With new technological innovations launching every day, it’s an exciting time to be part of the wide-format printing industry. In the midst of all the excitement surrounding new technology, business owners also face the challenge of staying agile and keeping pace with new trends.
Before SpeedPro rolls out products or services system-wide, we conduct pilot programs to test each new potential technology or equipment offering as it emerges. This helps ensure they are viable and can be seamlessly implemented by studio owners.
We’re currently running two pilot programs – one testing interactive touchscreen digital signage and another testing Americans with Disability Act (ADA)-compliant signage. SpeedPro Vendor Relations Manager/Field Consultant, Jodi Olin, explains the importance of running these programs before making any system-wide add-on offerings:
“It’s critical to stay in front of new technology trends, so we’re always looking for new equipment and programs to offer our SpeedPro studio owners,” Jodi said. “From vendor recommendations and trends we see at conferences or trade shows, we’re able to introduce and try out new offerings that will bring a great deal of value to our franchise owners.”
ADA-Compliant Signage
We currently have two studios participating in our ADA-compliant signage pilot program, which includes testing out a new Ultra-Violet ADA printer in different markets. This printer produces textured print items by layering ink and allows for easier navigation and readability for individuals with disabilities – particularly those who are visually-impaired.
This printer can produce durable and ADA-compliant braille signage, as well as textured way-finding signage and exhibit signage for different public buildings. Hotels, zoos, convention centers, schools and universities and government buildings are just a few examples of public areas that need ADA-compliant signage to cater to individuals with physical disabilities. These signs help them not only read and comprehend exhibit signs in public buildings, they’re also important resources to help these individuals safely reach their destination.
“This pilot program has proven extremely successful in just a few months,” said Jodi. “The product is great to market to construction or property management companies, since it provides them a great value-add to offer customers. Instead of having to look elsewhere for compliant, specialty signage, building managers can depend on their construction company to take care of this aspect for them as well.”
Interactive Touchscreen Digital Signage
We also have four studios in different markets testing interactive touchscreens with digital signage, available through CloudTouch. These interactive touchscreens are a significant value-add for our clients that use us for convention and event signage, so we’ve made sure to implement the pilot programs in some of the biggest convention hubs – including New York City, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort-Worth.
“We’ve also seen a lot of success so far with our interactive touchscreen pilot – there’s definitely been a great deal of interest,” Jodi said. “It’s a great product for studio owners with many clients who are event planners or participate in trade shows frequently. We can easily rent out touchscreen digital signage as a value-add on top of the graphics we already print and install for them.”
Interactive touchscreen signage is an easy way for clients to make their booths stand out at trade shows and make an impact on potential leads.
“Since graphics and printing solutions are part of the technology industry, everyone wants the latest and greatest industry developments,” said Jodi. “But, we run these pilot programs to make sure we’re protect our studio owners with their investments. Before we offer them system-wide, we make sure they’re profitable and easy to implement, as well as in line with many of our studio owners’ clientele.”
The Next Step in the Pilot Process
Once a successful pilot program has been completed, Jodi and her team take the offer out to all studio owners within the system and give them the option of investing in the equipment as an add-on.
“Each studio owner can decide if they want to invest in one add-on, both or neither – it really just depends on their preference and if they think they’ll have a lot of demand for the new offerings, based on their existing clients,” said Jodi.
Studio owners are under no obligation to integrate the products or services rolled out through pilot programs. Instead, owners can decide what will generate the strongest return on investment for their businesses.
At the same time, they benefit greatly from having these new options regularly presented to them based on the latest industry trends. That’s something that small business owners don’t have – they need to constantly make sure they’re staying up to date. Conversely, our franchise partners have these new innovations consistently presented to them, and they can see tangible data on ROI, and how they’ve performed at another SpeedPro location.
To learn more about how SpeedPro is a forward-thinking, innovative franchise brand with cutting-edge technology, visit our website.