Location: Australia

Overview:
Nowadays, digital signage is no longer an unknown concept. Digital signage is appearing in more and more fields and is generating positive revenues. Especially in catering industry, interactive digital signage helps deliver the most updated product and service information with large screens, big pictures and audio/video contents, which attracts more consumers into the store and generate an attractive return on investment. To this point, Macdonald’s is the pioneer in the fast-food chain to introduce interactive digital signage into its daily business operation. Macdonald’s has already setup over 120 chain stores and has been known as a global Macdonald’s Fastfood Kingdom. Macdonald’s success lies much in its tasty food and excellent fast-food service, but this success can not go far without a far-sighted product and brand marketing strategy. The introduction of interactive digital signage must be one of their far-sighted marketing stratey to generate immense income and global brand influence. A system integrator from Australia is looking for an integrated digital signage system for a local Macdonald’s chain store and find NORCO for a low power digital signage maincontrol platform.

System Requirements:
1. HD display quality, HD playback of mainstream media format under Windows XP
2. Easy to install and deploy, reducing the system space and TCO
3. Flexible extensions and dual independent display supported 
4. Support remote planning, management and updating of multi-media contents
5. Stable running around the clock, easy to operate and maintain

The system integrator has told us that the aim of their client’s attempt is to intense the relax and pleasant dining atmosphere in the store and provide one-to-one marketing with lots of multi-media contents. This system also includes a touchable Kiosk let consumers to order their food freely by clicking the electronic menu. Their client requires this system able to support dual independent display and support playing multi-media contents, replacing the traditional static posters and press. This dynamic advertisingexposure mode will never show the out-of-date product information or sales ads, that is what the in-store posters/signs can not compete.

Solutions:
This digital signage solution incorporate three-part deployment , consisting a maincontrol PC, display screen, video input and output terminal and media play software, etc. This system integrator has chosen a customized fanless PC from NORCO to be the maincontrol platform and the processing center for this digital signage system, co-working with media play software to realize the synchro-display of all the LED screens in different positions of the store. The system integrator will build the deployment in three different parts running the same system.

Multiple LED screens will be installed by side of the restaurant counter, displaying media contents synchronouly, such as Macdonald’s Logo, coffee or breakfast combination, or set lunch , special offers,etc. In the ordering area, the queuing consumers can use the kiosk menu to order the food they want. In the dining hall, the up-hanging multi-media display board broadcasting Macdonald’s video ads, the new offer and sales promotion items or relaxing music. The display panel is divided into several block, showing different contents with a rotation ads playing. A vivid combination of audio and image brings consumers a pleasing audio-visual impact. The administration center will be equiped with special purpose computer with huge memory space. NORCO’s maincontrol PC will be used to conduct an integration management of all the playing screens, terminal Computer and touch Kiosk, integrating all the media contents that the administor obtain from the Internet, optimizing resources utilization and reducing restaunrant administrative cost.

Key Products:
Fanless Embedded PC with Mini-ITX Motherboard
This fanless embedded PC is a customized product for digital signage applications, compact and low power. This platform can help realize the centralized control, deployment /management and updating of all the multi-media contents including audio, video, image and text via IP or LAN. System adopts a standard Mini-ITX form factor motherboard with board dimension of only 170mm x 170mm, based on Intle 945GM + ICH7M chipset, supporting INTEL Core 2 Duo/Core Duo CPU. Onboard 2GB 400/533/667 MHz DDRII RAM, one Gigabit Ethernet, two 15+7Pin SATA port, two USB port. Standard mini-ITX form factor provides dual VGA and one HDMI, dual independent display supported

Block Diagram:

Application Evaluation:
--Offer consumers a more pleasant visual & dining experience and attract more consumers to buy food                             --Provide an all-round administration/monitoring supporta; store management can focus more on its daily business, not distracted by other issues, improving the management proficiency and reducing cost
--Digital signage ads will help dispel the boredom of waiting for meals or check out,and also reduce the preceived wait time as well as drive a strong branding message to consumers;
--Dynamic Rotation Ad supports the playback of different sales promotion ads according to different times and festivals, increasing the exposure of featured products , thus to drive sales revenue.
--Optimize the effectiveness of network and generate sales revenue with the support of many other resources
--Support system remote management and monitoring

For more information, please visit www.norco-group.com or contact our sales representative at  sales@norco.com.cn