Augmented Reality Ads on Cardano: 370M Monthly Media Contacts with Top-Tier Brands

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Björn Heinze

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

SmartPlaces

Cittadino by Tank & Rast

About Cittadino / Tank & Rast:

Cittadino, a leader and pioneer in digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising market, transforms urban landscapes with cutting-edge media solutions. As a subsidiary of Tank & Rast, Cittadino boasts an impressive monthly impression and advertising media contacts rate of over 370 million across more than 6,000 screens, including screens at airports, highway, stations, malls etc.

It's holding company, the Tank & Rast Group, holds the concession for more than 90% of all highway service areas and their gas stations in Germany. With more than 400 service areas, over 350 gas stations and over 50 hotels, Tank & Rast is the largest service company of its kind in the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) region.

Tank & Rast generates over €600 million in revenues with over 12,000 dedicated employees, and is owned by a prestigious consortium that includes Allianz Capital Partners (ACP), a subsidiary of Allianz Insurance, Borealis Infrastructure, a Canadian infrastructure fund, MEAG, a subsidiary of Munich RE, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Providing top-tier brands like Deutsche Telekom, BMW, SANIFAIR etc. access to highly innovative AR advertising tools using the Cardano Blockchain to enhance targeting, interactions, reach & engagement

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

A collaboration between all partners will take place for this solutions, ensuring seamless and effective implementation. Cittadino provides the digital screens, DooH infrastructure and content partners as well as access to the entire network.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Our general goal is to maximize the open-source components of the project; however the software and code developed for this project will not be open source due to contractual obligations with our partners. 

[METADATA] Horizons

Business Services

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Transforming Digital-out-of-Home Advertising with Augmented Reality (AR), NFTs and Cardano Blockchain Integration 

Together with Cittadino, we are redefining the future of digital advertising, creating immersive experiences that captivate and engage.

Our revolutionary solution aims to redefine the Digital-out-of-Home (DooH) advertising landscape by seamlessly integrating SmartPlaces Augmented Reality (AR) elements and Cardano blockchain technologies with Cittadino's extensive network of urban digital screens and >370M monthly media contacts. Spearheaded by SmartPlaces, this innovative approach leverages the Cardano blockchain to create a dynamic and engaging advertising ecosystem.

Tier 1 Clients and Expanding Cardano's Ecosystem: 

This groundbreaking solution attracts top-tier clients into direct contact with the Cardano ecosystem. Esteemed partners such as BMW, Telekom, Mercedes, VW, Sixt, Vodafone, SANIFAIR, leading Champions League football clubs like FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund or Business partner like Lufthansa, American Express, and various luxury brands will be seamlessly integrated into this new dynamic and interactive advertising world on Cardano. 

Exclusive Partnerships and Diverse Content: 

Cittadino’s exclusive DooH rights for events like the DFB Cup (German Football Association Cup) or the (Ice) Hockey World championship, partnerships with media giants such as N-TV, RTL Television, and sports content from the NBA, NHL, NFL, and Formula 1, allow us to deliver rich, diverse content to audiences. This, combined with reward mechanisms and exclusive NFT collections, ensures maximum engagement and impact for advertisers. 

Global Network and Boundless Potential: 

The extensive network spans the USA, the Emirates, China, and Europe, setting virtually no boundaries for growth in the coming years. This vast network ensures that our solution can be deployed globally, bringing the benefits of Cardano and cutting-edge advertising technology to a wide audience. 

Key Features and Advantages

Interactive AR and NFT Integration: 

Our solution transforms static advertisements into captivating, interactive AR experiences. Behind these AR elements are NFTs enhancing user engagement. This integration effectively makes every user a new Cardano user, seamlessly blending the digital advertising world with the blockchain realm. 

Expanded Reach and Impact: 

With a monthly reach of over 370 million impressions and advertising media contacts, and growing, our solution significantly amplifies the reach of advertising campaigns. This extensive reach, combined with innovative targeting capabilities, introduces a new era of advertising precision. 

Advanced Targeting and Geo-Location: 

Our solution harnesses geo-location technology to deliver tailored advertisements based on user behavior and environmental factors. This level of targeting, enhanced with rewarding mechanisms and NFTs, brings DooH advertising into a new sphere of relevance and engagement, independent of the physical locations of the DooH screens. 

Implementation Strategy: 

Important part of the implementation strategy is the development of a robust API and Backend system to facilitate AR and NFT integration with Cittadino’s digital screens. Pilot testing in select urban locations will provide valuable user feedback and performance data, which will be used to refine the system. Once fully deployed, our solution will continuously monitor and analyse user interactions and ad performance, dynamically optimizing content delivery strategies using SmartPlaces and Cardano blockchain data. 

Conclusion: 

This pioneering project promises to set a new standard in the DooH industry, offering unmatched value and engagement. It drives the growth and innovation of the Cardano ecosystem while providing advertisers with unprecedented tools for reaching and engaging their target audiences. Join us as we transform the future of advertising with the power of AR, NFTs, and Cardano blockchain technology.

https://whitepaper.smart-places.io/whitepaper/mobile-app/augmented-reality

https://cittadino.de/

https://tank.rast.de/en/

https://join.smart-places.io/assets/video/SPX_DooH_Cittadino.mp4/

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

This project will significantly expand Cardano's user base by showcasing its blockchain capabilities in real-world applications. Increased adoption will drive innovation, enhance community engagement, and boost the overall value and utility of the Cardano ecosystem.

The collaboration between Cittadino and SmartPlaces marks a pivotal advancement in the DooH industry. By combining our strengths in digital out of home advertising (DooH), Cardano blockchain, AR, AI, Geo-location and DSP, we will create a unique platform that offers unprecedented opportunities for user engagement and business growth. Furthermore, this partnership will pave the way for broader adoption of the Cardano ecosystem, driving innovation and progress in the digital and blockchain realms.

We are excited about the potential of this partnership and look forward to pioneering new horizons in the DooH and AR landscape, while simultaneously contributing to the growth and development of the Cardano community.

Measuring Impact  

To measure the impact of our project, we will employ both quantitative and qualitative metrics:

1. Quantitative Metrics:

User Growth: Track the number of new users and businesses integrating into the Cardano ecosystem before and after our project launch.

On-Chain Transactions: Measure the increase in on-chain transactions attributed to initated campaigns and user engagement initiatives.

2. Qualitative Metrics:

Community Feedback: Conduct surveys and gather testimonials from users and businesses regarding their experiences and satisfaction with our platform.

Engagement Metrics: Evaluate the quality of interactions within the community, such as discussions, collaborations, and participation in events.

Value to the Cardano Community  

The success of our project will bring immense value to the Cardano community by:

• Expanding the User Base: By including top-tier partners of Cittadino, we'll increase the number of enterprises and brands in the Cardano ecosystem, enhancing its overall reputation, reach and influence.
• Driving Adoption: The introduction of innovative advertising solutions will showcase Cardano’s capabilities, encouraging more businesses or institutions users to adopt its technology and attract new customers.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities  

We will share our outputs and opportunities through various channels to ensure transparency and community engagement:

• Regular Reports: Publish reports on our progress, and outcomes on our website.
• Partnerships with influencers and projects: collaborate with existing Cardano projects and influencers to amplify our message and reach a broader audience.
• Social Media: Utilize social media to provide updates, success stories, and insights into the benefits of our project, encouraging wider community participation.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The SmartPlaces team boasts experienced developers, business managers, UI/UX designers, marketers, strategists, project managers, and PR/Com experts with backgrounds at KPMG, Daimler, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Vodafone, BMW, VW, and more. Their extensive experience in development and blockchain ensures trust and accountability.

Cittadino, with its proven expertise in DooH advertising, supported by a vast network within its ownership group of Tank & Rast—including Allianz and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority—forms the perfect partnership with SmartPlaces. Together, we integrate AR with Cittadino's screens and leverage the Cardano Blockchain, ensuring a high-trust project. Our combined international expertise, pilot testing, performance metrics, and stakeholder feedback will validate feasibility, ensuring effective, scalable implementation and robust project delivery.

Cittadino, a leader and pioneer in digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising market, transforms urban landscapes with cutting-edge media solutions. As a subsidiary of Tank & Rast, Cittadino boasts an impressive monthly impression and advertising media contacts rate of over 370 million across more than 6,000 screens, including screens at airports, highway, stations, malls etc.

It's holding company, the Tank & Rast Group, holds the concession for more than 90% of all highway service areas and their gas stations in Germany. With more than 400 service areas, over 350 gas stations and over 50 hotels, Tank & Rast is the largest service company of its kind in the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) region.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Inception and Strategic Blueprint

This milestone encompasses assembling the project team and conducting multiple workshops with all partners, including the project kickoff. Initial drafts for visualization and user experience (UX/UI) are created, along with the analysis of technical and analytics requirements. Additionally, initial existing pilot Tier 1 customers are identified, and strategic partnerships are initiated.

A: Milestone outputs - Project plan, initial UX/UI designs and visualization, technology analysis, as well as user stories and dev tasks. (DevOps)

B: Acceptance criteria - Approval of project scope, requirements, and initial design concepts by stakeholders.

C: Evidence of milestone completion - Signed-off project plan, finalized UX/UI drafts and documented tech and analytics requirements.

Creation and Infrastructure Development

During this milestone, we focus on creating engaging content and developing the AR integration infrastructure. The infrastructure will be designed for seamless location-based triggers like QR codes, NFC, and Bluetooth, enabling users to access interactive experiences tied to specific locations and environmental images. NFT creation will also be implemented to enhance user engagement and digital ownership.

A: Milestone outputs - Finalized content designs, and established infrastructure for integration, triggering and access, NFT creation functionality set up.

B: Acceptance criteria - Approval of content development, and readiness of infrastructure for integration.

C: Evidence of milestone completion – Approval of finalized content designs, and documented infrastructure setup.

Validation and Iteration

During this milestone, the solution undergoes pilot testing to validate its functionality and usability. Implements technical changes and updates to address any issues identified during pilot testing. Feedback from users is collected and analysed, leading to iterative improvements to enhance the solution further.

A: Milestone outputs - Pilot-tested solution, collected feedback, and implemented change management strategies.

B: Acceptance criteria - Positive feedback from pilot testing, documented changes implemented based on feedback.

C: Evidence of milestone completion - Pilot testing reports, documented feedback, and records of implemented changes.

DooH Marketing Launch

During this milestone, the focus shifts to executing a comprehensive marketing campaign via DooH. Strategies will be implemented to increase user engagement and adoption, ultimately driving awareness and in turn, Cardano adoption and user base.

A: Milestone outputs - Executed marketing campaign on DooH, increased user engagement and adoption.

B: Acceptance criteria - Successful execution of marketing strategies, measurable increase in user interactions and transactions.

C: Evidence of milestone completion - Marketing campaign reports, analytics showing increased user engagement.

Go-Live and Monitoring Phase

During this milestone, the solution is deployed and ready to go, operational within Cittadino's network and beyond, this milestone marks the official launch. Monitoring systems are established to track performance metrics and ensure smooth operation.

A: Milestone outputs - Deployed solution across Cittadino's network, established monitoring systems.

B: Acceptance criteria - Successful deployment of solution, functioning monitoring systems in place.

C: Evidence of milestone completion - Deployment reports, monitoring system setup documentation.

Project Close-out and Documentation

In this final milestone, the project is officially closed out, and comprehensive documentation is compiled. This includes a detailed project report and a video summarizing key achievements and learnings.

A: Milestone outputs - Comprehensive project close-out report and video summarizing achievements.

B: Acceptance criteria - Approval of project close-out documentation by stakeholders.

C: Evidence of milestone completion - Signed-off project close-out report, approved close-out video.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Our project team exemplifies diversity and expertise, uniting 40-45 professionals from various fields. Under the leadership of

Gianluca De Lorenzis, SmartPlaces Co-CEO

Christian Helbig, Cittadino Director Sales

Björn Heinze, SmartPlaces Co-CEO

Christian Krämer, Cittadino CEO 

Sebastian Thobe, SmartPlaces CTO

Gian-Luca Ferralis, Cittadino Projectmanager Sales & Cooperation

Sascha Pfau, Cittadino Head of Sales

The team includes a wide range of roles that ensure comprehensive project execution. This diverse group brings together unique perspectives and skills, fostering a dynamic environment that drives innovation and excellence. By leveraging such a broad spectrum of expertise, we are well-equipped to address complex challenges and deliver a pioneering solution in the realm of digital advertising and blockchain technology.

In this project journey, we're embarking on a transformative endeavor to revolutionize the Digital-out-of-Home (DooH) advertising landscape. Leveraging the expertise of a diverse team of professionals, including our Managing Directors, Director Sales, Program Manager, Project Manager, UX/UI Designer, Content Designer, Illustrator, Motion Designer, Video Cutter, AI Specialist, Data Analyst, Partner Manager, Developer, Solution and Infrastructure Architects, AR Specialists, Infrastructure Engineer, QA Manager, as well as Marketing and PR/Com specialists, we're poised to redefine the industry. Together, we'll navigate through key milestones, each bringing us closer to our vision of seamless integration of AR, NFTs, and blockchain technologies into urban advertising screens, enhancing engagement and driving the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Inception and Strategic Blueprint: 435.000,00 ₳

Milestone 2: Creation and Infrastructure Development: 390.000,00 ₳

Milestone 3: Validation and Iteration: 270.000,00 ₳

Milestone 4: DooH Marketing Launch: 360.000,00 ₳

Milestone 5: Go-Live and Monitoring Phase: 90.000,00 ₳

Milestone 6: Project Close-out and Documentation: 30.000,00 ₳

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Firstly, it facilitates the integration of cutting-edge technologies like AR, NFTs, and blockchain into the advertising landscape, showcasing Cardano's practical applications. This enhances Cardano's reputation as a platform for innovation and real-world solutions.

Moreover, Cittadino's vast network and impressive monthly impression rate of over 370 million across more than 6000 screens ensures unparalleled visibility for our ecosystem built on Cardano. This partnership leverages Cittadino’s established reputation, creating a trusted and high-profile entry point for Cardano into the DooH advertising market.

Secondly, the project's success attracts top-tier clients and advertisers, driving adoption and creating a vibrant ecosystem. The project strategically establishes Cardano blockchain solutions in an unexplored market, addressing the innovative use of NFTs with AR technology and the application of AR in the DooH advertising market. By pioneering these applications, Cardano demonstrates its versatility and ability to address complex, high-tech business needs.

Additionally, the project showcases a new business use case for Cardano, bridging the gap between Web2 industries and blockchain technology. The DooH advertising market, traditionally hardware-dependent, will benefit from scalable, customizable solutions that can adapt to local requirements while maintaining global reach.

We'll provide regular reports to share our progress, offering transparency to the Cardano community. This ensures that stakeholders can track the tangible benefits and ongoing impact of the project.

Our quantitative and qualitative metrics allow us to assess the effectiveness of the project, adapting strategies to maximize returns for Cardano over time.

In general, our solution directly addresses Cardano’s marketing and visibility challenges by integrating advertising with blockchain technology. This aligns with Cardano's broader goals of driving mass adoption and expanding real-world usage. Each new Web2 business brought onto Cardano represents an exponential potential for user acquisition and naturally introduce Cardano to their existing customers and networks, further expanding the ecosystem.

Finally, in addition to the catalyst funding, the project will receive nearly equivalent additional investments to ensure its success. This includes the involvement of around 40-45 professionals from the collaborating companies and services from our partners in the DooH field, which will significantly increase the reach of the proposed solution.

Overall, this investment represents a high-value proposition for the Cardano ecosystem, driving technological innovation, fostering community and business engagement, and establishing Cardano as a leader in integrating blockchain with advanced advertising solutions.

Ultimately, the return on investment extends beyond monetary gains, fostering growth, innovation, and broader acceptance of Cardano across industries.