The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins to enhance fan experience with smart camera applications from Azena

● The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they are implementing Azena’s application platform for smart cameras in their home arena
● The applications provide analytics for heat mapping, queue detection, and POS data integration to maximize the game-day experience for fans and stadium management
●The implementation is part of a growing trend in arenas and entertainment venues to leverage analytics for optimal operation

Pittsburgh — June 15th, 2022 — Azena announced today that the Pittsburgh Penguins, a National Hockey League franchise, is testing Azena’s platform for smart cameras to explore ways to improve operational efficiencies throughout the team’s home venue, PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins hope to streamline wait times at busy concession stands on game days in real-time and leverage enhanced retail analytics in its fan stores to increase arena retail sales.

Azena’s operating platform for smart cameras integrates with existing video surveillance systems and provides ready-to-use Artificial Intelligence-enhanced video analytics applications designed to run simultaneously directly on the camera and can be easily changed based on needs, much like on a smartphone.

The upcoming implementation by the Penguins is part of a growing trend within the sports and entertainment venue market to enhance the fan experience by leveraging video and data analytics and IoT technology to add value to the spectator journey, while at the same time ensuring security.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins are very excited to see the benefits of the Azena analytics in action,” said Erik Watts, Chief Technology Officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Using Azena queue detection applications on smart cameras from Azena partner VIVOTEK, the cameras can be used to detect lines at food and beverage stands as they form and notify employees to promptly increase staffing at busy checkouts, minimizing congestion and increasing sales. The Penguins can use the data gathered by the queue analytics application to help streamline their already installed touchless ordering system for mobile phones, which estimates wait time, directs fans to the kiosk where their order is ready, and integrates with POS systems to remove the order from the queue.

These analytics have the power to improve the game-day experience in real-time, but also over time, as the data can identify trends in overall traffic on specific days, or times of day, enabling management to optimize staffing through actionable insights.

“Smart cameras, such as those running on the Azena platform, are making arenas and event venue experiences more enjoyable and secure for both fans and staff,” said Andrew Seymour,
Business Development Manager at Azena. “The groundbreaking analytics offered by apps available on the Azena platform have the potential to transform the game-day experience.”

Leveraging insights at retail locations to maximize staffing

Arena retail managers strive to leverage Azena smart camera technology to increase sales at the team’s retail store at PPG Paints Arena. The cameras can analyze the popularity of certain displays using heat mapping and enable staff to optimize merchandise placement within the store. This technology also helps arena retail operations make more informed decisions on staffing and inventory as the analytics identify patterns in customer store traffic and purchasing behavior

Learn more about Azena, its Application Store, and the benefits of its platform here: www.azena.com

For press inquiries:

Carolin Lopatka
Azena
Mobile +1 312 502 2214
Carolin.Lopatka@mail.azena.com

Andrea Gural
Eclipse Media Group on behalf of Azena
Mobile +1 207 233 7507
agural@eclipsemediagroup.net

Azena

Azena operates an open IoT platform that connects camera manufacturers, SoC providers, application developers, VMS providers, and systems integrators. Its goal is to accelerate the speed of innovation for security cameras and applications that make use of AI and computer vision. To achieve this, the company offers a free and open operating system for security cameras, a development tool kit for app developers and a device management portal as well as an application store for integrators. Azena is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has been on the market since September 2018..

Azena and Bosch

Security and Safety Things GmbH, the legal company behind Azena, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH and is part of Bosch’s strategic development of new digital growth markets. In the future, Azena wants to continuously accelerate the expansion of its global ecosystem through external partners.

Bosch Group (Robert Bosch GmbH)

As a leading IoT company, the Bosch Group offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected manufacturing. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in 60 countries.