July 30th, 2020
Online Ordering with Harkness Screens
In the new year, Harkness Screens launched its first online ordering service. Talking to entertainment journalist, Joe Harvey, Harkness Screens’ Andrew Emmott, Associate Director, Business Development, about the benefits of ordering online and how the medium can be useful in a Covid-19 world.
Online ordering has become commonplace. It is easy enough to switch on your phone, click on the Amazon app and order pretty much anything. The services are easy, not time consuming and why should purchasing a cinema screen be any different?
Teaming up with Event Projection Screens and launching Harkness Protect, Harkness are now able to sell their screens and personal protective equipment to customers in Europe and in the United States. Andrew Emmott says that it is the simplicity of the process that makes it so unique and useful.
“Modern ways of working now dictate that businesses need to be more responsive at anytime and anywhere,” Emmott said. “With our ecommerce function, this is now possible. The automated functionality of EPS’s ecommerce mean the screen can be manufactured at our next available factory, reducing the lead time and simplify order processing.
“More recently we have been able to list our Covid protective products, such as faceshields and barrier screens online at EPS. The speed and effortless nature of online ordering has really helped businesses order what they needed as guidelines changed.”
Harkness is well known for its innovative ideology throughout the years. Starting with the use of PVC in the 1950s, the company has continued in the same vein for nearly 70 years now, an online ordering system another example of this.
“Harkness led the way digitally in using app’s for design and specification of screens in the cinema sector worldwide,” Emmott said. “Going online in the projection screen market as a whole, including our full range of front, rear and outdoor screens, is therefore a natural progression of our technology focussed mentality.
“The initial function was the recommendation tool Screen Assistant which asks questions to help customers choose the correct projection screen and this is supported with the ecommerce function. We have other ideas in the pipeline to strengthen Harkness’ digital support for customers. Watch this space!”
So far, it is so good for the services. Feedback from various customers has been positive, the process also ideal for a Covid-19 world. Emmott says that the process has become much simpler for customers, with the option of talking to himself and others if need be.
“Customer expectations and requirements have changed so Harkness has progressed accordingly to meet these trends,” Emmott said. “Working remotely on a mobile device, outside of the office and whilst on the go, have changed buying habits. Our aim is to make ordering the right screen as easy as possible.
“Feedback has been crucial in developing our ecommerce at Harkness. The key benefits we have found is that there is a more straightforward and improved customer experience, all whilst knowing that we are still here to help if a specific screen consultation or product recommendation is needed.”
You can visit both Event Projection Screens and Harkness Protect by clicking their names.
Harkness Screens
Harkness Screens™ is the world’s leading screen technology company, specialising in the design and manufacture of projection screens and supporting technologies for cinema and live events. From single-screen independent theatres to large multiplexes to large format immersive theatre experiences or live events, Harkness supplies thousands of screens every year helping provide outstanding presentation experiences to audiences around the world.
With global reach, Harkness is regarded as the world leader in cinema and has screens in more cinemas worldwide than any other manufacturer. With its industry leading 2D and 3D screen brands (Perlux HiWhite, Clarus XC and Spectral) along with an innovative range of presentation monitoring tools, digital surveying services and suite of cinema design and specification apps, Harkness continues to lead the way in screen technology for cinema.
Founded in 1929, Harkness has manufacturing facilities in the USA, UK, France, India and China and combines unrivalled experience with the latest technology and production methods to provide innovative solutions to the company’s key markets. For more information, visit the Harkness Screens web page at www.harkness-screens.com.
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