Alex Talsma is one of our business partners with whom we have worked for more than 10 years. We thought this was a great time for an interview about Bizplay and its application in practice at many of his wonderful clients.
Interview spotlight: Alex Talsma - digital signage expert and Bizplay partner
As a digital signage expert , Alex Talsma integrates technology into physical space for a better experience for customers and employees. Working with Bizplay and his latest project Tourio, Alex explains how digital solutions can contribute not only practically, but also aesthetically to the experience of a space. For organizations looking to enhance their communications and offer their audience a unique experience, Alex's approach offers an inspiring vision of the future of digital signage.
An early start in digital signage
At age 16 I was already working with Scala on my Commodore Amiga, and even then I hoped that digital screen communications would be my future. While studying communications at the Hogeschool Leeuwarden, I started my first company, making cable newsreels, CD-ROMs and websites: Digital Emotions. When Wagenborg passenger services asked to display the information from their website and intranet also on the boats to Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, I became very enthusiastic. This was for me the step towards professional digital signage.
Digital signage and Digitecture
After my studies, I became a strategic advisor to boards of directors on digital innovation. In 2009 I ended up in the world of libraries and became involved in the relocation of the Kopgroep Libraries in Den Helder. After a workshop on digital signage, the architect asked me to create a design for embedding this in their interior plan. However, the architect indicated that in architecture this was not considered at all: 'we do architecture, but what you do is actually “Digitecture”'. That was a perfect description of what I was actually doing and from then on I have been giving workshops on Digitecture for organizations that are going to build or renovate. Since then, Digitecture has also become a registered trademark.
Discovering Bizplay
In 2014, I created a Digitecture plan for the Den Helder library. I considered systems such as Scala or PADS, but realized that these were too complicated for the people to whom I had given the workshop. On the night before the presentation of my plan, I held it up to my wife, who immediately said, “this is not going to make them happy Alex”. Then I very quickly started looking for an alternative. I found an article with a link to Bizplay and created a trial account. It immediately felt very intuitive and user-friendly. When it also passed my wife's test I immediately contacted Pascal from Bizplay the next morning , He gave me the confidence that they would stand behind me. From there I decided to present Bizplay that very morning. That was the start of a beautiful partnership.
The value of digital signage
I always found it very strange that the topic of digitization in boardrooms never went beyond website, intranet and social media. Little or no thought was given to digital innovation in the building. Many millions were spent on a new building, but in terms of functionality it was the same as a building from say 2005 or 1985: no attention was paid to integrating digital resources. While these could contribute so much to realizing the digital strategy.
“My clients have measurably better results thanks to digital signage”
Take hospitality for example: if you have guests for lunch and you don't tell them that you also have delicious pastries and coffee later in the day, don't be surprised if you sell less pastries and coffee than expected. Instead of communicating with static signs, you could make much more use of the power screens and speed of the Internet at the place and time you already have the customer. My clients have measurably better results thanks to digital signage: employees are better informed, front desk staff get fewer questions and events fill up faster.
Learn more about digital signage in bars and restaurants.
Why Bizplay?
With Bizplay, I get not only excellent digital signage software but also strong support from the Bizplay team. If an issue arises for a client, it’s resolved quickly. The product’s continuous development ensures I wouldn’t consider switching to another system. While Bizplay’s playful and simple website design might undersell its capabilities, the platform is also highly suitable for enterprise applications. I use Bizplay to address strategic challenges, such as increasing revenue and improving processes through better information sharing.
I also see that everyone who works with Bizplay enjoys it. Its simplicity and versatility allow many client requirements to be met immediately, making it a "no-brainer" recommendation for my clients. I can't recall a customer who, after seeing Bizplay, preferred another solution after all.
Tips for implementing digital signage
1. Focus on solving problems and addressing pain points.
Always ask yourself: why are we really doing this? On which communication points do you score insufficiently and how can we turn that around? Honestly give yourself an insufficient score on a certain component and see how you can turn it into a sufficient score.
2. Define clear responsibilities for digital signage.
Marketing and communication often initiates digital signage. ICT sometimes finds it difficult because it is between office automation and an audio-visual tool. And the Facilities Department may also think something of it. Who is the internal owner?
3. Establish robust content management.
Agree on who does what. This is often forgotten after the technical realization. The best thing about Bizplay is that someone who is not technical, but who knows exactly what needs to be communicated in terms of content, can also use the system. But you have to organize it well. Replacement in case of absence is not always well organized.
The present and future: Bizplay and Tourio
Today, I help companies improve the digital experience in their physical environment. I do this mainly by giving workshops and working out digital concepts. Nice to mention that at one of his projects, where Bizplay was also rolled out, Alex was asked to arrange an interactive tour on your visitor's cell phone. When that solution did not exist, I came up with Tourio. and had it developed. It turned out that other clients were very interested in this as well. We then marketed Tourio as a stand-alone product and it has been a great success. And this, too, fits seamlessly into the overarching theme of my career: improving the experience for visitors. And so Tourio often goes hand in hand with Bizplay.