< PreviousADVERTISEMENT 10KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE ertu Motors has signed an agreement with Tjekvik that will see the implementation of new check-in and check-out solutions across the aftersales departments of its dealership network. The new technologies will help minimise queues at peak times, create a premium, hassle-free vehicle drop-off and pick-up experience and unlock new revenue opportunities. All Vertu Motors retail, Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors dealerships will adopt Tjekvik’s Home and Indoor self-service products, which allow customers to securely check their vehicle in at home on their own device, or in the dealership via user-friendly touchscreen kiosks. The kiosks can also be used by the customer to collect their keys once work is completed. These solutions will reduce the potential for lengthy queues at dealerships, particularly during peak periods, and help to improve the overall customer experience. Once the initial rollout is complete, Tjekvik and Vertu Motors will move to phase two and will incorporate the technology across any recently acquired dealerships. Any Vertu Motors group customers who choose to check their vehicle in for a service or repair online can use Tjekvik’s mobile-optimised site to confirm appointment details and provide relevant additional information. When they arrive at the dealership, customers will confirm or update those details via touchscreen, highlight the location of their vehicle, and drop-off their keys using dedicated lockers built Vertu rolls out Tjekvik digital self-service to increase aftersales efficiency and revenues into the kiosks. Each digital touchpoint features Vertu Motors, Bristol Street Motors or Macklin Motors branding to ensure a consistent corporate look throughout the entire process. As well as improving customer service, the new self-service measures will enable the group’s service advisors to spend more time with those customers who require additional assistance. The digital check-in process will also allow dealerships to promote value-added products and services, such as season-specific offers, air- conditioning checks and service plans. With many customers being more comfortable in choosing such items at a time to suit them, the feature takes the pressure off service advisors and will enable dealerships to drive additional revenues in a consistent and measurable way. Each of Tjekvik’s digital touchpoints will be seamlessly integrated with the Group’s existing dealership management system and lead tracking tools, including Keyloo p and RTC, to ensure an accurate flow of data. Tjekvik, in partnership with Vertu Motors, has also implemented an extensive training programme for the group’s aftersales teams to ensure colleagues benefit from best practice training and development. Robert Forrester, Chief Executive at Vertu Motors, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Tjekvik for the implementation of an optional self- service journey for our customers. I believe this is a game changer, and the initial results are very promising, fitting well with our Group’s digital strategy. Giving our customers the opportunity to check in from home, and the ability to utilise the self-service kiosks in our dealerships, ensures flexibility and a fantastic customer experience.”Zytronic’s Contactless User Interface Helps Keep Visitors to Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Tower Safer Hong Kong’s 22-storey, 54,000sqm Trade and Industry Tower (TI Tower) officially opened in 2015 and received a Green Building Award for its emphasis on energy conservation during construction. The design employs various renewable energy technologies, including a photovoltaic system, and several energy-saving technologies, such as a solar hot water system, solar chimney and daylight sun tubes. The lobby’s digital signage system uses two monitors, including one that’s touch interactive to enable visitors to browse through information such as the building’s design, environmentally sustainable features and awards. Keen to show off green credentials to staff and visitors, property company Savills Guardian turned to ASPIS Innovation Solutions. ASPIS replaced the original 21-in touch sensor with Zytronic’s contactless touch sensor. ZyBrid hover technology boosts the projected capacitive touch sensitivity to allow user interactions to be detected up to 50mm from the screen’s surface. No unsightly and potentially unhygienic bezels are required, so the touchscreen is easy to maintain and clean. ASPIS also created special graphical user interface (GUI) content, increasing the size of the icons, and introducing wider ‘guard bands’ or space, around each touch active button. “After this digital signage system upgrade, visitors now get a better understanding of the TI Tower’s green construction design principles together with information regarding the renewable energy it generates and uses,” says Manuel Ling, ASPIS. In-store self-service kiosks are now a familiar sight within quick-service restaurants (QSRs) - they allow us to navigate through menus, view available offers, select from a wide range of options, and finally order and pay for our food without queueing. However, at drive-thru QSRs, which can account for up to 75% of a restaurant chain’s revenue, there typically isn’t the same level of rapid, personalised, interactive information available. Spotting a gap in this market, Olea Kiosks created a new range of outdoor interactive kiosks – but their challenge was to ensure the same levels of usability, durability and reliability as their indoor counterparts. Looking for an outdoor touchscreen that could handle the additional challenges placed upon it, Andson Pong, CTO at Olea Kiosks, led the evaluation process. “Many touchscreen manufacturers place warranty restrictions on their products in outdoor applications, meaning that the kiosk is limited to certain environments or locations,” he said. “We wanted a universal outdoor design with no such restrictions. In addition, when placed within a metal enclosure, we needed a large projected capacitive touchscreen that is unaffected by rain and would function even when the customer has gloved hands. Zytronic’s award- winning touchscreens proved very capable in all these areas.” Zytronic has over 20 years of experience developing and manufacturing touch sensors for publicly used outdoor applications that are exposed to the elements and the associated risk of vandalism and abuse. Working closely with Olea Kiosks, Zytronic designed a custom 32in ZyBrid touch sensor combined with its proprietary ZXY100 controller. The touchscreen is made from 6mm thick, toughened glass to help withstand heavy impacts. With the addition of an IR-blocking filter laminated to the rear surface, the touch sensor also assists in the overall thermal management of the kiosk’s display. “With any technology, you always expect you will need some support, and that’s extremely helpful for us because we can get new solutions up and running quickly without impacting the client,” said Pong. “If we call Zytronic with an issue, support is extremely responsive, and issues are resolved quickly. Likewise, when we develop a new product or use new software, some initial adjustments usually require us to work with Zytronic’s support team, and these get resolved very quickly too. Overall, Zytronic’s product reliability and support are the keys to our long-term business partnership.” Self-service kiosk leader goes outdoors with help from Zytronic’s durable touch technology “With any technology, you always expect you will need some support, and that’s extremely helpful for us because we can get new solutions up and running quickly without impacting the client” KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE 11W ith Covid-19 came the fear of contact. Consumers moved from a position of preferred tactility and an appreciation of shared tech, to one where we thought twice before engaging with interactive screens, where we only picked up the things that were completely necessary - and doused ourselves with hand sanitiser after. Three years on from the dawning of the virus, vaccinations have lessened the threat and given us all the room to breathe once more. But having had our eyes opened to the risk of contact contamination, most of us are now wary about touch technology. Whether it’s in doctor’s surgeries or retail premises, we don’t really want to physically interact with digital touch screens and there is now a growing demand for touch- free tech which has led to innovation. But where is touch-free technology heading? How is it likely to evolve? And where are we likely to see it in the near future? Why touch-free technology is changing the consumer experience The appeal of touchless technology is manifold, particularly in retail. It provides an interesting and appealing way for brands to engage with their customers and showcase goods to their best advantage. But, it is also clean and safe. It doesn’t hold the risk of becoming a contagion point - whether for Covid, other already known viruses and bacteria, or future pandemics in the waiting. It is less likely to be damaged or break through rough usage. And, it has the potential for a diverse range of applications. The problem is that touchless technology is nothing new. It has been available for years and is already deployed in a number of places. The touch-free taps and hand dryers in some public restrooms leap to mind. But broader application and adoption have been stalled, largely because of the costs involved. So, until now, touchless technology has failed to reach its full potential. So, what are we going to see now that the demand and funding are in place? What forms will touch-free technology take? Gesture recognition Using sensors to identify and interpret hand movements as commands, gesture recognition technology enables customers to interact with devices without touching them. In its simplest form, this tech can be activated with a simple 12KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE The future of touchless technology Josh Bunce, founder and CEO of the iuf Group Jump booth - works on touch free body recognition camera and sensor that determines how high you jump based on how far your shoulders move13 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE14KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE wave, and this is probably what we’re most likely to see in retail environments. But more sophisticated touchless user interfaces are possible, where tech is trained to interpret different gestures or hand sequences in different ways, enabling the technology to be deployed in a range of scenarios. There is also the potential for users to set up their own gesture patterns for a unique user experience. Touchless sensing Touchless sensing is already widely deployed. It is the technology that supports automatic doors and self-flushing toilets and it is similar in form to gesture recognition technology. Using a lensed optical matrix sensor, this technology detects motion, that is then translated into a prompt to activate the screen - or other processes. In retail, this will most likely be deployed for advertising means. When combined with facial recognition technology, touchless sensing can support targeted advertising and more personalised shopping experiences, as screens change their content according to customer type and proximity. Facial recognition As I touched on above, facial recognition is another area with a lot of scope. It doesn’t just hold the potential for personalised advertising. It can also be used in experiential retail. When combined with actual reality software, it enables customers to interact with products – in-store and out. It can be used with ‘Magic Mirrors’, enabling customers to virtually try products – Charlotte Tilbury already uses the tech to allow customers to experiment with makeup without actually touching the products, while ‘selfie mirrors’ have become a feature of one of Sports Direct’s flagship stores, allowing customers to make a memento of their shopping experience. Voice recognition At this stage, most people are familiar with voice recognition tech. Whether it’s an Alexa device, a Google screen, or Apple’s Siri, voice recognition technology has become commonplace. Created to understand human voices and respond to trigger words, voice tech has taken over the role of ‘home assistant’. And in business, it is already being used in call centres, to enhance QR code - several activations have touch- free download so you can receive content through QR code scanning on own device. Can be multiway to give the user several options as to where they want to go via the QR code e.g. download content, website, social media to shareIn its simplest form, this tech can be activated with a simple wave, and this is probably what we’re most likely to see in retail environments 15 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE customer service, detect fraud, and identify the vulnerable. But that’s not the end of its potential. In retail, there is enormous scope for voice recognition, for both wayfinding and stock checking, freeing consumers to serve themselves, and sales assistants to concentrate on selling. Instore Analytics Of course, any technology that can be used to detect a customer presence can also be used for analytics. By feeding back not only customer numbers, but also how customers interacted with products, displays and technology, the interfaces can provide live insights into your store, enabling responsive interactive campaigns that deliver instantly measurable feedback at the same time as protecting customer privacy. Touch-free technology already has a waiting audience. It is already understood by most would-be users and it can be used in a variety of ways, making it an area worthy of investment for both developers and retailers as we move into more of a safety- conscious, contactless future. Below: Body gesture technology - by moving hands/head content on the screen can be manipulated so the user doesn’t have to have touch the screenP ublic transport systems, utility vehicles, airborne craft and marine vessels are regularly operated in a wide range of terrestrial, subterranean, atmospheric, and marine environments. The display and touch technologies that feature in the operator and user control systems in these transportation systems need to provide reliable and dependable operation under a wide range of operating environments and conditions. Environmental conditions A multitude of operating environments will present challenges that include temperature extremes, change of temperature, magnetic and electrical noise, mechanical shock and vibration, ultraviolet radiation, and the potential for fluid/ liquid ingress. These factors all pose potential threats to reliable and consistent touchscreen operation. Temperature immunity Graphical user interfaces featuring displays with integrated touchscreens must provide reliable and stable operation under temperature extremes while also coping with rapid temperature variations. Leading global touchscreen solution provider AMT, develops and supplies PCap (projected capacitive) touch panels that are specified to an automotive standard operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, and a storage temperature range of -50°C to +90°C. Temperature change is tested with operational thermal cycling of -40°C for 30 minutes, followed by +85°C for 30 minutes, for 100 cycles. UV resistance Transportation systems and infrastructure equipment will often be extensively operated in outdoor environments, and as a necessity need to be able to withstand prolonged exposure to high levels of ambient light and direct sunlight. A system that is unprotected and subjected to extended UV (ultraviolet) radiation can cause Justin Coleman, Display Business Manager at Review Display Systems 16KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE Robust, reliable touch solutions for in-vehicle applications17 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE yellowing, hazing, and material ageing and degradation. AMT PCap touchscreen solutions have been successfully tested to strict industry standards including accelerated UV ageing and weathering standard ASTM G154 Cycle 1 - 1,000 hours, and environmental conditions standard MIL-STD-810H Pro 1 - 1,000 hours. Ambient light Light reflection in high ambient light environments can impact display image clarity and visibility. Optical bonding is used to eliminate internal air gaps which reduces internal reflections and refraction effects. AMT also offers touch panels with a Low-Reflective (LR) design, to aid and assist improved image legibility in bright light conditions. EMC and noise immunity Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is important in all transportation applications. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require all devices installed on aircraft to pass certification to DO-160 Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. Employing suitable integration and firmware adjustment, AMT PCAP touch solutions can meet DO-160 Conducted RF Emission at 150KHz to 152MHz and Radiated RF Emission at 100MHz to 6000MHz test standards. Hardware and software design solutions from AMT can enable excellent electromagnetic immunity for all in-vehicle and transportation applications. Designed for purpose Operator displays on public transport systems will often adopt dual-screen redundancy designs to mitigate against unexpected failure circumstances. A dual-screen operator display can incorporate two touchscreens using just one piece of integrated cover glass. The electric fields generated between the two projected capacitive (PCap) touch screens have the potential to interfere with each other. AMT have conducted many internal tests and used different signal frequencies to mitigate the problem of interference and ensure dual-screen applications can be deployed successfully. Touch solutions Developing and manufacturing touch screens and controllers, AMT is firmly established as a leading global touch solution supplier and designs. AMT designs, develops and supplies an extensive range of PCap touchscreen solutions for diverse transport industry applications including trains, buses, electric vehicles, construction plant, airborne systems, utility vehicles and marine craft. Local support Display solutions and embedded systems provider, Review Display Systems supplies and supports a wide range of AMT PCap touch solutions and associated peripheral components. Offering technical and engineering support, Review Display Systems has experience of designing and developing fully integrated touchscreen-based embedded systems for a wide range of application environments including in-vehicle and transport systems. A customer experience or journey should be visualised end to end or the effects can be incoherent or jarring18KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEHow to use digital signage to build employee engagement 19 S ince the pandemic hit, we’ve seen a huge shift in the way we work, with more and more companies taking a hybrid approach and many allowing their workforces to go completely remote. While there are many positives to remote and hybrid working, this change has also coincided with a huge fall in employee engagement. In fact, Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report suggest that only 21% of employees feel truly engaged at work. To address this drop, companies adopting new working practices need to put more emphasis on employee engagement, especially those asking workers to be in the office at least part of the time. Today, organisations need office environments that provide a positive experience for employees, make them feel part of a team, and that make coming into the physical workspace not feel like a drag. This is where digital signage comes into the mix... Maximising employee communication Perhaps the most obvious use of digital signage is to communicate with staff on the ground. For big organisations with large offices, public screens have always helped communicate messages to teams. Today, that role is more important than ever. With so many people working from home, half-empty offices can feel cold, empty and uninspiring. Digital signage is a great way to display real- time information from across the business. Whether it’s an inspiring message from the boss, positive content from internal social channels, or even real-time company growth figures, digital signage can brighten and fill an otherwise empty space. Of course, digital displays still provide a good opportunity to share essential updates about events or all-hands meetings, but they’re so much more than that. With the right digital signage businesses can turn half-empty offices into ‘phygital’ hives of online and offline activity. Digital signage for connectivity If your company is operating using a hybrid working model, staying connected can be difficult. With different team members in the office on different days it can be hard to emulate that sense of togetherness, especially in meetings. By using high-res screens to engage with your remote employees you can make teams feel more connected with their colleagues at work. Hybrid meeting rooms, collaborative whiteboards, and sophisticated full Keeping your workforce motivated is a challenge in the new hybrid environment. Taj Ghere, managing director, UK region at Kinly, talks connectivity, engagement and wellbeing KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINENext >