LFP - Large-Format-Printing
Planar Helps Umpqua Bank Capture Customer Attention with Unique Digital Signage Display Solutions
Wednesday 02. January 2008 - New Innovation Lab Incorporating Planar Margay and Bobcat X Displays Transforms Traditional Banking Experience
Planar Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLNR), a worldwide leader in specialty display solutions, has implemented 17 of its large-format digital displays at Umpqua Bank’s first-of-its-kind Innovation Lab in Portland, Ore. Combining the power of digital signage and interactive touch-screen technology, the video walls feature Planar Margay and Bobcat X displays to enhance the customer experience, illustrating Planar’s strategy to deliver high-quality display solutions for specialty applications, such as banking and financial services industries.
Umpqua Bank, which has 147 store locations throughout the West Coast, opened the 3,000-foot Innovation Lab in November to act as a community hub of activity and a showcase for emerging and existing technologies – going beyond services found in a typical bank branch. It offers a variety of resources such as the Coffee Stop and lounge, a computer cafe, meeting space and products from local merchants, and a 25-foot Product Marquee that serves as the official community center. As a focal point for the Lab, the Product Marquee incorporates six 50″ Planar Margay rear-projection displays. Eleven 40″ Planar Bobcat X displays form a Community Mosaic wall as well as other interactive display areas.
Overlayed for the first time with touch technology, the Margay and Bobcat X displays offer visitors to Umpqua Bank’s Innovation Lab a visually impactful way to access and interact with digital content, such as community events and information, volunteer opportunities and Umpqua products and services. The Planar installations at Umpqua Bank were deployed by local systems integrator Avidex.
“In creating the Lab, we looked for technology partners to help us build on our vision of redefining what consumers expect from their banking experience,” said Ray Davis, president and CEO of Umpqua Bank. “We were impressed by Planar’s ability to leverage its display expertise and technology resources to create display walls that engage our customers in meaningful ways.”
Planar offerings such as the Bobcat and Margay displays and CoolSign software have been deployed for digital signage applications in a variety of financial services environments, such as the lobby waiting areas at Bellco Credit Union, First Tech Credit Union, HAPO Credit Union and other banks.
“More financial services are turning to enhanced visual displays to capture customer attention from the moment they walk in the door, and we were excited to work with Umpqua on this truly groundbreaking ‘community wall’ concept,” said Brad Gleeson, vice president of business development and CoolSign general manager at Planar. “This partnership is an example of how Planar can deploy digital signage solutions within very unique environments, ultimately enabling businesses to communicate more effectively with their customers.”
Margay and Bobcat X Highlights
The 50″ Planar Margay (MSRP: $9,995) combines the best features of direct-view and rear-projection technology, such as single-chip HD2+ DLP(R) technology for high color performance, an efficient form factor (only 17.7″ deep), and zero-mullion design that is ideal for large, multi-display video walls requiring seamless images. The high-performance Bobcat X (MSRP: $4,500) offers key features such as a lightweight, 4″ deep flat-panel form factor, an unprecedented backlight life (up to 60,000 hours) and several networking options, making it a more reliable retail solution than commodity display models.
The Bobcat and Margay displays, along with Planar’s full line of digital signage solutions, are available through its network of system integrators and audiovisual dealers worldwide.
