Thu, 9th October 2008

Pierhouse expands web-based print POS solution to drive digital content

New software integrated into net.tickIT

Pierhouse, marketing management specialists, are now offering a solution that enables retailers to automatically update their digital screens as well as their ticketing, POS and kiosks, simultaneously, with the same consistent content, emanating from one source.

"Retailers, for the first time, will be able to communicate their day-to-day messages, as well as execute promotions and brand campaigns, across their entire media output - in house or external - using information from one central location, accessible from anywhere," says Ian Hook, managing director, Pierhouse.

To create the solution, additional software that schedules and delivers content, including live pricing information, to digital screens, irrespective of size, has been integrated into Pierhouse's net.tickIT browser-based, messaging system.

This enables, for example, a promotion, or a corporate brand reinforcement message, applying to 1 or 1000 stores, to be published to all of the relevant digital screens. The message can either be scheduled in advance or appear within minutes on the screens by interrupting or slotting into sequence with whatever had previously been displayed.

According to POPAI, digital media in retail is the fastest growing medium in the out of home screen sector with 121,000 screens in 66,000 outlets*, so there is already a real need to be able to deliver accurate, detailed information as fast as possible, to both staff and customers.

Through net.tickIT, retailers have central visibility of what is on a screen and can track any changes, such as a manager's special, that have been made locally. In addition, where there is interaction between customers and a kiosk, the number of interactions and the areas navigated can be recorded for analysis.

"Assisted selling - whether by a member of the sales team or by a customer using a kiosk - has moved higher up the priority agenda for retailers, which is another reason why more are turning to screens to help deliver information," adds Hook.

"With our system, retailers can guide staff through a sale and, during non-shopping hours, assist with training as well as allow customers to explore product information independently. Increasingly consumers want to know far more about the detailed benefits and features of purchases - such as a new phone or a child's car seat - so the information provided needs to be 100% accurate and available literally at the touch of a button."