Reopening the world of stories. How are we going to do this in a safe way?

Back to the present: last week, it was announced that, after being closed for more than two months, museums would be allowed to reopen their doors as of June 1st. Sure, this reopening comes with many conditions, but it’s still good news!

Social distancing is also being observed in our own sector. Visitors have to purchase tickets prior to their visit, so that visitor numbers are controlled, and safety is currently the top priority. But museums and other institutions now also have to deal with more difficult practical issues, such as no longer being able to offer guided tours to groups and how to guarantee the safety of visitors and staff. Below I will tell you more about these practical issues related to Coronavirus, the resulting impact, and about the developments at our company.

Collaborate as friends

One of the slogans of our company is that we work together with our clients as friends. And when you hear that a friend’s life has been completely turned upside down, it hits you. We had a lot of contact with our clients these last few months. And, despite the intensity and impact of the current situation, I want to emphasize how impressed I am by the creativity and adaptability that our clients have shown which has resulted in fantastic initiatives, such as entire exhibitions being placed online, alternatives for visitors who just wanted a change from the everyday, and creative solutions to remain visible and relevant.

For example, the KRÖLLER-MÜLLER Museum put their entire audio tour online, while MSK Gent turned their unique Van Eyck exhibition into a guided video tour. Trinity Church in Boston, USA, one of the ten most important buildings in the country, opened its doors virtually. There are many more great examples, and we are proud to have been able to contribute to this.

Forward, together

Now a new period is dawning: in some countries the doors of museums and attractions will soon be open again, while in others everything is still firmly in lockdown. But the new reality will show its impact across the globe, regardless of when this reopening takes place. There will be no more international visitors, and visits can only take place in small groups. Reopening raises complex issues –, some we have not had to deal with before – about security and managing of visitor flows.

Let me say, first of all, that if there are issues you have to deal with concerning the use of audio tours, we are there for you. So, please contact us if we can help you with anything! We will do everything we can to support you with our technology, without it distracting visitors from your beautiful surroundings and collection.

We have a few practical options at the ready that are free for use.

We have also created a FAQ guide about how to responsibly use our Podcatcher audio guide. This contains concrete solutions for the safe use of our products, such as cleaning them and hygienic user options that give visitors extra protection. For example, the Podcatchers can be provided in a plastic cover (the audio guide doesn’t have a screen, so the cover doesn’t affect its function).

In addition to our FAQ, we also have several extra options that are relevant to mention. For example, in addition to their function as audio guides, the Podcatchers can be used as a way to keep track of visitor flows and numbers (when all Podcatchers are in use, there are x number of visitors inside and no new are visitors allowed). On the Podcatchers themselves, we have recorded standard stops in three languages to remind visitors to keep a distance of one and a half metres.

You can also use our analytics to see which stops are listened to less and switch them off temporarily, in order to expand the space for other objects. We also offer an app and a website where the tours can be listened to for visitors who do not want to use an audio guide. This is a great option for visitors who want to use their own device and is a service we offer free of charge to our clients.

I would like to end by saying that I wish you a lot of success reopening the museums and hope you can enjoy the process! I would also like to emphasize that if we can help you in any way, we are here for you.