AMI Ad Manager is a digital signage tool designed for use with AMI Entertainment's network of connected entertainment devices, such as digital jukeboxes and other multimedia systems. It allows users—typically venue operators and managers—to create, schedule, and manage advertisements that display on these devices. Today, over 30,000 venues have access to the tool.
Origin
Ad Manager was initially designed as a feature of amientertainment.net, a web-based platform that enabled AMI customers to efficiently manage the internet-connected devices deployed at their locations. Ad Manager allowed users to create advertisements from pre-made templates and deploy these ads to connected devices. Additionally, users could upload their own custom images for display.
After creating an advertisement, users could easily select which devices to deploy the digital signage to, ensuring targeted visibility across multiple locations. The platform also provided the flexibility to control the display hours, allowing users to specify when the ads would be shown and for how long.
Limitations
Despite its capabilities, Ad Manager faced significant limitations due to its original design. The tool was developed to launch within a horizontally formatted pop-up window, and, like the rest of the website, it lacked mobile responsiveness. This design choice proved increasingly problematic, especially given the widespread adoption of smartphones and evolving consumer expectations for mobile-friendly experiences.
About This Review
The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth look at the design process for creating a mobile version of Ad Manager. Ultimately, it serves as a comprehensive overview of the design journey and the strategic decisions made to better serve users' needs.
UX Research
To gain a deeper understanding of user experiences with the web-based tool, interviews were conducted.
EXAMPLE 1
Andy is a jukebox operator and installer who manages a route of devices across various venues. He spends much more time on the road than in the office, relying heavily on his smartphone and tablet to perform daily tasks. However, Andy often finds himself frustrated when trying to use Ad Manager on his mobile device, as the format is cumbersome and challenging to navigate. While he recognizes the value of digital signage in making the products he installs stickier, the process of demoing and training feels overwhelming. “It needs to be quick and easy, which right now it isn’t.”
EXAMPLE 2
Jamie is a bar manager who appreciates the capabilities of Ad Manager but feels the tool requires an investment of time that she simply doesn’t have. While she loves the idea of promoting events and specials, she wishes it could be utilized more spontaneously. “I’d be more inclined to use it if I could act on ideas in the moment.”
Insights Gained
In an industry where quick decision-making and real-time updates were crucial, a mobile-adapted solution appeared to be a better fit.
Goals for Mobile Adaptation
To ensure the mobile adaptation of Ad Manager met the needs of users in fast-paced environments, the project focused on the following 4 goals:
Provide a mobile-friendly version of the tool by incorporating it into the AMI Co-Pilot app.
Simplify the ad creation process into an 3-step flow, removing existing usability barriers.
Enable users to respond to immediate promotional needs and make edits on the spot.
Reinforce the product’s value by making it easier to demo, thus encouraging wider adoption.
Application Design
Ad Manager is now seamlessly integrated into the AMI Co-Pilot app. Once a venue is selected, users can access Ad Manager by tapping 'Promotion.' From there, they can view created ads, upload custom images, browse available templates, and easily manage their digital signage.
Ad creation was successfully streamlined into a simple 3-step process: Step 1 involves confirming or editing pre-written text, Step 2 is scheduling, and Step 3 is confirming or editing the media name for saving. Navigating through these steps is easy, with users advancing by tapping the arrow in the title bar or simply by swiping left.
Once published, saved media is added to the tool's "Ads Created" menu, which organizes digital signage created into three segments: Active, Expired, and Disabled. Ads created, whether created via mobile or web, can be deleted, disabled, or edited here.
Custom Images
In addition to its library of templates, the tool was designed to accept uploaded photos and images, which could be taken in-app or selected from the user's own photo library. This feature introduced the spontaneity users wanted—if there was a featured appetizer, entrée, dessert, or drink they wanted to promote, they could simply snap a picture with their phone and import it into the Ad Manager tool.
Network Delivery
Ads created were sent to network servers which then deliver new advertisements, within minutes, to any devices installed at targeted venues.
Unlike venue owners, managers, or staff, which can only publish advertisements at their own venue, installers were equipped with administrative rights that authorize the publishing of advertisements to single or multiple venues.
This enables installers to create a digital signage network across their entire service route.
Final Result
The mobile adaptation of Ad Manager proved highly successful, contributing to a 152% increase in local business promotions across the AMI network. By transitioning Ad Manager to AMI Co-Pilot, users gained the flexibility to manage promotions directly from their mobile devices, a crucial enhancement for operators and venue staff with fast-paced schedules. This shift allowed users to create and publish ads quickly and spontaneously, meeting the demand for a more accessible, on-the-go tool. The streamlined, three-step process further improved engagement, making it easier than ever for businesses to leverage digital signage as part of their daily operations, contributing to the deployment of over 5,000 advertisements!
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