Not directly related to EDIG, but "the future is now."
Revolutionary Technology Allows Sampling of Wide Selection of Music Titles
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Years ago, the introduction of CD
listening stations changed the way people shop for music, allowing customers
to preview a select group of titles in the store. Now Borders Books and Music
stores will introduce E-Listening(TM) stations -- revolutionary digital,
interactive kiosks that enable customers to access and preview virtually any
music title in the store's inventory, simply by scanning the product barcode.
The kiosks, similar in appearance to existing CD preview stations, are
equipped with headphones, but do not rely on manually maintained CD players.
Instead, weekly updates to the inventory are stored on a database and can be
accessed by scanning a specific CD's barcode at the station. Customers will
be able to hear approximately 750 music titles from start to finish. For the
remaining inventory, a 45-second preview of up to 12 tracks per CD will be
available. In addition, Borders will be testing hand-held, portable, wireless
headphones and scanning wands, which will allow customers to move about the
store sampling music on the go.
"We're thrilled to lead the way in providing our customers with the latest
technology to preview and purchase music at Borders stores," Len Cosimano,
vice president of Multimedia, said. "Our customers have extremely diverse
tastes in music, and our new E-Listening stations encourage browsing among our
vast selection of genres and titles. This technology will also allow our very
knowledgeable staff to spend more time assisting customers and making
recommendations," he added.
The E-Listening stations, powered by Advanced Communication Design's
STAR(TM) system, will be introduced this summer at select Borders locations.
The first installation will be at the new Borders' Brentwood, Tenn. store on
June 14, 2000, followed in July by the Michigan Avenue store in Chicago. In
addition, all new stores opening from November on will be equipped with
E-Listening stations, and eventually, all existing CD player preview systems
in the 300 Borders Books and Music stores across the country will be upgraded
to the new E-Listening kiosks.
The introduction of the E-Listening stations is the latest example of
Borders' commitment to its strategy of retail convergence, integrating
traditional and emerging retail channels and technology to create a compelling
and enhanced customer experience. Borders is also in the process of rolling
out Title Sleuth, an innovation in customer service which uses the power of
Borders' vast Internet-based database to allow customers to locate specific
titles in the store.
"We recognize that the power of technology presents a unique opportunity
to serve our customers," Tami Heim, president of Borders Books and Music
stores and Borders.com, remarked. "Borders is in the business of providing
our customers with access to the content they want, in the way they want it,
when they want it. Our ultimate goal is to provide an enjoyable and
satisfying shopping experience," she added.
To learn more about Borders, a leading global retailer of books, music,
video and other information and entertainment items with stores in the United
States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, visit
bordersgroupinc.com . For information on the over 300 Borders
stores across the country including the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, visit
bordersstores.com . For the ultimate online book, music and video
shopping experience, with access to nearly 700,000 titles and 10 million
books, music and video items in stock and ready to ship, explore
borders.com . |
