The Digital Signage ExpertThe early morning mist was still blanketing the countryside when a group of people met in Chessington, England on the 8th of July this year. I know, because I was driving through it.
It was an important day, like a new dawn, BellMicro and Avnet were beginning the long planned kick-off to a new and powerful company.
Bell Micro/Avnet, an international, value-added distributor of a wide range of high-tech products, services and solutions emerged that morning to become the largest added value sales organization in the world with some 18,000 employees. Providing not only software, computer components and peripherals, but also maintenance and professional services. They are also the world’s largest storage-centric value-added distributors.
With the inclusion now of Avnet, the company is uniquely qualified with extensive technical and application expertise to service a broad range of information technology needs. From beginning to end, a formidable player is a rapidly expanding market. The core mission is added-value, now represented in some 15 countries, an effort that was started 23 years ago.
The plan is that this event to be held annually.
Maximising the Digital Signage Opportunity
First to address an audience of experienced professionals, some who have been in Digital Signage long before it became mainstream, was Dirk Andreas, Bell Micro’s Business Development Director.
Today marked the start of integrating Bell Micro into the existing Avnet business, completion target is end of its fiscal year 12 months from now. Dirk outlined that by merging both organisations and combining their individual values Bell Micro is more than ever now able to bring its business partners a robust selection of products, services and solutions delivered by an experienced, knowledgeable team.
Future of Interactive Marketing
Emphasis on marketing was stressed by Simon Wileyman, Distribution Manager of Intel UK a Partner with the new organisation. Simon spoke of the digital signage market as constantly pushing for cost reduction. Usually this can be found in up-front hardware costs. Intel technology can be found in all three hardware bundles, represented by Entry-level, Mainstream and the High-End. Emphasis is not only in the hardware but the concept of “power down” simply this means to turn the equipment off without fear of the restart. Their website has a power down calculator which brings to point home quickly.
Thoughts of reliability and longevity enter the scene. Time has proven that it is a false economy to control costs by using consumer-grade PCs to power signage. Although this approach can minimize the initial installation cost, it does lead to large expenses down the road.
Replacing failed components is expensive; therefore considerable expertise was engineered into standardization. With standardization, component failures are reduced and lead to less expensive field service. Hardware failures can also lead to complications on the software side.
Hardware changes also mean that it is no longer possible uphold a single hardware build across locations. Instead, locations with the original hardware will use one build, while locations with the new hardware will use a different build. Maintaining multiple builds is a headache, and it adds to maintenance costs. It is these extra costs have been addressed.
Graphics Hardware: Creatives & the Blank canvas
One of the most knowledgeable individuals in Graphics is Rob Moody of Matrox. To listen to him talk of screen placement, format and size is like old time religion. Something so fundamental that even professionals can get it wrong.
Matrox is a Canadian company, privately held, based in Dorval, Quebec, which produces video card components and equipment for personal computers. It was founded by Lorne Trottier and Branko Matić. The “ma” from Matić and “tro” from Trottier, combined with an “x” for excellence, form the Matrox name. They’ve been in business for 30 years now; obviously they know what they are doing.
The targeted user-base for Matrox video cards largely consists of 2D, 3D, video, scientific, medical, military, digital signage and financial workstation users.
Rob says, “Think Wide, Think Tall” with the key to this world beginning with the driver.
The Matrox partnership adds definite colour to the group.
All in one Solution
Bas Smeets, Aopen’s Business Development Manager, outlined their position in today’s market. As a PC components and peripheral distributor, they are an established market leader, from motherboards to monitors, to multimedia add-on cards, and more. AOpen products push the green factor and the control of design, manufacturing, quality from the drawing board to the finished product.
By partnering with BellMicro/Avnet, AOpen becomes a One-Stop Shop. Their extensive and comprehensive product offerings cover all component needs. The Digital Signage element is also a One-Stop equivalent.
All this is backed by 20 years experience.
Their latest offering is the DE45 effectively the smallest player in the market, its most powerful feature is that it can be customized to fit any requirement. Its long life cycle also provides positive ROI when planning an estate.
Prestop and Touchscreens
If you’ve used a touchscreen, then most likely it was a Prestop screen. They manufacture the Philips offering.
Now with 20 years under the belt, they have amassed a high-level of perfection and experience in both hardware the driving software.
Not only do they manufacture the touchscreens for Philips, but they also have a fluid sales and rental operation in the Netherlands.
A recent trend in education is the switchover from digiboard to touchscreens. Cost-effectiveness and silent operation allow expansion into this growing market. Their touchtable is also a Microsoft Surface killer.
The Last Mile
With 22 years experience in KVM and extenders, Minicom has become the leading organisation in its field. Minicom handles the dicey issues that evolve in the last mile or last inch, that distance between your player and the screen. A niche, yes, but one of the most critical and often overlooked in it importance. This makes, the company a world leader in advanced media platforms.
Minicom is this year specifically addressing the Digital Signage sector with an infusion of venture capital to the tune of $6 Million. Capitalizing on the knowledge and experience in powering 400,000 displays globally.
They cover all verticals thus gaining insight into many specialties through their solid business relationships with end users.
In essence they allow you to have more control over the coal face of the industry, the screen. Their products are flexible thus being compatible with any player.
Philips
Philips is such a household name that needs little introduction.
As a professional in the market you will happy to note that Philips produces screens and screens only. Therefore there is no competition with an inside product when providing recommendations to a client.
Now the push is cost efficiency in operation. Philips pledges to work with you. Ask for their power consumption spreadsheet.
Summary
It is a welcome sight to see two solid names merge into a formidable partner in the Digital Signage universe. Large rollouts will benefit from the experience banked within this company. Although there are many smaller companies out there, all steeped in experience, there is only a handful in the world that bring it all under one roof.
James van Etten, Executive Editor, CLIPPINGs