Navori QL is now officially referred to by - and compatible with - MICROS FIDELIO OPERA

Leading Digital Signage software solution NAVORI QL is now referenced by Micros Fidelio in their Hotel Room and Catering Management system, OPERA.

Interfacing both system enables to parse room scheduling information from the Micros Fidelio Opera application into a centralized per-room XML file source – thus allowing the interfacing and real time updating of all centralized or decentralized bookings in the system.

NAVORI QL Player software retrieves this information and can integrate and display this data feed in any type of content template or in overlay to mixed infotainment, advertisement, promotional or branding content.

The system can display a list of all meeting rooms’ occupation data and display directions (way finding) at entrance or lobby level.

Screens at the meeting room entrance or on venue level can display location based information such as customer/meeting host name, occupancy timeframe etc.

NAVORI QL MANAGER keeps track of all these data in its renowned easy-to-use interface and timely and automatically removes data on past events.

Interfacing the NAVORI QL Digital Signage platform to the leading MICROS FIDELIO booking/catering back office system saves time and money and avoids human errors.

By simple rule of thumb: add up all local hotel staff’s processing time cost to keep this essential information live on a Digital Signage system  - then translate it to what dazzling figure this part represents in the operational costs on a yearly base.

This interface module is developed by Swiss based NAVORI  and referred to as MICROS FIDELIO MF Part n° 5009-268 and is compatible with all MF OPERA suite PMS/Sales and Catering version 5.0.x and upwards.

It launches XML scripting that is imported and updated into NAVORI QL MANAGER and NAVORI QL Players automatically synchronize the hospitality data.

This integration is compatible with any NAVORI QL Digital Signage solution and the interfaced data can also be used in any interactive scenario such as personalized visitor badge read-outs (RFID – QCR), info kiosk systems etc…) and is another example that with NAVORI QL the communications scenario itself is the only limit in a Digital Signage deployment of any kind and size!

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 30% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Navori, efficient design - extraordinary performance

About the Navori NAVORI QL platform

Compared to other digital signage solutions, Navori QL is the only software platform able to display content at a quality that matches your audience’s expectations.

Navori QL cannot be compared to any first generation software. It is simply a league on its own.

Navori QL player main features

• True Broadcast TV look and feel
• Full screen or in a template with a ticker.
• Multi-layer and transparency support.

• Plays in schedules with rule or event based content triggering

QL Manager/Server main features

• Content management, publication and distribution in three simple steps.
• Multi-user and multi-level management
• Built-in designer and data-feed manager.

• Advanced playback monitoring and reporting.
• Reduce your operation costs by 50%.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

The Navori QL Trigger SDK enables full system interactivity and alerts!

The NAVORI QL Trigger Software Development Kit enables any integrator or end user to build a system that even goes beyond through the capability to launch specific content based on a foreign/third party input. Such input can be a device (key/remote control/sensor based…) or data (stock values – storage room temperature threshold data, alarm systems data/interface…)

How does this practically work?

On top of the current media and playlist scheduling matrix certain Digital Signage Users require obtaining control of one specific or a number of players at any given moment in time and they want to be able to overrule (a ) specific running playlist(s) at (b) specific location(s) with additional media file(s). Such scenario relates to a conditional play-out that is specific to a pre-defined ‘event’ or ‘situation’.

This can be user based by a hardware device such as a remote control or any type of keyboard input to sustain an on-demand scenario, as well as by interfacing to sensorial devices such as Kinect, Face Recognition, Audience Metering or Motion Detection to name just a few of the possibilities.

NAVORI QL can trigger information based on current location by GPS triggering for Bus, Train and Taxi Automotive Signage (see separate white paper) or in function of stock values, dashboard system data, etc.

This way the integration possibilities are immense. NAVORI QL is built in the philosophy that communication signage integration has to fit any and all requirements, otherwise stated: with Navori QL Digital Signage the scenario is the limit!

NAVORI accumulates more than 15 years of software development experience in all Digital Signage market segments and recognized the need to build a complete system-standard Digital Signage platform that can seamlessly integrate into any workflow at no organizational or technical compromise whatsoever. This resulted in NAVORI QL.

The NAVORI Trigger SDK contains C#, VB or VC++ scripting that allows to easily developing an application to enable to take over the control and override any (or all) running playlist(s) at any moment in time. It is the ultimate remote control’s building kit.

NAVORI QL Trigger can launch and loop:

-          A Media file ( programmed in the playlist or not)

-          A Play List

-          A Video Stream

-          A URL whatever its content

NAVORI QL is an all-round Digital Signage Software platform you can -effectively - build on!

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 30% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Navori,efficient design - extraordinary performance

About the Navori NAVORI QL platform

Compared to other digital signage solutions, Navori QL is the only software platform able to display content at a quality that matches your audience’s expectations.

Navori QL cannot be compared to any first generation software. It is simply a league on its own.

Navori QL player main features:

• True Broadcast TV look and feel
• Full screen or in a template with a ticker.
• Multi-layer and transparency support.
• Plays in schedules with rule or event based content triggering

QL Manager/Server main features

• Content management, publication and distribution in three simple steps.
• Multi-user and multi-level management
• Built-in designer and data-feed manager.

• Advanced playback monitoring and reporting.
• Reduce your operation costs by 50%.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

Increase your customers experience, drive your brand and boost revenue

In a typical QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) environment there are three areas Digital Signage can be deployed:

Digital Menu Board Systems

A Digital Menu Board enables you to influence customers to upgrade on average orders, promote high margin products as well as attenuating the customers frustration level casting infotainment in the content mix – everybody gets annoyed waiting so this dwell time can be used to cash-in upon: catch and keep their attention whilst they are passively immersed with product promotions.

Drive-in / Drive-through

Optimize the communication with your customer, highlighting products to help them make choices, sustain the order-takers subtle side-order suggestions dynamically and automatically on-screen.

Restaurant consumption area

Sustain your branding and make the ambient do the works: a mix of infotainment, local event information and cross marketing to drive an additional order impulse or at least influence them so your customers will like to come back.

That all seems fine – but how is this practically done?

The answer is simple, the solution is easy: operate the scenario with NAVORI QL Digital Signage software technology – easier and more profitable than ever before.

The NAVORI QL platform sustains such scenario as follows:

Valorize the Digital Menu Board

NAVORI QL enables you to adapt your Digital Menu Board according to the time of the day (Day Parting: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…) and promotional content can even be triggered in function of the weather circumstances (hot cup-a-soup on a drowsy winter day – ice cold refreshment to cover from a blazing sun…)

As usual the content mix you play back is extremely important and needs to be a-rhythmic. In general the high margin products, typically side orders and extra toppings or desserts, are taking up to 50% of a traditional passive menu board space.

If the queuing time exceeds more than 3 minutes, infotainment content can be launched on part of the Digital Menu Board to limit the frustration factor of the clients. They will keep focus on the Digital Menu Board and other promotional messages will peripherally get through. To obtain a WOW effect it is recommended to have moving/animated content in 3-5% of content airtime. This also may discretely extend the overall aperture time of communications.

In case of on average longer queues, live television feeds can be played out on part of the DMB.

In case of a take-away restaurant, the Digital Menu Board or ordering kiosk screens can list and manage the queuing customers. This way the ‘captive’ audience has to keep at least regularly focus on the screens and this optimizes the communications scenario. This works particularly well when interfaced to f.i. a ticket-based queuing management system where the serving-next number can be displayed in overlay on or in the running content template.

Practically?

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage system can easily be connected to any POS or cash register system to automatically retrieve the pricing per product and keep them updated in real time.

The manager on duty has a local/limited access on NAVORI QL MANAGER an can manage the DSM play-out scenario: launch a specific promotion, manage content on a pre-defined part of the Menu Board (animations, events, happy birthday messages,…), remove articles that ran out of stock.

The NAVORI QL platform can grant and limit rights to as many users as required.

NAVORI QL players also can automatically manage the switch on/off of the screens in function of the opening hours of the restaurant.

Thriving the Drive in / Drive through revenue

Outdoor Digital Menu Board screens before and at the Order Taking totem run two types of content: the products and pricing available and promotion of high margin products.

The order is registered by intercom and entered in the POS system. This information then also is displayed in real time on the outdoor DMB. Based on this info the order taking process becomes a cross marketing channel, discretely sustaining and increasing the ongoing order by launching promotions based on the real time  parameters.

 The waiting queue towards the order pick-up counter can also be valorized by infotainment on secondary outdoor screens.

Cashing-in on the restaurant area

A happy customer is a returning customer, and Digital Signage can support the customer experience by diffusing ambient content such as upcoming events, cross and exit marketing (seducing for extra orders and increasing the probability factor a customer will visit again), infotainment (news, cartoons, live TV feeds, weather,…) in function of the customers profile by type of restaurant or even interactive gaming content (f.i. Kinect games etc.) for the kids.

Here are the reasons why NAVORI QL is the best-fit for such QSR signage scenarios:

One single player engine can control up to 8 screens and manage professional content scenarios as described above in true HD Broadcast TV quality.

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage software platform is simply the easiest to use, allowing multiple user, multi-level and multi-site management of your Digital Menu Boards and restaurant in/outdoor screens whatever the size of your restaurant or number of branches. The most powerful Digital Signage platform is within everybody’s reach – no specific technical knowledge other than common sense is required to operate a NAVORI QL installation.

The NAVORI QL Trigger SDK allows any interactive scenario such as the Drive in / Drive Trough to be easily realized in any detail imaginable.

Content is easily managed in a simple to use Content Manager.

NAVORI QL is the result of 15 years of experience and has a proven reliability record.

NAVORI QL seamlessly integrates into your workflow and easily interfaces with your existing POS / Back Office system. This enables you to automatically keep your pricing updated, automatically withdraw out-of-stock products and generate promotions based on any parameter available.

NAVORI QL Digital Menu Board – QSR Kit – is a modular plug-and-play Digital Signage system capable of managing up to 8 fully synchronized screens (extendible) per site and is available anywhere within 48 hours. It consists of NAVORI QL Manager Suite and an industry type ‘kitchen proof’ QL Player unit.

PC Player Configuration:

• PC Rack 19’’4U
• Motherboard Gigabyte X79-UD3 with 4 slots PCIe 16/8x
• RAM DDR3 16GB
• HD SSD 128Gb Raid 0 mode
• Graphic card ASUS N-Vidia GTX 670 DCII with 2GB of RAM
• Power supply: 1200W
• Windows 7 Professional 64 Bits

Delivery throughout the US and Canada: Contact Navori North America to find out where to buy this configuration.

QL server can be installed on the player PC or can be available in a SAAS (Software as a Service) model through a Navori Certified Partner.

Integrating and deploying a Digital Signage solution entails more than just installing screens and fire off content – it is all about integrating a tool with the intention of optimizing a communications process towards an audience.

This audience can be internal (employees, workers) or external (visitors, customers, passengers, public crowd…)

Being a new process in an organization’s structure, such implementation should be well considered in order to optimally fit the existing workflow environment in such a way that it puts no burden on the current HR resources or require as less additional resources as possible.

Also the cost of implementing a Digital Signage platform needs to be carefully considered. There is the CAPEX – the capital expenditure, the initial investment in the installation – and the OPEX – the recurrent operational costs that need to be evaluated. A wrong platform choice might have disastrous consequences on the budget.

Here the NAVORI QL Digital Signage software platform comes in the picture: it is the most affordable yet most performing solution available and there are a number of reasons to claim so:

Lowest operational costs

Over 4 years of operations on a typical corporate communication deployment, the OPEX represents 75% of the total cost of ownership. Thanks to its optimized architecture, simplified interface, easy content creation and maintenance management, Navori QL can reduce the OPEX by 50% comparing to standard products currently on the market.

Structuring the communications flow within the organization

A Digital Signage solution typically is deployed over a number of different sites. These can be either geographically spread or can be different areas inside one single building and usually are a combination of both.

Whatever the organizations nature, usually the different sites have their own criteria the communication needs to match. These can be language based when geographically spread, content specific depending the department or store and usually also a combination of such.

NAVORI QL MANAGER allows to organize your Digital Signage deployment in a unique matrix modeled way. You can organize and manage your entire Digital Signage site topography exactly the way you want, managing screens in groups and subgroups, down to managing content specifically to an individual site or screen. The matrix philosophy enables to correlate and diffuse content in any way the organizational communications scenario requires.

This seems complex at first glance, but with NAVORI QL this process is the more simple and easy to use and comes with an astonishing performance.

Managing the Digital Signage platform: end-to-end control

NAVORI QL not only manages the communications flow, it allows to monitor the entire Digital Signage network and players in order to maintain control of status of the players and screens.

The hardware deployed can be centrally controlled and the power on/off of players and screens can be managed in function of f.i. opening hours.

Moreover the NAVORI QL system retrieves technical information of the hardware deployed as well as the communication and content process data.

Managing the message: content is King

NAVORI QL MANAGER has a unique Content Management suite.

Content templates can be created for real-time information or multi-zone playback.

Different screen zones can be defined and each zone can have an individual playlist.

Data feeds and real time information can be included. This information can be retrieved from any internal database or from any external source: corporate extranet, share point, RSS feeds, website pages, applets, sensor data …

The content can also be interactive and on demand. NAVORI QL maintains the interactivity of media content to power information kiosk systems and any type of interaction on content or player system level is possible: NAVORI QL Trigger allows to fire of media in function of an external control device (key control, remote control, alarm signal interface, barcode, QCR, video motion control or recognition device, GPS, …) or data threshold values (stock levels, storage temperature,…)

Using NAVORI QL, content can be created and playlists can be managed and published in three simple steps.

The system manages and controls this content and allows NAVORI QL PLAYERs to diffuse media at HD Broadcast TV quality: seamless transitions down to 1/30^th of a second precise with zoned screens and full transparency, casting real time information and all of this orchestrated and conducted by NAVORI QL MANAGER.

Managing the workflow: seamless integration

Whatever the communications scenario, NAVORI QL seamlessly integrates into any workflow environment. The NAVORI QL system is multi-user: a virtually unlimited number of users can operate the system, and each user’s specific rights can be precisely determined.  NAVORI QL allows for a fully delegated communications process flow, determining the responsibilities of each user.

NAVORI QL can exchange data with any existing back office system. This makes NAVORI QL the precision tool of choice when it comes to the more complex Digital Signage integration exercises.

Managing the economics:

The NAVORI QL is the most cost-effective software solution on the Digital Signage market for a number of reasons.

First of all the NAVORI QL Platform lowers your investment (CAPEX):

On player display screen level the proprietary NAVORI QL PLAYER software core is optimized to run full HD video on lower spec player platforms. It is capable of managing multiple screens depending on the player hardware deployed, and this trade-off is optimized. The NAVORI QL Players are the most cost effective units deployable. NAVORI QL PLAYER is available on Microsoft Windows as well as on ANDROID.  This hybrid platform technology allows optimizing deployment costs in function of the performance requirements without compromising the playback quality!

Secondly the NAVORI QL system is IT industry standardized:

QL architecture is compliant with the most advanced security requirements. It has been designed in such a way that OPEX is lowered by 50% comparing to traditional products in terms of maintenance resources, bandwidth usage and any other aspects related to operations.

Any NAVORI QL user can manage his tasking trough the browser interface from any type of computer (Windows, Apple or Linux). There is no application maintenance required from the remote user system, enabling to consider global deployments in an efficient way.

Thirdly the NAVORI QL system is absolutely secure:

Being access level controlled, the NAVORI QL network communication are fully secured and encrypted, and the system is truly ‘Graffiti Proof’.

And last but not least a NAVORI QL deployment drastically economizes on the entire Digital Signage recurrent costs factor (OPEX):

The ease of use and the capability of delegating the workflow makes NAVORI QL decrease the personnel cost ratio on operating a Digital Signage system. Everybody who has basic computer user skills can operate the system – the learning curb is impressively low and the system fits any existing work process.

The NAVORI QL Content Manager allows the user(s) to easily create rich content templates without the need to re-create media in function of location or other play-back criteria.

The capability of monitoring the QL PLAYER network, retrieve hardware fitness data and statistics allow remote intervention and manage pro-active maintenance in order to avoid downtime.

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage Software platform keeps its household down to the individual site.

And it pays itself back: NAVORI QL can monitor all system data including the retrieval of media statistics. This offers a full proof-of-play statistics reporting to monitor what media content is/was played back where and at what frequency, down to the size of an advertisement or promotion in case of a multi-zone template. These data can be exchanged with any airtime billing system.

A global down to local communications workflow example:

NAVORI QL MANAGER allows to organize your Digital Signage deployment in a unique matrix modeled way. You can organize and manage your entire Digital Signage site topography exactly the way you want, managing screens in groups and subgroups, down to managing content specifically to an individual site or screen. The matrix philosophy enables to correlate and diffuse content in any way the organizational communications scenario requires.

With NAVORI QL you can organize your network as easily as drawing its flow chart, and you can narrowcast playlists or individual media at any shared or individual screen level.

Airtime between different sites, groups or specific screens can be shared by playlist ruling in NAVORI QL MANAGER.

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage Software can be made available in any language and Navori SA operates offices worldwide, so the implementation and support of NAVORI QL will always be ensured by local Navori Certified resources.

In a typical corporate communications environment NAVORI QL can be deployed as a true corporate TV channel towards two types of audience: visitors and employees.

Visitors:

Matters to sustain the corporate and brand image in such a way visitors have a unique experience that they would remember.

The visitor’s 5 to 15 minutes waiting time may be used to immerse the visitor through the corporate message, branding.

Personalizing part of the signage this way the visitor’s waiting time is converted from frustration to distraction and at least facilitates the visit. And NAVORI QL gets the relevant message across in a true HD Broadcast TV look-and-feel. The more relevant the higher the impact, the better the experience.

Personal welcome message or state of the art interactivity with the system (Kinect) or message typed be the receptionist over an excel sheet look and feel interface are recommended.

The display of News, weather data feeds, Airport flight ETA (expected time of arrival) or taxi booking information converts the visitor’s waiting time frustration in a positive experience towards the company.

Note: Visitors: A creative screen layout should be considered for a better impact. Navori QL can power dozens of screen using a single computer with a 1/30^th of a second synchronization.

NAVORI QL interfaces with any back office application and such data exchange is easily managed in NAVORI QL MANAGER – no extensive programming scripting is required whatsoever – data interchange is managed as easily as adding a JPEG picture into a play list.

A happy visitor has to leave the building. This is another dwelling process to cash-in on: NAVORI QL casts all relevant information and within of this playlist loop airport or train departure timetables can be included.

If the visitor f.i. requires a taxi – the ETA of his cab can be on display – even to the extent the taxi trajectory and real time position can be displayed if such data feed is available, as is in most metropolitan areas.  

There is no exhaust as to the implementation of technology within the NAVORI QL Digital Signage Platform: once information is digitally available – actively or passively – relevant content can be triggered. Visitors can go interactive on touch screens – way finding can be automated using RFID tags or badges, the sky is the virtual limit.

Employees:

NAVORI QL can obviously also cater for communication streams to employees.

Another rule of thumb – one that requires some introspection:  who the hell consults his company’s intranet? Needless to draw statistics – hits are marginal.

To really get internal comms across you need to impose the message and there is no better yield other than deploying a Digital Signage setup. Employees no longer have to actively to consult the communications flow – they passively “dwell it in”.

Again – the scenario needs to fit its goal and comms need to be relevant. But properly managed the dwelling time of employees range from entrance to elevator and from canteen back to their office.

 And depending the area and estimated transit time, the specific comms can be trimmed to the physical location of the screens displaying the message.

All of these criteria can easily be managed by NAVORI QL – from basic TV Quality infotainment that timely or by circumstance, input or event  pitches to targeted messages  – interactive where need be – and in a secure and easy to use environment.  The scenario is yours – the rest is a few clicks away.

__________________________________________________________________________________

NAVORI QL: Efficient design- extraordinary performance!

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 40% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA FEEDS AND REAL-TIME INFO in DIGITAL SIGNAGE APPLICATIONS

How to Triple Your Digital Signage Content Impact Ratio!

By rule of thumb, in traditional poster based printed advertising there is a fraction of a second of attention aperture to get the message – promo, branding… - across. This is where Digital Signage makes a basic difference.

When a message is animated, its impact is extended. Graphically animated or video content ‘moves’ and instinctively draws more attention than static images, seriously increasing the catch ratio.

But with the penetration of Digital signage in the market, there is sort of a ‘brain erosion’ taking place and the sexiness of just ‘moving’ content decreases as people are getting used to it.

It matters more than ever to make content as fresh, useful and as interesting as possible.

NAVORI QL is capable of doing so by integrating all kinds of live information and real-time data updates into the content being played back on the Digital Signage screens.

Information such as departure and arrivals in airports, train or bus stations can be broadcasted in content templates that read this data directly from a central database. This guarantees accurate information without the need to manually update.

Such database can be either internal or external (intranet/extranet, Share point – databases etc.)   At content management level the proper links are included and when appearing on-screen all data are and always remain updated.

Other data feeds may be newscasts, stock exchange information etc… typically RSS feeds that are retrieved from external sources such as CNN, BBC… - and can be included in the narrowcasting scenario.

Narrowcasting? Here a Digital Signage solution, and certainly NAVORI QL, makes a huge difference. Traditional TV broadcasts one single content stream to the entire crowd, whereas NAVORI QL can determine playlists in function of the audience or target groups in many ways.

On management level the player network topography can be organized in as many groups as an organization requires. Geographic zones by language, by store, by store or corporate department, by individual screen position, you name it. The communications scenario can be adapted and optimized in function of where the screens are installed, down to an individual screen. Playlists can be programmed and can be merged in function of such criteria (opening hours, local promotions, timely promotions etc.)

NAVORI QL’s ability to handle all kinds of data feeds and real time information on all these levels gives the strategic advantage to target the audience with the message accuracy required. On top of the HD Broadcast TV quality look and feel of such NAVORI QL based narrowcasting platform, the information is relevant, even interesting for the viewers. – This not only increases the average dwelling time but certainly makes communications far more effective in the case of a ‘captive audience’ such as in situations where people have a forced waiting time.

In a queuing system a customer’s ticket number can be retrieved and displayed in a corner screen area or in overlay, combined with a message, promotion or commercial. Needless to say the audience is forced to look to the signage screen almost constantly. Influence and catch rate of the content increase astronomically. NAVORI QL is powering many such installations where the ROI of the entire system was far better than initially expected. It simply works.

In a retail environment promotions can be fired off in function of stock rotation, pricing on promotions can be adapted centrally or locally simply by interfacing the NAVORI QL to the ERP, CRM or any type of POS or Logistics system. The limit is the scenario itself.

Corporate and Industrial communications can be optimized with real time data such as call center traffic flow, sales results, boardroom display content management, on-demand content, E-learning systems…  NAVORI QL players are fully interactive with any data feed or control device (Remote Control, Touch Screen, Key input, Kinect or other video control device, RFID, Barcode, QCR …)

External data feeds (or control devices) can trigger content at player level. When interfaced to an alarm system by e.g. DTMF protocol, alarm and evacuation signage immediately overrules the running playlist. Such emergency content can be programmed at individual player level to point to the nearest emergency exit with specific instructions based on that particular location in a building.

In an automotive scenario such as trains, trams, busses, taxis, airport shuttles or boats, content can even be played out based on the current position. NAVORI QL player reads the real time GPS position data and launches location-based and position-relevant content such as next stop, travel delay as well as touristic info or local business promotions. This application synchronizes data with Google Maps so the trajectory and impact resolution can be defined at NAVORI QL MANAGER level in a concise and easy to use interface.

Local weather forecasts can be included in the content by integrating applets.

External data feeds between a back office system and the NAVORI QL Digital Signage Platform is typically interfaced by XML scripting. This being a more than common universal data exchange standard, NAVORI QL seamlessly integrates into any existing workflow.

This streamlines the entire communications process:  with NAVORI QL, the limit is the scenario itself.

Data feeds are also handled in back-loop:  the NAVORI QL Players synchronize their status (system fitness – data usage – media statistics) in real time with the NAVORI QL MANAGER platform, so any and all technical issue that might arise is reported back immediately. Moreover this data is processed in such way that remote controlled or local proactive maintenance can be scheduled, limiting player and screen downtime or other technical constraints to the strictest minimum possible.

On top of this all the overall playback quality of the content is key aspect. Here Navori QL takes the leap.

All real time info and data feed content can be programmed in multiple zones, in overlays with fully controlled transparency, in tickers and banners  in a True HD broadcast TV look-and-feel quality with smooth, seamless transitions at  1/30^th of a second.  

And all of this can be achieved on low-level low-cost player units thanks to the unique and efficient design of the proprietary NAVORI QL core playback software engine.

Hence the trade mark, NAVORI QL, a Quantum Leap in Digital Signage! 

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 30% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Navori,efficient design - extraordinary performance

About the Navori NAVORI QL platform

Compared to other digital signage solutions, Navori QL is the only software platform able to display content at a quality that matches your audience’s expectations.

Navori QL cannot be compared to any first generation software. It is simply a league on its own.

Navori QL player main features:

• True Broadcast TV look and feel
• Full screen or in a template with a ticker.
• Multi-layer and transparency support.
• Plays in schedules with rule or event based content triggering

QL Manager/Server main features

• Content management, publication and distribution in three simple steps.
• Multi-user and multi-level management
• Built-in designer and data-feed manager.
• Advanced playback monitoring and reporting.
• Reduce your operation costs by 50%.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

A  Digital Signage platform that keeps its tracks!

In this day and age, automotive communication opportunities remain largely underexploited.

The Swiss company NAVORI, a global leader in Digital Signage software, takes a pole position in this market segment with the release of their Navori QL GPS Trigger module.

Any public transportation company (train, tramways, bus, taxi, limousine…) can now deploy a state of the art on-board Digital Signage System that keeps its track based on the renowned NAVORI QL software platform.

The NAVORI QL platform is a perfect match because it uplifts such exploitation offering location based and real time data feeds based on GPS data retrieved in real time by the NAVORI QL players connected to the on-board vehicle screens.

This deployment is a leap forward in automotive signage. Public transportation passengers are a classic example of what in marcom terminology is described as ‘captive audience’.  Traditionally public information as well as product promotions are broadcasted in a simple – dull loop. The more signage content is dynamic, the higher the catch rate on the audience. Matters to diffuse relevant content.

Relevant content, location based with live data feeds does the trick. In fixed locations where enough bandwidth is available there is no real constraint, certainly not when deploying NAVORI QL.

But when it comes to efficiently operate such a communications scenario in moving vehicles such as busses, trains and taxi’s, the technical challenges are huge.

The NAVORI QL is the platform of choice for any Automotive Digital Signage project just because of its flexibility, both in use but in this case also because of its ease of technical integration coupled with the additional benefit of, although being the most performing DS platform on the market, scoring the lowest OPEX (operational costs) ratio in the market.

NAVORI QL Player – the client software deployed on professional automotive hardware supplied by Advantech – is capable of triggering specific content based on a real time system read-out of GPS data. Hence the vehicle’s location is known by the player.

This background GPS data triggers content that is real time location based, such as the announcement of the next bus stop up to public or tourist information. Even promotions related to local business can be included. Real time information such as latest news feeds or (local) weather information can be included, all in full HD broadcast TV quality.

GPS TRIGGER is a plug-in for NAVORI QL PLAYER that retrieves the content and data feeds as following:

Upon arrival of the f.i. a bus or train at the terminal, media content and data are uploaded to the player by ‘Wi-Fi-docking’ – connecting to a unique and secure IP address to update the player. When out of reach of the docking signal the player switches to a 3G or GPRS connection. If the update of players is incomplete at departure time of the vehicle, the 3G connection takes over at Wi-Fi___33 signal loss and completes the upload and also starts reading in all live data feeds such as news ticker RSS data, weather applets etc. until the next secure WiFi docking site takes over.

This secures and balances the communication load and costs.

This architecture has the enormous advantage of drastically cutting down the communications costs.

The average data consumption for the network management (household data such as reporting and media statistics only – media upload and real time data volumes not included) based on a 24/7 calculation measured 100 Mbit/month or less only, whereas any other comparable machine-to-machine deployment architecture eats between 1 to a dazzling 3 GB per month.

Along with the other distinctive operational differences, the economic advantage of deploying NAVORI QL in automotive deployments is clear: more than 50% gain on operational costs compared to any other DS solution in the market.

The NAVORI QL Player also communicates in real-time with the GPS module inside the player hardware unit. Typically industrial grade automotive certified PC players are used (e.g. ADVANTEC)

This data is monitored by the GPS TRIGGER and based on certain threshold values – geographical zone information – content is triggered relevant to the position of the vehicle. This content typically is audio and visual communication of ‘next stop’- ‘current stop’ – trajectory information – etc.

This information can be complemented with f.i.  travel time delay, roadblock, deviation and other real time data through Wi-Fi (docking) or 3G secure connections.

All different transportation trajectories are managed this way, even if they are random as in the case of a taxi or limousine service.

Since the application synchronizes with Google Maps, the trajectory and impact resolution can be defined at NAVORI QL MANAGER level in a concise and easy to use interface.

Another example of how 15 years of DS software development empowers tomorrows way of communicating.

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 30% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Navori,efficient design - extraordinary performance

About the Navori NAVORI QL platform

Compared to other digital signage solutions, Navori QL is the only software platform able to display content at a quality that matches your audience’s expectations.

Navori QL cannot be compared to any first generation software. It is simply a league on its own.

Navori QL player main features

True Broadcast TV look and feel

Full screen or in a template with a ticker.

• Multi-layer and transparency support.

• Plays in schedules with rule or event based content triggering

QL Manager/Server main features

Content management, publication and distribution in three simple steps.

Multi-user and multi-level management

Built-in designer and data-feed manager.

Advanced playback monitoring and reporting.

Reduce your operation costs by 50%.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

Integrating and deploying a Digital Signage solution entails more than just installing screens and fire off content – it is all about integrating a tool with the intention of optimizing a communications process towards an audience.

This audience can be internal (employees, workers) or external (visitors, customers, passengers, public crowd…)

Being a new process in an organization’s structure, such implementation should be well considered in order to optimally fit the existing workflow environment in such a way that it puts no burden on the current HR resources or require as less additional resources as possible.

Also the cost of implementing a Digital Signage platform needs to be carefully considered. There is the CAPEX – the capital expenditure, the initial investment in the installation – and the OPEX – the recurrent operational costs that need to be evaluated. A wrong platform choice might have disastrous consequences on the budget.

Here the NAVORI QL Digital Signage software platform comes in the picture: it is the most affordable yet most performing solution available and there are a number of reasons to claim so:

Lowest operational costs

Over 4 years of operations on a typical corporate communication deployment, the OPEX represents 75% of the total cost of ownership. Thanks to its optimized architecture, simplified interface, easy content creation and maintenance management, Navori QL can reduce the OPEX by 50% comparing to standard products currently on the market.

Structuring the communications flow within the organization

A Digital Signage solution typically is deployed over a number of different sites. These can be either geographically spread or can be different areas inside one single building and usually are a combination of both.

Whatever the organizations nature, usually the different sites have their own criteria the communication needs to match. These can be language based when geographically spread, content specific depending the department or store and usually also a combination of such.

NAVORI QL MANAGER allows to organize your Digital Signage deployment in a unique matrix modeled way. You can organize and manage your entire Digital Signage site topography exactly the way you want, managing screens in groups and subgroups, down to managing content specifically to an individual site or screen. The matrix philosophy enables to correlate and diffuse content in any way the organizational communications scenario requires.

This seems complex at first glance, but with NAVORI QL this process is the more simple and easy to use and comes with an astonishing performance.

Managing the Digital Signage platform: end-to-end control

NAVORI QL not only manages the communications flow, it allows to monitor the entire Digital Signage network and players in order to maintain control of status of the players and screens.

The hardware deployed can be centrally controlled and the power on/off of players and screens can be managed in function of f.i. opening hours.

Moreover the NAVORI QL system retrieves technical information of the hardware deployed as well as the communication and content process data.

Managing the message: content is King

NAVORI QL MANAGER has a unique Content Management suite.

Content templates can be created for real-time information or multi-zone playback.

Different screen zones can be defined and each zone can have an individual playlist.

Data feeds and real time information can be included. This information can be retrieved from any internal database or from any external source: corporate extranet, share point, RSS feeds, website pages, applets, sensor data …

The content can also be interactive and on demand. NAVORI QL maintains the interactivity of media content to power information kiosk systems and any type of interaction on content or player system level is possible: NAVORI QL Trigger allows to fire of media in function of an external control device (key control, remote control, alarm signal interface, barcode, QCR, video motion control or recognition device, GPS, …) or data threshold values (stock levels, storage temperature,…)

Using NAVORI QL, content can be created and playlists can be managed and published in three simple steps.

The system manages and controls this content and allows NAVORI QL PLAYERs to diffuse media at HD Broadcast TV quality: seamless transitions down to 1/30^th of a second precise with zoned screens and full transparency, casting real time information and all of this orchestrated and conducted by NAVORI QL MANAGER.

Managing the workflow: seamless integration

Whatever the communications scenario, NAVORI QL seamlessly integrates into any workflow environment. The NAVORI QL system is multi-user: a virtually unlimited number of users can operate the system, and each user’s specific rights can be precisely determined.  NAVORI QL allows for a fully delegated communications process flow, determining the responsibilities of each user.

NAVORI QL can exchange data with any existing back office system. This makes NAVORI QL the precision tool of choice when it comes to the more complex Digital Signage integration exercises.

Managing the economics:

The NAVORI QL is the most cost-effective software solution on the Digital Signage market for a number of reasons.

First of all the NAVORI QL Platform lowers your investment (CAPEX):

On player display screen level the proprietary NAVORI QL PLAYER software core is optimized to run full HD video on lower spec player platforms. It is capable of managing multiple screens depending on the player hardware deployed, and this trade-off is optimized. The NAVORI QL Players are the most cost effective units deployable. NAVORI QL PLAYER is available on Microsoft Windows as well as on ANDROID.  This hybrid platform technology allows to optimize deployment costs in function of the performance requirements without compromising the playback quality!

Secondly the NAVORI QL system is IT industry standardized:

QL architecture is compliant with the most advanced security requirements. It has been designed in such a way that OPEX is lowered by 50% comparing to traditional products in terms of maintenance resources, bandwidth usage and any other aspects related to operations.

Any NAVORI QL user can manage his tasking trough the browser interface from any type of computer (Windows, Apple or Linux). There is no application maintenance required from the remote user system, enabling to consider global deployments in an efficient way.

Thirdly the NAVORI QL system is absolutely secure:

Being access level controlled, the NAVORI QL network communication are fully secured and encrypted, and the system is truly ‘Graffiti Proof’.

And last but not least a NAVORI QL deployment drastically economizes on the entire Digital Signage recurrent costs factor (OPEX):

The ease of use and the capability of delegating the workflow makes NAVORI QL decrease the personnel cost ratio on operating a Digital Signage system. Everybody who has basic computer user skills can operate the system – the learning curb is impressively low and the system fits any existing work process.

The NAVORI QL  Content Manager allows the user(s) to easily create rich content templates without the need to re-create media in function of location or other play-back criteria.

The capability of monitoring the QL PLAYER network, retrieve hardware fitness data and statistics allow remote intervention and manage pro-active maintenance in order to avoid downtime.

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage Software platform keeps its household down to the individual site.

And it pays itself back: NAVORI QL can monitor all system data including the retrieval of media statistics. This offers a full proof-of-play statistics reporting to monitor what media content is/was played back where and at what frequency, down to the size of an advertisement or promotion in case of a multi-zone template. These data can be exchanged with any airtime billing system.

A global down to local communications workflow example:

NAVORI QL MANAGER allows to organize your Digital Signage deployment in a unique matrix modeled way. You can organize and manage your entire Digital Signage site topography exactly the way you want, managing screens in groups and subgroups, down to managing content specifically to an individual site or screen. The matrix philosophy enables to correlate and diffuse content in any way the organizational communications scenario requires.

With NAVORI QL you can organize your network as easily as drawing its flow chart, and you can narrowcast playlists or individual media at any shared or individual screen level.

Airtime between different sites, groups or specific screens can be shared by playlist ruling in NAVORI QL MANAGER.

The NAVORI QL Digital Signage Software can be made available in any language and Navori SA operates offices worldwide, so the implementation and support of NAVORI QL will always be ensured by local Navori Certified resources.

In a typical corporate communications environment NAVORI QL can be deployed as a true corporate TV channel towards two types of audience: visitors and employees.

Visitors:

Matters to sustain the corporate and brand image in such a way visitors have a unique experience that they would remember.

The visitor’s 5 to 15 minutes waiting time may be used to immerse the visitor through the corporate message, branding.

Personalizing part of the signage this way the visitor’s waiting time is converted from frustration to distraction and at least facilitates the visit. And NAVORI QL gets the relevant message across in a true HD Broadcast TV look-and-feel. The more relevant the higher the impact, the better the experience.

Personal welcome message or state of the art interactivity with the system (Kinect) or message typed be the receptionist over an excel sheet look and feel interface are recommended.

The display of News, weather data feeds, Airport flight ETA (expected time of arrival) or taxi booking information converts  the visitor’s waiting time frustration in a positive experience towards the company.

Note: Visitors: A creative screen layout should be considered for a better impact. Navori QL can power dozens of screen using a single computer with a 1/30^th of a second synchronization.

NAVORI QL interfaces with any back office application and such data exchange is easily managed in NAVORI QL MANAGER – no extensive programming scripting is required whatsoever – data interchange is managed as easily as adding a JPEG picture into a play list.

A happy visitor has to leave the building. This is another dwelling process to cash-in on: NAVORI QL casts all relevant information and within of this playlist loop airport or train departure timetables can be included.

If the visitor f.i. requires a taxi – the ETA of his cab can be on display – even to the extent the taxi trajectory and real time position can be displayed if such data feed is available, as is in most metropolitan areas.  

There is no exhaust as to the implementation of technology within the NAVORI QL Digital Signage Platform: once information is digitally available – actively or passively – relevant content can be triggered. Visitors can go interactive on touch screens – way finding can be automated using RFID tags or badges, the sky is the virtual limit.

Employees:

NAVORI QL can obviously also cater for communication streams to employees.

Another rule of thumb – one that requires some introspection:  who the hell consults his company’s intranet? Needless to draw statistics – hits are marginal.

To really get internal comms across you need to impose the message and there is no better yield other than deploying a Digital Signage setup. Employees no longer have to actively to consult the communications flow – they passively “dwell it in”.

Again – the scenario needs to fit its goal and comms need to be relevant. But properly managed the dwelling time of employees range from entrance to elevator and from canteen back to their office.

 And depending the area and estimated transit time, the specific comms can be trimmed to the physical location of the screens displaying the message.

All of these criteria can easily be managed by NAVORI QL – from basic TV Quality infotainment that timely or by circumstance, input or event  pitches to targeted messages  – interactive where need be – and in a secure and easy to use environment.  The scenario is yours – the rest is a few clicks away.

NAVORI QL: Efficient design- extraordinary performance!

About NAVORI

Navori International SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates sales and support offices in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia.

With its latest software release, Navori QL, the company tops its 15 years of experience offering the most reliable and user friendly solution available on the market.

The average annual growth exceeding 40% over the last years proves the leadership position Navori obtained, and its QL platform is poised to set a new standard in the digital signage industry.

Watch a 20 minutes product demonstration to discover Navori QL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWwaagFhIcA

All further information available on www.navori.com

How to Triple Your Digital Signage Content Impact Ratio?

By rule of thumb, in traditional poster based printed advertising there is a fraction of a second of attention aperture to get the message – promo, branding… - across. This is where Digital Signage makes a basic difference.

When a message is animated, its impact is extended. Graphically animated or video content ‘moves’ and instinctively draws more attention than static images, seriously increasing the catch ratio.

But with the penetration of Digital signage in the market, there is sort of a ‘brain erosion’ taking place and the sexiness of just ‘moving’ content decreases as people are getting used to it.
It matters more than ever to make content as fresh, useful and as interesting as possible. NAVORI QL is capable of doing so by integrating all kinds of live information and real-time data updates into the content being played back on the Digital Signage screens.

Information such as departure and arrivals in airports, train or bus stations can be broadcasted in content templates that read this data directly from a central database. This guarantees accurate information without the need to manually update.

Such database can be either internal or external (intranet/extranet, Share point – databases etc.)  At content management level the proper links are included and when appearing on-screen all data are and always remain updated.

Other data feeds may be newscasts, stock exchange information etc… typically RSS feeds that are retrieved from external sources such as CNN, BBC… - and can be included in the narrowcasting scenario.

Narrowcasting? Here a Digital Signage solution, and certainly NAVORI QL, makes a huge difference. Traditional TV broadcasts one single content stream to the entire crowd, whereas NAVORI QL can determine playlists in function of the audience or target groups in many ways.

On management level the player network topography can be organized in as many groups as an organization requires. Geographic zones by language, by store, by store or corporate department, by individual screen position, you name it. The communications scenario can be adapted and optimized in function of where the screens are installed, down to an individual screen. Playlists can be programmed and can be merged in function of such criteria (opening hours, local promotions, timely promotions etc.)

NAVORIQL’s ability to handle all kinds of data feeds and real time information on all these levels gives the strategic advantage to target the audience with the message accuracy required. On top of the HD Broadcast TV quality look and feel of such NAVORI QL based narrowcasting platform, the information is relevant, even interesting for the viewers. – This not only increases the average dwelling time but 
certainly makes communications far more effective in the case of a ‘captive audience’ such as in situations where people have a forced waiting time.

In a queuing system a customer’s ticket number can be retrieved and displayed in a corner screen area or in overlay, combined with a message, promotion or commercial. Needless to say the audience is forced to look to the signage screen almost constantly. Influence and catch rate of the content increase astronomically. NAVORI QL is powering many such installations where the ROI of the entire system was far better than initially expected. It simply works.

In a retail environment promotions can be fired off in function of stock rotation, pricing on promotions can be adapted centrally or locally simply by interfacing the NAVORI QL to the ERP, CRM or any type of POS or Logistics system. The limit is the scenario itself.

Corporate and Industrial communications can be optimized with real time data such as call center traffic flow, sales results, boardroom display content management, on-demand content, E-learning systems… NAVORI QL players are fully interactive with any data feed or control device (Remote Control, Touch Screen, Key input, Kinect or other video control device, RFID, Barcode, QCR …)

External data feeds (or control devices) can trigger content at player level. When interfaced to an alarm system by e.g. DTMF protocol, alarm and evacuation signage immediately overrules the running playlist. Such emergency content can be programmed at individual player level to point to the nearest emergency exit with specific instructions based on that particular location in a building.

In an automotive scenario such as trains, trams, busses, taxis, airport shuttles or boats, content can even be played out based on the current position. NAVORI QL player reads the real time GPS position data and launches location-based and position-relevant content such as next stop, travel delay as well as touristic info or local business promotions. This application synchronizes data with Google
Maps so the trajectory and impact resolution can be defined at NAVORI QL MANAGER level in a concise and easy to use interface.

Local weather forecasts can be included in the content by integrating applets.

External data feeds between a back office system and the NAVORI QL Digital Signage Platform is typically interfaced by XML scripting. This being a more than common universal data exchange standard, NAVORI QL seamlessly integrates into any existing workflow.
This streamlines the entire communications process: with NAVORI QL, the limit is the scenario itself. Data feeds are also handled in back-loop: the NAVORI QL Players synchronize their status (system fitness – data usage – media statistics) in real time with the NAVORI QL MANAGER platform, so any and all technical issue that might arise is reported back immediately. Moreover this data is processed in such way that remote controlled or local proactive maintenance can be scheduled, limiting player and screen downtime or other technical constraints to the strictest minimum possible.

On top of this all the overall playback quality of the content is key aspect. Here Navori QL takes the leap.
All real time info and data feed content can be programmed in multiple zones, in overlays with fully controlled transparency, in tickers and banners in a True HD broadcast TV look-and-feel quality with smooth, seamless transitions at 1/30th of a second.

And all of this can be achieved on low-level low-cost player units thanks to the unique and efficient design of the proprietary NAVORI QL core playback software engine.

Hence the trade mark, NAVORI QL, a Quantum Leap in Digital Signage!