Patriots’ digital transformation strategy taps mobile, social, AR

Kraft said he views Wi-Fi connectivity primarily as a fan amenity, with any revenue-generating opportunities subordinate to a better customer experience.

Other participants in the mobility summit also cited customer, student and citizen expectations as a key driver for their digitization efforts.

“Fans expect connectivity,” said Peter Cowles, IT communications specialist with the city of Westfield (Mass.), which deployed Wi-Fi in the city’s Billy Bullens Field earlier this year for the Babe Ruth League World Series. The set up was initially for hosting the Babe Ruth tournament for teams in the 14-year-old age group, but Westfield’s municipal utility decided to invest in Wi-Fi “to keep it lit for any sporting event,” Cowles noted.

Jason Jones, director of technology for Stonington Public Schools in Connecticut, cited a similar demand for mobile technology.

“Every year we have seen an uptick in the number of young people bringing in mobile devices,” Jones said.

Another source of pressure: charter schools and magnet schools that offer students more choices in education.

“Public schools have to step up,” Jones said.

More from the Gillette Stadium mobility summit

Oral Roberts University uses Wi-Fi analytics to improve campus connectivity.

R. “Ray” Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research, discusses the importance of UX in designing digital experiences.

The Stonington school district deployed a wireless network to support its BYOD efforts and create a virtual desktop infrastructure. Jones said the virtual desktops let the district deliver curriculum and work with teachers via multiple dashboards while working at home.

“Students can go home and have the same experience they have in the classroom,” Jones said.

Oral Roberts University’s digital transformation, meanwhile, extends beyond wireless connectivity to include an $8 million augmented reality learning initiative designed to extend the school’s educational programs to students worldwide and the Fitbit wearable activity tracker. Students at the Tulsa, Okla. school wear Fitbits to keep tabs on “aerobics points” that satisfy their physical fitness requirements.

Michael Mathews, Oral Roberts’ CIO, however, advised against getting too caught up in the technical arcana of a digital transformation strategy. He said IT managers should focus on the benefits of technology and the human dimension, noting that the much-discussed internet of things should really be “the internet of people.”

“Don’t talk about technology; make technology about people,” Mathews said.