< Previous10 Kiosk and Digital Signage T ech is playing an increasingly significant role in enhancing how we navigate spaces and interact with our surroundings and there is increasing research which suggests that smart technology has a positive effect on the visitor experience. Canary Wharf Group, the landlord and operator of the renowned London shopping destination Canary Wharf, has embraced this concept through its partnership with Living Map, a leading provider of digital mapping and wayfinding solutions, with clients in transport, retail, healthcare, culture and smart spaces. This collaboration has resulted in notable enhancements to the visitor experience at Canary Wharf, particularly through the implementation of digital mapping technology. By using Living Map’s advanced digital mapping platform and strategically placing interactive totems throughout the area, Canary Wharf has streamlined its navigation and provided visitors with valuable information to enhance their overall experience. Real-time directions Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is the developer of the largest urban regeneration project in Europe. CWG develops, manages and currently owns interests in approximately nine million square feet of mixed-use space and more than 1,100 build-to-rent apartments. Canary Wharf’s retail offering comprises more than 70 bars, cafes and restaurants and over 300 shops, including eight grocery stores, and pharmacies and health clubs all within 15 minutes’ walk. One of the key features of this tech is its ability to provide visitors with real-time directions and information. With the Living Map platform, visitors are able to easily search for specific stores or amenities, navigate through the complex layout of Canary Wharf and even discover nearby points of interest. This not only helps visitors find their way around more efficiently but also adds a layer of convenience and accessibility to their experience. QR code wayfinding The integration of dynamic QR code wayfinding further enhances the collaborative aspect of navigation, allowing visitors to easily share directions with others. Additionally, the inclusion of accessibility controls ensures that the digital mapping technology is inclusive and user-friendly for all visitors, regardless of their needs or abilities. Unlike traditional signage or paper maps, the platform handles complex routes, accounts for real-time changes – such as construction and temporary closures – and optimises routes based on distance, time and accessibility. Routes can also be curated with personalised guides and must- see stops, enriching the visitor experience, and transforming how they navigate the environment. By extension, for facilities management and operational purposes, the same map can be configured to locate and find IoT-tagged equipment and any range of fixed and mobile assets. Getting to know visitors Beyond navigation, the Living Map platform also serves as a valuable tool for Canary Wharf Group in understanding visitor behaviour and preferences. By capturing insights into route popularity and visitor interactions, Canary Wharf is able to continually refine and improve the visitor experience, ensuring that it remains relevant and impactful. Living Map also crafted an additional map specifically for Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights Festival. Visitors embarked on a journey through 13 temporary installations, alongside the ever-popular six permanent light artworks – Westferry Circus ablaze with the flickering flames of Sign, to the mesmerising Marbles at Wren Landing. With the Living Map partnership Canary Wharf has set a precedent for other destinations looking to up their digital offering. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the opportunities to create immersive and engaging experiences for visitors. Enhancing the visitor experience with digital mapping technology www.livingmap.com Tech is playing an increasingly significant role in enhancing how we navigate spaces and interact with our surroundings Kiosk and Digital Signage 1112 Kiosk and Digital Signage P lace-making – it’s far from being a new concept but, right now, the art of turning spaces into places is arguably at a peak. In the post-pandemic, post-lockdown world, people are increasingly seeking out in-person experiences, a renewed sense of community and enrichment through the enjoyment of physical locations. We’re seeing this reflected in the resurgence of brick-and-mortar retail, which is defying previous predictions of an ecommerce wipe-out, thanks to reinvention and repurposing. Mixed-purpose venues such as market-places with pop-up food and beverage offerings, or retail centres that feature a multitude of leisure attractions like bowling, VR experiences and break-out rooms are some of the most popular places to spend time and have cross- generational appeal. Their strength lies in carving out a presence as go-to destinations, places that people want to visit time and time again, because they offer reward in terms of enjoyment, engagement, and togetherness. This need to develop a true sense of place translates to the work-place too. In a bid to lure employees back to the office, businesses are having to shape environments where teams and individuals want to spend time. Here, again, nurturing a community feel is important, Matthew Drury, sales and marketing director Saturn Visual Solutions – www.saturnvisual.com How to power up placemaking through digital signage Digital signage interactivity bridges the gap between online and offline experiencesKiosk and Digital Signage 13 as is being able to offer social and wellbeing enrichment. Turning a space into a sought-out place can seem daunting though. Thankfully, there are plenty of great examples and case studies to learn from. At Saturn Visual, what we’ve discovered through our work with retailers, leisure operators and businesses is that a sense of place can be conjured in spaces of all shapes and sizes. There will be design elements common to all successful, well-used places and one of these vital components is digital signage. Signage is an invaluable tool in any placemaking kit. Tapping into its power can help to turbocharge a placemaking project and here’s how: Foster a sense of identity – place branding Popular places have a strong sense of identity that is both explicit and implicit. The strategic use of digital signage can help to galvanise this destination-type feeling by creating a mood and stamping a clear brand presence throughout a space. The clever use of animation, impactful imagery, thought-provoking content and ambience-creating colour palettes through digital signage installations can all help to shape and reinforce the identity of a place. Places can also be imbued with heritage and cultural value, through digital displays that draw attention to an area’s history and help to make visitors feel like they are part of the destination’s evolving story. Inject fun and engagement Nobody wants to spend time in boring places. Digital assets such as high definition LED walls, touch screens and self-service kiosks can add a new layer of stimulus and engagement to a Digital assets such as touch screens and self-service kiosks can add a new layer of stimulus and engagementspace. Digital displays are designed to draw people in. They help to provide the essential magnetic element required in placemaking. Our favourite places trigger positive emotional responses and digital signage can enable this. It can be used to share narratives, designed to induce emotion and connect a place to a positive psychological experience. Boost interaction and personalisation Digital signage interactivity bridges the gap between online and offline experiences, helping to provide the level of information and stimulus required by today’s building and venue users. Through the use of touch screens and motion sensors, digital signage is also able to provide the unique, personalised experience that many are seeking out. It can offer instant access to wayfinding tools, useful facts and narratives and can heighten engagement and enjoyment even further through the inclusion of games and image upload options. Content can be triggered on display screens by motion sensors, which allow a place to respond to visitors, as much as they respond to it. Support inclusivity Successful placemaking is underpinned by inclusivity. And interactive digital signage can help to ensure general appeal by levelling places up and making them more accessible and inclusive. In fact, it’s difficult to envision placemaking inclusivity without the use of flexible and interactive digital signage tech these days. Consider, for instance, how it can be employed to provide audio information for visually impaired visitors. It can display QR codes that enable individuals to access informative audio content through their own mobile devices. A range of other applications are possible – altering font sizes to aid reading accessibility, providing wayfinding support that’s tailored for disabled people, or offering content in a variety of languages. Digital signage has the power to adapt in increasingly innovative ways to support inclusivity – depicting messages in sign language is just one example – and can more than prove its placemaking value here. Equip the imagination If you take a moment to think of your favourite places, outside the home, today – the places that pull you back, that are vibrant, welcoming and engaging, the chances are that they will contain an element of digital signage. If these assets are selected and managed correctly, they blend in and become part of a place. Ensuring this means seeking out expert help and equipping the placemaking imagination with the tools to bring a vision to life. No matter where you are on your placemaking journey, digital signage can help to enhance the end result, shaping alluring destinations which stay in the memory for all the right reasons.16 Kiosk and Digital Signage T wo-dimensional (2D) barcodes have emerged as the champions of the retail world, driving transformations that have reshaped the way we work, shop and interact with our surroundings. However, the benefits of 2D barcode applications have extended well beyond retail itself - to industries as diverse as healthcare, logistics and manufacturing. A 2D barcode, or two-dimensional barcode, stores data in both horizontal and vertical directions, creating a grid of black and white squares. Unlike 1D barcodes, which consist of a single row of lines, they encode more information, like text, numbers and images, thanks to their matrix format. 2D barcodes are scanned using specialised scanners or smartphone apps equipped with camera functionality. When scanned, the encoded information is extracted, allowing for various applications, such as accessing websites, displaying text and tracking inventory. As mentioned, 2D barcodes are now recognised as a versatile tool across a range of industries but their capacity to store more information - compared to traditional linear barcodes - makes them particularly useful in the healthcare industry. One of the key standards governing the use of barcodes in healthcare are the GS1 standards. These standards, established by the Global Standards One (GS1) UK organisation, provide a framework for encoding essential data. This includes batch numbers, best before or use by dates, serial numbers, and the item number itself within the 2D barcodes. The GS1 standards play a pivotal role in ensuring uniformity and accuracy in the healthcare supply chain. As explained by GS1 UK, their barcode standards in healthcare contribute to improved patient safety, enhanced traceability, and streamlined processes. These barcodes are scanned using specialised scanners or smartphone apps equipped with camera functionality, allowing for various applications such as accessing websites, displaying text, and tracking inventory. Customer offers and product information Within hospitals, retail settings such as pharmacies and gift shops often exist for convenience purposes - whether you are picking up a prescription or a present for a friend or family member who’s unwell. Using 2D barcodes to improve patient experiences and streamline healthcare admin Simon Hemmingway, healthcare director, Barcode Warehouse – www.thebarcodewarehouse.co.ukKiosk and Digital Signage 17 Here, 2D barcodes can be utilised in a number of ways by allowing customers to scan for offers and product information just like in any other retail environment. For example, a patient waiting for a repeat prescription might scan a barcode to access information about over-the- counter medications or to see discounts on certain products in the gift shop. Healthcare information for patients Patients can also scan 2D barcodes to access specific healthcare information related to their needs. For instance, a poster or brochure promoting flu vaccinations might include a barcode that, when scanned, directs the patient to schedule their annual flu jab appointment, or even provide educational material about the importance of vaccination in the first place. Appointment check-in and check-out Hospitals and medical facilities can streamline their appointment management process too by implementing QR code check-in and check-out systems. Instead of standing in a long queue at the reception desk, patients can scan a unique QR code on their phone upon arrival to quickly check in for their appointment - and scan it again upon departure. This reduces wait times and improves administrative efficiency for the reception team. Hospital wayfinding Navigating large hospital buildings can be challenging for patients, visitors and even staff at times, with the small signs and long corridors. However, 2D barcodes can help here if they are placed strategically in the building, enabling individuals to locate themselves by scanning codes placed at key points or intersections. To prevent people from getting lost in hospitals and being late for an appointment, these codes can direct users to digital maps or provide turn- by-turn directions to their appointment location. Parking payment and prepayment Hospitals often have limited parking space which can cause serious problems for both staff and patients. To avoid the stress of people running late for work or an appointment, managing parking payments efficiently at hospitals is crucial. QR codes can facilitate parking payments by allowing users to scan a code displayed at the parking lot entrance or exit using their smartphones. This enables convenient payment processing, including prepayment options and reduces the need for physical payment machines at hospital car parks. Secure access to patient records While accessing patient records via QR codes at the bedside might not be practical due to security concerns, there are still ways to implement secure access. For instance, medical professionals can use QR codes to initiate an authentication process that grants them access to patient records on a trusted platform. This often requires multi- factor authentication and encryption to ensure that only authorised personnel can access the sensitive medical information, as opposed to other patients on the ward. Food ordering and pickup Hospitals often have cafeterias or coffee shops where patients, visitors and staff purchase food or hot drinks for their caffeine hit after a particularly long night. QR codes help here by streamlining the order process, allowing customers to scan a code at the counter or table which then directs them to an online menu or ordering platform. This makes the food service experience much more efficient and convenient for both dine- in and click-and-collect orders, especially for hospital workers who want to grab a coffee on-the-go. Overall, 2D barcodes are playing an important role in modernising healthcare operations and enhancing patient experiences - and the value of this shouldn’t be understated, seeing as these environments are typically quite stressful. From facilitating retail transactions to streamlining appointment management and accessing medical records securely, these barcodes offer multifaceted solutions. 18 Kiosk and Digital Signage Challenges and triumphs in partnering with China for display solutions Tony Large, technical director CDS – www.crystal-display.com V enturing into the Chinese self-service terminals and digital signage market solutions’ market presents a unique set of challenges. As manufacturers, integrators and deployers, the path to finding reliable partners and navigating the intricate landscape of suppliers demands a technical precision that goes beyond conventional business strategies. China’s vast supplier network is a minefield, rife with risks such as non-original, rebadged and resold used parts. At CDS, our extensive experience in procurement from the east has equipped us with the ability to decipher genuine-quality products. Robust supplier management processes ensure continual monitoring and improvements in our supply chain, essential in overcoming the challenges posed by: >Customer reluctance: Some customers express reluctance to embrace products built in China, reflecting concerns about quality and reliability. >Language barriers: Communication hurdles can impede collaboration, requiring a meticulous approach to ensure accurate conveyance of technical specifications and requirements. >Geographical time zone: Negotiating time zone differences poses a challenge, necessitating efficient communication strategies to maximise the limited contact window. >Supplier verification: Unfamiliarity with suppliers at the outset, despite an impressive online presence, demands a reliance on instincts, emphasising the need for due diligence in establishing business relationships. >Payment expectations: The expectation of upfront payments in China requires adept cash flow management and building trusting relationships with suppliers. >Volume requirements: Many China-based partners prioritise large-volume business, making it challenging to find suppliers aligned with high-end, smaller-volume applications.Navigating the supplier landscape The journey to find the right partner involves overcoming numerous trials and tribulations, with potential suppliers often presenting challenges such as: >Made-to-order model: Many suppliers boast extensive catalogues but operate on a made-to-order model with high minimum order quantities (MOQ) after the evaluation sample, which can be incompatible with the smaller volumes typical in the UK/ European market. >Translation challenges: Translations from Chinese to English can be misleading and verifying the accuracy of information provided by potential partners is essential. >Divergent business models: Addressing the divergence between UK/ Europe and Chinese business models, where the former often targets industrial, medical and automotive/aerospace markets with smaller volumes and longer production timelines. From stumbling blocks to success: the journey to Startek While challenges abound, CDS has formed a fruitful collaboration with Startek. The journey involved: >Identification via internet search: Startek was discovered through an internet search for a specific product (Bar TFT), highlighting the importance of a comprehensive online presence. >Responsive Communication: Startek’s responsiveness via email fostered an open and efficient dialogue, crucial in establishing a fruitful partnership. >Alignment of business philosophy: CDS was drawn to Startek not only for its comprehensive range but also for the alignment of the business philosophy with CDS’s own values, clearly communicated on their website. Benefits to our customers: elevating display solutions The partnership with Startek has translated into tangible benefits for our customers, reinforcing CDS’s commitment to delivering top-notch display solutions. These include: >Broad Range of TFT LCDs: Startek offers the broadest range of TFT LCDs seen from a single supplier, catering to diverse application needs. >No MOQ and No EOL: Startek’s commitment to no MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) and no unplanned End-of-Life (EOL) ensures flexibility and long-term availability for our customers. >Rapid availability: With ample stock of raw materials, Startek enables quick shipment of evaluation samples and prompt availability of pre-production quantities. >High-quality parts: Startek’s reputation for high-quality parts and compatibility with other suppliers facilitates seamless integration and offers drop-in replacements. >Innovation and flexibility: Startek’s investment in new products ensures that they remain at the forefront of design trends and technological advancements, accommodating varied display formats. >Customer-centric philosophy: Startek’s philosophy of valuing all customers, irrespective of order size, resonates with CDS’s commitment to treating every customer with equal importance. Navigating the technical landscape of partnering with China for self-service terminals and digital signage solutions demands a meticulous approach, technical expertise and a discerning eye for reliable partners. Next >