic Islands. The interactive screen provides information about the local beaches, actions to take in case of an emergency and even the types of jellyfish one might encounter while bathing in the sea. Users can also input their hair colour, eye colour and skin tone to generate a personalised report identifying the health risk factors. These include recommendations for the minimum sun protection factor to be used, maximum sun exposure times, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and essential skin prevention advice. In these unattended outdoor locations, Hi-Services needed a product that could withstand high ambient temperatures, sand, saltwater and potential tampering with by the public. As a result, the company chose thick, thermally- tempered anti-glare glass ZyBrid touch sensors, which met the brief perfectly. On top of the kiosk is a UV index indicator which alerts the population using a code based on five colours (green, yellow, orange, red and violet), established by the World Health Organization (WHO) with UV index values ranging from 1-11. Additional kiosk features include an automated external defibrillator (AED) and emergency service call-out button; there are also power outlets for charging mobile devices, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters. NEWS IN BRIEF 6KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE EXPO 2020 DUBAI How can technology improve human experience – in health, transport, energy and the environment? In March 2022, the UK’s leading experts will come together at Expo 2020 Dubai to explore how technology will continue to shape every aspect of our lives in the future. From 17th to 21st March 2022, ‘In the Future, How Will we Advance?’ will highlight how AI can continue to benefit people across the globe while driving towards a more sustainable future. THE SHELF-EDGE INFORMATION REVOLUTION UK shoppers are increasingly demanding more digital information at the shelf edge to improve in-store shopping experiences and help inform their buying decisions, the latest research from Pricer has revealed. Original research of over 2,000 UK shoppers in Pricer’s latest ‘Pricer UK Consumer Insight Report 2021’ showed that two thirds (65%) would be more likely to buy a product in-store when they can easily and clearly access information about the product digitally. In what it describes as ‘the information revolution at the shelf-edge’, almost six in ten (57%) consumers would like to have more access to product details in addition to pricing, while nearly half (49%) would like more digital signage at the shelf-edge to help inform their buying decisions. And this, the Pricer report suggests, is particularly important for complex, high consideration or big ticket items, where shoppers want to be able to self-serve information about the product and its specifications digitally at the point of display. 61% said access to digital product information became increasingly important when shopping for expensive items, while 45% have been put off buying a complex or considered purchase when there wasn’t enough product information available. We can offer some fabulous presence marketing options. If you would like to discuss one of our advertising or advertorial packages contact: sales@kdseurope.com7 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE ViewSonic has introduced the ViewBoard 4320 Interactive Displays for collaborative spaces. Developed for smaller collaboration spaces in hybrid work environments and classrooms, the ViewBoard 4320 features integrated annotation and screen casting software, making it easy for users to share and collaborate with colleagues and teams in offices or remotely. Monica Sun, Director of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic Corporation, said, “Driven by growing changes in the working model, ViewSonic stays innovative to create values, delivering our interactive display ranges in sizes from 24-98in with intuitive and engaging collaborative capabilities to address various needs from our customers. The ViewBoard 4320 is a combination of advanced software and hardware, creating a collaborative workplace with high productivity, flexibility and agility.” Featuring a 43in Ultra HD 4K display with in-cell touch technology, the compact ViewBoard 4320 embodies collaboration. With 10-point multi- touch functionality, it delivers a smooth and responsive handwriting experience for multiple users to write or draw simultaneously, while accessing supported multimedia, screen recordings, file conversions and QR code sharing features. Its USB-C one cable solution supports instant plug-and-play for A/V, touch and power delivery, keeping the stream of ideas flowing in a disruption- free environment. COLLABORATIVE SPACES IN HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENTS Nanonation is the latest digital signage vendor to have its content management system (CMS) earn the status of approved BrightSign BSN. cloud Integrated Partner. This has made it easier than ever for Nanonation customers to work seamlessly within the BrightSign BSN.cloud ecosystem. Zac Rustad, Vice President of Business Development at Nanonation, said, “The reliability of BrightSign’s media players makes them integral to many of our customer deployments. We’re happy to be named an approved BrightSign BSN.cloud Integrated Partner, and we’re excited for what lies ahead as we deepen our collaboration.” The BSN.cloud Control Cloud platform is a free subscription included with every BrightSign device that allows users to remotely manage their BrightSign devices and install the Nanonation digital signage CMS application. This increases the speed and ease of deployment to manage digital signage networks anywhere in the world. Nanonation’s CMS platform allows marketing and IT professionals to take full advantage of their digital signage networks. The solution offers full enterprise capabilities, making Nanonation’s CMS a preferred solution for clients that have multi-location deployments, while still being intuitive enough for smaller-scale deployments. The company’s cloud-based management tool allows multiple users to manage the digital signage network, schedule content and view activity reports with ease. Jeff Hastings, CEO of BrightSign, said, “We’re pleased to welcome Nanonation as our newest integrated CMS partner. Our companies are like- minded in valuing the importance of building secure, reliable digital signage solutions for our customers, and the integration marks an important step forward in delivering on that promise.” EVENTSTAG & WE ARE INTERACT MERGE TO BECOME XI Xi (Experience Interactivity) has been launched following the merge of We Are Interact and EventsTag, acquired in February 2021 by the inurface group. The name was chosen to reflect Xi’s increased focus on creating long-term digital activations within retail spaces, attractions and large-scale events to help brands and businesses best connect with their audiences through interactive experiences. Headed by Dan Strang, who has over 12 years in the industry, backed with new funding from the inurface group and shared knowledge across their portfolio of businesses, Xi launches with an impressive roster of interactive technology products and client success from 2021, boasting the £10 million Sports Direct flagship on Oxford Street, FriendsFest and ChaosKarts in Shoreditch. NEW BSN.CLOUD INTEGRATED PARTNEREPSON’S NEW SERIES OF PRECISIONCORE PRINTHEADS Epson has expanded its range of PrecisionCore printheads to meet the accelerated shift towards digital printing in the commercial and industrial sectors. The D3000-A1R is the first in Epson’s new range of printheads that support ink circulation at nozzle level which increases reliability by reducing nozzle cleaning and capping requirements. The printhead can be used either in single colour 1200dpi mode or with two colours at 600dpi resolution. This, combined with high-frequency driving technology, enables the D3000-A1R to deliver outstanding image quality and high print speeds comparable to those of existing analogue printers. With a 67mm print swathe, the DC300-A1R is scalable for applications such as flexible packaging, labels and décor. Its robust design means it can be safely handled without causing damage to the printhead nozzles. The demand for digital printing with water-based ink has risen due to a growing requirement to mitigate the environmental impact. The D3000- A1R offers a competitive edge to equipment manufacturers who are keen to address environmental and sustainability concerns. NEWS IN BRIEF ELATEC AND KIOWARE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP Elatec and KioWare have announced they are entering an OEM partnership with the aim of developing products and solutions that are easily paired together. KioWare has added the Elatec TWN4 family of RFID card and NFC and BLE mobile credential readers to its list of supported devices which makes it easy for kiosk deployers to add RFID functionality. Elatec is a provider of solutions related to short range wireless readers and writers. Offering high- performance multi- and single- frequency RFID devices, both with and without housing, Elatec provides a vast selection of solutions and configurations to accommodate the needs of its customers’ specialised projects. Devices such as the TWN4 Slim and TWN4 MultiTech 2 BLE offer an external reader with its own dedicated housing integrated into a purposed device in just a few steps, while devices like the TWN4 MultiTech 3 BLE and TWN4 Palon Compact Panel require installation into the purposed device, but are more compact and fit directly into the existing hardware. KioWare offers a wide range of kiosk lockdown and management software solutions for Android, Windows and Chrome OS devices. Self-service kiosks and devices built on KioWare can utilise features such as restricted browser access; keyboard filtering; pop-up window control; remote content updating; and APIs for 3rd party add-ons. KioWare also offers software solutions from touchless interface for end-users in KioTouch, to video conferencing options in KioCall and powerful kiosk network management tools in KioCloud and KioWare Server. Elatec and KioWare are looking to develop products and solutions that are easily paired. 8KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE When Catalyst Event Production services wanted to design and launch a new virtual studio, they chose Absen’s products to bring the dream of a facility capable of transforming live events to reality. When the pandemic hit, Catalyst Event Production Services needed to continue to offer their event production services to customers while also adhering to the pandemic’s limitations: Catalyst CONNECT was created in a 200sqm space hosting a 50sqm presentation stage with an LED backdrop in the heart of their Perth- based offices. When designing Catalyst CONNECT, the company’s fully customisable solution, with professional audio, lighting and 4K video systems needed to not only cater for online and in- person presenters, appropriately socially distanced, but also be capable of hosting livestreams, broadcast recordings, as well as live voting. Catalyst Event Production Services created a video wall that could bring ultra-high quality definition, suit the flexible uses of the studio and match the high expectations of their customers. Catalyst Event Production Services opted for Absen’s lightweight Aries 1.5 MiniLED purchased from UK-based distributor PSCo. With its 170° wide viewing angle and high contrast for vibrant and engaging content, the Aries 1.5 was the perfect indoor 4K resolution LED display for the virtual studio’s requirements. The display guarantees a quality production backdrop that can render a client’s brand in vivid detail, while ensuring a clear message and impactful communication. ABSEN’S ARIES MINILED PROVIDES BACKBONE FOR VIRTUAL STUDIONEWS IN BRIEF 9 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE Publish your news and company announcements here Contact: editor@kdseurope.com BrightSign players are powering content in a corporate TV system developed with WallSign for Maire Tecnimont. Maire Tecnimont’s office and construction sites located in Europe, America, Middle East and Asia are fitted out with screens powered by HD224 BrightSign media players in a project overseen by 3G Electronics to deliver internal communications around the world. The solution combines traditional video and image content with additional information from social media and the web such as LinkedIn, Google Data, weather forecasts, news updates and other relevant content to provide an engaging, varied and reliable communications platform for Maire Tecnimont’s 9,000 strong team. Ida Arjomand, Brand Marketing and Digital Communications Senior Manager for Maire Tecnimont, said, “We’ve been delighted with our new Corporate TV, which allows us to deliver dynamic communications with one click to our offices and sites globally. The system has impressive cost efficiency, with content instantly pushed to the corporate audience without printing or lost time. With remote central updates, Maire Tecnimont can manage content remotely from its HQ in Italy and thanks to WallSign’s cloud server, all our offices and sites receive the information simultaneously.” BRIGHTSIGN POWERS CORPORATE COMMUNICATION CASH STILL POPULAR ON THE MENU Despite a reported downturn in cash payments in certain sectors, cash is very much the preferred payment choice for many customers, especially in the food takeaway industry. The Café Royal in Annan Scotland implemented a cash automated system in both their in-house and take away premises back in March and have seen a number of positive effects, including a rise in cash payments, a reduction in cash floats and staff freed to interact more with customers. CashGenic, the cash automation solution from Innovative Technology, was launched last year as an affordable option for those customers wanting to pay by cash safely and hygienically. The solution is available from strategic partners as a compact, all-in-one counter-top device ensuring easy customer access, with pay-in and pay- out managed by staff via a mobile tablet device. Andy Bullock, Senior Business Development Manager, ITL, said, “We are delighted that CC Dynamic, one of our CashGenic UK suppliers, has been rolling out the system, branded as £XCHEKKA. Working alongside Maggi Electronics who is installing the cash handling device, it has successfully deployed £XCHEKKA at venues throughout England & Scotland, with many more in the pipeline.” Commenting on the successful installation at the Café Royal, owner John Pagani said, “Overall, it’s been a tremendous success. We have been looking for something like this for a long time, but suitable systems seemed only available at a very high price. The £XCHEKKA system is affordable, so much so, we ordered two, one for our indoor café and the other for our take-away.”. UVISAN EXTENDS REACH OF ITS UV-C TECHNOLOGY Uvisan has created an international network of distributors to supply its products across all continents in the fight against coronavirus and reopen education, leisure and retail venues. The UV-C disinfection company has supplied its products to a series of UK schools, universities and healthcare organisations. Aardman, the British animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit, has agreed distribution deals with 12 businesses which serve the whole of Europe, Scandinavia, US, India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. The complete solution for disinfecting shared tablets, laptops, VR and AR headsets, audio headsets and other handheld electronic equipment, is now directly available for sale in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia through these local partners. Uvisan’s UV-C cabinets disinfect any handheld or portable equipment placed inside, using a UV light exposure cycle that lasts less than five minutes. The multi-size cabinets, allow operators to disinfect and simultaneously re-charge items such as tablets and headsets quickly and effectively between each use to ensure the equipment is virus and bacteria free for the next user. The cabinets ensure the highest standard of disinfection and remove the need for time-consuming manual cleaning routines, reducing the reliance on single-use wipes. The cabinets also eliminate the risk of damage to delicate and valuable equipment, that can occur from the use of wipes and chemicals.Next >