Display technology supplied to global logistics company

South African manufacturer of display technologies PVision has collaborated with Shellard Media to complete the installation of display screens and supporting technology worth R738 000 at global logistics giant DHL’s quality-control centre, at its Johannesburg headquarters.

“The DHL quality-control centre is among the first of its kind in Southern Africa and has fundamentally altered the manner in which the company’s local arm reacts to potential challenges,” says DHL sub-Saharan Africa quality-control centre manager Donnaven Periasamy.

The headquarters are fitted with the latest equipment – consisting of eight PVision 46 inch model PD46N6 video wall units, Polycom video and teleconference facilities – intended to enhance internal monitoring operations, enabling DHL to maintain a consistent overview of global shipping routes, dispatch floors, developing weather patterns, natural disasters and international news about key DHL accounts.

Shellard Media serves as the system integrator and is responsible for ensuring that it is fully functional, while PVision supplies display technology.

The installation at DHL Johannesburg comprises eight ultranarrow bezel 46 inch liquid crystal display screens in a 4 × 2 configuration that are linked to every DHL centre worldwide.

PVision director David Ross says the equipment supplied to DHL is a 24-hour duty cycle solution, as DHL expects to be functional at all times to facilitate the efficient operation of its business.

“DHL has a seamless global strategy. It wants to be the logistics company for the world and a concerted effort is being made by everyone involved in this project to achieve this goal,” notes Shellard Media MD Elaine Shellard.

Therefore, the quality-control centre includes vehicle alert systems, which notify DHL drivers of any possible traffic congestion on their routes. This global communication system supplies the driver with alternative routes, which ensures that DHL continues to deliver on time.

“Both Shellard Media and PVision moved quickly to ensure that the DHL quality-control centre was equipped with the necessary technology by the deadline agreed, which was within four weeks. We have yet to experience any problems with the displays or supporting equipment and are extremely satisfied with the high levels of service these companies provided,” says DHL sub-Saharan Africa services manager Imtiyaz Ranjamia.

“Clients such as DHL that have inspired PVision to integrate important and relevant information and media into one display, which acts as a centralised controlled display, are the type of clients we are most excited to work with,” says Ross.

Corporate companies want products and services with credible guarantees, notes Shellard, adding that people who buy no-name brands, will neither expect nor receive impressive guarantees or maintenance services.

“There is a lot of dust in Johannesburg and dust and electronics are not friends. However, very few companies have the infrastructure to provide customers with guarantees and maintenance services,” she says.

There are frequent power shortages in South Africa, notes Ross. Corporate companies can potentially lose data when outages occur, as there is often no backup plan. He stresses that people need to plan ahead and be professional in their approach to mitigate data loss.

“Pvision, Shellard Media and the client work together to find solutions to such challenges,” says Ross.

Further, customers expect reliability. “We hold stocks of spares in the unlikely event that something goes wrong,” he points out.

Shellard Media has 21 technicians who play a crucial role, which, even after the recession in 2008, the company cannot afford to do without. Some of these technicians are colour calibration experts who ensure that each video wall operates effec- tively, making them invaluable to the company.

“For PVision, a system integrator such as Shellard Media is our life line, allowing the product to perform at its best, as the company incorporates our products into a solution for a client,” Ross says.

Both companies note that society is moving towards improving communication using various technologies such as digital signage to effectively communicate with staff and clients.

However, PVision and Shellard Media emphasise the need to train the end-user, as a lack of understanding by the end-user is where most of the difficulty lies.

“One of the challenges currently facing the industry include the general lack of education about technology. Some people do not take the time to fully understand that there is a vast difference between a commercial display screen and a standard television,” notes Ross.

Some corporate companies use televisions to display content. “A television is not a monitor and is the wrong product for a corporate boardroom,” says Shellard, noting that a television offers limited functionality.

Commercial displays have a duty cycle of either 12 or 24 hours, whereas a television only has a duty cycle of about eight hours,” explains Ross, highlighting that it is the job of the system integrator to decide which product is best suited to the client.

“People fear that they do not know and understand technology, which is detrimental to the audio visual industry,” says Ross.

PVision’s focus on display technologies and related products has enabled the company to expand from a single product offering in 2003 to a range of products currently. PVision is continually adding new models and technologies to ensure that its range is ahead of the game, he points out.

Meanwhile, PVision and Shellard Media are looking to expand their solutions into the education sector, where high-quality solutions have been sidelined for more affordable domestic products that have no long-term value.

Both companies note that the biggest potential for growth lies not only in South Africa but also in the rest of Africa, where there is a lack of education in general,” says Shellard, who adds that the two companies wish to use education as a market and technology and infrastructure as a tool.

“Educators need to continually improve their skills and adapt to new technology. This can be done by using digital displays in classrooms, as it is an active medium,” notes Ross.

During school hours, pupils can learn through the digital medium and, after hours, teachers can receive relevant updates through the same medium. “It requires an initial outlay on infrastructure; however, once this is done, the technology will serve as a tool through which any educational program can be run,” he says.

Shellard Media has already supplied PVision’s display screen technology to Oprah’s School for Girls at Henley-on-Klip, south of Johannesburg.

Further, one of the latest trends and technological advances in the audio visual industry includes going green. “People are also more interested in the aesthetic appeal of products,” says Ross, while Shellard adds that society wants prettier, thinner and more adaptable and versatile technology.

Both companies place great importance not only on the display solution hardware but also on the content.
“South Africans generally have much higher standards for content. We are always looking to push boundaries, which is why we only hire creative individuals who are up to date with technological advances,” says Shellard.