Evento Oficial de EKN!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


  
  
  
  
  

Recuerden...
Los Miembros del Proveedor se benefician de los envíos ilimitados de Comunicados de Prensa así como de nuevos boletines de productos o servicios en nuestro espacio de mercado!

COMUNICADOS DE PRENSA

A Q & A with Kevin Kitchin of the Johannesburg IBM Corporate Office after the conclusion of the JusTTouchIT 2010 Conference!

04 Junio, 2.010 - Fuente: Johannesburg IBM Corporate Office / EKN

Following the recent successful conclusion of the JusTTouchIT Interactive Digital Media Conference in South Africa, we had the opportunity to speak with Platinum Sponsor IBM, through its Retail Store Solutions Specialist, Kevin Kitchin, about his impressions of the 2010 Conference and Expo.

Before we speak with Kevin, I would like to provide a couple of observations about this year’s Second Annual JusTTouchIT Conference. The first thing that must be mentioned was the beautiful venue. The Conference and Expo was held at the Midrand Conference Centre, and the venue was the Village Hall, a pseudo-Tuscan Village Hall which provided a classical backdrop for the professional and business like air which greeted the delegates.

As you entered the Expo Hall you were faced with the subtle and understated yet effective triple booth presence of the Platinum Sponsor of the Show, IBM, and a number of other leading international and South African players in the interactive self-service world.

We have had the pleasure of attending and participating in many Expos and Conference around the Globe. This year’s JusTTouchIT Conference was second to none when comparing the strength and diversity of presentations. The highlight was an insightful live broadcast from IBM’s Headquarters in Raleigh North Carolina. IBM’s presenter, Ms. Norma Wolcott, has earned the reputation of being one of the true experts and leaders in the Self Service Industry. As we all listened closely it became very clear that the IBM Team had worked many hours tailoring a specific presentation for the South African audience. The quality of the content in the IBM presentation was excellent, as was that of the other high level and in-depth presentations.

There was an abundance of steep praise for all of the people involved and for Frank Nunan the event founder. But, we wanted to confirm that no assumptions were being made so had the pleasure of going to the IBM Campus to share some time with Kevin Kitchin.

EKN: "Kevin why was the Platinum Sponsorship, primary sponsor, for the JusTTouchIT 2010 Conference viewed as an important initiative for IBM?" Kevin: "The first item to point out is that we did not simply make the decision to take that position without an in depth discussion with all of the internal stakeholders contributing. Over the last few years we have identified Self-Service as a growth area in Africa. It is a great opportunity to take our innovative technologies out of cold server rooms and put them where they can be seen. We want to be seen to be bringing this excellent technology to the people, and empowering and interacting with the man on the street." EKN: "It is interesting that you mention getting everyone involved in the conversation. Can you tell us a bit about that discussion?" Kevin: "For sure. The first thing was to get the right people in the room together so we saw all sides and received input from each member of the team to ensure that we were going in the right direction. We had representation from Sales, Brand Solutions, and Corporate Marketing. Some of the items we discussed were that we all agreed that this was a growth area that we wanted to be involved. We also decided that if we were going to invest in the JusTTouchIT Conference we wanted to enter at the ground level and lead the up-growth. We realized that if we helped to grow the industry that the IBM Brand would be in the forefront as a leading provider in this space." EKN: "What were your impressions of the conference?" Kevin: "The first thing that stood out was the very strong representation of the audience. All of the major players were instantly recognizable, and it was obvious that everyone there was either in the market for interactive solutions or seriously looking at the technology. Even more importantly there was an exuberance on the floor of the Expo. Often times there are a large number of attendees at conferences, but not much comes out of it, but at this conference it was the high quality of the interactions at the booths that made the difference. There was a buzz in the building for the entire conference."                                                      A view from IBM South Africa Johannesburg Corporate Campus EKN: "Speaking of the Conference Sessions, one of the highlights of the sessions was a live presentation by Ms. Norma Wolcott from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her presentation was excellent and seemed to be spot on for the South African audience." Kevin: "Having Norma’s presenting “live” was an expression of our commitment to and belief in, not only to the conference, but to the industry and our region. We worked for many hours to make sure that her presentation was tailored for those receiving the information by using a formal corporate presentation and then drilling down to the real Best Practices building blocks. We have already had many requests for that section of Norma’s Presentation. This was not only a great way to demonstrate the use of technology to support the Expo but it also supports our Corporate Green initiatives to reduce emissions." EKN: "That is an important point. Often we miss the opportunities to reduce waste or eliminate travel. This was a perfect example. Thank you. I believe part of JusTTouchIT’s commitment to you as a the primary sponsor is to continually improve the conference to ensure both the growth of the Show and the quality that is offered. We were discussing several things that we could do to stimulate focused conversations. One thing that was suggested was using specific topics for tables at the luncheons. What would you like to see changed?" Kevin: "Personally, from an exhibitor’s perspective, I like having an open time at the breaks to spend time with my customers and IBM Partners. Having a private meeting space, on the floor, would allow us to slip away and have a private conversation without leaving the Exhibit Area. We think it will also be good to bring in Executive Subject Matter Experts to be available in the booth and not just to present at the Sessions. There are always ways to grow the size of the Expo, such as a focus on Point of Purchase and Point of Sales. We appreciate all of the efforts that have been put into the JusTTouchIT Conference and see these small improvements as a real way to improve the experience." EKN: ": I am sure you will see on the floor meeting rooms for next year and appreciate your comments. There have been several major companies that have expressed interest for the 2011 Conference and additional new exhibitors this year. How do you feel about the increased visibility of these competitors?" Kevin: "My first reaction is that what is good for the industry is good for us. From a worldwide perspective, we are in a leadership position because we work in a competitive environment. IBM is comfortable in that arena. As the technologies take hold, invariably we will maintain our leadership position in this geography also. Let me go back to something I said earlier. It will not matter if we are number one or what our competitors are doing if we do not get this technology to the man on the street. That is the best way to ensure success for all of us and to reach our goals in this region. It was a great conference and we look forward to next year!" EKN: "Kevin, in closing, we would like to thank you for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to share you thoughts and views for our viewers. Thank you everyone. We hope to see many of you in Johannesburg at the JusTTouchIT 2011 Conference."

  

Euro Kiosks Network es una filial que pertenece en su totalidad a