The Future is Now as the Grafton Shopping Centre Introduces Their New Tensator Virtual Assistant

Cambridge, UK — July 24, 2014 — In a UK first, the Grafton Shopping Centre in Cambridge is ready to dazzle shoppers with a “virtual” employee who actually greets customers when they enter the Grafton.

Using innovative technology which projects an image of a person creating a mesmerizing, life-like display, the Tensator Virtual Assistant also interacts with customers, answering common questions and promoting mall offers. This is the very first use of this amazing technology in a UK shopping mall and it promises to create a novel and fun experience.

Centre manager, Lance Stanbury commented, “We are proud to introduce the newest addition to our team. She is the first of her kind in a UK shopping centre and we believe she will be a real help to all our customers. Cambridge is known as the silicon fen for its new technology and we are proud to be introducing innovation in Cambridge’s popular retail destination.”

The Virtual Assistant has been supplied by customer journey technology specialist Tensator. Ajay Joshi, Tensator’s head of media and technology at Tensator, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside the Grafton to help make the shopping experience even more unique for customers. Tensator Virtual Assistants have become a familiar sight at airports, train stations and conference venues across the world and now they are making their mark on UK shopping centres too. Consumers are demanding a more immersive, guided retail experience and it’s great to see the Grafton team leading the way when it comes to meeting this need.”

Shoppers can find the Tensator Virtual Assistant in the hall outside Millie’s Cookies as she starts her career in the Grafton Centre.

For more details, please contact:

Michaela Middleton

Grafton Marketing Executive

michaela.middleton@graftoncentre.co.uk

or call + 44 (0) 1223 316201

About Grafton Centre:
The Grafton Centre is the 410,000 sq. ft. retail and leisure destination in Cambridge. The mall boasts 60 retailers and principle tenants include Debenhams, BHS, Next, Boots and an 8 screen Vue cinema and food-court. The Centre is located less than 10 minutes’ walk (about ½ mile) from the city’s core retail offer and is served by two large car parks of 1,200 spaces. The Grafton is owned by M&G Investments and managed by CBRE. It was opened by HM The Queen in 1984.

About Tensator
Tensator is a recognized leader in the management of the customer journey. The company offers a large range of digital media platforms, electronic and virtual queue management, display and signage products, crowd and access control solutions, in-queue merchandising, self-service systems, and the Tensabarrier, one of the most respected barriers in the world. Tensator empowers blue chip retailers, international airport terminals, transport providers, financial institutions, major exhibition, leisure and entertainment venues, construction sites, restaurants and hotels to speed customer flow through the queue, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Tensator helps eliminate lost revenues through walk-aways and drives high value impulse sales with its range of queue management solutions. Visit www.tensator.com for more information, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.