Bank of scotland
Immersive, dynamic, digital transformation for this legacy retail bank.
Bank of Scotland is a retail and commercial bank steeped in heritage. It's Scotland’s oldest bank and has been a pillar of the Scottish business establishment since its foundation in 1695.
the challenge
A new digital innovation flagship branch at Argyle Street, Glasgow would be the first of its kind for the Bank of Scotland brand. The project was to have great emphasis on incorporating new digital solutions, strong retail branding and inclusion of the brands Scottish heritage throughout the 3 floors of the branch.
Our Approach
In 2019, as the digital supplier to Lloyds Banking Group we began the refurbishment of what would be Bank of Scotland’s flagship ‘Digital Innovation’ branch at Argyle Street, Glasgow. We worked alongside local furniture makers and artists to seamlessly blend new digital canvases into the natural aesthetic designs, creating interest and theatre but without feeling out of place within the organic interiors.
Solutions designed by our inhouse experts included a 4x2 metre high bright LED dynamic storefront display, 5 dynamic LED entrance pillars with synchronised audio system, various LCD displays, tapestry styled LED displays, large format interactive touch screen display with incorporated UI development, housed tablets including bespoke applications, zoned audio system, wall plate controls synchronised to feed real time updates to digital displays featured around the branch. We also designed and produced the content displayed on all the digital touchpoints, including the software developments for the interactive applications.
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All screens in the branch were controlled through SCALA technology which enabled us to build bespoke applications to show the availability of in-house mortgage advisers, through connection to a wall plate switch, controlled on-site, by the advisers themselves. The application was designed to encourage interested passers-by to enter the branch in the knowledge that someone was available in real time.
In the entrance of the branch, we installed 5 digital LED pillars and included local imagery of the Scottish Highlands, interspersed with directional messaging for people attending events, complimented by built-in speakers playing synchronised atmospheric nature sounds.
Throughout the branch and in walkways, we installed several 75” Philips and NEC Ultra-Narrow LCD Screens that displayed welcome messaging and service information.
A real stand out element of the digital innovation was the tapestry that was installed to give interest to the walls throughout the branch. We were able to blend digital technology into this organic environment, to add subtle movement, which we achieved through LED displays hung on rope, and top and tailed with wood to compliment the original tapestry. These displays linked to a weather feed which allowed display overlays to the images that reflected the local weather outside.
As part of the home buying journey our UI development team designed an end-to-end home buying application that could be displayed on 55” IIYAMA display. As the focal point of the area, customers can stand in front of the touch screen display and select which point of the home buying journey they are at, either with an adviser or independently. The same
application was applied two housed Microsoft Surface Pro 6’s kiosks that were incorporated into the table areas where customers can sit and privately answer financial questions.
On the second floor, this area was used as a dedicated events space for advice sessions and networking events, a 75” Philips display features in this area which can display marketing content or be taken over as a presentation display through an integrated wall plate which also links to a microphone and its own speaker system.
The Outcome
After the Argyle St flagship installation, Bank of Scotland were so pleased with our approach, delivery, and managed services, that in 2021 they further instructed us for their next digital transformation at their Edinburgh St James location, where we took elements of the flagship store, and incorporated them on a smaller scale. This installation also included the 5 pillar LED.
After the Argyle St flagship installation, Bank of Scotland were so pleased with our approach, delivery, and managed services, that in 2021 they further instructed us for their next digital transformation at their Edinburgh St James location, where we took elements of the flagship store, and incorporated them on a smaller scale. This installation also included the 5 pillar LED.
