With a turnover of €195M, Lyon-based Starterre is a leading French car dealer. They recently called in integrator IPOView, a specialist in dynamic signage systems, to design and install a visual solution that would be unique in France.
IPO deployed a number of screens and interactive terminals which help visitors discover the car dealer’s whole range of vehicles. The main focus of the showroom, however, is undoubtedly the 53square metre Absen LED wall (23m x 2.3m) using Absen technology. This striking 4mm pitch visual solution is the centre of attention both within the showroom and from the outside.
This outstanding in-store communications device allows Starterre to stand out from the strong competition, as well as gain more visibility and reputation from the motorists who are driving past the dealership every day. The metallic structure fitted on the wall hosts 21 Absen N4 LED panels over 23 metres and 8 modules in height, offering a total image resolution of 5760 x 576 pixels.
A giant video wall unique in France
As far as the video content is concerned, IPOView opted for a triple flux player (3x 1920px) and a dynamic signage software capable of receiving external data, including live road traffic data. The car dealer can display several types of media content simultaneously, using specific areas on the screen.
The screen’s high definition and narrow pixel pitch (NPP) ensures the various messages are prominent and highly visible from both inside and outside the car dealership: “Absen’s video wall can be clearly seen from the city’s ring road which passes in front of the Starterre showroom,” explains Yann Laurençon, digital media manager at IPOView. “The screen features a captor which adapts its brightness based on the ambient light, in accordance with the French legislation.”
IPOView appealed to an engineering consulting firm to assess the project feasibility based on the technical specifications of the venue as well as the functional and aesthetic requirements from the client. The integrator then defined the entire scope of technical and software solutions to best manage content. IPOView, who is responsible for screen maintenance, had the mounting structure reliably manufactured and installed by an expertly-trained locksmith.
“This video wall from Absen is quite extraordinary; Once they’ve stepped inside, a lot of clients just stare at the screen until they are certain they have seen the entire content, before they start strolling around the showroom” explains Eric Lecreux, the project manager for the installation, and responsible for the B2B network at Starterre. “It really is a forward-thinking video wall, and the result is equal to the high expectations we had.”
Absen and IPOView – a winning partnership
IPOView selected Absen because of the manufacturer’s world leading position in the LED market as well as the quality of its solutions. Yann Laurençon explains: An installation of this size was a first for us, and Absen reinforced our conviction that LED technology is perfectly suited to dynamic signage applications.” He added: “Having an internationally recognised brand like Absen by our side really helped us to gain our client’s trust and win this project. We favoured one of the most important LED panel manufacturer and were proved right to do so. Besides, Absen has a German based after-sales service and a representation in France, so we were really looked after during the whole project.
Eric Lecreux is full of praise for the way the project was managed: “The installation was wrapped up in a record five days and didn’t create any disruptions for our daily business: IPOView achieved a stellar job with Absen France, and they both played an educational role in explaining the various options, how the products were working, the technology they deployed, etc. Once the installation was completed, they didn’t leave us to it, they kept supporting us. It was really reassuring.”
As it can be seen from the nearby ring road, the screen allowed Starterre to reach out to new clients who could read advertising messages from their cars.
With this new cutting edge showroom, Starterre positions itself as an innovating partner towards its customer base, both consumers and professionals. “Absen is proud to have been selected by IPOView to digitalise the Starterre showroom. “This exceptionally big screen allows the end client to attract a new public, and break away in a highly competitive sector. Thanks to this screen, Starterre is now a truly unique car dealer in France and Europe”, concludes Alain Kestler, Absen’s representative in the French market.
