The Challenge

The name of the game in Retail & Hospitality is customer service.  As the old adage goes, "the customer is always right."  Applications such as Digital Signage, in-room control, and security are attempting to use technology to improve the customer experience.  Devices including plasma screens, LCDs, IP-based cameras, and lighting systems are being rapidly deployed in malls, stores, airports, hotels, and numerous other environments as part of these applications.

Solution providers and business owners often overlook a critical component to effective deployment of these technologies - namely, managing these deployed devices to ensure they are operating properly and improving the customer experience as expected.  That's where Simtrol comes in.    

The Solution

Simtrol’s robust Device Management Platform provides the functionality required to guarantee displays, cameras, lighting systems, and other devices are operating where and when they should be.  In Digital Signage, displays must be on and properly functioning for messages to have the chance of reaching their intended audience.  In in-room control systems, customers expect easy-to-use yet powerful Graphical User Interfaces to simply control all equipment, while at the same time support resources need the ability to proactively ensure that all equipment is functional.  Simtrol's Device Management Platform provides these capabilities regardless of the application.

Simtrol’s Device Management software can deliver powerful User Interfaces; report on the health, status, and use of devices; schedule devices for routine activities (such as powering on at 10 a.m. and powering off at 9 p.m.); and proactively alert designated contacts when a device unexpectedly becomes non-operational.  

The Benefits

• Improve customer service through effective harnessing of technology 
• Ensure the right Digital Signage messages target the right audiences at the right time through proactive device monitoring and control
• Improve guest experience through added convenience of amenities
• Increase device uptime and utilization with proactive alerting and remote diagnostics and troubleshooting 
• Decrease energy consumption and associated power costs by intelligently scheduling devices
• Extend asset life through proactive maintenance and optimized device settings
• Reduce operating costs by enabling centralized management of assets and simplifying technology support requirements

The quantifiable cost savings can add up quickly.  For a medium-sized Digital Signage deployment of 16 plasma displays, Simtrol’s Device Management Platform can save over $5,000 per year and reduce annual carbon footprint by nearly 27,000 pounds of CO2 (the equivalent to replacing 180 regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs).  Now that’s savings that matters!