Tuesday, August 17, 2010
HealthCare Digital Signage
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Good, The Bad and....Part II
The Good, The Bad and....Part II
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Good, The Bad and....Part I
Friday, June 11, 2010
No - We did not do that ->>> But....
CTI Solutions ( www.cti-kc.com ) does a lot with Dynamic Digital Signage. In fact if you know were to look in this photograph you can see a kiosk with a screen supplied by CTI Solutions. This is one of the largest screens in the world. It is in Kansas City at the stadium the Royals play in.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A Place Like No Other
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sometimes Bad is Just Bad
Monday, April 26, 2010
Digital Signage at Work - Part II
The first picture here is a sheet of rear projection glass - suspended from the ceiling with cables - and about 12 feet behind is the projector - I circled it the first photo. The way the deployment is it was not apparent how the glass was light. Very Cool!
Now the convention center has two levels with about 4 very large conference rooms/exhibit halls per level. Each room can be broken down into smaller rooms if need be. So the large Rear Projection Film welcomed every one to the multiple events going on and provided direction. In addition to the ads (product placement) the content was designed to improve the attendees' experience at the convention center.
The second install I would like to talk about were the 50" screens that not only had information about the exhibit halls nearby, but product placement as well. The event information helped me out - so not a bad thing. But the product videos were great from a visual standpoint. I believe this reduced/replaced convention center staff by providing information to attendees so they did not have to ask anyone. (Which is always a good thing.)
The last install I want to talk about is the Digital Menu Board. The lower banner was customized to the events occurring. "Welcome Dancers - Try an Energy Bar" with the logo the host of the event. (It was a dance event for my 12 year old daughter.)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Leaning on Partners
I am working with a marketing company right now. Their efforts are being funded by IBM.
The CTI Solutions sales rep has marketing going on in the Oakland area - funded by Toshiba.
CTI attended 4 trade shows in February - Scala funded a lot of the effort.
Microsoft is funding an effort for KC and Oakland.
.....getting the picture yet.
Why?
IBM, Microsoft, Toshiba, and Scala are all providing dollars to CTI Solutions. They do this because of business. CTI Solutions works with our clients to provide the solutions that work for the client - not our partners. As a result we sell a lot of our partner's products and services.
Why?
Our clients know we are partner neutral. Our vendor list is all the manufactures of laptops and PC based software tools. Our vendor list is a who's who of the Digital Signage industry.
Big Deal Right?
Well the money for marketing is excellent - but when your partners dedicate time as well you CTI Solutions must be delivering. Toshiba is regularly at the CTI offices in Denver, Dallas and KC. Ingram Micro (have not mentioned them yet) is on the conference calls with our team and our clients. Citrix (another one not mentioned yet) assists us with client needs and designing solutions. Magenta Research provides hardware and support for our Digital Signage showroom.
Our sales reps lean on Samsung, HP, Scala, Dell, Harris and especially Toshiba.
Why?
Simple - to know what the best solution is for our client's budget. Our clients our more important than our partners. After all who "Leans on their clients?"
So?
Learn more about CTI Solutions and what we can do for you. www.cti-kc.com
After all - these companies don't just give us money and time just because we are nice.
Monday, April 5, 2010
New Re-Launches - 30 Years in the Making
Wow - 1st Quarter In the Books.
- Digital Signage - Sales and Consulting
- Laptops - Sales and Service
- Desktops - Sales and Service
- Desktop Virtualization
- .....
There is a lot going on at CTI Solutions. Within the Current 4 our verticals are education, insurance, retail, government and medical facilities. - Wait a minute? Where is healthcare? Is not everyone in the healthcare or support of healthcare business?
The "medical facilites" is our healthcare vertical. We are not in healthcare - we do not know a stint from a brace - But our clients are the IT and Business Development offices within the medical facilites. IT for the Laptops, Desktops and Virtualizations projects. Business Development offices talk to CTI Solutions due to our Digital Signage expertese. After all it is a special school they send you to to learn how to design a hospital. (If you believe that one......)
The difference with CTI Solutions is we deliver. The 1st Qtr of 2010 was an interesting one. We went to 4 large trade shows in 4 different states. The difference was we Re-Launched into medical facilities. Our education vertical improved, Retail keeps getting better for us and Hospitality will be our 2nd QTR re-launch. The benefit is with 30 Years of Experience - we have been their before - and we are there again.
Find out how we can help you. Contact Us.
www.cti-kc.com
Monday, March 29, 2010
Not all Technology is Good Technology (or Omission Sales Force)
Bear with me on this one.
Had a client come to me because the previous vendor was not honest with them. (Omission Sales Force)
If I need to manage arrival times of airplanes with aircrews at a busy airport – a basic accounting program cannot help me. If I need to run a home based business – a SCADA program cannot help me. Software needs to be applied correctly. How important is the right tool for the right job. Well….
There is an article about software in Baseline Magazine about the issue. “‘We Really Did Screw Up’ - Kaiser Permanente Kidney Transplant Program” is the article. (Google it) It shows how the greatest intentions, the best of systems – if applied wrong can have dire consequences.
Technology (Software and/or Hardware) used for the wrong reason will fail. Our lead products assist companies with their technology infrastructure (See last post) and Digital Signage needs – but don’t ask it to manage an airport, or logistics.
At CTI Solutions we focus on what we do well. Hertz does not do oil changes in the aftermarket and Jiffy Lube doesn’t rent cars. We focus on what we do well. The issue isn’t companies that engage large houses for IT projects get it wrong – the sales force of the large technology companies and digital signage companies are effective. They don’t tell you what you want to hear – they let you believe what you want and don’t correct you. They don’t commit anything wrong – their level of omission is exceptional. This is the “Omission Sales Force”. If you are a potential client – ASK QUESTIONS! Don’t assume. The "Large Well Known" sales team will let you believe what you want – so ask the questions…….
At CTI Solutions our solutions performs. Am I sold on CTI? You bet. I didn’t CTI Solutions because “it is a job” – this is a company that is looking to grow and everybody wears multiple hats. I took it because I believed in the ownership and company.
Is our technology products and service all things to all people – no. But when our sales team tells you something - believe it. 30 Years of Success - Making Technology Your Advantage.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Digital Signage + Laptops + VDI = More Money for You
Laptops are important to individuals who work with clients at client sites
VDI is important to lower costs for employees who never work at the client site
To say what we do is important is a stretch. What are clients do is important. Hospitals, Visiting Nurses, Engineers and Lawyers are some of the professionals that come through our doors. Why? Because they use laptops and tablet PCs. Something we not only sell but we service as well. Allowing them to work - save people and help people, projects and the public. (Did I mention how many schools we work with?)
Retail Also - Important? Well if they are publicly traded - Yes! Performance matters - and we provide the support so they can perform. If you are a large retail outfit and you have a lift in Same Store Sales - Does the "Street" care? Yes. The uptick on the stock provides leverage to hire, expand and grow. Digital Signage can provide a mechinism to lift sales.
Insurance Also - Important? Well if they are spending too much money on infrastructure - It kills their performance. With VDI we can lower that cost - again providing leverage.
Business are in the business to provide service - we are no difference. We provide a service. We provide products. And just like your business - we charge for these products and services. We know that an interruption in business (cash flow) will impact the business. You need partners you can trust to deliver every time you call them.
For 30 Years CTI Solutions has been saving our clients money. Yes I know you have to spend money with us to save money. But at the end of the day you will have to buy what we are selling. Why wait?
www.cti-kc.com
Monday, March 22, 2010
What Did He Do Different?
In 1950 in the small town of Bentonville AR Sam Walton opened a store - a Five and Dime. I was there last week. This store - about 3000 SqFt - is the beginning of Walmart. Now Bentonville is a small town today - in 1950 - I sure the entire town did not have phones or TVs. Not to insult Bentonville - which looks like a great small town today - but Northwest Arkansas is rural.
So what did he do different? Great question. Very complex answer.
He used information - he collected the data on what he sold - and promoted those items. (According to a CNBC show done about Walmart they sell Strawberry Pop-Tarts in larger than expected quanities prior to a tropical storm or hurricane showing up - Why? who knows why but Walmart tracks that.)
On the way from this Retail Giant Birthplace to Kansas City (check the map - not metro) I stopped for gas. The gas pumps had touch screen digital screens promoting products for sale in the convience store. One could go back or forth to view a particular ad of a product of interest.
Digital Signage is all about promotion. Promote employee education along with retail pushes to lift sales. Find out how we can promote what you have.
www.cti-kc.com
Monday, March 15, 2010
Location, Location, Location
Monday, March 8, 2010
Paper Paper Everywhere
I went to the Digital Signage Expo (www.digitalsignageexpo.net) 2010 in Las Vegas. Great show - but I came back with brochures -paper. I understand the need to have it but would it not make sense to provide business cards and thumbdrives?
There are some cutting edge display technologies - if you are in retail and not looking at Micro Tiles for displays, or if you are in fast food and not looking at Digital Menu Boards, and if you want the latest and greatest technologies - well GestureTek and ProVision have the latest. Now as far as software goes we have our favorites. (Scala and Harris)
But why paper?
Digital Menu Boards takes out the cost of print and distribution - and allows upsell at the point of order. (Order just a sandwich and get prompted for a "meal". Order a meal - get prompted for a dessert.)
Retail - do not update a store or a campaign unless you think lifting your sales by department 7% to 28% is not important. Or how about Sales Lift by product type of 7% to 18% - and this is over a large population - not just a spot deployment. 18 Months of data at a large retail store.
www.cti-kc.com
Call Us - Let us Help you.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Trade Show In Denver
Monday, February 15, 2010
Side Note - Must Read
I went out this Saturday night with my wife and another couple. Now the bar we went to was about 1000 sq ft. Not a painted section except for one 10x5 area behind the bar. The floor was uneven, the parking lot unpaved. The only glass around was the beer bottles. Tattoos, chew and boots - all a requirement to come in the door. A big sign "Bikers Welcome" above the door. "Middle of NoWhere - Next to Nothing" is its motto. A true honky tonk - A Roadhouse prior to Patrick Swayze showing up w/o the drugs and fights.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Trade Show Month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CTI Solutions is hitting the trade show circuit this month. 4 trade shows between now and the end of the month. Here are the what, the vertical and the location.
- SOS - Education - Dallas TX
- 3 in 1 Show - Retail / Entertainment - Denver CO
- NAIS - Education - San Francisco CA
- DSE - Digital Signage - Las Vegas NV
The why is to get our name out there. For 30 Years CTI Solutions has been delivering to companies across the Nation. Phones, Laptops, Desktops and Digital Signage has been the products we deliver - nothing special
Except it is the Service that sets CTI Solutions apart from its competition.
Follow us on twitter and stop by and visit us at one of these trade shows.
Find out why companies engage CTI Solutions and continue to re-engage with us.
http://www.cti-kc.com/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Emergency Broadcast Messaging
Monday, January 25, 2010
4G Roll Out
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Video Queue
When you need to get your most "at-risk" customer information quickly - use digital signage. People on this list are in your store for a reason - service. In addition one can use special identifing tags on the customers name or ID to identify those customers that are loyal.
Sales can be effective - but exceptional service keeps the customer churn low - Something CTI Solutions knows - And communication when the customer is at a service center is critical to overall success of the experience of the customer.
Contact CTI Solutions today to find out how we can help you communicate with your customers.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Trade Show Package - Success!
But the amazing part was the amount of people just looking at the displays - and then asking about the information on the screen.
- Digital Signage Gets Traffic!
- Digital Signage Gets Attraction!
- Digital Signage Influences Consumer Behavior!
Why are you at a Trade Show to Begin With?
Signage Works
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Digital Signage at Work
The Amazing Part about Digital Signage is it works - Every change of the screen attracks the consumer and influences their behavior.
This film was shot on January 1st 2010 in a hotel. It switched every few seconds and was integrated with 5 other displays within the lobby, front desk and elevator area of the hotel. Each area promoted different items and a few ads were run on all 6 displays.
The lobby promoted restaurants and drinks. This elevator position promoted menus of restaurants located in the hotel. The amazing part was everytime I saw the ad switch - people looked at it. I also noticed some people just watching it as well.