Viking Line Takes Digital Signage On Board
Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Viking Line, a Finnish operator of ferries and cruise ferries, has partnered with Scala to implement digital signs onboard its seven vessels. The digital signage features both informational and ad-based programming, and reaches passengers at various points on its ships.
The ad-based network shows tax-free promotions in the most trafficked areas of the boat near the shops, restaurant and casinos. The information network shows content on large touch screens, including opening hours, restaurant menus, weather, news, entertainment programming, conference information and possible delays.
Viking Line tell us that they were printing about 2,000 sheets of paper every day for the cruise program so digital screens that could show this information would obviously reduce printing costs dramatically and be ‘greener’.
Viking Line also wanted to use digital posters to increase tax-free sales.
The first pilot was on the ferry Mariella which has 15 screens and six channels. By Summer 2009, all of its ferries will have digital signage networks installed.
René Engman, Viking Line’s Deputy Director of IT told us “Sales of promotional products have increased remarkably since the screens were installed. We clearly see that the customers perceive the message, and they more frequently purchase the promoted products,”
Viking Line’s next plan is installing screens at the terminals.
About Viking Line
Viking Line commenced service in 1959, when the S/S Viking began sailing between the Finnish mainland, the Åland Islands and Sweden. Today Viking Line has seven vessels, which sail between the Finnish mainland, Åland and Sweden, as well as between Finland and the Baltic states. With Viking Line, a Baltic cruise from one city to another takes less than a day. Viking Line has a wide entertainment offering: casinos, restaurants, discos and live artists. Operations include passenger services, recreation and cargo carrier services.
April 2nd, 2009 at 13:13 @592
And don’t forget that the screens, IconOne, are made in Finland by Simbicon.