At the Bendorf-based aluminium system provider Akotherm, the preparations for the Bau 2011 trade fair are already underway. At the leading world construction trade fair and with the statement "we speak your language", the company will present itself as a contact who clearly identifies, understands and implements the requirements of metal constructor partners. Making use of new mobile communications opportunities, Akotherm is also implementing the first real "offline-online link" from print media to the web.
"Partnerships are made as a result of trust, addressing one other at eye level and constant endeavour for active benefits for the customer. We understand the day-to-day tasks of our system distributors. On the basis of this, we develop solutions from practical experience for implementation in practical situations," says Akotherm Managing Director Frank Schneider, briefly explaining the philosophy behind the new trade fair slogan. With this statement, Akotherm wants to underline the fact that requests from metal constructor partners are understood and are then implemented into projects.
At Akotherm, "we speak your language" is also seen as a new approach for a further step in the direction of integrated communication. "We have incorporated so-called 'QR codes' into our latest advertising," explains an experienced member of the marketing staff at Akotherm. "Using these 'quick response codes', it becomes possible to easily receive further content and more in-depth information via the browser of any Java-enabled smartphone with a camera. In this way we achieve a real "offline-online link", directly from printed media to further explanation on the web."
"Generation smartphone" is the keyword. Europeans used mobile internet for an average of 10 hours a week in 2009. Due to the continuing decrease in Internet costs for mobile data access, mobile internet usage will increase substantially in 2010/2011.
"This is reason enough for us to break new ground. The handling of the QR codes couldn't be simpler. You install a free reader on your phone, if it is not installed already. The i-nigma reader has proven to be the most simple. You just enter the domain name 'i-nigma.mobi' into the mobile browser on your mobile phone or smartphone. Phone model and operating system are recognised automatically and the right application is then downloaded.
Then just install and start the reader. Using the camera, the QR code can then be scanned in and is decoded by the reader. The message or URL behind the code is then shown directly on the screen," says the Akotherm marketing pro, explaining the totally simple use and high practicality of the QR codes. Long domain names or addresses no longer have to be entered manually, but can just be scanned in using the reader and are automatically entered.
For this purpose, a mini-site with all Akotherm-relevant content relating to Bau 2011 has been created. The site, which is optimised for mobile applications, can be displayed by using the pictured QR code by entering the address mobil.bau2011.akotherm.eu. The domain for the usual fixed PC access is: bau2011.akotherm.de.
"For BAU we are beginning with the implementation of QR tags as a direct link to our online presence or, in the contact area of the Bau mini-site, of the so-called address coding to be read in mobile navigation applications. This coding leads the user directly to the nearest parking area and to the cash desk at hall C1," explains an Akotherm application technician. "These codes also offer many more opportunities. Through the input of short text, it is, for example, possible to provide further product information to a mobile or tablet PC via a sticker stuck directly to the system component. Or you can get the instructions sent directly to you as a PDF file. The application possibilities of the QR tags are extremely varied. And with the increase in smartphones - and also tablet PCs - and corresponding data tariffs, the use of such practical applications will soon become established."
Managing Director Schneider finishes by saying that "all interested parties are invited to get a first look at our latest products using our Bau 2011 trade fair mini-site and then inform themselves in detail from 17th to 21st January 2011 at exhibitions stand 518 in hall C1."
