It’s not just your phone or TV that is smart; the regular billboard you see every day is getting smarter. Smart technology can lower costs while increasing sales and improving the customer experience. As consumers have grown accustomed to online experiences, they have come to expect a similarly seamless digital experience in-store. Smart digital signage is transforming the customer experience through self-service.
A 2017 study found that 73% of customers prefer self-service and solving issues independently over speaking to a support agent. Fast response time has become a crucial attribute of customer satisfaction.
Do you know that numerous studies have shown that consumers prefer self- checkouts, self-service kiosks, mobile POS systems, and cashless payments? So, how do smart signs help this changing face of consumer experience?
What are smart signs?
Smart signs are programmatic advanced digital systems with connectivity and intelligent features that provide interactive and dynamic content to viewers. They display content videos, images, animations, scrolling text, or live feeds.
Interactivity
Smart signs incorporate touchscreens, gesture recognition, or proximity sensors to enable user interaction. Viewers can navigate menus, select options, input data, or even play interactive games, enhancing their engagement and creating interactive experiences.
Real-time content updates
They can receive real-time updates and display current information, including news, weather conditions, social media feeds, or stock prices. This allows the signs to provide relevant and up-to-date content to viewers.
Targeted messaging
Smart signs can integrate with customer databases, CRM systems, or third-party data sources to access relevant customer information. By leveraging data such as demographics, preferences, or purchase history, businesses can tailor their messages to specific customer segments or individuals. These signs can receive real-time updates and display current information. It allows businesses and organizations to deliver targeted messages based on time-sensitive events, such as promotions, sales, or special offers.
What are the industries that use smart digital signage?
Retail – today smart digital signage has a heavy presence in retail stores to promote products, showcase sales and discounts, and provide interactive product information.
Hospitality – hotels, resorts, and restaurants use smart digital signage to display menus, promote special offers, provide directions, and offer interactive wayfinding solutions.
Transportation – airports, train stations, and bus terminals utilize smart digital signage for displaying real-time arrival and departure information, gate changes, wayfinding instructions, and advertising.
Healthcare – hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities utilize smart digital signage to provide important information, display wait times, share health tips, and showcase doctor profiles.
Education – educational institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities employ smart digital signage for campus communication, event promotions, wayfinding, and displaying important announcements.
Corporate – corporate offices and business settings utilize smart digital signage for internal communication, displaying employee recognition, meeting room schedules, corporate news, and branding.
Entertainment – entertainment venues such as stadiums, arenas, theaters, and amusement parks utilize smart digital signage for displaying event schedules, directions, concession menus, and promotional content.
Financial Services – banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies use smart digital signage to display queue information, promote financial products, share stock market updates, and provide financial advice.
Government – government organizations employ smart digital signage for public information displays, emergency alerts, transportation updates, and community announcements.
Key considerations for implementing smart digital signage
Setting clear goals and objectives
It’s important to be clear about the objectives for implementing smart digital signage. What do you want to achieve? Whether enhancing customer experiences, increasing brand awareness, improving communication, or driving specific actions, aligning your signage strategy with desired goals should be your first step.
Audience analysis and targeting
Understand your target audience and their preferences. Consider their demographics, interests, and behaviors to tailor the content and messaging accordingly. Personalization and relevance are key factors in engaging viewers and achieving the desired outcomes.
For example, in a hospital, a sign in the geriatric ward should have fewer actions for the audience to perform but convey clear, concise information. A pediatric ward where young parents visit with kids is more suitable for a sign with more interactivity.
Implement analytics capabilities to measure the effectiveness of your digital sign. Track metrics such as engagement, dwell time, conversions, or user feedback to assess the impact of your signage strategy. Leverage the data to make data-driven optimizations and improvements.
Content creation and management
Develop a content strategy that aligns with your goals and target audience. Determine the type of content you want to display, such as promotions, announcements, videos, or interactive experiences. Have a plan in place for regular content updates to keep the messaging fresh and captivating. Message templates and a library of images and videos allow you to jump into action when opportunities present themselves.
You can manage content with content management software. Establish a content management system (CMS) that allows for easy updating and scheduling of content. Ensure the CMS is user-friendly and supports different media formats, such as images, videos, and interactive content. Specify a control center and assign staff members to program or change messaging as real-life circumstances change, such as stocks, weather, foot traffic, or events.
Display and placement considerations
Determine the optimal placement of your smart digital signs to maximize visibility and impact. Choose the right location based on your target audience and visibility. Consider factors such as foot traffic, viewing angles, ambient lighting, and potential obstructions. Conduct a thorough site survey to identify the best locations for signage placement.
Consider the user experience and how viewers will interact with the signage. If incorporating interactivity, ensure that it is intuitive and user-friendly. Pay attention to touch response, navigation menus, and the overall user interface design to provide a seamless and engaging experience.
Connectivity and network infrastructure
Consider the connectivity requirements of your sign. A reliable network infrastructure should be in place to support data transfer, content updates, and remote management. Evaluate internet connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular connectivity based on the location and logistics. You may also need to connect to cloud-based management or integration with data sources like CRM systems, social media feeds, or live data streams, depending on the various functions your sign supports.
Select the appropriate hardware and display technology based on your requirements and the intended environment. Consider the screen size, resolution, brightness, durability, and touch capability. Choose displays suitable for the viewing distance and lighting conditions in the chosen location. Ensure that your sign system can seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure and systems.
Security and privacy considerations
Familiarize yourself with industry-specific regulations or guidelines that may apply to your smart signage implementation. Consider factors such as, data privacy, accessibility requirements, or local laws on signage placement and content.
Conclusion
The current evolution in consumer behavior points to a contactless future and self-service. Learning about products and services with the aid of dynamic content and unattended actions via digital technology can redefine the consumer experience. Smart digital signs enable this revolution with greater flexibility. Forward-thinking retailers and service providers should invest in automation to keep up with changing times. Your digital sign will have the latest LED technology and features when engineered LED Craft. Talk to us today, and let us know how we can help you reach your goals. What would be the best change a smart digital sign bring to your business?
