Aletsch Arena – Always up-to-date at Aletsch Arena – Waterproof displays provide real-time information.

Challenge.

To optimise the customer experience and ensure its guests are kept up-to-date, Aletsch Arena AG has been following a strategy of digitalisation for several years, which has already seen a digital information system, digital guest cards, a new online shop plus a whole new website rolled out. It was also looking to find new solutions for within and outside the valley and summit stations to automatically provide visitors to the Mörel-Filet, Riederalp, Bettmeralp, Fiesch, Fieschertal and Lax regions with the information they need, when they need it. However, to be able to realise this, there was the hurdle of finding the technology to withstand the extreme weather conditions to overcome. With this in mind, Aletsch Arena AG started the search for a robust and long-life display solution to replace its existing devices with the crucial condition that as much of the tech as possible be developed and produced in Switzerland, and that the service provider responsible for installation and implementation be Swiss-based.

Solution.

Aletsch Arena AG first became aware of Bechtle’s digital signage offering after a consultation with Bechtle direct. An on-site visit confirmed that Bechtle’s expertise would be a perfect match for Aletsch Arena AG and that, backed by good references and an outdoor solution tailored to Aletsch Arena’s needs sealed the deal. Bechtle recommended the rugged FORIS® Outdoor Kiosk outdoor solution made by the Swiss company, Inputech, which is designed as a modular system allowing it to be configured in different sizes. Inputech equips the devices with cooling, heating and controls making them the perfect choice for use outdoors, but for Aletsch Arena, the heating system was expanded from two to three elements in order to withstand daily temperature fluctuations of up to 30 degrees at over 3,000 metres above sea level. An internet connection ensures that Inputech knows automatically if one of the displays goes down, but the automation doesn’t stop there with the FORIS® Outdoor Kiosk able to control the level of heating. The kiosks have waterproof 42” to 75” DynaScan monitors with antiglare screens with IR/UV filters built in protected by ESG IK10 security glass in an IP65-rated housing that is both weather and tamper-proof. The monitors are easy to read in the daylight (from 2500 cd/m2) and automatically adjust their brightness to the ambient light. Aletsch Arena required a total of eight of these outdoor screens at six Aletsch Bahnen AG station sites to provide real-time information to visitors of departure times, the weather, avalanche risks and storm warnings. As soon as the necessary internet and power cables had been laid, Bechtle and Inputech started work on the eight displays. A total of 28 indoor displays were also needed to display show cable car and train departure times and other information such as special regional offers. For these, QM series Samsung monitors were selected. Bechtle and Aletsch Arena AG visited each site together to determine precise requirements before the decision was made to install 55” and 32” models. These had to be adapted to the extremely heterogeneous environment using as few mounting options as possible. Swivelling and full-motion brackets were needed to handle the sloping and suspended ceilings, accessible designs with downward viewing angles and varying wall and ceiling constructions. Each bracket’s extension poles and heights were individually adjusted by on-site specialists so that all 28 Samsung displays are perfectly integrated into their new homes to complement digital communication with visitors.

Business benefits.

The FORIS® Outdoor Kiosk and 28 indoor monitors have taken customer communications to the next level both indoors and out and have enabled Aletsch Arena AG to stay true to their Swissness motto. The durable, heated kiosks can withstand the extreme weather conditions on the mountain while the indoor monitors provide information to visitors quickly and easily. These information boards are also characterised by a high degree of reliability thanks to automatic heating and cooling controls and real-time time monitoring by Inputech.

Partners.