Smart Screens At Heathrow Compare Live Airport Transfer Options
Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
Heathrow Express, digital out-of-home media agency DOOH.com and JCDecaux Airport UK have partnered to create what they claim is a world-first proposition: the ‘journey comparison generator,’ which combines real-time traffic, weather and train service information to help customers make the best choice for their onward travel.
Installed at Terminal 2, it uses a moderation engine produced by DOOH.com, formerly known as Enigma, to pull together five different layers of real-time feeds from TomTom, Heathrow Express, Google, the Highways Agency and the Met Office.
The screens present passengers with the estimated time and costs at the exact moment they would use the rail link to reach central London versus getting a black taxi. Along with displaying the time of the next Heathrow Express train, the campaign also employs GPS-focused technology to highlight real-time traffic on a map that displays the journey between the terminal and Paddington.
In what they says is another media first, the screens on each baggage reclaim carousel at Terminal 2 will be translated to the main language of people on the arriving flight. This campaign will also be installed across Heathrow’s Terminals 3 and 5 later in the year.
The journey comparison generator shows that by using Heathrow Express rather than black cab taxis, travelers can save up to money and time. Currently, more than 100,000 passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport every day.
“The aim of the ‘journey comparison generator’ is to enable Heathrow passengers to get into London as speedily, easily and as cheaply as possible,” says Fraser Brown, Heathrow Express director. “By harnessing many different sources of real-time data into one, we are helping to make this happen. Research shows Heathrow Express trains are three times faster than taxis and a quarter of the price. These screens show how that comparison varies minute to minute depending on traffic, weather and time of day.”
“Consumers through their smart phones are incredibly enabled with right information at their choosing,” says Andrew Newman, co-founder of DOOH.com. “When it’s served up to them via advertising and by a brand, we have to do more to gain their confidence. By linking scheduling information, Google maps, a GPS feed, live clock times and road traffic accident alerts, this multi-layered approach gains the trust of the public, delivering relevant information that enhances their decision making.”
Alan Sullivan, managing director at JCDecaux Airport, says, “This state-of-the-art real-time campaign marks a further step towards providing advertisers with content and context driven dynamic Digital Out-of-Home campaigns with JCDecaux Airport. We are delighted to be such an integral part of this world-first proposition that has the ability to transform how brands communicate to passengers as well as enhance traveller’s airport experiences.”
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