talking heads
Touchscreen
Technology
When it comes to touchscreen solutions, Elo are a
global leader. We talk tech with Maarten Bais, Vice
President and General Manager EMEA, Elo.
Maarten Bais, Vice President and General Manager, Elo
Introduction
The history of Elo dates right the way
back to 1971 when Dr. George Samuel
Hurst invented the first broad-scale
resistive touchscreen technology.
Resistive touchscreen technology
is comprised of two flexible sheets
that, when pressed together, register
the contact made. Due to its strong
durability, this technology is commonly
found today in commercial-grade
applications for business and public
areas, such as retail locations and pointof-sale systems. Nowadays Elo is a global
leader in touchscreen solutions from 10
to 70 inches, with 20+ million retail and
hospitality installations over 80 countries.
Which industries does Elo
currently operate in?
In retail, we power an engaging
consumer interaction at in-store touch
points and enable seamless, friendly
and elegant point of sale experiences.
Hospitality is another key industry of
focus where our point of information and
wayfinding solutions help boost visitor
engagement and consumer services
interaction. In certain countries, gaming
is also an important area of our presence
1
as we meet the interactive gaming needs
of the millennial generation. And last,
but definitely not least, medical is an
important industry for us. It means that
all Elo products come complete with a
medical standard quality.
Why are touchscreens
becoming more important for
businesses?
Customers expect a more personalised
and engaging experience when they
shop; advancements in touchscreen
technology are uniquely positioned to
deliver just that. Interactive applications
allow marketers and store owners to
measure the activity in real time, and
adapt the messaging based on the
consumer’s behaviour and increasing the
relevance for the customer, as well as
the return on the marketing investment.
And last, but not least, touch is such a
familiar human instinct that has been
democratised across all consumer
devices. Trends rightly show that
consumers’ main interaction method
is touch. Commercial touchscreens are
simply creating continuity of the touch
experience which enables a seamless,
omnichannel interaction.
2
KIOSK solutions 33