What We Learned Using Smart Connectivity to Monitor 45,000 Connected Kiosks – CiC Episode 10
Written by: Ryan Carlson
Published: February 22, 2023
Welcome to Conversations in Connectivity! I’m your host, Ryan Carlson. This a podcast for IoT professionals and the IoT curious that find themselves responsible for growing, executing, or educating others about what to expect when you’re connecting products and services to the internet.
You can find all of our past episodes on Apple Podcast, Buzzsprout, and Spotify, or by clicking this link.
In This Episode – “What I Learned Building a Connected Empire of Smart Kiosks” with Eric Hoersten
This week, we’re talking with Eric Hoersten of Banyan Hills Technologies. As someone whose career started just as the internet as we know it was beginning to take shape, connectivity has always been a core aspect of the technological solutions with which he’s been involved.
Eric learned a lot about the complexities of managing large connected fleets as Vice President of Information Technology during the early years of pioneering video rental kiosks giant, Redbox. Now as the Chief Product Officer at Banyan Hills, he is helping companies leverage custom software solutions and technical expertise to build effective automation around their own fleets of connected devices and the operations teams that manage them.
The Redbox automated kiosk experience leveraged early cellular technology to deploy and manage over 45,000 locations across the US. Eric shares what it was like building out the technology stack that supported this fleet from the ground up, with the aim to centrally manage their own systems and data.
What I think you’ll enjoy about this conversation is the opportunity we had to examine how Eric’s experience has provided unique insights that have been baked into the software platforms that he and his team at Banyan Hills are currently creating. Learn how his background is helping to shape the path for companies looking to make life easier for their internal teams that support large fleets of connected services.
So kick back and let the nostalgia wash over you as we revisit the pre-streaming years when a trip to your local McDonald’s was just as likely to involve renting a DVD at large red internet-connected kiosks as it was to buy a cheeseburger and fries. Learn how working from the ground up continues to influence the smart devices of the modern day, and get a sense of how early connected technologies compare to the solutions currently being deployed.
If You Like Our Podcast, Check Out Our Other Media Projects
The podcast is one of several projects run by the Soracom Media Lab. An initiative with a mandate to create relevant educational and inspirational audio and video content and make it available on the platforms that people already go to get exposure to new ideas about connectivity. Check out long-form videos on our YouTube channel, short-form videos on Instagram, social media platforms like LinkedIn, and how-to videos on various technical forums.
………………
Got a question for Soracom? Whether you’re an existing customer, interested in learning more about our product and services, or want to learn about our Partner program – we’d love to hear from you!
