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X2O Media to participate in SharePoint Summit 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:01 GMT

MONTREAL — X2O Media announced that it will be showing SharePoint TV on the new X2O visual communications platform at SharePoint Summit 2013, May 13-15 at the Toronto Hilton Hotel. This will mark the first time SharePoint TV has ever been shown at the Toronto event.

With SharePoint TV on the X2O platform, users can create stunning TV-like channels based on content in the popular Microsoft® SharePoint® enterprise collaboration platform. This allows users to push real-time content from SharePoint onto all screens across an organization automatically, from digital displays to mobile devices and desktops. Examples of content that can be shared include dashboards, company news, and training channels.

X2O Media, a SharePoint Summit Silver Sponsor, will also provide digital signage for the entire show, including displays near entrances and meeting rooms. Partners including AVI-SPL, Premier Mounts, NEC, and Lanner will be providing equipment to support the network of screens.

More information about X2O Media is available at www.x2omedia.com. Details on SharePoint Summit 2013 can be found at http://www.sharepointsummit.org/toronto.

About X2O Media

X2O Media is a leading software developer of real-time visual communication solutions that significantly improve communications throughout the enterprise. X2O's solutions facilitate the creation and delivery of video and graphics-rich content to digital displays, employee desktops, and mobile devices. Applications include corporate news channels, dynamic corporate dashboards, real-time emergency messaging, and more. X2O's products and services are sold and supported globally, through a network of experienced distribution partners. More information about X2O Media is available at www.x2omedia.com.

All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Wireless Ronin Wins 2013 DSA Industry Excellence Award for Burgerville Installation

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:01 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNIN), a leading digital marketing technologies solutions provider, has received a 2013 Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) Industry Excellence Award for its Burgerville installation.

The 2013 DSA Industry Excellence Awards recognize the best projects using digital signage, mobile, self-service and interactive kiosk technologies. Wireless Ronin was honored with the 2013 Best Restaurant Deployment Award for its installation at Burgerville, a quick service restaurant chain with 39 locations in the Pacific Northwest.

Wireless Ronin’s installation included flexible digital menu boards capable of displaying different menu boards depending on the time of day. Also installed were digital promotional boards that communicate details about local community happenings, upcoming special events and seasonal menu offerings, plus a digital community wall featuring user generated content and messages.

“Our new digital signage solutions provide an innovative platform to engage our restaurant guests who are able to upload their own content to our new ‘community wall’ via Twitter and Instagram,” said Jeff Harvey, Burgerville’s President and CEO. “This type of meaningful interaction with our guests and the local community serves as a great example of new ways for our restaurants to build and deepen relationships.”

Scott Koller, president and CEO of Wireless Ronin, added: “We are honored again to receive this award, which reflects the continued advancement of our digital marketing solutions not only in the QSR industry, but across our other verticals as well. We met Burgerville’s unique needs by integrating consistent brand messaging, day-parting menus and promotions across multiple screens. At Wireless Ronin, we are committed to continuously improving our digital marketing solutions and work hard to provide our customers with the most innovative, engaging and dynamic content.”

More information, including a video, can be viewed here.

About the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA)

DSA is an independent, not-for-profit trade association whose purpose is to advance the growth and excellence of the global digital signage, interactive kiosk and mobile community through advocacy, education and networking. Members include users of digital screenmedia in all vertical markets, as well as manufacturers, resellers and distributors of hardware and software, network operators, integrators, advertising agencies, consultants, analysts, publishers, tradeshow organizers and service companies. See www.digitalscreenmedia.org.

About Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc.

Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. (WRT) (NASDAQ:RNIN) (www.wirelessronin.com) is a marketing technologies company with leading expertise in current and emerging digital media solutions including signage, interactive kiosks, mobile, social media and web, that enable clients to transform how they engage their customers. WRT provides marketing technology solutions and services to clients, helping increase revenue and improve operating efficiencies to execute marketing initiatives. Since launching RoninCast® digital signage software in 2003, WRT has led the digital signage industry by bringing leading edge technology, services and support to its clients. WRT offers an array of services to support its clients' marketing technology needs including consulting, creative development, project management, installation, training, and support and hosting. The company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "RNIN." Follow the company on Twitter (http://twitter.com/wirelessronin) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/rnin/) and “like us” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WirelessRonin) under Wireless Ronin.

About Burgerville

Established in 1961, Burgerville is an innovative and industry-leading restaurant company with 39 locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. 1,500 employees strong, Burgerville provides guests fresh, great-tasting food all day every day from breakfast to late-night snacks based in its mission “serve with love.” At Burgerville, the commitment to fresh, local and sustainable values is about helping people and communities thrive. For more, please visit burgerville.com.

Why can't the guy sitting next to me be a kiosk?

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:05 GMT

What is it about planes that make people share the most embarrassing details of their lives? Last year I was hijacked by a man who told me that he and his ex-wife were still best friends (sure, uh-huh) and that he was letting her and her boyfriend live with him until her condo was finished (weird), but he was cool with that because he just started dating their kids’ 19-year-old dance teacher (ick) and that evening was taking her to a Green Day concert (liar), and it was great because his nine-year-old daughter was going too but was sitting with her friends, so although they weren’t going together they were bonding, so... Aaaaarrgh!!!!!

Hey Chatty Charlie, I should have told you this to your face, but since I am too polite, I’m going to blog about it to the whole world. You aren’t your ex-wife’s best friend, you’re her best doormat, and the only concert playing in town tonight is Hannah Montana. But I digress.

Airplanes aside, as talkative as people can be, the one thing most people will NOT discuss is their finances. Privacy is critical for us at Financial Service Centers Cooperative Inc. (FSCC). FSCC is a credit union shared branch network where the credit union members use the branches and kiosks of other participating credit unions to do their financial transactions. The network also includes 2,200 Vcom kiosks in 7-Eleven stores.

For the last year we have noticed an interesting trend at the kiosks. The dollar volume of loan advances has been going up steadily. And the average loan payment at a kiosk is slightly higher than a payment taken at the teller window. When all other kiosk transactions tend to be two-thirds the size of teller-assisted transactions, we had to ask ourselves why? What is it about the kiosks that would appeal to someone getting a credit advance or making a loan payment?

We believe the answer is simply privacy, or rather, the additional privacy of not having to do certain transactions with a teller. And it appears the credit union collections departments already know this. Even if the marketing department does little to promote shared branching, many times it’s the savvy collections department that uses the network most effectively. It’s usually the collections officer who lets the member know that she will get immediate credit (as opposed to delayed credit when the payment is mailed) on her loan payment if she makes it at a shared branch or kiosk. If that payment is late, making it at a kiosk offers the additional privacy of not having to face another person.

Similarly, someone needing a credit advance can access funds at a kiosk without having to work with a human.

The 2009 SSKA consumer survey on self-service supports our assertion. Results of the survey showed that one of the significant reasons people use self-service is for the privacy. During these tough economic times, the ability to maintain one’s dignity by not having to face a teller when making a late loan payment is important. Kiosks provide this dignity, and sensitive institutions appear to be picking up on this.

Like me, most consumers just want to make the payment or fly home in peace. Kiosks allow us to get through our day talking to the people we want to talk to and keeping our most private information private.

What Drives a "Yes" or "No" from a Digital Signage Investor?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:32 GMT

Phil Cohen's interview with Michael Marcovsky, whose background includes broadcast, cable, cellular and DOOH industries. Michael talks about investment opportunities he's turned down and those he committed to and why.

Walmart - Maginot line or aeropowered?

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:18 GMT

Retail and financial are big markets for sure. In retail: what a few weeks for Walmart (and Amazon and Lockers)....It started innocently enough. Let's go through the sequence.

2/20: Big news as Scan and Go deployed to Colorado Walmarts.
3/10: Marketplace Amazon declared by Walmart to be number one weapon [Bloomberg]
3/18: Michael Dell and Bart Foster shaking hands as Kaiser writes up the Solohealth in Walmart
3/19: Walmart announces Fulfillment Centers for next gen network [RIS]
3/26: Bloomberg drops bombshell articles on Fewer Employees really means Growth?
3/26: Reuters announces Walmart stores will become internet delivery stations (Update 4)
3/27: Walmart Lockers: Not as Dumb as they Seem [InvestorPlace]
(nice background acticle on 7 Things to Know About Amazon Lockers from InvestorPlace).
3/27 Wal-Mart revamping again Threatened by Amazon
3/29: Forbes article on "About to Get Interesting..."
Flurry of articles/writers all trying to boil down to fewest number of relevant points.
I take a photo tour of store in Arkansas to see just what self-service iterations they have.

So I take my shot at arranging all the ducks, plus I am trying out a new social editing tool which organizes (or storifies) those posts and links. (See the end of this blog post.)

Bear in mind too that a long time I lived in Minnesota and I worked for Target and their Bridal and Baby Registry programs. Back when "multi-generational marketing" was in a heyday along with multi-channel marketing.

The photo walkthrough is from a store in Arkansas (I was back home for a recent visit) and I wanted to capture any and all technology being used. I didn't take any pictures of the POS behind the counter but it was older generation for sure. There isn't very much in the stores when you get down to it but I always see lots of employees walking around. The MinuteKey units from Randy Fagundo stood out as perfect in all respects (not that I use keys all that much). It was surprising to see how much is still "hooks on a wall".

I'm not sure how they plan on handling minors and the purchase of alcohol.

And I was a victim of the "not in stock" syndrom [see latest update from Bloomberg March 2 [link] when I went to buy some common batteries and there were none to be found despite checking multiple battery centers at the store.

I also went thru the Scan and Go app here in Colorado at a new location in technology area north of Denver. Unfortunately I only have a Galaxy S3 Android but the signage didn't warn me. And the greeter was more interested in me explaining to them how it works since they didn't know. When I checked out from the new bullpen style NCR POS I had my usual "intervention" item and when the attendant came over I asked how many S&Gs they had seen. She said none so far.

**Industry Insider - NCR and Fujitsu**
One interesting point on the deployment of the self-service checkouts at Walmart is that it is quite a feather in NCR's cap who has always felt a bit ambushed by Fujitsu I think during the Optimal Robotics buyout. If you remember NCR and OR were practically at the altar when their chief rival Fujitsu deftly swiped the deal. Stuck in the craw I think so the mass deployment with Walmart is a bit of revenge if I may colorfully characterize it.

The test data based off iPhones in a store which prides itself on the lowest prices gives me pause. Why not cater to those with the cheapest phones? That's a discussion for another time.

Meanwhile with lockers being the big news this week I would be remiss if I didn't point out that my company is one which manufactures secure lockers of all types (www.kiosk.com if I may be so bold). Checking the internet traffic (which I do all the time) we may need to up our bandwidth if this keeps up.

My bottom line:

Thinking you are well-defended and well-prepared (aka Maginot Line in WW1) don't always prove out as true in reality. The telescoping channels are not linear but logarithmic, like Richter scale and earthquakes. Might be a good time for Walmart to set up a big campus in San Jose?

Or better yet -- work out a deal with Google. I'm guessing Scmidt and Bezos aren't exchanging christmas cards every year. And what about Apple?

PS: And you've probably received a survey request from the DSA. Please fill it out for us on the Kiosk Council. With the growing importance of regulatory compliance such as ADA and PCI, we are doing our best to inform you all as objectively as possible.

From Colorado -- this is Craig Keefner of the Kiosk Industry Group, the Kiosk Council of Digital Screenmedia Association, and the Westminster Mens Golf League signing off...