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Pro A/V roadshow focuses on digital signage

The annual traveling E4AV showcase has a strong emphasis on digital signage opportunities for A/V pros.

March 29, 2013 by Christopher Hall — writer, self

Almo Professional A/V kicked off its annual E4AV A/V roadshow earlier this week in Chicago, and digital signage was squarely in the spotlight at the tour's first stop.

The daylong event features an exhibitor hall of 35 technology providers and several educational seminars, several of which were focused on helping A/V professionals better understand the burgeoning digital signage market.

The E4AV Tour started in 2009 and has grown over the years, according to Melody Craigmyle, the vice president of marketing for the Pro A/V Division at Almo Corp. The Chicago event drew about 400 attendees from aroudn the region. The tour stops are designed to bring educational seminars and product demos to A/V professionals around the country who might otherwise have to travel to a show such as InfoComm or the Digital Signage Expo for the same exposure.

All of the classes in this year's tour, for instance, are CTS Ru certified for InfoComm CTS renewal units, Craigmyle said.

Sam Taylor, EVP and COO for Almo's Professional A/V Division, said that Almo believes in educating its resellers, to help them see that latest technologies and trends affecting the industry.

"And we're not doing this out of the goodness of our hearts," he said. "It's the people who stay educated on these issues who will be around in the long run."

And digital signage is an increasingly big part of the professional A/V world, with people getting into it from a variety of different points, from the network integrator side to home A/V installers and POS installers, he said.

"Digital signage is a rapidly changing and evolving market segment," he said. "The window is not closed, but they're falling behind if they're not already investing in it. It's the fastest growing segment within our division."

The exhibit hall in Chicago featured digital signage providers ranging display providers such as LG Electronics, NanoLumens, NEC Display Solutions, Samsung and Planar Systems, to mount providers such as Chief, Peerless-AV and Premier Mounts.

"It's like a mini InfoComm in there," Craigmyle said.

For most of the A/V integrators and professionals who work with Almo, there's probably already digital signage opportunity in their existing client base that they're missing, according to Craigmyle. Whether it's talking to HR departments about digital signage for corporate communications, putting digital menu boards in the company cafeteria or setting up digital signage wayfinding on the corporate campus, there are probably opportunities right under their noses.

"An integrator can come here and get a real sense of how they can put this all together," she said.

Dana Michaelis, VP of sales for NanoLumens, said he thought the show was "very beneficial from a high level" perspective for the pro A/V sector to see what's going on in the digital signage world.

"It's such an educational event for the industry," he said.

And the event also, as Craigmyle said, lets A/V pros see the technology in place and working. "Seeing is believing," he said.

Chuck Wilson, executive director of National Systems Contractors Association, said he loves the E4AV shows that "just keep getting better and better." Wilson said he always sees a good number of NSCA members, and that he sees his industry interfacing more and more with digital signage through building control systems and emergency messaging notification systems.

"I think it's kind of a glimpse into the future," he said.

Carol Nordin, president of TouchSystems Corp., said "this particular event has floored me," from the attendance to the interest shown by the attendees. Nordin marveled at how the attendees were willing and eager to engage and not just people trying to get the usual show swag.

"It's exciting," talking to people about the possibilities of digital signage, and watching people start to see how they can integrate it into their school, or hospital or business, she said. "Lights go on."

The remaining E4AV tour dates are scheduled for April 25 in San Francisco; Oct. 18 in Irvine, Calif.; and Nov. 13 in New Jersey.

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