Digital sign language

Harris Corportation’s Ian Collis speaks to Business Management about how digital signage solution can benefits businesses today.

Tell me a bit about Harris. What are your specialist areas of focus? What is your global presence?  

Ian Collis. Harris Corporation is a global communications company that provides "assured communications" to both government and commercial customers. The Broadcast Communications division, which encompasses our Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) group, is responsible for providing solutions to any business that needs audio-visual (A/V) technologies to inform, educate or entertain their audience in the business context.  Harris Broadcast Communications have a very strong global presence, with regional headquarters around the world, bringing local expertise and presence to customers in both the broadcast and the DOOH space.

What is your point of difference?   

IC. We have been providing technology solutions to the broadcast industry for nearly a century, we have a strong background in media asset management and are experts in the art of "transporting moving images" in mission-critical environments.  Our core business has always been to transport the highest-quality images and deliver them at the right time on the correct device without fail. Our DOOH solution was developed from this expertise as a blend of our own hardware, software and services - combined with our extensive experience of creating, managing and delivering content to whatever display device is used. We truly have the ability to deliver all aspects of a successful digital signage solution.

What kind of spaces do you operate in? And who are your customers?   

IC. In the DOOH space, we have digital signage network customers in all of the major segments of retail, transport, leisure, hospitality, sports stadia and large venues, healthcare, education and corporate.

In the broadcast space, Harris works with the majority of broadcasters in the world, and it is a strong possibility that any programme that reaches a viewer's eyeball anywhere on the planet has been supported by a Harris device or application at some point in the broadcast process.

What are the most important considerations for investments in signage?

IC. We would recommend that any business seeking to invest in DOOH solutions consider that investment carefully - not only in terms of the technology they choose, but also in terms of the company they will work with. Long-term working relationships with global and financially secure manufacturers are key to allowing the chosen solution to grow and scale as the business grows.  Our top five considerations are: excellent quality of technology and visuals are based on experience in the field of visual communications; reliability of content delivery; maximisations of operational efficiency; compelling applications and intuitive GUI; and a clear return on investment.

What is the future for Harris? What are the challenges for the company and the sector going forward?  

IC. We are living in an increasingly mobile world, and the use of A/V to communicate either internally to staff or externally to customers is an increasingly important part of our customers' business challenge. The goal of Harris in the DOOH world is to help companies reach their customers at the right time and in the right place, with engaging and flexible messages to support current business needs.  The "moment" where the message and the person intersect, whether it is for information, education or entertainment, is a crucial point in time; Harris has a unique level of insight and capability to create and monetize that crucial moment.

About

Ian Collis is director of marketing for Harris Broadcast Communications in Europe and is leading the Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) business in the region as a key growth initiative for Harris. Ian has been with Harris for the past four years and was previously the VP of marketing for Sony Professional Solutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Ian has more than 25 years of experience in the Broadcast, Media and Professional AV sector.