Ruhrkraft Demo - Blockchain-based Advertising Time Tracking for Disinfectant Dispensers
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: PR and marketing agencies · Organisation: Blockchain Reallabor · Maturity level: Concept
The Ruhrkraft Demo combines hygiene with digital marketing through intelligent disinfectant dispensers with integrated screens. The system detects approaching persons and plays targeted advertising videos during hand disinfection, with playback automatically stopping when the person leaves the area. Smart contracts transparently document the actually played advertising time and enable fair billing only for truly viewed advertisements.
Documentation status
- Project status: Concept
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
The Blockchain Reallabor Huerth developed the Ruhrkraft demo as an interactive demonstrator for blockchain-based energy concepts. Ruhrkraft is a regional energy provider that relies on decentralised blockchain energy solutions.
The problem for the energy sector in blockchain communication: decentralised energy concepts (peer-to-peer trading, smart contracts for energy billing, tokenised energy units) are difficult for the average consumer to understand. Marketing material alone is insufficient. The Ruhrkraft demo solves this with tangible technology: visitors and potential customers can see live on a touchscreen or tablet how an energy transaction between two parties takes place on the blockchain — from feed-in via a PV system to billing the consumer. The Blockchain Reallabor Huerth (euronova CAMPUS Studio 6) serves as a demonstration centre where energy suppliers and other companies can make their blockchain concepts tangible. Ruhrkraft is documented in the Blockchain Reallabor portfolio as a practical example for the energy sector.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Energy suppliers and municipal utilities can clearly communicate their decentralised energy concepts using blockchain demonstration systems like Ruhrkraft and convince customers of the benefits of blockchain energy billing.
B2C — consumers perspective
End customers benefit from improved hygiene options in public spaces. Advertising exposure is time-limited and linked to the hygiene process.
Employees perspective
Facility managers need to maintain the new intelligent systems and manage advertising content. Marketing staff receive more precise data for campaign optimisation and can bill based on success.
Benefits
General
- The transparent blockchain-based billing creates trust between advertisers and operators.
- The combination of hygiene and marketing opens up new revenue streams for operators of public spaces.
- Precise measurability of advertising effectiveness enables data-driven campaign optimisation.
B2B — organisations
- Companies only pay for advertising that is actually seen and can precisely measure their marketing ROI.
B2C — consumers
- Users receive improved hygiene options with time-limited, relevant advertising.
Employees
- Marketing teams receive reliable data for campaign evaluation and can work on a success basis.
Challenges
General
- The integration of hardware components with blockchain infrastructure requires technical expertise.
- Acceptance of the technology among users and advertising partners must first be established.
B2B — organisations
- Companies need to adapt their advertising strategies to the new precise measurability.
Employees
- Staff require training to manage the intelligent hygiene marketing systems.
Technology foundation
The system uses smart contracts for automated and tamper-proof recording of advertising times at disinfectant dispensers. Blockchain technology ensures transparent billing between advertisers and operators, as all interactions are immutably documented.
Implementation examples
Ruhrkraft Demo Pilot Project
The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a fair, blockchain-based billing system for advertising services. The goal was to minimise wastage and charge only for adverts that were actually seen.
Blockchain Reallabor developed a prototype to demonstrate blockchain-based advertising time tracking on hand sanitiser dispensers.
The Blockchain Reallabor implemented a demonstration setup equipping hand sanitiser dispensers with screens and sensors for person detection. The system uses smart contracts to automate the documentation of advertising times and stops playback as soon as people leave the area. The demonstration shows the potential for transparent billing models in the advertising industry.
The challenge of non-transparent advertising billing and high wastage was solved through precise time measurement. Combining hygiene requirements with marketing opportunities opens up new business models.
Tags
Smart Contract, Digital Marketing, Hygiene, Advertising Measurement, IoT