Online Software AG is supporting the "Future City Langenfeld" initiative with voice-based Alexa solutions for retailers and ideas for using the voice assistant at the POS. Try it out and test it live in the White Box.
Weinheim, 15 May 2018 +++ "Alexa, show me the current offers" - dreams of the future or soon to be everyday life at the POS? In the Future City Langenfeld Initiative White Box, a project sponsored by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia, retailers can test future-orientated solutions live, the implementation of which is already possible today.
The White Box is a shop in the centre of Langenfeld where retailers, customers, citizens and interested parties can gain access to digitalisation in retail. Visitors can try out digital technologies and applications on 300 square metres of space in the "Markt Karree" shopping gallery and thus gain an understanding of the "stationary-digital experience space" in retail.
The online software also supports the White Box with solutions for the Alexa voice assistant. Retailers can try out existing skills from retailers and restaurateurs live and test solutions for using the voice assistant at the POS live. Based on the PRESTIGEenterprise software platform, the content of the skills, i.e. the information that Alexa passes on, can be changed, added to or deleted by retailers themselves. The software also makes it possible to visually supplement the spoken information on a screen and, for example, display videos of the destination for travel offers or product images of offers. In this way, it is also possible to Digital signage solutions and systems into customer communication.
In Langenfeld, visionaries and experts from trade, politics and administration work together with solution providers and universities on the topics of the future and test solutions in a practical way in order to create truly applicable, simple solutions. "Users" are the customers and visitors to the city of Langenfeld, who test the new ideas developed by the digital start-ups, solution and technology providers in the field, so to speak. Retailers as well as restaurateurs, service providers and service providers, i.e. all players who are part of a healthy cityscape, are informed about digital or stationary-digital applications, solutions and concepts and can try them out directly in the field.
The White Box is divided into four areas. The "Pop-up Future Store", a retail area for testing and trying out the new retail concepts and worlds of experience. The "Technology World", where easy-to-use technologies are explained to interested retailers and shoppers. The "Working Hub", a co-working meeting space that also includes future concepts that are still in the proof of concept (POC) phase, as well as the "Welcome Area", where the Future City Langenfeld initiative and the White Box concept are presented.
"Nothing, but absolutely nothing in this concept is set in stone," emphasises Frank Rehme, founder of the Future City Initiative. "We allow ourselves to learn at any time and in every phase of the project and to transform what we have learnt into meaningful added value for our customers, partners and team members. Constantly questioning our own actions is the basis of innovation, even if it sometimes causes breathlessness."
About Online Software AG
Online Software AG is an innovative software company specialising in the development of solutions for the international wholesale and retail trade. The medium-sized company based in Weinheim an der Bergstraße has been supporting retailers for over 25 years with software solutions for professional in-store advertising and, with more than 35,000 installations in 35 countries, is the market leader in the field of cross-media in-store communication and sales promotion. With the PRESTIGEenterprise software, the online software offers a communication platform for addressing customers at the point of sale that includes both traditional media and digital output media. The award-winning software thus forms the perfect basis for holistic communication concepts, integrating posters and labels as well as large-format screens, video walls, checkout and scale screens, kiosk systems, digital shelves and electronic shelf labels (ESL) through to mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and MDEs. Find out more about our Digital signage software experience.
Further information:
Online Software AG
Bergstrasse 31
69469 Weinheim, Germany
info@online-software-ag.de
www.online-software-ag.com
Sandy Heinzmann
Manager Marketing & Communication
T. +49 6201 9988-682
F. +49 6201 9988-77
sandy.heinzmann@online-software-ag.de