The world’s first network of smart benches in London
Strawberry Energy and MKTG rolled out 10 smart benches in London with the charity of 2017
Smart city business Strawberry Energy UK has joined forces with London boroughs of Lewisham and Islington and Cancer Research UK to launch a network of Smart Benches (#SmartBenchUK) with contactless technology in time for World Cancer Day on 4th February. The solar-powered benches enhance public spaces by providing mobile device charging ports and free Wi-Fi access, as well as a place to sit and socialise.
In the world’s first use of contactless payment on the Smart Bench, the public can also donate £2 to the charity’s life-saving research to beat cancer sooner, by simply tapping their contactless debit or credit card on the Smart Bench, popping up across London.
Strawberry Energy has been working exclusively with Urban Partnerships, a division of MKTG which delivers projects within the public space that are mutually beneficial for both brands and non-profit organisations.
Cancer Research UK is the first brand to partner on the Smart Bench scheme, a network of benches across two London boroughs (Islington and Lewisham). The sites were identified as high-footfall locations by MKTG, using their strategic insight tools and location planning expertise.
This pilot of 10 Smart Benches has been installed on 31 January with full support from both boroughs, and feature a number of contactless payment locations including Islington Green and Lewisham High Street. Following the pilot, a further 10 will be installed by the end of February.
Sensors built into the smart benches monitor real-time environmental data including air quality, which users can check via the Strawberry Energy smartphone app, providing a valuable lifestyle tool for the community and feeding important data to local boroughs. This is especially relevant in support of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s aim to improve the capital’s air quality. Strawberry Energy (www.smartbench.london) has taken on production and installation of the first benches, without cost to taxpayers, as part of the company’s commitment to London as a smart city.
Miloš Milisavljević, founder and CEO of Strawberry Energy, developers and owners of the Smart Bench network, said: “We have been working with London boroughs to breathe life into our dream of a network of solar-powered Smart Benches, making energy free for all Londoners. We are proud to launch our network in the lead up to World Cancer Day with a contactless fundraising innovation in aid of Cancer Research UK.
“Our charging stations bring people together, motivate them to spend more time outdoors, and enhance their enjoyment of the environment with information such as pollution sensors.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “We are committed to making Islington a place where everyone can enjoy an excellent quality of life. These pioneering Smart Benches offer the best advances in smart technology and we are very pleased Islington is one of the first places in London to trial Smart Benches, and look forward to seeing how they benefit residents, workers and visitors alike.”
Councillor Rachel Onikosi, Lewisham Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, said “I’m very pleased that Lewisham is part of the start of this network of smart benches. Finding creative ways to make the most of our public spaces benefits local communities and attracts people to come and see the great things Lewisham has to offer.”
Paul Weaver, digital innovation manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Having used contactless technology in innovative ways in the past to engage the public in the work we do, we are always looking for new opportunities to incorporate contactless technology further throughout the charity and make it even easier for our supporters to help us beat cancer sooner. These Smart Benches seemed like the next step in our use of contactless technology to bring charitable giving closer to our supporters, integrating it seamlessly into cutting-edge street furniture.”
MKTG’s Urban Partnerships identified Cancer Research UK as an ideal first brand partner for Strawberry Energy and their Smart Bench network. The community can enjoy the benefits of the benches and in exchange, Cancer Research UK can maximise awareness and donations through contactless technology in the lead up to World Cancer Day.
Michael Brown, Managing Director, MKTG said: “Research shows the way in which consumers perceive brands has a huge influence on the effectiveness of that brand’s advertising. The Smart Bench network provides an opportunity for brands and local boroughs to create positive, impactful experiences for communities, who benefit from the various smart utilities provided by the network. Partnering with Strawberry Energy, we’re very excited to launch the Smart Bench Network initially with Cancer Research UK, an opportunity that will be open to more brands in the future.”
As well as making donations via these Smart Benches, Cancer Research UK is also urging the nation to wear a Unity Band® on 4 February 2017, World Cancer Day, creating one incredible #ActofUnity that will help beat cancer sooner. Get your Unity Band online for a suggested donation of £2.
Are you interested in running a successful campaign? We’re here to answer any questions! Let’s talk! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Building in the time if Proptech
| Why your property development projects should smarten up?
Proptech might be a buzz word but it’s a word that any prospect investor, property developer or business leader should take seriously. Whether we are talking about shopping malls, business premises or residential areas — developing a property means looking into the future. Factoring in numbers and basic facts such as location, quality of construction, return on investment, market volatility predictions etc. — it’s clear that this is not an easy decision-making process. But if we put the fast-changing technology and sustainability challenges into this equation, it only gets more complicated.
In our digital era of hyper connectivity where people are online every waking minute and interacting with their physical surroundings in a completely different way than 10 years ago, taking into consideration how your premises correspond to new technologies is crucial. And proptech is exactly that: any technology that makes your real estate smarter and more beneficial to its visitors or residents.
How can Strawberry energy Smart Bench improve any property that seeks to attract more visitors or make everyday life in a residential area more pleasant and environmentally friendlier? To answer this question, let’s take a look at 3 important fields of property development: shopping malls / consumer interaction points, business premises and residential areas.
It’s not about shopping anymore. It’s about hanging out.
In the last decade of 20th century, shopping malls were one of the major points of interaction between a customer and a wide variety of brands — from food to retail and entertainment. Business Insider reports that “about 15% of malls in the USA will disappear in the next decade, according to a study by Green Street Advisors.” Is there a way to increase the “foot traffic” rates in the malls and retain shoppers longer on your business premises?
As technology evolves, shoppers expect the surroundings to correspond to that change. Consumers are more likely to visit the premises and do chores, seek entertainment and spend time at places where the technology works to their benefit. A forward-thinking commercial property developer will, for that reason, include several non — commercial relaxation points where visitors can relax, hang out, check their messages, charge phones and spend time without actually spending money. The benefit here is a two — way street. And that’s precisely what we had in mind when we designed our Smart Bench Mini — connectivity, relaxation and meaningful interaction for consumers but also a substantial benefit for advertisers and businesses. A possibility for shoppers to connect to WiFi via customised landing page. Smart Bench also generates reports on total number of WiFi connections and charging, total duration of charging etc. so that investors can have a clear picture of the usage statistics. All that with no maintenance required and zero carbon footprint.
Consumer relationship starts at your headquarters!
Your company is expanding, you want to hire more professionals and offer them the next-level comfortable and modern business premises that transpire high standards of your business ethics and do not compromise on environmental and aesthetic principles. Proptech solutions should be part of your real estate management requirements. It’s easy to be envious of Google or any other Silicon Valley headquarters with enormous amounts of money invested into acquiring a sustainable, wide, enjoyable and posh premises. But you can do as much as focus on your employees and clients, visitors coming to your headquarters or business locations and offer them a unique and interesting hangout place. Small talk is migrating from water coolers to outdoors, as many people want to spend their breaks outside, soaking up the sun and enjoying some fresh air. Making that experience more comfortable and enjoyable and showing that you not only take care of your employees and offer some added value to their work hours but also take care of the environment and invest in new technologies — really goes a long way, as any CSR manager would tell you.
That free hotel Wi — Fi you always wanted!
Hospitality industry is a good example of how small investment can elevate consumer experience and attract new clients. In the age of AirBnB, hotels and resorts are inclined to find new innovative incentives to engage and amaze. Sometimes a small addition can be a decisive factor for travellers. Like a solar bench by the pool where guests of the hotel can charge their phones and get information on humidity, temperature, but also make countless selfies, post them right away via free and fast WiFi network and tag your hotel. That right there is visibility for your brand that you couldn’t have hoped for.
Neighbourhood is the extension of home
Property developers know that incorporating modern technology is the best way to signal the high quality, expertise and strong vision for the future. Smart bench strikes several key factors that prospect residents are interested in: connectivity, modern design, social impact and green energy. A nice old-fashioned bench in the neighbourhood or at the apartment complex is always a good idea, but modern city dwellers demand more. They want to be informed, connected and in touch with their surroundings. As their homes become smarter, they expect the same from their neighbourhoods. Smart Bench is a spot for socialising, information and relaxation, fueled by green energy and with environmental impact of a regular bench. It can be branded and thus connect the residents to their local store or a brand they care about in a more meaningful and interesting way.
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Smart Furniture: 4 Points to adopt when engineering for smart citizens
Author: Bojana Borković, Business Development Executive at Strawberry energy
Smart and digital technologies have changed our lives so drastically in the last decade that practically, there is not an industry, field of work or creative process that doesn’t require some sort of digitalization and tech application. Architects and engineers are especially motivated to apply smart technologies, not only in order to optimize the results and improve the efficiency, but to keep up with tech trends and answer to the development of future cities and people’s lives, now completely immersed in tech.
In order to create a smart, digitized, but above all — human future cities, and deliver the real value for the communities, where the experience and quality of life of the smart tech users are a priority, we’ve assembled some guidelines that professionals from the industry might want to pay attention to and apply in their future projects.
The four key points smart furniture in public spaces should focus on are: tourism, community, disabled people and family.
Fulfilling these four points makes smart city furniture overall beneficial for the quality of life in the public spaces.
Smart Bench has already proven to be a popular and efficient project that impacts all four domains of smart furniture public realm. Apart from being a popular meeting point and complementing the city’s outdoors by appealing design, here are some important benefits that Smart Bench provides:
1. Tourism — a fast and free WiFi hotspot, essential for tourists when they want to access important information on their location, plan routes, check maps, send messages to friends and family and post to social media.
Having a smart bench in the public spaces also means never having to worry about your phone battery running out while you’re out having fun. Smart Bench offers charging cords plus wireless charging ports to suit all types of smartphones. By offering this kind of high level of connectivity, Smart Bench allows a more valuable outdoor experience for all tourists and members of the community.
2. Community — Benches in public spaces have always represented a beloved point of social interactions for young and old, but also a piece of oasis in an urban landscape. As our lives become more tech — dependent and digitized, Smart Bench needs to fulfill the social aspect and utility of the old fashion bench, but also to support the modern-day thirst for technology, smart design and sustainability. Our Smart Bench encompasses all of these properties, providing a great asset for any playground or communal area where people from the community, families can interact, take a break and enjoy the surroundings.
From the social participation point, Smart Bench represents a valuable means for the local governments to obtain information and data that may help the decision-making process when it comes to introducing bills and measures important for the quality of life of the community. The data obtained from the Smart Bench can give a better insight on foot traffic at that location, number of chargings speaks of the mobile usage and technological needs of the people frequenting that particular location etc.
3. Accessibility to disabled — It is important to emphasize the accessibility of Smart Bench to disabled persons. It is designed to be easily accessible to all people with disabilities and provide a safe and valuable experience for equal opportunities across the whole society. WiFi connection allows integration in the City IoT platform or integration in the city’s emergency control center. These possibilities are key to creating safer, more efficient smart cities and could enhance the quality of life immensely in the future, if applied throughout the urban zones.
4. Family: What every parent wants is a safe environment for their children to play, grow and learn. Smart Bench is a great asset to any playground and neighborhood. Smart Bench offers an opportunity for children to learn about renewable sources of energy, to practice responsible and sustainable behaviour and check the weather data, air quality together with their parents. Parents can charge their phones while watching the kids play, but also provide a valuable learning lesson. After they charge their phone and connect to the free WiFi network, they can talk to their youngsters about green energy and explain how our phones can be charged using nothing but solar energy. We would like to set the younger generations onto the path of preserving nature and sustainable energy resources because that is the right way to prepare them for the future where these topics will be substantial points of economic growth and overall well being of the city dwellers. Smart Bench has 0 carbon footprint and is solar-powered, allowing the members of the community to enjoy the connectivity and benefits of energy in a sustainable and responsible way.
As we head into the second decade of the 21st century, it becomes even more important that the technological progress and life improvements that come with it, stay complementary with the social and personal needs of every member of the community, families, elderly citizens and disabled. To provide a more modern but at the same time, efficient and equal opportunities benefits in the realm of smart IoT experience.
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Open the doors for Smart Bench Mini Indoor Version
Meet the newest asset in our smart furniture portfolio
Following the great success of our solar Smart Benches, we can proudly announce that the Smart Bench Mini indoor version is coming this winter!
Ever since the first Smart Benches started emerging in cities across Europe, companies and property developers have recognized the opportunity to join the smart city drift, enhance their property investment and deliver the designated brand message to consumers in an innovative, engaging, and meaningful way. Today, our Smart Benches are present in over 50 cities throughout Europe, Middle East, USA and Australia.
Why an indoor version?
It’s not hard to see why companies have often approached us with requests for an indoor version of our popular Smart Bench.
People use Smart Bench to relax, enjoy the public spaces, charge their phones and connect to the free WiFi through the landing page. While they enjoy the benefits of connectivity and power, they also:
- Associate the brand message with something innovative, and beneficial.
- Understand that the company cares, and is interested in giving back to the community.
- See that the company keeps track with the modern technology and new generation’s needs
That kind of message is much harder to transfer with traditional means of OOH marketing.
Now the companies want the same type of benefit for consumers and visibility for the brand, only transferred to indoor spaces. The logic is clear:
If a branded Smart Bench with free WiFi and customizable landing page worked so well at raising the visibility of the brand and engaging people at the city squares and public parks, then it might work even better at places where people are more often in need of power and connectivity: airports, railway stations, big shopping malls, corporate buildings etc.
Love at first sit 🙂
Our new Smart Bench for indoors features all the functionalities of the outdoor version with one difference — there is no solar panel on the seating area.
The design is sleek and modern without sharp edges, smooth, made of high-quality materials. It’s guaranteed to blend in and enhance the interior whether it’s a big hall, corporate lobby, busy railway station or airport lounge.
Smart Bench Mini for indoors is outfitted with two charging slots for cable charging and two wireless charging spots. WiFi connection is fast and stable, and is accessed through a customizable landing page.
Welcome to the era of Digital Street Furniture
Smart Bench Mini indoor version caters to needs of modern citizens.
Busy halls of railway stations are places with very high foot traffic. And just as public phone booths used to be the usual inventory at such places, today, the mobile era has given us all the convenience of being one click away from a call, information and digital social interaction. Think of Smart Bench Mini as the 21st century descendant of an old fashioned phone booth. With branding space for your company’s message. That kind of brand visibility and engagement would be much harder to achieve with traditional OOH marketing.
Smart Bench Mini is the ideal vehicle to bridge the gap between the old OOH marketing and new digitally equipped consumer.
Estate owners and investors are always looking for ways to enhance their properties and distinguish them from the rest of the offer on an over-saturated property development market. By introducing Smart Bench Mini to their estates, they create an added value and make their properties smarter, ready to join the smart city evolution and keep the pace with the ongoing digital transformation.
Airports are the perfect places to showcase the power of Smart Bench Mini. While people wait to board their flights, their usual pass time is a smart phone. Browsing social media, playing online games, messaging friends and family.
The Internet and power are the key. Smart Bench Mini offers both.
In order to connect to the free WiFi, users go to a landing page that brands can customize in accordance to the season, important brand events, offers etc. That interconnection of user’s and brand’s benefit is what makes Smart Bench Mini a winning product.
Smart Bench Mini installed at the shopping mall is a cool hangout and relaxation point where shoppers can take a break, charge their phones, and use free WiFi. The branding on the Smart Bench Mini and customized brand message on the landing page catch the attention of each Smart Bench user and creates the opportunity for companies to post suitable offers and deals efficiently and measure the results.
The same concept can be applied to gyms, sport centers, hospitality locations, and corporate buildings. Real-estate development is a highly competitive industry. Incorporating proptech such as Smart Bench Mini, can have a huge impact on setting the estate apart.
Smart Bench Mini can also be a great addition to a big venue, arena, or even a company event. It’s not only a social interaction point with the benefit of WiFi and power slots, but also a way to show extra care for the attendees in a distinctive and memorable manner.
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Smart Zoo, happy children and happy animals! 📱🐨
Skopje Zoo plays an important role in educational, cultural and recreational life in North Macedonia. It covers an area of 12 ha, and has a collection of more than 500 animals. It has an economic part, a workshop, a veterinary clinic, an amusement park for children, an educational center.
Problem Description
Skopje Zoo holds practical classes for students from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as scientific research. During the walks and classes, there is possibility of powering off the devices (mobile phones, tablets) because of empty battery as well as the problem with the availability of cellular network.
Solution
Thanks to the installation of Smart benches based on solar energy, the visitors of the zoo can recharge their devices; they can connect to a faster Wi-Fi network, which can help them to do their basic and scientific research. Also, Wi-Fi connection through the benches can redirect the visitors to some interesting and inaccessible places among the zoo (tracking and watching the hidden animals in their living places thanks to the installed video cameras).
Client’s success with Strawberry Smart Benches
Smart benches located in the beginning of the zoo among their functionalities offer the access to internet and zoo app, so the visitors can buy a single or group ticket online, which is more than a desired option for the recommended physical distance during the pandemic time. So there is no queue in front of the ticket office (which can be considered as a relieve opportunity in birthday organizations). The project called “Shared knowledge”, enables visitors to scan the QR code on the board placed in front of each animal and get information about it, through articles on Wikipedia related to the animal/s.
Personal quote from the client
“Skopje Zoo is one of the most visited institutions in the country. It brings a lot of smiles to the visitors (especially to the children). We appreciate a lot of having the Smart Benches in our area because people can take an infinite number of photos and videos of the animals (regardless of the battery life of their devices), and because of the option of free WiFi, the Zoo can be promoted on social media by tagging the location. Visitors can discover the colorful and diverse wildlife of Skopje Zoo. Happy pictures can be exposed in the classrooms of the kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, emphasizing the concept of joy and happiness, which will be a challenge for another visit in the zoo.” Skopje Zoo Manager
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
5 Reasons you should be thrilled about Smart Cities
Don’t move out of the city yet! Things are changing!
Can you give a quick YES or NO, answer to this question:
Do you think that big cities like Los Angeles, Paris, Sao Paolo or Hong Kong, will still be the places where people would want to start a family 50 years from now?
If your answer is NO, then what would it take for them to become more livable, to take care of everybody’s needs?
Free public transport? Complete transition to renewable sources of energy? A U-turn in traffic and overall infrastructure development?
There is really only one correct answer: They need to become SMART CITIES.
Here are top 5 ways smart cities can enhance the quality of people’s lives:
1. Smart cities are data-driven — traffic data, weather conditions, transportation routes, congestions, all data is processed in a centralized city system and citizens are informed of the best options to avoid delays or problems during their daily commutes and routines.
2. Smart cities are people centered. They include real people’s habits and mobility in decision making. This helps city planners in creating the best possible solutions to reduce crowds, prevent high energy consumptions and plan more green spaces where necessary. Traffic jams, garbage disposal, city parking, are all better monitored if smart city technology is implemented, and it can ultimately help citizens manage their routines and tasks in the most efficient way.
3. Smart cities are sustainable — They encourage and explore options for sourcing renewable energy and lowering carbon footprint in urban areas: energy-efficient buildings, air quality and noise level sensors, electric vehicles, they are all part of the city wide solutions for sustainable development.
4. Smart cities are safer — IoT and other smart city technologies can help first responders in getting critical information on an incident faster and with more reliability. Smart street furniture like Smart Benches, smart bus stops, can be connected to emergency services network and provide an easily accessible S.O.S. call. Possibilities are endless and there are many ways in which smart city technology like IoT can increase residents’ safety.
5. Authorities get faster and better feedback from citizens — Well connected and informed citizens are more likely to be involved in current city issues, to engage in the local community and report problems. When city authorities provide apps and smart IoT systems that enable faster and easier feedback, more citizens are inclined to report the local problems and engage, which leads to better insights in real and pressing problems of the people living in certain area.
We see smart urban street furniture as an integral part of smart city development. Our solar Smart Bench networks already help local governments and companies in more than 23 cities to make better decisions about public places, promote their brands and deliver important info in a sustainable and interesting way.
We have a very developed and vibrant partnership network, contact us if you are considering expanding your portfolio!
To improve your company’s CSR, have a look at our most popular street solar furniture and contact us to get a specially tailored, affordable offer!
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
How the Municipality of Tanagra finds Smart Bench Mini the perfect initial step forward to Smart Cities
The Municipality of Tanagra is located in Boeοtia, north of Athens, Greece. Since 1956, the 114th Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force has been based in Tanagra Air Base. There are 19,432 permanent citizens, and 5 municipality units; Dervenochoria, Dilesi, Oinofyta, Schimatari and Tanagra.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
Pandemic Situation has affected all of us. Since March of 2020, Greece has been under lockdown restrictions for many months. The Municipality of Tanagra wanted to welcome 2021 with an innovative way so as to present an optimistic feeling of development and care to its citizens. Providing something smart, sustainable, with informative character would be the ideal solution.
SOLUTION
Smart Bench Mini was the right choice for Tanagra initiatives towards “Smart City” future. 5 Strawberry Smart Benches were installed, one in each municipality unit of Tanagra, providing free WiFi internet access to all citizens. Powered by solar energy, the Mini Smart Benches of Strawberry energy are completely aligned with the ecofriendly behavior of Tanagra, while providing to citizens wired and wireless phone charging ability. The resistant and durable materials of benches were also very important, as Tanagra Municipality faces many days of snowing and low degrees during each winter.
CLIENT’S SUCCESS WITH OUR PRODUCT
Besides the lockdown restrictions, which only permit movement of citizens for very specific reasons, such us going to work, or exercise, more than 900 citizens used the profits of Mini Smart Benches in less than 3 months. The satisfaction of citizens was huge, and the received feedback very positive. Besides the numbers and the welcoming comments, Municipality of Tanagra is proud to be introducing innovative outdoor solutions and stepping forward to the sustainable future of “Smart Cities”.
“The Municipality of Tanagra is a pioneer, incorporating advanced technological solutions in the daily life of its citizens. The purchasing of 5 Mini Smart Benches, signals the development of “Smart City” networks, offering free services of WiFi, phone-charging capability, and thus improving the quality of life of citizens, within the terms of a more sustainable way of life.” Vasilis Pergalias, Mayor of Municipality Tanagra
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Smart city and the future of advertising
|Wolt’s innovative way to reach customers in Belgrade
The beginning of 2021 marked a new chapter in our commercial partnerships.
The worldwide leading food delivery company Wolt, decided to take their commitment to sustainability and smart technology to the next level!
Wolt chose our Smart Benches to further promote eco-awareness, drive innovation for its brand, educate the citizens about renewable energy and animate its consumers in a more meaningful way.
For this project, Wolt opted for the classic Smart Bench design that offers a lot of branding surface. They have many plans for a customizable landing page that opens when users connect to the WiFi — special promo codes, discounts on a wide range of their services. This is a great way to attract potential customers, connect with them “on the go” and introduce new offers in an organic way, through a memorable experience.
Wolt is a company with a great track record when it comes to sustainability. Their delivery workers use bikes instead of cars or mopeds, and new Smart Benches will surely be beneficial to them. When their phones run out of battery (which happens a lot), Smart Benches at several locations in the city center guarantee fast charging slots, reliable WiFi connection and of course, a nice place to take a break.
We are going through the times when due to pandemic, advertising and CSR budgets are substantially cut in order to preserve human resources and secure production or the smooth run of the company’s core business. Investing in a long term solution that delivers a blend of OOH and digital advertising seems like a smart option.
Upgrade customer’s experience!
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Health facilities and digital transformation
| Small innovations – Big gains
Healthcare and health institutions have been on everybody’s mind in 2020 and with the pandemic still taking its toll on our everyday lives, this is not likely to change in 2021. Digital transformation of health facilities can improve the overall satisfaction and provide a better experience for their patients, employees and visitors.
The increasing competition among healthcare providers and tightening budgets drive the need for innovation. Healthcare does not finish, nor starts in the hallways of the hospital. Small improvements go a long way!
The main goal of digital transformation through implementation of smart street furniture is to introduce an added value to the essential work that healthcare facilities provide and offer easily accessible information or raise awareness of an important health related topic.
In the early 2020 we partnered with Roche, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical company from Basel, Switzerland.Together we installed Smart Benches in 2 major health institutions in Serbia. The goal was to raise awareness on the occasion of World Cancer Day, so the Smart Benches info-portals were equipped with valuable information about cancer, survivor’s stories, help lines etc.
A year before, a clinic from Skopje, Macedonia installed Smart Bench Mini in front of their main building.
Another Smart Bench in front of the Clinical Centre of Serbia was installed this February and is provided by The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Janssen wanted to make a difference for patients and visitors of Clinical Centre by gifting them a smart spot to charge phones, use free WiFi, and the opportunity to learn more about the diseases through J4P website.
Each new Smart Bench installed in front of a health facility instantly becomes a part of a wider Smart Bench network. Since this is an ongoing project, we plan to cooperate with more companies and brands from the health and pharma industry interested in innovation and smart city solutions.
Here are the most important insights we gathered from cooperating with health facilities and brands from health industry all around the world:
1. Smart Bench provides a small relief, a relaxing and educational point. Patients, visitors and family members can use the free WiFi and charge their phones. This is especially important for out-of-town patients and families, as they might not have other options for internet and power available.
2. Information and education. Smart Bench info portal is an easy way for people to get important information on different health issues, while their device is charging safely.
3. It is a great way for hospitals to increase the overall patients’ satisfaction.
4. An interesting and non-aggressive way for companies related to the health/pharmaceutical sector to promote their brand.
We hope that Smart Benches become a standard in front of and inside health facilities (we also have an indoor version!) Great health care begins with education, connection and commitment. We think Smart Bench is a great way to start.
Health is topic no.1 — is your brand a part of the conversation?
With the global health crisis on our hands, finding an affordable marketing opportunity and simultaneously doing something good for the people in need is the true sign of a successful and smart leadership.
If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry
Out in the open
|Digital Transformation and opportunities for growth
Spring is finally here, and unlike in the spring of 2020, the global situation looks a bit more optimistic. It seems that we have learned to live with the uncertainty of covid-19, post covid health crises and finally decided that life needs to move on.
We already know the impact that pandemic has had on some major industries, but what is the data on the behaviour of the general population, their habits and newly acquired lifestyles during COVID-19?
When it comes to smart street furniture market, we have some good news:
Continuous lockdowns and limited movement have made people appreciate the parks and open public spaces again!
According to Google’s COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports the world has seen a huge increase in popularity of Open Spaces like plazas, public gardens, parks, and squares in 2020, compared to the average attendance at these outdoor spaces before the pandemic. The newly collected data span from November 2020 to the end of March 2021 and show a similar trend:
It is clear that with more sunny days, people are starting to flock to open spaces at higher rates.
What does it mean for companies, brands, small businesses and local city governments, in terms of answering the needs of their customers and citizens?
Basically, the data say that local governments should level up the open public spaces ASAP and prepare them for the influx of people eager to spend more time in the fresh air and recuperate from the toll that being confined at homes have had on their mental and overall health.
Brands, local businesses and companies in general, have relied heavily on social media and online marketing especially during the first several months of the pandemic in order to reach their customers.
This new data should be read as a memo to their marketing departments:
Your consumers went outside! Is your brand going to follow?
When it comes to trends on the real estate market, and proptech, the general opinion is that the real blow that pandemic has dealt is yet to be determined, but we know already that it is a heavy one.
According to experts on the topic of proptech and real estate quoted in the Forbes article “… as a society, we will have to adapt to new forms of daily life and business and we will see more rapid adoption of many technologies…
“…Covid-19 has accelerated a lot of the changes within the real estate world that were happening anyway; the digital genie is now completely out of the bottle…”.
Among the other lessons that pandemic has taught us, the important memo for property developers in 2021 is:
Mind the exteriors of your real estate!
Provide connectivity and implement sustainable, easy-maintenance solutions in order to lower the need for additional manpower.
It’s what future residents and leaseholders would want to see.
We can proudly say that our solar Smart Bench checks all the boxes in your 2021 open spaces innovation book. Here are some of the features that stand out and substantially elevate any open public space:
☑ Smart Bench is sustainable: solar energy generates power
☑ Free WiFi for everyone in the vicinity of the bench
☑ 2 Wireless phone charging points and 2 slots for cable charging
☑ Branding surface for brand’s logo or city flag
Pandemic is changing the ways people interact, do about their daily business and relax. We designed a product that answers all the needs of contemporary city dwellers, like connectivity, power and information, in a sustainable way. Smart Bench is unique, modern and universally loved!
It is a chance for companies and brands to associate themselves with a beneficial, sustainable and innovative product and open a new promotional channel in the uncertain times.
It is a chance for local governments to show they care for the environment, for the safety and comfort of their constituents and make the public spaces more adapted to citizens’ needs.
We believe that Smart Bench is a good starting point.
There are 4 different Smart Bench designs and they are all super easy to install and maintain!
We’re here to answer any questions! Contact us at info@eliteareas.gr .
- Published in smart, strawberry