A sustainable and sweet visitor experience with smart audio
Zotter Schokolade GmbH is known for its innovative and sustainable company culture. For its visitor experience center in Styria, the chocolate manufacturer relies on a coordinated audio solution from Axis for background sound and announcements. Axis cameras are also used for people counting in the company’s own “cocoa cinema” and for remote monitoring of the technical components in the two cinema auditoriums.
Pioneering chocolate and smart technology
Zotter Schokolade GmbH in Riegersburg is not only a pioneer in the culinary field but also relies on the latest solutions in the field of technology. In addition to its unique taste creations, the family business is known for its impressive chocolate experience world, which attracts around 220,000 visitors to Styria every year.
The Chocolate Theatre showcases the journey of chocolate from cocoa bean to finished product. At the heart of Zotter's company history lies a deep commitment to sustainability, environmental awareness, and mutual respect, reflecting their unwavering dedication to environmental protection.
From isolated solutions to integrated efficiency
Sensus Media, an Axis partner, has supported Zotter for many years, leveraging their extensive experience with Axis products and solutions. As the world of experience continued to expand, so did the technology – but without a uniform concept. This led to many isolated solutions that were complex and time-consuming to maintain. Therefore, the company sought an integrated audio solution to streamline operations.
With Axis products, which include audio products, software and network cameras, Zotter's IT team can now work efficiently, perform updates, troubleshoot and implement new technologies. Firmware management is handled via a central platform. As both companies are committed to sustainable solutions, it was an easy decision for Zotter to work with Axis.
As long-standing partners, Sensus Media and Axis collaborated to develop a forward-looking solution.
We searched for a coordinated solution for a long time. The ability to use audio solutions via PoE was a real game changer. Axis Audio Manager makes management easy.
Bringing the jungle to Styria with network audio
To make the experience as authentic as possible for visitors to the chocolate factory, appropriate sounds are played at each station. For example, at the beginning of their journey to the finished chocolate, visitors are greeted by the distant sounds of the rainforest.
After an initial test phase, more than 150 Axis network speakers are now in use. Audio interfaces are also used, and microphones have been added.
The advantage of Axis products? Installation is simple, straightforward and it works. If a product needs to be replaced, it's just as quick and efficient as the installation itself. This saves us a lot of time and effort. That's exactly what we expect from a technical solution.
Live streams thanks to audio bridge
The Zotter Experience addresses all senses. In addition to smell and taste, of course, sound and stories also play a major role. And here, too, Zotter relies on the latest solutions from Axis.
Axis Network Audio Bridges have been installed at a total of 15 stations, streaming the respective audio content live.
This allows visitors to pick up the headphones and immediately listen to stories from the world of Zotter.
Axis Audio Manager enables easy maintenance
Another advantage is the ease of use of the Audio Manager thanks to its zone settings and speaker maintenance options. Tests can be carried out quickly and easily directly under the respective speaker.
Smart volume control with people counting solution
In the cocoa cinema, the Zotter family applies Axis People Counter to teach visitors about the origins of chocolate. In the two cinema auditoriums, guests can embark on a journey through Ghana, Tanzania and other faraway places.
However, adjusting the volume was a challenge: when the auditorium was full, it was often too low, and when there were few visitors, it was too loud. Staff used to have to actively go into the auditorium to adjust the volume – a time-consuming and labor-intensive task that was often impossible during busy periods.
Sensus Media found an easy and handy solution: the AXIS People Counter counts the number of people and automatically adjusts the volume.
"Since then, we haven't had any more complaints about the volume," reports Martin Böhm. "The staff can now concentrate on their actual tasks."
More efficient maintenance thanks to PTZ cameras
With cameras installed at the entrances to the cinema auditoriums, Sensus Media can remotely access the cinema auditorium directly in the event of fault alarms.
The cameras show, for example, the projector connections and the screen, so that the problem can be located immediately. Thanks to this function, faults can be rectified either remotely or, if necessary, on site.
This solution makes the technicians' work much easier, as they can now check from their office whether an on-site visit is necessary.
Sustainability as key-driver
The family business has been committed to sustainability for many decades. Whether it's supporting cocoa bean farmers, choosing delivery routes, building its own production facility or even the concept of the Chocolate Theatre. Zotter doesn't do things by halves.
In 2023, Zotter was awarded the Environmental Management Prize in Berlin for the best strategy for sustainable corporate development. In 2024, the company won the EUSALP Energy Award at the international annual forum in Slovenia.
Under the motto ‘Energy transition in SMEs’, companies that have taken significant initiatives to reduce their energy consumption and are thus considered pioneers in the transition to clean energy are honored.
Sustainability is in our DNA, and Axis is also a pioneer in sustainable solutions in the field of intelligent security. That's why I'm particularly pleased that our products are installed in Zotter's Chocolate Theatre, as this shows that our solutions can also be successfully used in creative and unconventional areas such as chocolate production.
A smarter and sweeter visitor center
Zotter Schokolade GmbH opted for a coordinated audio solution from Axis for its visitor center in Riegersburg. The solution comprises 150 network speakers, audio interfaces and microphones, which are managed via the Axis Audio Manager.
The Axis People Counter ensures that the volume in the cocoa cinema is adjusted to the number of visitors. In addition, Axis PTZ cameras are used for remote monitoring of the technical components.
Thanks to its shared values of sustainability and efficiency, Zotter has been able to improve its environmental footprint and has even been awarded the Environmental Management Prize and the EUSALP Energy Award.
Images: Zotter Schokolade GmbH
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