CONNECT&GO PROVIDES CONTACTLESS SOLUTIONS FOR ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY

BY GABRIELLE


Connect&GO, the Montreal-based providers of high-tech contactless solutions, is helping theme parks and other attraction venues prepare for a new post COVID-19 reality.

By utilising RFID technology, Connect&GO’s cashless payments solutions will help parks meet targets to reduce human contact among guests. A Connect&GO wristband is embedded with a RFID chip, which is associated with the wearer’s personal profile. Guests can log onto a customised mobile website to access their personal profile, make purchases, review activities and more.

When they arrive at the theme park, visitors can access their chosen activities and purchases by simply scanning the wristband.

Talking about the need for contactless technology, Antony Palermo, co-founder of Connect&GO, commented:  “In these unprecedented times, we’ve made it a priority to listen to the ideas and concerns of our clients and, through extensive round table discussions, we’ve managed to come up with an entire suite of contactless products and services we can offer. We’re proud to be helping our clients navigate this new reality.”

QUEBEC INSTITUTE FOR LOGISTICAL INNOVATION TEAMS UP WITH CONNECT&GO

BY GABRIELLE

In the fight against COVID-19, the Quebec Institute for Logistical Innovation (IILQ) has joined forces with Connect&GO, developers on RFID wristbands for major worldwide events, in a bid to find reasonable solutions for dealing with the crisis.

Prior to founding Connect&Go, co-founder Anthony Palermo led RFID Academia, a leader in the development of RFID solutions for industrial and logistical applications in different industries, including healthcare.

In the wake of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, IILQ approached Connect&GO to provide assistance in developing logistical solutions for hospitals treating patients with COVID-19. The care required for each patient infected with the virus has significant implications on the medical and human resources in hospitals.

IILQ and Connect&GO have collaborated to build an innovative application which enables the careful follow-up of a patient going through treatment for COVID-19. Featuring radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology, the app is designed to avoid contamination by tracking patients’ samples and the healthcare workers who assisted them, as well as the medical equipment that was used, medical waste, bed linen and more.

“This technology offers a number of advantages; it is cost-effective, easy to deploy and uses passive waves that do not interfere with the medical equipment,” said Palermo.

Dominic Gagnon CEO of Connect&GO, commented on the new development: “We never thought our platform would be used in a hospital setting, but this crisis has made us see things differently. Currently, our platform is being used in amusement parks to provide additional security for families by not allowing children to leave the park without the parent and by including allergy and emergency medical information in the profile associated to each guest’s wristband.

“Clearly, there are many similarities between these existing deployments and the current project we are developing for this unique situation,” Cagnon continued.

KOOL REPLAY TEAMS UP WITH CONNECT&GO

BY GABRIELLE

Kool Replay, providers of 100% automated turnkey video solutions and developers of a proprietary system that uses connected capture technology to allow guests to take and share branded photos and videos, has teamed up with Connect&Go, a global leader of RFID deployments in the entertainment industry.

The Kool Replay system has produced more than 750,000 digital memories for visitors at entertainment venues. Kool Replay will continue to develop its technology independently but will operate as a Connect&GO business unit. The companies with work together to grow the business, with the additional benefit of Connect&GO’s experience and expertise in the industry.

Combining their skills and knowledge, the two companies will launch a new and unique product – “the FunPass.” The product will feature a wristband dispenser, RFID scanners and Kool Replay’s signature photo/video capturing system, allowing visitors at entertainment sites to capture and share their memories with ease.

Mathieu Dupuis, vice president of technology at Connect&GO, commented on the new collaboration, saying: “The Kool Replay system is a unique and complementary addition to the existing Connect&GO platform for permanent installations.

“It’s the first technology we’ve found that makes it possible to easily share edited, branded video content, with multiple view-points using a cloud-based distribution platform, powered by patent-pending algorithms,” he added.

Sharing Dupuis’ enthusiasm of the partnership, Dominic Gagnon, co-founder of Connect&GO, said: “We are very proud to welcome Francois and Benoit into the Connect&GO family. They are two remarkable entrepreneurs that have made impressive strides in the entertainment market and have gained confidence of major amusement parks like Luna Park on Coney Island.”

CONNECT&GO MAKES THREE STRATEGIC APPOINTMENTS

BY GABRIELLE

Connect&GO, a global leader in RFID solutions for the leisure, sports and entertainment industries, has announced it has made three strategic executive appointments.

Mathieu Dupuis has been appointed as vice president of products and technology, François-Pierre Moffet has taken the position of chief operating officer, and Sébastien Auger takes over as president of sales and marketing.

Mathieu Dupuis began his career as a programmer for Théâtre St-Denis. Six year later, Dupuis set up his own ticketing company, Billetterie Première Loge Inc.

In 2016, Ticketpro acquired Première Loge and Dupuis was appointed as the company’s president, where he assisted Ticketpro in becoming the largest independent ticketing company in Quebec.

“After close to 20 years as an entrepreneur and president of a ticketing company, I made the decision to join an ambitious company with international goals,” Dupuis commented.

François-Pierre Moffet has a degree in computer engineering and a master’s in engineering management. He started his career at CAE, where he quickly developed from a software developer to director of learning solutions.

Moffet spent four years working as a project manager and product consultant for the mobile communications, finance and insurance industries, when he also played an important role on the council for Agile Montréal.

In 2017, Moffet worked with Montreal start-ups as chief operating officer for Sofdesk. Connect&GO’s new COO commented on his appointment:

“I felt that I had accomplished what I needed to at Sofdesk and the Connect&GO offer came at the right time. I was motivated by the challenge and the opportunity this role provides as I join the team as partner and COO.”

Sébastien Auger has than 20 years of experience in sales, working for L’Oréal in 2004, at Sagemcom two years later and, more recently, at Sponsorium, as vice president of business development.

In 2016, Auger joined Connect&GO as director of Growth.

Dominic Gagnon, Connect&GO’s co-founder, spoke of the new appointments:

“In order to deliver on our growth plan for the next few years, we needed a world-class executive committee with a proven capacity for strategic thinking. With the addition of these three leaders, everything is in place for us to reach our objectives,” said Gagnon.