What do you need to know about digital signage

From corporate offices and manufacturing sites to healthcare, financial institutions and movie theatres, digital signage is used both for advertising purposes and to educate and inform audiences about information that is directly relevant to them. 

Digital signage is, put simply, signage that is displayed on digital screens to communicate a particular command or message. Digital signage has a broad range of different uses and can be used by a wide variety of different businesses and organisations for a variety of different reasons. 

Whether it is advertising new movies coming out or displaying the film times, providing wayfinding in large sprawling buildings such as hospitals, or alerting employees about new safety or training protocols, digital signage and digital screens have a vast number of possible uses for all kinds of buildings and locations. 

What is Digital Signage good for?

Digital signage holds the same fundamental purpose as any other form of printed or static signage. With digital signage however, the flexibility that comes with the additional display and communication options, opens out even more possible uses. Not only this, but the effectiveness and efficiency of the message being displayed on a static sign can be greatly improved through the use of digital signage. 

For instance, rather than a simple reminder for manufacturing site workers to wear their PPE i.e helmets, high-visibility clothing and eye protection, with digital screens or digital display boards you can display this message along with looping videos demonstrating the proper use of dangerous machinery. Or, in the case of a hospital, rather than simply displaying a static map, it is possible to provide an interactive screen that users can use to find their way more easily around the building. 

Digital signage can be used to keep everyone in your office up to date with the very latest marketing and sales figures for the business, or to educate and entertain customers with the latest news in hotel reception areas. Got a new product you want to advertise, or a deal that your customers should take advantage of? Because digital signage is easily updatable and dynamic it’s the perfect way to advertise your latest product or promotion. 

With digital signage you aren’t constrained by the limitations of printed materials or signage. You don’t have to fork out for new signs every time your restaurant menu changes, or every time you have a new sale or promotion on. Digital signage is also a more intuitive and natural way to display information in organisations and businesses that require flexibility in their communications. 

Advantages of digital signage

• Virtually unlimited creative possibilities

• No need to replace outdated materials

• Easily updatable

• Ideal for regular promotions

• More eye-catching & attention grabbing

• Able to communicate larger quantities of info

• More efficient for content retention

• Many possibilities for user interaction

• Easily combined with software

• More suited to “on-the-go” communication

• More cost-effective solution than print

Digital Signage is more intelligent

Because digital signage can be connected with the cloud and with numerous possible software options and platforms, the possibilities for intelligent, live and real-time communications with audiences is virtually unlimited. 

Interactivity

Users can interact with digital signage and digital displays in a number of different ways. Whether it’s interacting with dynamic wayfinding maps, playing games, scanning QR codes, or monitoring user actions via body sensors, by enabling interactivity with your screens you can increase engagement with the message you are trying to get across. If you are looking to sell a product then what better way to grab your audience’s attention than have them directly interact with your advertisement or promotion? Similarly if you want to provide genuinely useful information, then what better way to do this than by providing technology that can react and respond to user questions?

Digital display boards can interact with mobile phones via SMS messages by posting messages on the screens, or via Bluetooth to interact directly with what they see on screen. Social media accounts can also be easily connected to the digital screens for users to instantly share photos and messages.

Context-aware digital signage

Using advanced technologies, it is also possible without too much effort for digital signage to interact with its environment and suggest content on the basis of this information. If rain is forecasted you can tell your audience where the best place to pick up an umbrella might be. If there’s a heatwave you can direct customers to the nearest ice cream parlour. 

By taking advantage of camera technology, your screens can also capture typical audience information, i.e estimated age, gender and economic status, and deliver information deemed appropriate for this audience. Not only this, but it can also store this information and provide you with data to better inform future marketing decisions. 

Intelligent Reporting

Each interaction with your screen, whether via touch screen, social media updates, or simply passing-by the screens can be measured and compiled through the installation media players that include usage reporting functions. From this information it is possible to gauge the success of the digital signage or the effectiveness of its message and usage with consumers. 

How can digital signage work for you?

As with any business or organisation your needs will be completely individual to you. While you might share similar objectives to those working in the same space as you, ultimately your requirements will be entirely dependent on the individual needs of your workplace. 

When working out costs therefore, you’ll want to take into account the cost of installation of your digital display boards, and also how you intend to use them. You’ll also want to ensure that you have a means of content creation to upload onto your screens or a member of staff who has this role added to their list of duties. 

The number and size of your screens and the software you choose to upload onto your digital signs, will also be entirely dependent on the requirements of both your workplace and the people who will be using or viewing the screens. Ultimately, digital display boards and digital signage will help you to save on costs and improve customer experience. For help in calculating your specific requirements, don’t hesitate to get in touch via cn@contentnetworks.pl or by calling (22) 231-85-97.