Page 8 - 81643_NSAA_Vol26Is3Conv_WEB_rev052918

Rentals
THE FUTURE OF RENTALS?
EUROPEAN INNOVATION LEADS TO

HI-TECH RENTAL SHOP SOLUTIONS

BY COLIN BANE

can be implemented in shops
where the physical layout
may interfere with the flow of
customers. Easygate broadcasts
a live list of customers as they
check in, with instructions on
where to go to move through the
process. A 3D scanner collects
their shoe size, instep height, foot
length, and other data before
recommending the best boot for
each person (with boot templates
from different manufacturers).
From there, a tech selects skis or
a snowboard while the “Sizefit”
machine adjusts to the correct
sole length so guests don’t have to
The rental-of-the-future concept is on full display at a Wintersteiger tradeshow booth. Wintersteiger remove their boots. The software
and foot scanning technology
SKI RESORT OPERATORS all agree that one of the greatest is calibrated to provide an accurate, standardized approach,
operational challenges they face is the rental process. Long reducing cycle times and labor. And, the improved accuracy
wait times, low-tech paper forms, and inefficient or incorrect and efficiency of the process can drastically reduce the time
boot fitting are just a few of the challenges guests face in the guest spends in the rental shop.
today’s North American rental shops. With the development The core product is the Easyrent software itself, a
of new technology, Wintersteiger may have found a solution: modular rental, depot, and POS system that can be used for
machines that perfect boot fitting and binding adjusting, every aspect of the rental business. Wintersteiger has been a
integrated with the company’s “Easyrent” rental software. trusted partner for decades for those involved with ski and
Currently being field-tested at five European resorts, the board tuning. Integrations with other industry leaders, like
aptly named “The Future of Rental” will come to market Axess, Ski Data, and WinRetail, add to Easyrent’s flexibility
this fall, and may start showing up at US ski areas as soon as and options, resulting in current installations of more than
the 2018-19 season. 90 customers in 140 locations in the US and Canada.
An Austrian-based company known for manufacturing Wintersteiger made the rounds at this year’s Outdoor
best-in-class ski and snowboard tuning machines, Retailer + Snow Show and Europe’s international sporting
Wintersteiger developed the technology to move people goods tradeshow ISPO, marketing its complete suite of
through the rental process in a mostly automated experience. rental shop software and hardware as “The Future of
Consumer-facing touchscreen stations sync with online Rental,” complete with futuristic-inspired videos that
and app-based reservation systems, allowing customers to re-envision the rental shop experience from start to finish
sign in, electronically sign rental contracts, and enter basic (https://youtu.be/dZLMcX2huLY). The company will
information (height, weight, skier level) that will be used also be giving a presentation on the product at the NSAA
later in the process to help determine the DIN setting for the National Convention and Tradeshow May 3–6 at Marco
bindings. Different modules provide different functionality, Island, Fla.
based on the needs of each shop. For example, “Easygate” “The rental shop of the future is a very clean, modern,

6 | NSAA JOURNAL | CONVENTION 2018