Andy Tipple: ‘ACOS is a unique opportunity for us to really explore how our customers have traded both inland and on the coast’
Blueprint’s commitment to product innovation will be much in evidence at ACOS as will its’ mission to work with its customer base and provide it with the expert insights to navigate the future and maximise machine income
It’s been a bit of an unfinished year for the industry: there’s no Gambling Review yet, new regulations are dripping through at the Commission’s whim, and the marketplace is desperate to move forward despite external forces continuing to get in the way. All of which makes ACOS 2024 ever more important and a chance to make a positive statement. What are you hoping to get from the Autumn Coin-Op Show.
The industry is at its very best when it comes together in the right environment at the right time of the year to discuss the business and plan for the future. ACOS is a unique opportunity in Q4 to really explore how our customers have traded both inland and on the coast. Although we are talking to our customers on a very regular basis the show brings together a wide range of views at the same time which generate great insights and are incredibly valuable to the sales team. I’m a great believer in the importance of using trade events to listen to customers understand the issues they are facing and taking those lessons forward into the business.
ACOS will also provide an opportunity to see how our customers are managing the long delay in the publication of the white paper. This will impact businesses differently depending on which sector they operate in but one thing that is certain is that it is causing considerable concern across the board and generating a blind spot in the ability of businesses to plan strategically.
The recently announced potential changes to technical standards are guaranteed to be a hot topic and again the show will shine a light on the impact they are having on our customers. We expect that smaller to medium size companies will experience the biggest impact if some or all the changes go ahead. Shows like ACOS are an opportunity for us to understand our customers problems and help them find solutions. The sales team is fully briefed on the current status of the white paper and details of any changes that may come through in the review of Technical Standards.
In terms of product, there’s a great deal of confidence out there at the moment. What innovations and new launches will visitors be seeing on your stand next week?
We have had a huge amount of interest in the Revolution cabinet which will be officially launched from our stand at ACOS. The theme underpinning the cabinet is ‘Immersive Game Play’ which in practical terms means engaging with the player at every opportunity and at every touchpoint.
ACOS will be the first chance for operators to experience the new game content which has been developed specifically for the cabinet. The Revolution has already received rave reviews from leading industry figures including Jeremy Godden of the Godden Gaming Organisation and Game Nation’s Mark Jepp. The Revolution will be shown alongside five other cabinets for both the B3 and Cat C markets and covering AGC, Bingo and single site. We will also showcase three new games with our new spin to win feature. The games all come with the hugely popular Power Play feature and are not to be missed.
We’re now well into the final quarter of 2024, what have been the highlights of the year so far in terms of business growth and product launches?
Our Buy Direct sales program which was introduced a number of years ago has given us a secure base from which to develop the business and understand the practical and strategic challenges impacting our customers. We continue to grow our customer base and invest in the relationships that we have been developing with operators representing organisations of all sizes. We have continued to evolve the sales team so that we can give all of our customers a consistent ‘best in class’ service across every sector. The new Revolution cabinet has been fantastically well received by the customers that have seen it and this will provide us with a springboard to take us into 2025.
The exhibition season is now in full swing with ACOS starting the UK run of events. Looking at the market forces and signs that we may finally get some movement on the Gambling Review, what changes do you think the industry needs in order to realise the growth the government so desperately wants?
This can be distilled into two key issues. Firstly, the white paper being delivered with no significant changes and secondly a sensible and progressive review of technical standards. The industry has waited an inordinate amount of time for the modernisation of the current gambling regulations which serve as a hand brake on progress. Secondly, we cannot afford for any new set of technical standards to hit operators below the waterline. The government has been very clear in its determination to secure economic growth. We share this view but we need clarity and certainty to create a confident environment in which we can all do our part to make Britain the fastest growing economy in the G7.