NEC Introduces Vukunet For DOOH Advertising

Gail Chiasson, North American Editor

NEC Display Solutions of America, Itasca, Illinois-based provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, has announced the widespread availability of its new Vukunet Web platform for digital out-of-home networks.

Vukunet solves major issues facing both network owners and advertisers by providing a centralized, automated platform designed specifically to connect and distribute ads to digital out-of-home networks.

“Digital place-based media has proven itself to be a very powerful and effective advertising medium, yet it is still under-utilized because it has always been impossible for agencies and advertisers to connect all networks and purchase effectively,” says Pierre Richer, president and COO at NEC Display Solutions, Itasca, Illinois.

“We created Vukunet to address all the issues in this space, allowing network owners to realize the full value of their investments in equipment, service and real estate.”

Vukunet helps digital signage network owners generate incremental income by making it easier to connect all screens that currently have time/space available on their networks to advertise. Ideal candidates are networks that have locations with heavy foot traffic, substantial dwell time (time spent in front of the screen), strategic monitor placement, numerous locations in key demographic areas, and that can run a variety of ads from different advertisers instead of being focused on a single brand. Retails stores, hotels, airports, rail and bus terminals, universities, hospitals, convention centers, stadiums, museums and restaurants are a few examples of these locations.

Vukunet connects all digital signage networks, with the ability to provide single reach. Advertisers and ad agencies that formerly had to contact hundreds of potential network owners to determine rates and availability can now use the companion AdVuku ad-serving platform to search for the best networks in any location. In addition, the proof-of-performance automated technology enables networks to receive a consolidated payment on a monthly basis for all the advertising that ran.

The Vukunet platform is completely agnostic, meaning ads can be distributed to screens from any manufacturer and network using any CMS (content management system) – not just NEC.

There is no charge to become a member of Vukunet. It consists of Vukunet Ad Manager, which enables networks to run ads on their screens and an optional Vukunet CMS, which is a fully-equipped Software as a Service Content Management System available for free to Vukunet Ad Manager participants as well as NEC Display hardware customers.

“Vukunet is a tremendous asset to network owners who want to increase the profitability and lower the costs of their networks,” says Richer. “By centralizing the entire process, we’ve made it easier to fulfill the potential place-based media holds within the advertising world. It really elevates digital signage to the sophistication level of all other media and fulfills its long awaited potential.”

NEC Display Solutions was recognized by Frost and Sullivan with its 2008 digital signage customer value enhancement award. The company is committed to growing the entire digital signage market and its innovative thinking has taken it into the digital out-of-home advertising sector.

NEC Display Solutions designs and provides desktop LCD monitors, commercial- and professional-grade large-screen LCD displays, a diverse line of multimedia and digital cinema projectors, and integrated display solutions. The company develops visual technology and customer-focused solutions for a wide variety of markets, including enterprise, healthcare, education and digital signage.


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