Microsoft: Executive Briefing Centre
Roles: Design Lead, Art Direction, UX/UI Design, Content Editing
Technologies: Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox SmartGlass, Sitecore, Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Tools: Sketch App, Balsamiq, Photoshop, Omnigraffle, InVision
The Client
Established in 1985, Microsoft Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential. Headquartered in Sydney, Microsoft Australia has seven regional offices across the country.
Overview
The Microsoft EBC project is a new way to personalise customer experiences through the Xbox platform.
The project utilises the Xbox One, along with the Xbox SmartGlass application and Sitecore’s Customer Experience Platform (CEP), to serve as a companion tool that provides an enriched experience when the consumer engages in activity connected to their Xbox, such as gaming or watching media.
The Challenge
Microsoft executive briefing centres are state-of-the-art facilities that brings together business and technology leaders with Microsoft executives and business experts to explore industry trends, business opportunities and Microsoft’s latest technologies.
Through customised briefings and agendas tailored to an organisation’s unique interest and challenges, business leaders can explore how Microsoft technology can allow them to take advantage of long term-term strategic opportunities.
Microsoft’s Australian headquarters in Sydney host regular briefings with executives from various industries. Microsoft Australia wanted a new technology showcase that could tell a compelling story about how their innovative products could work together and deliver clear business value.
Approach
The Sydney venue was reviewed for available space with exploration into scenarios in which a new technology showcase might be used. The goal was to find a way of linking multiple Microsoft technologies that could support a complete customer lifecycle.
Design
Multiple ideas were explored and refined, with the final concept centred around a “companion” or “second screen” experience. The concept takes the form of a mobile and tablet application that complements the consumption of content through a larger device, such as a television.
A companion app was created for the popular Australian cooking program “MasterChef” that allowed people to view recipes and purchase kitchen products seen during the show. The companion app communicated with an Xbox One device via wi-fi and could also be used to control and explore video content.
Development
The showcase was supported by a sophisticated system for managing content and analysing customer behaviour. A Sitecore content management system supplied both the video content to the Xbox One and the supplementary content to the companion mobile and tablet app. Customer data from the companion app were stored in a Microsoft Dynamics customer relationship management system.
Outcome
The technology showcase was deployed at Microsoft’s Sydney headquarters and the staff there were trained in how to manage and use the end-to-end demonstration. This demonstration was separated into a furnished home and office sections to help potential partners to visualise the technology in action. Executives from a wide spectrum of industries have now had the opportunity to see inter-connected Microsoft products supporting an omni-channel experience for customers. Following the successful installation in Australia, the project was demonstrated in Europe, Asia and North America.
Wireframes
User interface mockups.
