The DS Company specialises in innovative digital sidewalk signs, offering smart, data-driven
solutions via its DS One device, a weatherproof, cloud-connected digital screen. Manufacturing in-house, they provide complete global digital signage solutions, revolutionising public services through a partnership with Xibo. By combining smart hardware with the versatile Xibo CMS, they introduced a pioneering AI-powered library assistant.
As libraries across Germany embrace the "Open Library" concept, they allow visitors to access buildings during evening or late night hours without on site staff. This shift created a significant challenge, the lack of a single point of communication for visitors who still require assistance outside of regular staffing hours.
In early 2025, The DS Company, alongside partners Novatech and Humanizing, successfully
deployed the first AI Library Assistant at Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Municipal
Library). This solution included the implementation of Puxie, a digital avatar that welcomes
visitors and answers questions using an experimental ChatGPT connection. Xibo seamlessly embeds Puxie alongside other content.
"We wanted to have one ecosystem because it makes support and maintenance ten times easier than dealing with various 'exotic' applications. We were very pleased to achieve this within the [Xibo] environment." - The DS Company Management
The success at Stadtbüchereien Düsseldorf has led to adoption across major
German cities such as Kiel and Berlin with rapid roll outs by DS Company. This
successful deployment provides libraries with a scalable way to manage staff
shortages and provide additional benefits.
The solution ensures 24/7 availability, allowing for smooth operations even during unstaffed "Open Library" hours. It provides multilingual support in German and English, with Arabic and other languages in development to assist diverse communities. Furthermore, the system is fully GDPR compliant, remaining secure and never requesting personal data from visitors. Finally, it offers cost efficiency by reducing the reliance on manual labor for repetitive tasks, such as providing directions or answering basic FAQs.
The DS Company chose Xibo for the following reasons:
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