PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional TV and Digital Signage products, software and innovations, is excited to announce it is among the world’s first manufacturers to gain Crestron XiO Cloud certification, bringing unrivalled control and management capabilities to workplace displays.
This deep collaboration between PPDS and Crestron demonstrates the greatest levels of integration and support to the Crestron ecosystem from a display manufacturer, with PPDS offering the most advanced and complete version of the award-winning XiO Cloud solution available anywhere in the current market, driving productivity and long-term financial gains for customers.
Bob Bavolacco, Director, Technology Partnerships at Crestron, added: “PPDS has become a deeply integrated Crestron partner, adopting and rapidly embracing our technology at a level that surpasses anything else seen in the current marketplace.”
Future-proofing the workplace
First unveiled at ISE 2018, the ever-evolving Crestron XiO Cloud makes the ability to deploy, manage, monitor, and evolve workplace displays a simple, fast and secure process, enabling remote control of the display’s functions from a single location (including via a Crestron touchscreen device or a web UI dashboard).
Built on the Microsoft Azure platform – used and trusted by some of the world’s leading and most data sensitive organisations, including Fortune 500 companies – Crestron XiO Cloud integrates seamlessly with a wide range of Philips Windows and Android digital displays and pro TVs to suit the customer’s needs and requirements in any indoor environment. This includes its new range of Philips T-Line (for education) and C-Line (for corporate) interactive displays, plus the full range of digital signage and professional TVs, including MediaSuite, B-Line, D-Line, Q-Line, supporting the hospitality, retail, public venues and corporate industries, among others.
Effortless installation
With Crestron XiO Cloud, customers can now configure thousands of Philips professional displays in the time it takes to configure one. The long, often costly, and disruptive configuration process for new displays and other devices is now a thing of the past, with customers able to centrally configure and provision all their Philips professional displays in all rooms before the products have been installed and without visiting the site. Once displays are connected to the network, they will automatically retrieve their settings, programmes, and firmware specific to the environment being used, and immediately begin reporting data. This can cut installation times for new devices by up to 90pc.
Updates can be scheduled on individual displays or collectively, entirely remotely and at a convenient time – such as during non-office hours – or staggered across rooms’ usage or occupancy for greater levels of efficiency, consistency, and security to the workplace.
Troubleshooting can also be tackled immediately and entirely remotely, with Crestron XiO Cloud monitoring all devices at all times, sending AV/IT managers instant alerts whenever an issue is detected. This allows problems to be addressed as and when they occur – even before the user realises – reducing potential disruptions or equipment shutdowns to keep spaces up and running, without running to them.
Workplace analytics
With rooms and devices automatically monitored 24/7, Crestron XiO Cloud’s workplace analytics helps give managers better understanding of how rooms and systems are being used. These include system usage versus occupancy, and new people counting functionality to understand how many people are actually using rooms versus their current capacity.
Customers can purchase the Crestron XiO Cloud service on a monthly basis, with pricing based on the number of rooms and service options required.
Sian Rees, International Product Manager Software at PPDS, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to bring this revolutionary solution to our partners and customers, strengthening our relationship with Crestron and taking our Philips professional displays further into the Crestron ecosystem. For XiO Cloud, we’ve gone deeper than many other manufacturers to maximise the benefits and capabilities of the ground-breaking solution. Offering the ultimate experience and performance for our partners and customers.”
