If you're managing an office, you need a system that's efficient, secure, and reflects the professionalism of your organization. (Which generally means doing away with the sign-in sheets and clipboards). Here at REDYREF, we've been helping businesses just like yours make the leap to digital visitor management for years, and we're here to tell you that these kiosk solutions are a game-changer for streamlining operations and enhancing security.
Essentially, a digital visitor management system (VMS) is the modern-day gatekeeper for your facility. It's a sophisticated yet user-friendly way to track, manage, and enhance the entire visitor experience, from the moment they walk in the door to the time they leave. While a simple sign-in sheet might technically qualify as a "system," today's solutions leverage technology like interactive kiosks, software, and even mobile integration to create a seamless and secure process.
Think about it: your needs will dictate the complexity of the system. A large corporation with multiple access points and high security requirements might opt for kiosks with integrated badge printers, facial recognition, and even pre-registration capabilities. On the other hand, a smaller office or school might find a simple tablet-based check-in system perfectly adequate for managing their visitor flow.
At its core, a robust VMS allows you to know exactly who is in your building at any given time. This is crucial for several reasons:
While security is paramount, visitor management systems can offer unique benefits in specialized environments. Take museums, for example. By tracking visitor flow through different exhibits, a museum can gain valuable insights into visitor preferences, optimize exhibit layouts, and even tailor future programming to better engage their audience.
The beauty of visitor management is that there's a solution for every need and budget. Here's a quick overview of the spectrum:
When you're evaluating different systems, keep these essential features in mind:
Let's break it down into a simple, four-step process:
A well-implemented VMS offers a win-win situation:
Finding the perfect VMS for your needs requires careful consideration. Here's a roadmap to guide you:
At REDYREF, we've been at the forefront of interactive kiosk and digital signage technology for years. We understand the unique challenges faced by operations and building management professionals, and we're passionate about helping organizations like yours create secure, efficient, and welcoming environments. We offer a range of customizable solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients, all backed by our commitment to quality, reliability, and exceptional customer support.
Ready to take your visitor management to the next level? Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements and discover how we can help you transform your visitor experience.
Outdoor digital signage has become a common sight over the past decade, but what can it do for businesses? Today, we will be discussing different types of outdoor digital signs and kiosks and how they can benefit different organizations, as well as consumers.
Outdoor digital signage is important because it can increase the visibility of a company, brand, product, service or event. It is generally placed in a public area with plenty of space, creating an excellent opportunity for more awareness in a visually impactful way to many users at once. Most often, outdoor digital signage is larger than indoor signage and intended to be viewed from a greater distance away. In fact, digital billboards are one common example of outdoor digital signage that has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds over the past decade.
Although outdoor and indoor digital signage have many things in common, one major factor that should be considered when placing digital signs outdoors is that they need to be weatherproof and, for the most part, built for durability as the signs can be left unattended for months or even years, depending on the use and location.
Outdoor malls and lifestyle centers use digital directories -- a type of digital signage that is oftentimes interactive as well -- to list all of the stores, restaurants and services in their facility. These digital directories are great for first time visitors as they allow guests to easily find what they’re looking for and where they need to go, saving time. Because they tend to be placed close to entrances and in other high-traffic areas, they help to ensure that visitors are never lost, have a comfortable experience, making them more likely to return in the future.
Bus stop digital signage is used to display bus schedules, local area information, maps, and advertisements. This type of outdoor signage is useful as it helps passengers, especially those who are visiting the area for the first time, ensure they are on the right bus and know at which stop they will need to disembark. Since these displays are quite large, they tend to be eye catching, giving businesses an effective platform to market their products, brands and services.
Fast replacing traditional billboards, digital billboards provide the same function but with much more utility and flexibility. Like a traditional billboard, they display an advertisement with the added benefit of the capacity to automatically rotate through a timed display of multiple different advertisements. This greatly increases the amount of ad space available on a billboard, and allows for more customization for the organization purchasing that space. For instance, they may choose to only display ads during morning rush hour. With more cars on the road during that time, the company that owns the billboard is then able to charge more for ads shown during that time slot. Digital billboards also offer additional utility as they can be used to display emergency information, such as road conditions, accidents, or weather warnings.
Digital signage is used to to assist passengers with their travel at train stations, airports, and subways stations. They are often used to display train schedules and provide updates on any delays along this path. They also notify passengers on when to board or disembark from the train, ensuring their safety during this process. Finally, like most digital signage, they can be used to display advertisements from companies large and small to help promote various services and products.
Theme parks utilize digital signage for wayfinding, to display information, and communicate important updates, including emergency information. Many theme parks have digital signage displays to help guests navigate through the park and locate a ride or attraction. Beyond wayfinding, they also provide awareness of other park services, whether it be a restaurant, a kiosk, or a guest services station. Overall, digital signage provides a useful tool for theme parks to assist their guests without requiring additional staff.
Stadiums and outdoor event centers utilize digital signage to provide complete or close-up coverage of their sport or event, such as a concert. Similar to a television display, many of these stadium and event centers utilize these digital screens to provide additional views, ensuring that the audience can alway see what’s happening, regardless of their seating position. These displays are also used to provide live updates and promote upcoming events for the location. Lastly, like all digital signage, they are also used for the promotion of brands, products or services as well.
COVID-19 has caused restaurants to become incredibly creative in order to stay profitable. Many have incorporated outdoor digital signage to help enable contactless ordering and pickup. These kiosks can allow guests to check in for a reservation, request a seat or order food. In addition, these kiosks are able to display the full menu, giving guests more time to make their selection.
Retailers utilize digital signage displays to showcase their products and brands, as well as special sales and promotions. Since these displays are so large and attractive, they can be an excellent resource that is flexible enough to be updated frequently as promotions or products change.
As you can see, outdoor digital signage can provide wayfinding solutions, increase brand awareness and provide important information to the public. Durable and reliable, they are an excellent resource for many organizations, from transportation hubs to theme parks and everything in between.
Riverdale, NJ (PRWEB) July 11, 2017 REDYREF Interactive has launched a new and innovative wayfinding software suite: enGAGE.Touch. The core of this system is the cutting-edge digital building directory module, which can be seamlessly integrated with additional software modules and semi-custom enclosures for environments that require more complex solutions.
REDYREF’s enGAGE.Touch digital building directories go further than just helping visitors to quickly locate companies, departments or personnel, says Will Pymm, Vice President and Managing Partner. “The new enGAGE.Touch Mobile Handover feature makes it easy for guests to transfer maps and directions from the directory right to their smartphone. Integration with Google Maps means wayfinding information is always accurate and up-to-date, not just within the facility, but also for those requiring assistance with the surrounding area. It’s truly an all-in-one solution.”
enGAGE.Touch electronic directory systems may be customized to meet a wide range of business needs, including support for multiple floor and campus maps. User experience is enhanced by allowing interactive directory search by multiple criteria, including employee, company, department, floor or room name/number. Updates are simplified by allowing editing permissions to be granted to multiple users, including office tenants.
With multiple opportunities for customization, enGAGE.Touch digital directory software is the premier choice for multiple deployment environments. From electronic lobby directories to educational campus signage, the easy-to-use, interactive directory interface enhances visitor satisfaction by reducing the stress of wayfinding, and tenant satisfaction by allowing anyone with access to manage their own data, reducing and often eliminating common data entry issues. Visitors and tenants alike benefit when critical building and campus updates and information are communicated digitally and able to be updated as needed.
enGAGE.Touch electronic building directory software was developed to be integrated with any of REDYREF's kiosk enclosures, all of which are designed and manufactured in-house. From custom, built-to-order digital building directories, to modular self-service kiosks from the semi-custom enGAGE line, REDYREF's kiosk enclosures can be tailored to the exact use case and environment. When combined with the new enGAGE.Touch software suite, guests are able to navigate a single office building or a large multi-facility campus using detailed floor and campus maps, ensuring they are able to reach their intended destinations on-time and without unnecessary stress or frustration.
Established more than 100 years ago, REDYREF Interactive is a vertically-integrated manufacturer and developer of electronic building directories, digital wayfinding solutions and self-service kiosks.
RedyRef has completed the installation of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)’s first interactive wayfinding kiosk in Manatee County, Florida. The installation features the new enGAGE H-Series, a 42” modular touchscreen kiosk that was designed to help travelers find any location within the airport’s footprint. This includes airport gates, restaurants, restrooms, baggage claim and any other services airport visitors may need.
The Sarasota project presented some unique challenges for our design team. One of the primary requirements of the solution was to ensure users did not have to search via keyword or click through multiple screens in order to find the needed information.
REDYREF's team of software developers rose to the occasion, designing a deceptively simple user interface capable of effectively housing and organizing many layers of complex information. This one-screen solution features a navigation menu on the left, and a map of the airport on the right, which allows users to simply select an area on the menu with a single touch, and immediately see the chosen area highlighted on the map along with their current airport location.
The kiosk is also easy to maintain by airport employees. Said REDYREF Managing Partner, Will Pymm, “Besides offering travelers an enhanced customer experience, Sarasota’s new wayfinding kiosk was designed to be easily updated or refreshed either via smartphone or computer. We believe this kind of software functionality is essential to the success of a kiosk in a busy, at times even chaotic environment, like that found in an international airport.”
Besides its intuitive UI, the new Sarasota airport kiosk is also one of the first live deployments of the REDYREF enGAGE H-Series kiosk. This modular, freestanding enclosure combines sleek, powder-coated steel construction with an extensive range of available options including an expansive array of other hardware components and integrations. Although the H-Series comes standard with a 42″ LCD monitor, it may be built with other display sizes when required.
Considering wayfinding kiosks or digital directories for your company?
Contact REDYREF today at (800) 628-3603 today or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your interactive kiosk, wayfinding or digital visitor management program meets every one of your business’ unique needs and goals.
The hospitality industry has long relied on very specific service aspects in order to ensure guest satisfaction. From amenities (pools, spas and dining, for example), to the warm and efficient assistance of staff members, to the use of high-end bedding and toiletries in guest rooms, successful hotel chains and independent establishments have learned to keep visitors happy and willing to come back.
For the most part, technology has taken a backseat to personal assistance in hospitality-driven environments. With the exception of very high-end hotels that have integrated “smart rooms” into their offerings (remote-controlled blinds, lighting and entertainment systems), most have focused their attention on updating rooms and increasing the number and quality of services or amenities offered over all else. However, a sea-change is at hand; travelers want not just personal service, but convenience as well. Business travelers in particular are concerned with efficiency and convenience, and this key demographic (41% of hotel bookings) is both important to please and exceptionally loyal when satisfied by their experience. Less concerned with cost, they are willing to pay to get what they want, and therefore generate more profitable stays.
How are hotels creating the opportunity for more convenience without losing the level of personalization travelers have come to expect? Interactive digital signage is one avenue. Some early adopters, such as Courtyard by Marriott, began integrating large “smart screens” into their lobbies almost a decade ago in order to communicate information directly with their customers, from restaurant specials to weather reports to meeting room locations. One of the key value propositions of digital signage is how easily it can be adapted to target specific consumer bases; one set of messaging can be displayed during the week for business customers, and then changed out on the weekend for information that is more relevant to those traveling for leisure.
The next generation of digital hotel signage is now at market, and rather than offering only static images and a carousel of rotating screens, it is interactive and self-service, with a range of available use options. Offering everything from personalized directions and movie listings to the ability to make reservations at area dining establishments, these interactive displays essentially serve as a type of e-Concierge for those guests who value convenience over personal attention.
In addition to signage, some hotels, such as the Aria in Las Vegas, have taken digital technology a step further and introduced in-room tablets. These allow guests to browse lists of available amenities and restaurant menus, order room service and even schedule appointments for massages or book conference rooms directly from the tablet, as well as control in-room technology from a built-in app.
As an industry leader in digital signage hardware and software, RedyRef knows that these technologies are set to continue to grow rapidly within the hospitality industry, and beyond. Follow us as we continue to explore their futures in additional settings over the coming weeks. Already know that you want to take the plunge into high-tech wayfinding kiosks and digital signage? RedyRef’s experts are available to assist organizations of all sizes; just give us a call at (800) 628-3603 ext 525 or submit a request for proposal online and our team will be with you every step of the way.
The popularity of digital directories and touchscreen wayfinding kiosks has been growing steadily over the last five years. With expected revenue from these types of deployments to be in the billions over the coming decade, it’s clear that the market is expected to increase exponentially. Our last blog covered how healthcare environments are incorporating interactive wayfinding solutions into their buildings and campuses to provide a better experience for patients, resulting in increased satisfaction with their care. Today, we’ll cover how colleges and universities are utilizing similar technologies to do the same for students.
Imagine you’re 18 again, on your own for the first time and just starting college. You’ve chosen a state school -- one with more than 35,000 students. Those many-thousand students gather on campus daily in tens, if not hundreds, of buildings, including libraries, dormitories, student athletic centers and classrooms. You’ll need to navigate all of this, often with no more than 10 minutes between classes. With many college campuses spanning enough acreage to hold an entire small city, taking the intimidation factor out of the equation by giving students a digital map -- one that can even be taken “on the go” -- can go a long way toward easing new student anxiety. It also allows visitors and vendors to more easily maneuver through what often appears to be a confusing and ever-changing labyrinth.
Once students enter a building, they are faced with another set of hurdles -- floors and entire wings of classrooms, lecture halls, performance areas, studios and labs. Some that may even move from week to week to accommodate different situations. Digital building directories simplify life by allowing updates to be easily made remotely via a central system and “pushed out” to the affected directories as needed. So if Biology 101 in room B-202 has been moved to a lab in B-303, everyone can get where they need to be on time without scurrying around like mice in a maze.
On-campus kiosks present additional interesting opportunities for educational institutions. While they are clearly a useful way to integrate digital wayfinding into college campuses, as demonstrated above, they are also an excellent communication tool for schools that desire to present information to many individuals at once. For instance, one of the most common kiosk deployments is in student centers/“unions.” With the huge number of people -- students as well as faculty, staff and visitors -- passing through each day, interactive kiosks (and digital signage as well) are a convenient way to “talk” to a large population, all at the same time. Additionally, interactive kiosks can be utilized to complete self-service transactions by scanning student IDs, including loading virtual cash, paying for purchases ranging from textbooks to lattes, or to sign up for classes or other activities.
What other industries are successfully deploying digital wayfinding and building directories? We invite you to follow REDYREF as we continue to explore the future of these technologies over the coming weeks. Already know that you want to take the plunge into high-tech interactive kiosks? REDYREF's experts are available to assist organizations of all sizes; just give us a call at (800) 628-3603 ext 525 or submit a request for proposal online and our team will be with you every step of the way.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
RedyRef Interactive Kiosks launches the enGAGE™ line of standard kiosks that can be used as it exists or be semi-customized to meet the component requirements of any kiosk application.
Riverdale, New Jersey. – March 5, 2015 – RedyRef, a turn-key self-service kiosk solution provider announced that they have launched the enGAGE™ line of standard kiosks which features over a dozen different styles for kiosk deployers to utilize as the basic platform of their kiosk requirement. The platform can be used as it exists or be semi-customized to meet the component requirements of any kiosk application.
Platform Approach - It is simple, the enGAGE™ line is built on a standard frame concept that was devised on the idea that retail sells real estate by the square foot. Each enGAGE™ is designed on a frame system that is standardized by the foot –12”, 24” 36”, 48” and so on, so that the footprint easily fits within the parameters of retail space allocations. And, of course, since the enGAGE™ is a frame system, it can easily be customized to other sizes if needed to meet the component requirements of the kiosk component array.
Customizable Skins - The next part of the modularity of the design is in the fact that the metal cabinets, that we call skins, are mounted/hung from the frames, which are also completely customizable to the needs of the sizes of the components that they house.
Branding Platform - Finally, the skins are not only customizable but also they make for a great branding platform for graphics and decals that complete the holistic intentions of the enGAGE™ modular design. Best of all, the design allows us to meet the needs of your brand and performance while managing cost and speed to the market. Additional benefits include the ability to choose from a variety of monitor sizes to fit your needs, optional custom vinyl-wrapped graphics to further strengthen your brand, the possibility of having a branded header on the kiosk, and extensive equipment options.
Software Solutions - As with all of our kiosks, we provide cutting-edge kiosk software that can suit the needs of your company whether you need an electronic directory, interactive way-finding program, digital signage and much more!
The enGAGE™ kiosk can seamlessly blend into any environment and we have the capabilities to make custom modifications on standard kiosk units to fit the specified requirements of your project. Your business could benefit from a kiosk whether you work in an office, hospital, university, hotel, airport, courthouse, convention center, shopping mall and more. The versatile options can give you stand-alone variations, wall mounted, desk mounted and custom mounted applications so it can virtually work in any given space.
About Redyref
Established 101 years ago, RedyRef Interactive Kiosks is a complete vertically integrated kiosk organization with in-house design engineering, metal fabrication, powder coating, electrical engineering and integration, software development, installation and on-going maintenance solutions to meet your self-service kiosk needs. RedyRef truly offers you a one-stop Self-Service Kiosk solution.
Contact:
Will Pymm
www.redyref.com
Ph: (800) 628-3603 Ext #519
REDYREF's newly released enGAGE line of digital kiosks features over a dozen different styles for kiosk deployers to utilize as the basic platform of their kiosk requirement. A platform that can be used as it exists or be semi-customized to meet the component requirements of any kiosk application. It’s simple -- the enGAGE line is built on a standard frame concept that was designed around the idea that retail sells real estate by the square foot.
Each enGAGE digital kiosk is designed on a frame system that is standardized by the foot (12”, 24” 36”, 48” and so on) so that the footprint easily fits within the parameters of retail space allocations. And since the enGAGE is a frame system, it can be easily customized to other sizes if needed to meet component requirements. That said, the next part of the modularity of the design is in the fact that the metal cabinets, called skins, are mounted or hung from the frames are also completely customizable to the needs of the sizes of the components that they house.
Additionally, all enGAGE "skins" are fully customizable, making them a great branding platform for graphics and decals that complete the holistic intentions of the enGAGE modular design. Best of all, the design allows us to meet the needs of your brand and performance needs while managing cost and speed to market. As with all of our kiosks, we provide cutting-edge kiosk software that can suit the needs of your company whether you need an electronic directory, interactive wayfinding program, digital signage and much more!
The enGAGE kiosk can seamlessly blend into any environment; we have the capabilities to make custom modifications on standard kiosk units to fit the specified requirements of your project. Your business could benefit from a kiosk whether you work in an office, hospital, university, hotel, airport, courthouse, convention center, shopping mall and more. The versatile options can give you stand-alone variations, wall-mounted, desk-mounted and custom-mounted applications so it can virtually work in any given space.
Additional benefits include the ability to choose from a variety of monitor sizes to fit your needs, optional custom vinyl-wrapped graphics to further strengthen your brand, and the possibility of having a branded header on the kiosk and extensive equipment options.
Standard kiosks work for you in any space. From phone booths to museum directories, REDYREF can suggest the perfect kiosk for your desired use. With over 100 years of service, we can proudly say that all of our kiosks are manufactured and designed in the United States, backed by ISO certification.
Some of our standard kiosks can be fitted for outdoor applications, constructed with awnings, weather-resistant components and illuminated lighting for use at night. Special paint can be applied to outdoor kiosks that add to its look as well as stand against natural elements. Other innovative standard kiosks include the capsule privacy kiosk that can give users a certain amount of privacy with an open-air feeling.
REDYREF is one of the leading kiosk manufacturers so it makes sense to check out the modular enGAGE kiosk for optimal customization and our standard kiosks to seamlessly fit into any environment!