An impressive feat in todays market conditions

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: An impressive feat in todays market conditions.

KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2009 and DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2009, the joint international trade fairs for innovations in customer service and communication, took place from 5th to 7th May in Essen, Germany and attracted nearly 3,300 trade visitors an impressive feat in todays market conditions.

 The newly-formed European Association for Self-Service presented awards for the best self-service solutions on display, and POPAI D-A-CH did the same for the digital signage side of the event. Next year, both trade fairs will again take place under one roof in Messe Essen from 15th to 17th June 2010.

The 2009 events consolidated the shows standing as an essential meeting point for industry experts and purchasing decision makers from around the globe. High quality visitors to Essen came from a wide variety of countries across Europe, as well as a significant number of visitors from outside Europe. There were a very strong proportion of end clients and an extremely high number of decision makers; two thirds of the visitors were decision makers, with managing directors making up 49 per cent of the visitors, an increase of 30 per cent over last year.

By their own account, more than 60 percent of visitors will install digital signage or self-service solutions within the next 12 months.

It was particularly gratifying to see high-profile companies and brands, as well as several advertising and communications agencies, amongst the visitors. This shows that communications specialists have now recognised that digital customer information is a new communication channel, and will thus increasingly use digital signage and self-service strategically in the future, commented Jens Schindler, Managing Director of event organiser, hf media & events.

At KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2009, exhibitors such as 3M, the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut and Power Products were greatly applauded for their self-service solutions. The Board of the European Association For Self-service (EAFS) voted the virtual mirror creation of the Fraunhofer Institut as the most innovative solution on display. In this solution, an augmented reality screen serves as a mirror showing viewers, for example, how they would look in selected items of clothing without having to physically try those clothes on.

3M Touch Systemss command strips for quicker and more cost-effective repair of touch displays won the EAFS award for best technology, and Power Products received the award for best application of a self-service solution for its first aid kiosk with integrated defibrillator, which also triggers an alarm at an emergency call centre on activation. The EAFS presented the awards during a reception held on the evening of 6th May in Essen.