Where are your screens?
So you have done your homework and know that you have the right number of screens. Yet, still it doesn’t seem like you are getting the engagement level that you expected from your campaigns. The next question to ask yourself is, “Where are your screens?”
If only one screen is placed in your location, and it’s positioned in a low traffic area, you might want to reconsider its placement. Positioning a screen in common areas provides for more viewers and as this number increases, the opportunity for audience engagement goes up as well. Just like supermarkets place their weekly specials at endcaps of aisles, placing a screen by the cash registers, or near an elevator entrance will lead to much higher levels of engagement with your audience.
Retail businesses have mastered the art of product positioning to a point where they can predict sales levels of a product just by knowing where in the store it is placed. High traffic areas yield more exposure and therefore, more purchases. This same theory can be applied to digital signage and engagement levels it can generate with your audience.
Another way to get your screens to work for you is by placing products you want to sell close to the screens. Remember, the goal of your screens is to get audience engagement. If you are running content that the audience wants to see, it’s the perfect opportunity to move some product at the same time. Place your specials or brochures near the displays and it will simplify the decision making process for your customers. Studies have shown that three out of four purchase decisions are made while in the store, and what better way to make these decisions easier than by strategic positioning of your displays?
It’s crucial to place a screen in an area where people will notice it and be willing to engage. For example, by the cash registers or in areas where people tend to congregate for longer periods of time, the screen can add the highest value. People have time to spare and it gives your business a great opportunity to engage with your patrons; whether it’s providing them with headline news, weather conditions, a social media stream, live TV, or your weekly specials, placing your screens in high traffic areas will lead to more engagement.
You’ve decided on the right number of screens and strategically positioned them; now comes the last step. What content will be displayed on your screens? You can have the most screens and best placement, but if you are running content people don’t care about, your entire investment could go to waste. In the next edition of the blog, we will discuss how content can push your digital signage network to the next level.
How Many Screen Are You Running?
The first issue this series will address is the question of screen quantity. Is one screen enough or should you install a network of screens? This question is an important element in the process of figuring out how to improve the number of viewers and their engagement with the messages on screen. Is one screen enough to meet the foot-traffic that your location generates or would installing multiple screens be more beneficial? You may be concerned with difficulty of implementing a second or third screen and having to deal with content management for those as well.
With UCView’s ViewEdge advantage, you can control all your screens from one portal at the click of a button even from your smart phone. You have the freedom to select what content is displayed at what time and on which screen within seconds. We take the hassle out of signage management and simplify the process across all displays in your network.
For some locations, such as small shops and offices one screen may be enough. However, for most locations, one screen can not keep up with the foot-traffic that is generated. If a big crowd gathers around a screen, chances are people in the back will not be able to see what’s going on and their interest in the subject will be heightened. Enter the second screen running the same content and now more eyeballs are viewing the content and viewership has increased significantly. This is a great example of how installation of multiple screens can lead to more awareness and engagement with patrons at your business.
Not only do multiple screens increase engagement levels, they also boost impression numbers from a given ad that runs on the screens. Impression levels can increase exponentially, providing for a way for your company to generate increased advertising revenue.
Multiple screens can also cut down on the time your employee spends with a certain customer. For example, displaying information about your products and services on screen can help cut down on employee time spent answering basic questions, and that time can be reserved for more in depth conversations about a product or service.
At this point you may be asking yourself, “All of this multiple signage talk makes a lot of sense; but what about the extra time and effort I’ll need to put in to manage the network?” This is where UCView’s ViewEdge advantage takes over. With our system you can create, implement, and manage your display network seamlessly from anywhere in the world. All you need is internet access, not even a computer is necessary as you can access our portal from your smart phone. With UCView, you can manage your displays, from 1 to as many as you need, all at the click of a button.
The next step in the process is positioning your displays properly. Our next blog will go into further detail about positioning and placement of your screens.
Want More Eyeballs?
You may be wondering why that digital display you installed has not delivered expected results. Well, here are some questions to ponder as you analyze your strategy. This blog is the first of a 4 part series that will feature each of these questions individually.
1. How many screens are you running?
This question is an important element in the process of figuring out how to improve the number of viewers and their engagement with the messages on screen. Is one screen enough to meet the foot-traffic that your location generates or would installing multiple screens be more beneficial? You may be concerned with difficulty of implementing a second or third screen and having to deal with content management for those as well. With UCView’s ViewEdge advantage, you can control all your screens from one portal at the click of a button even from your smart phone. You have the freedom to select what content is displayed at what time and on which screen within seconds. We take the hassle out of signage management and simplify the process across all displays in your network.
2. Where are your screens?
If only one screen is placed in your location, and it’s positioned in a low traffic area, you might want to reconsider its placement. Positioning a screen in common areas provides for more viewers and as this number increases, the opportunity for audience engagement goes up as well. Just like supermarkets place their weekly specials at the endcaps of aisles, placing a screen by the cash registers, or near an elevator entrance will lead to much higher levels of engagement with viewers.
3. What are your screens displaying?
Last but certainly not least, the most important factor in audience engagement and retention is content. If people are not interested in what’s being shown on the screen the next time they won’t even take a glance at it. In an environment where we are bombarded with content 24/7, every one of us has developed internal mechanisms to block out excess noise. However, when we see something unique or different, we are bound to observe it and even recommend it to family and friends. Word of mouth has grown into a major player in the decision making process, and with high quality content your displays can generate that positive buzz.
This is where UCView’s EZBoard Editor comes in. With this state of the art content creation / management tool, you can create eye catching layouts that are guaranteed to get people talking. Whether it’s a dynamic menu board, an RSS feed, a live feed from Twitter, or even 3D content; with EZBoard you can bring together all these elements into one display and rest assured that your displays will not just be another screen, but the screen people want to visit every time they are at your business.
2010 Digital Out of Home Forum
The 2010 Digital Out of Home Forum, run by the good folks over at MediaPost, is set to take place on May 13th, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan. This event educates marketing executives on the dynamics of digital out-of-home advertising, and highlights the potential of this rapidly growing industry. We will not have representatives at this event, but there is plenty of benefit for those who are looking heavily into investing in DooH advertising. With many speakers scheduled to share their insights on important topics (take a look at the agenda list here) this event will serve well for those who know why they’re attending.
If nothing else, you should at least go for the delicious snacks.
You can register for the show here » The 2010 Digital Out of Home Forum & Awards
Dear Partners, Customers and New Friends from DSE 2010
Thank you for visiting us at the 2010 Digital Signage Expo. We enjoyed all of the inspiring conversations, and the positive feedback we received regarding our products exceeded all our expectations. UCView Media had a very fruitful experience, and we will continue to champion digital signage solutions for our partners worldwide.
Our team is relentless in its pursuit of designing and developing a platform to suit our partners’ ever-growing needs. We were very pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response to some of the newest additions to our platform that we unveiled at DSE2010. Some of the newest key additions to our products included:
• Global View, a feature providing a live snapshot of all your network’s displays
• EZ Board, an easy-to-use content creation tool
• GPS and audience measurement integration
• Touchscreen capability for interactive displays
• ViewEdge Digital Signage Server series
• World’s first interactive gas station pump top
We invite our guests from DSE2010 to experience the benefits of UCView Media first-hand. Visit our website at http://www.ucview.com and receive a free 30-day trial. We look forward to all of your feedback on our software, and we encourage you to share this risk-free offer with your customers and partners.
Thank you again for your interest in our innovative digital signage products. We will contact you soon to discuss how our solutions can cater to your specific needs.
Best regards,
Guy Avital
CEO
UCView Media Inc
DVI/HDMI vs VGA in digital signage
As DVI and HDMI connections become more and more widely used in digital signage, we are often asked: which is better, DVI (or HDMI) or VGA? There is no clear answer to this question.
First, let’s get some basic knowledge of the elements. DVI and HDMI are exactly the same as one another regarding image quality and resolution. The main differences between HDMI and DVI are that HDMI carries audio and video signal; further more HDMI uses different types of connectors. Technology wise both HDMI and DVI uses the same encoding technology, and for that reason DVI source can be connected to an HDMI connector on display, or vice versa, with a DVI/HDMI cable, with no use of signal converter
What are the difference between DVI, HDMI and VGA?
DVI/HDMI and VGA Video are all video signals which support a variety of resolutions, each one of them deliver the signal from source to display in different ways. The main difference is that DVI/HDMI delivers the signal in a digital format. VGA is an analog format, which deliver the signal, not as a digital stream, but as a set of varying voltages representing the red, green and blue components of the signal.
DVI/HDMI and VGA deliver signals as red, green, and blue color components, together with sync information. The DVI/HDMI standard delivers these along three data channels in a format called T.M.D.S., which stands for “Transmission Minimized Differential Signaling”. This basically involves a blue, red and green sync that are added, and separate the channels
VGA is delivered, almost similarly, with the color information split up three ways. However, VGA uses a color difference type signal, which consists of Luminance, the green red or blue channel, representing the total brightness of the image. The sync pulses for both horizontal and vertical are delivered on the Y channel.
Both HDMI/DVI and VGA signal types are fundamentally quite similar; they break up the image in similar ways, and deliver the same type of information to the display. How they differ, as we’ll see, will depend to a great extent upon the particular characteristics of the source and display devices, and can depend upon cabling as well.
What is better Digital or Analog?
Digital signal transfer, it is assumed, is error-free, while analog VGA signals are always subject to some amount of degradation and information loss. There is an element of truth to this argument, but it tends to back fire in real-world testing.
First, there is no reason to get signal degradation of an analog VGA signal in digital signage installation where the distance between the player and the screen is short. Digital signage installation in a large retail or education facility for example can present a challenge for analog cabling. But, it is a flawed assumption to suppose that digital signal handling is always error-free. DVI and HDMI signals aren’t subject to signal error correction like downloading a file; once information is lost, it’s lost for good. That is not a consideration with well-made cable over short distances, but can easily become a factor at long distance.
So what should I use for best Image Quality?
DVI or HDMI signal formats is pure digital. There are some arguments that by taking a digital signage player and connecting it straight into digital connector as a DVI or HDMI signal, and then delivering that digital signal straight to the digital signage display, there is a sort of a perfect no loss of information signal. If the display itself is a digital display like LCD, the signal never has to go through digital to analog conversion and therefore is less altered on the way.
The Role of Cable in picture quality
Picture quality, in general, should not be a significant factor in the DVI/HDMI in short distance bellow 50 ft, as long as the cables are of high quality. There are, however, issues when you centralize your player and you send the signal to a display 200ft a way. In this kind of environment analog or digital signal will have problem without using DVI/HDMI/VGA over cat 5 extender. Without using these extenders signal quality issues can come into play.
DVI and HDMI connections, uses SDI technology (serial digital video) which was designed originally to run on coax where impedance can be controlled and compensate. DVI/HDMI signals are run balanced, using twisted-pair cable technology which control impedance to about +/- 10%, and for this reason, are subject to the digital cliff phenomenon. Up to some distance, a DVI or HDMI cable will perform just fine and will not compromise the ability of the display device to reconstruct the original bit stream without information lost.
As we run longer distances, the ability to reconstruct the bit stream decreases. As a result unrecoverable bit errors start to occur. As distance increases more information is lost to a point that the display becomes unable to reconstitute enough information to render an image. A DVI/HDMI cable that works perfectly at 40 feet may not work at 80 feet. It is very hard to determine the exact distance a DVI or HDMI cable will fail, most quality HDMI /DVI cable will work fine up to 50ft.
The Answer: It Depends
So, which is better, DVI/ HDMI or VGA? The answers unsatisfying, but the truth is that it depends. It depends upon your source player, type of cable, type of display and the distance, and there’s no good way, in principle, to say in advance whether the digital or the analog connection will draw a better picture. You may find that some digital signage player looks better through its DVI or HDMI output, while a different player using VGA output better image through its RGB cable, on the same display. Some installers reports ghosting/blurriness with text using analog and when switching to digital interface made things much crisper. On the other hand, other installers who used DVI/HDMI long cable found that the text was blurry, colors were off and the image didn’t scale to fit correctly and got no issues at all with VGA. In this case, if you are using cable longer than 50ft you should use VGA over Cat5/6 extenders that will control picture quality over distance over 50ft like Minicom.
UCView Partnering with Financial Vendor to provide financing to digital signage network
A UCView Financing for digital signage options are available for the hardware and the software required to deploy the digital signage network. Qualifying customers may include small and medium size digital signage network owners, Retailers, Educational Facilities, network operators, resellers and integrators. UCView media, in collaboration with its financial partners, provides one stop solution for successful digital signage networks implementations including education, retail, hospitality, health care, and transportation, Gas stations and more.
UCView Wants You To Get Pumped Up
Ever wondered what shape you’re in, how strong you may be, or how far you can actually soar – in business? You can find out what your company is really made of by tapping into its true ability with Digital Signage.
When it comes to your potential, there is no limit with UCView. We make achieving your marketing goals easier than ever by supplying you with the tools and support that you need. Reaching your audience is what we do, with our software and hardware solution that puts you in the best position to succeed. For instance, our new line of Digital Signage media servers are one way your business can take leaps and bounds beyond any competitor.
One of our most popular models, the ViewEdge100, is our mid-line fully integrated hardware and software solution that provides web-based management and media distribution. Manage campaigns, content, layouts and displays from any web-enabled device, anywhere in the world.
The ViewEdge100 enhances your marketing ability by furnishing your company the power to control up to 100 players. Our dynamic server makes it easy to reach an audience in a mid-size single location or in several smaller locations. One digital signage appliance can seamlessly distribute: Live TV, web pages, Flash media, Power Point presentations, RSS feeds and multiple video, image, and audio formats.
With additional server appliances you can increase your capacity and ability to reach even a larger audience. Updates and fixes are delivered automatically with no additional administration. And with no software to install or network modifications to perform, setting up a UCView Digital Signage Appliance is simple and hassle-free.
So work it on out. Make sure your business is at full-strength before you take your next leap. Reach levels of success like you’ve never imaged with UCView and Digital Signage.
Mister Pukka is a senior writer at UCView. Pukka can be emailed at
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Get Creative With UCView
Here at UCView, we see the artist in you. What better way to discover your inner talent then to provide you with the tools necessary to develop your wonderful craft. So express yourself with Digital Signage.
Yes it’s true that UCView is known for making your Digital Signage experience easier than ever. Our solution software and hardware allows you to effectively reach an audience with a digital display, digital content, and internet technology. Your business can arrange and schedule ads so that you can deliver only related content that meets the needs of your clients. But did you know that you also have that same control when it comes to customizing your display? Now it’s time to have a little fun.
We introduce to you EZBoard, UCView’s most creative software yet. There’s nothing more impressive than delivering to an audience, pertinent information that’s packaged in an eye-popping, dazzling display. EZBoard allows you to configure your layout with incredible detail. For instance, you can create layers of fields, manipulating size and position to exhibit one or more ads. Use a variety of our font tools that allow you to select a particular font type, style, etc. You can also construct your own personal background or take advantage of our browser and upload images or even video. So whether you’re experimenting with colors that inspire, or using motion that captivates, EZBoard has what you need to create a successful display that reflects not only your message, but your imagination.
So get colorful; get imaginative; get creative with UCView.
Mister Pukka is a senior writer at UCView. Pukka can be emailed at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
President Obama’s Paperless Trail leads To UCView and Digital Signage
President Barack Obama is calling for a paperless society, and UCView is listening. Since his inauguration, the president has taken on what seems to be an endless list of tasks, starting with the state of our economy, as well as our health care system. But reducing the amount of paper used by our country is also on the agenda; not for just economic value, but also for the state of our environment.
Let’s face it. The digital age is here to stay. And the way we review information has changed forever. Businesses are no longer local or self-contained in our global, digital society. The classic printing press will eventually be put out to pasture, along with the expensive process to produce, and store paper. In fact, media such as news papers and magazines, or even entrepreneurs – to bankers are feeling the effects and have acknowledged the digital evolution. Instead of physical print, information is now constantly streaming in the forms of letters, emails, photos, spreadsheets, medical records, x-rays, voicemail, and of course, digital signage.
From day one, UCView and digital signage has been on board. Instead of the stag
nant traditional paper print ads used to provide information, advertisers can now look to the future, boasting spectacular digital displays filled with exceptional and effective content for their viewers. Digital signage has proven much more effective and presents many more possibilities than any stand-alone paper sign. Companies can not only reach audiences like never before, but provide relevant content that can also be controlled and managed. The business industry is becoming more increasingly complex than ever before. Joining UCView and choosing to evolve with the times will prove cost-effective, trees will be saved; thus making a tremendous difference in our environment.
Saving paper is clearly cost-effective, but saving trees can even saves lives. For example, paper mills can be one of the world’s worst pollutants. Toxic chemicals that contaminate our air, water and land are one of many issues when it comes to our health. Cleaner air equals a better environment and a healthier life, not only for ourselves, but most importantly – our children.
Join us and set your company’s compas in the direction of a paperless society. From homes, to business, to our school district; it seems more and more people are getting behind the paperless movement. United, our country can save millions of dollars by simply curving how we use paper.
President Obama is encouraging business of America to explore better, more efficient ways of conserving paper. Thinking about our environment; thinking about our world’s future – that’s UCView and digital signage.
Mister Pukka is a senior writer at UCView. Pukka can be emailed at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Hide-Go-SeeK With Digital Signage?
Nowadays the question is: where is there not a digital signage display near you? There was a time when one would roam aimlessly, navigating through the day with limited information to rely on without a television or a computer to travel with – but those days are over. Now it seems everywhere you go, information is there waiting at every stop; information that the public, not only has come to trust, but now depend on. Instead of searching the earth or going out of your way to find what you need to know, or having to wait until you go into work, chances are you will notice digital signage during your travels or at your very next stop. No longer are people just pleasantly surprised when they look up and view information conveniently delivered to them – they now expect it!
Now we depend on getting the weather forecast while at the corner service station pumping gas; or when we’re on our way to the corner market, wanting to check on our stock options; or even when we’re at the bakery touching up a lightly toasted bagel with a little butter or cream cheese, counting on just a few moments of live television before heading into work.
Whether at a business needing directions to the training room, or at a football game where there’s more information regarding season tickets. Around every corner, at many places we stop – someone also invited digital signage. And like an old friend, what you view will be pleasant, inviting, comfortable, and might even put a smile on your face.
Digital signage has landed, and is more prominent than ever before. Digital displays are popping up at record-pace. This growing media has not only become apart of our landscape, but also apart of our lives.
So you can run, but you can no longer hide from UCView and digital signage
LOOK IN THE MIRROR: DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Why do we look into mirrors? The answer is to find ourselves; to retrieve the information that we’re looking for, or even discover something new – God forbid. But we want the information. The same reason we take the time to stop and look – to tuck, to pull, anything that might be out of place, is the same reason UCView and digital signage is there, at the next service station or shopping mall - waiting for you. Discovering gas prices will soon drop, or previewing your favorite line of clothing that will be out in June, or simply learning about a new product that can make a positive impact on your life. Take a look, and see all you need to feel secure about, to maintain focus, and most importantly - to stay informed. UCView is about you and your future. And like a mirror, digital signage reflects the things you need to see, information you need to know; to supply you with what you need to keep moving. So the next time you see your reflection, take another look, it just might be UCView and digital signage.
Mister Pukka is a senior writer at UCView. Pukka can be emailed at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Hide-Go-SeeK With Digital Signage?
Nowadays the question is: where is there not a digital signage display near you? There was a time when one would roam aimlessly, navigating through the day with limited information to rely on without a television or a computer to travel with – but those days are over. Now it seems everywhere you go, information is there waiting at every stop; information that the public, not only has come to trust, but now depend on. Instead of searching the earth or going out of your way to find what you need to know, or having to wait until you go into work, chances are you will notice digital signage during your travels or at your very next stop. No longer are people just pleasantly surprised when they look up and view information conveniently delivered to them – they now expect it!
Now we depend on getting the weather forecast while at the corner service station pumping gas; or when we’re on our way to the corner market, wanting to check on our stock options; or even when we’re at the bakery touching up a lightly toasted bagel with a little butter or cream cheese, counting on just a few moments of live television before heading into work.
Whether at a business needing directions to the training room, or at a football game where there’s more information regarding season tickets. Around every corner, at many places we stop – someone also invited digital signage. And like an old friend, what you view will be pleasant, inviting, comfortable, and might even put a smile on your face.
Digital signage has landed, and is more prominent than ever before. Digital displays are popping up at record-pace. This growing media has not only become apart of our landscape, but also apart of our lives.
So you can run, but you can no longer hide from UCView and digital signage.
Mister Pukka is a senior writer at UCView. Pukka can be emailed at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Digital Signage Systems - Utilizing an Innovative Technology
The world in which we live is constantly bombarded with new technology. Some seem to only be intrusive and unnecessary. Digital signage systems are not one of these. It is an innovative way to display a variety of information in various applications. From advertising to education, digital signage is becoming an extremely important part of getting crucial information to people quickly. Whether you are trying to find a more effective way to advertise or you hope to improve the communication within a school or office, consider investing in this important new technology. It is truly changing the way we communicate with students, clients and employees.
On the outset, such technology was expensive. Today, however, with the changes and advances constantly seen in technology, digital signage systems have become accessible to retailers, educators and others hoping to expand their name and influence. The ability to present a wide range of content in various formats at an affordable price is proving to be a great benefit. The lower costs of this extremely valuable source of advertising are sure to increase your revenue to the point where it pays for itself. The ability to give announcements and make promotions as they happen is irreplaceable when it comes to advertising and effective communication.
A network of electronic devices, whether they are plasma screens, electronic signs, or scrolling message boards, is controlled by a single digital signage system at a central location. This setup allows for easy addition, removal or material editing to take place. Imagine being able to replace those outdated, unreadable bulletin boards with modern digital signage systems. Never again will outdated information still be posted, for this comes across as very unprofessional, the last thing you want to convey in your advertising.
digital media is a technology that is really taking off now that the prices of integrating a system have come down. Whether your goal is better advertising for your product or increasing effectiveness of communication within a school or workplace, adopting a digital signage system is for you. Once you have the system, services are available to assist you in coming up with how you may wish to advertise or communicate using the screen media. From the early creative process to implementation to continually updating information, digital signage service professionals can help you make the most out of your investment. To reach your system’s potential, look into a service that suits you needs the best today.
PC on a pump gives Chevron station a 40-percent lift
The players
Chevron, based in San Ramon, Calif., conducts business in more than 100 countries and is engaged in every aspect of the crude oil and natural gas industry, including marketing its gasoline products at about 10,000 Chevron- and Texaco- branded stations across the United States.
PumpMedia, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., installs specifically designed media equipment at fuel dispensers to display high quality multimedia. Their program delivers entertaining and informative content to refueling motorists. PumpMedia also manages the installation and implementation of its “Pump Top Video” systems, advertising sales and network management.
UCView Media Inc., based in Chatsworth, Calif., offers a comprehensive set of digital signage solutions, including online management tools and robust servers and players tailored to the needs of virtually any industry. The UCView network-management software administers digital content distribution from a Web-based centralized console; creates and updates separate schedules for each display to allow targeted ads at each terminal or location; and
delivers multiple, high-definition video and audio formats, Flash and PowerPoint presentations, RSS feeds and image slideshows. UCView also provides digital signage and interactivity by touch, as well as cell phone SMS.
The problem
Drivers appreciate the convenience of pay-at- the-pump technology, but deployment of the technology has done little for gas station operators in the way of giving the a competitive advantage or increasing sales of products other than gasoline. Research from 2007 found that about 70 percent of drivers pay at the pump, which means that up to 70 percent of potential customers have no need to enter the store. That loss of floor traffic significantly hampers station operators’ attempts to sell impulse goods and services.
The solution
Chevron Products Company selected PumpMedia in 2007 to burnish its brand image by providing a “video at the pump” program, aimed at entertaining motorists while they refuel and at driving traffic into the convenience store. PumpMedia’s LAN, operating as a network of individual pump-top displays, was rolled out to independent service station owners to influence consumer behavior by affecting both non-fuel and off-site sales. The technology allows gas station owners to connect each pump-top unit to the convenience store without running wires or installing a non-secure wireless networking system, reducing both installation and security costs. It targets specific, captive and demographically desirable audiences using daylight readable 19-inch LED back light LCDs.
Recently, PumpMedia upgraded the Chevron pump-top units with glass-front touchscreen technology.
The upgrade also included installing UCView software that allows individuals to interact with each pump-top unit, delivering up-to-the minute digital signage content over wireless and TCP/IP networks — thereby bridging the gap between pump-top kiosks and interactive digital signage. The content features news and entertainment interspersed with advertiser messages.
The UCView network management distributes content from a Web based console. Also, gas station owners can section the screens as desired, providing advanced playlist scheduling, change of layouts and ad rotation and sequential or random play lists.
The UCView software infrastructure facilitates the industry’s first synchronization of media across all screens at a single station. The technology coordinates downloads and playlists so audio and video content is presented simultaneously, without echo, with concurrent execution to the millisecond.
The basic system in a participating Chevron station includes an off premise server and several on-premise UCView smart media players. The players are encased in pump-top displays from PumpMedia. Installation is nondisruptive, taking less than 30 minutes per fuel dispenser and not requiring the station to close during the process.
The results
The gas station industry’s first interactive, pump-top digital signage kiosk, now installed within Chevron’s nationwide network of c-store/ gas station sites, has generated an average 40-percent lift on c-store items advertised on the units for at least one station, according to station owner Pratap Gandhi of Orange, Calif. Described by Gandhi as a “PC on a pump, a cross between a kiosk and digital signage,” the units provide customers with Web-based information such as promotional specials and in-store coupon printing; news, weather and traffic updates; a restaurant finder; printable directions; current lottery jackpot data and more, with just a touch of the screen. Consumers also can interact with the Web sites of third parties who advertise on the network.
“Since installation, we’ve seen increased non-fuel and car wash sales, as well as an upsurge in frequency of visits,” Gandhi said. “More customers are moving to us from nearby competitors because we have these touchscreen, interactive portals.”
By Lorna Pappas,
Contributing writer Digital signage Today
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