Installing an individual entertainment system: new car or aftermarket?

Investing in an Individual Entertainment System for a bus is a decision that depends on the type of transport service provided (regular service / special trips), the distance to be covered, age of the vehicle and of course the factors that affect the investment itself. a role, such as costs, operating costs and revenues.

In principle, everyone will be inclined to make such an investment on a new vehicle in order to maximize the period of return on the investment. In addition, in some cases the result of the finishing is better because the processing of the (power) cables takes place during the manufacture of the bodywork.

When is an Aftermarket Installation Recommended?

There are instances where the Aftermarket installation is recommended or necessary:

• Recommended: as an initial installation that allows us to evaluate the concept and define what will be installed in new vehicles at a later stage.
• Necessary: when we import a vehicle, where sending the material to the country of origin (Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium…) would delay the operation without the factory installation really adding value.

Logically, the installation takes place in a bus that is relatively young (less than 2 years is a good decision) and that will remain in the fleet for at least another 3-4 years, so that good commercial operation is possible.

Installation Recommendations for an IES

The Aftermarket installation, realized by an experienced Technical Service, offers a level of quality comparable to a factory installation. It is necessary that the brackets for the screens in the backs of the chairs are appropriate in terms of design and reliability and also meet the correct European standards. It is also important that the experience of the installation team guarantees that the (power) cables are laid in the most suitable place, in a good way and in such a time frame that the delivery time of the car is not affected. Two or three days for installation and start-up is a reasonable time frame for these types of installations.

In conclusion, it can be said that the installation of an Individual Entertainment System can be done for new cars as well as for the Aftermarket, whichever suits the bus company best. What is certain is that not having a new vehicle at your disposal does not have to be an obstacle to installing a personal Entertainment System on board, but can sometimes be a good opportunity to