For decades now, digital signage has been slowly supplanting conventional static signage as the default option for so many situations. Whereas the cost of ‘upgrading’ to a digital solution was once prohibitively expensive, the range of options now available mean that whatever the budget, there is bound to be a solution to suit your budget. We now find ourselves surrounded by digital LED and LCD signs on a daily basis, but what industries are truly making the most of it?
Retail
By far and away the industry that has truly leveraged the power and flexibility of digital signage the most obviously and abundantly in recent years is the retail industry. It’s easy to see why, as there are so many imaginative and ambitious ways to employ digital signs in a retail environment.
As well as making displays more exciting and presenting a flexible platform for advertisement, digital elements can be used in everything from self-service checkout to interactive displays and plenty more!
Public Transport
Regardless of how people might feel, it’s hard to argue against the fact that public transport has (on the whole) improved immeasurably in recent years. A major part of this positive progress is down to the utilisation of digital signage, which is able to present information to passengers in an uncomplicated and flexible manner.
Digital signage has not only made public transport less confusing and more approachable but also offers monetisation options. These signs can generate profit for travel companies, as they can be used to display advertisements – not only for the company itself but for third parties who have paid for advertising space.
Restaurants
Digital signage has completely changed the game when it comes to fast food. Indeed, there is barely a major fast food chain left that doesn’t utilise the technology to make every transaction smoother, faster more customer-centric.
McDonald’s have even taken integration a step further by doubling down on their investment in self-service kiosks. Now, self-service LED menus are the default option at many McDonald’s restaurants, as they cut down significantly on manpower, allowing more time to be spent by workers in the kitchen, preparing the food faster and more efficiently.
The utilities of digital signage even stretch to table-service restaurants, with the ability to change the menu on the fly without having to run to the printers an obvious benefit.
Digital Out-of-home Advertising (DOOH)
DOOH advertising has been a major aspect of the industry for decades, but whereas the gigantic rolling billboards made famous by Piccadilly Circus and Time Square were once all neon signs and bulky monitors, they are now 100% digital, and the trend has spread to every other facet of the industry.
The advantages of digital signage over traditional DOOH signage are numerous: Installation is as easy as flicking a switch, instead of the laborious task of tearing down old signs, printing new ones and paying someone to physically install them, it also allows for content to be controlled remotely and changed instantly, if the need should arise. Advertising can also be programmed, so that different advertisements can be displayed on the same digital billboard at different times of the day.
Public Sector
Digital signage has also been utilised widely in the public sector. It can be used by the government to alert the public and can be used to improve communication in office environments, as well as for way-finding in museums and public galleries.
Healthcare
LED screens are also a common feature in the healthcare sector, with the ability to display critical information to patients and their families a major benefit to all involved. Indeed, more healthcare practices all around the world have been going digital in recent years in order to improve functionality and communication between staff and patients.
These are, of course, just a handful of examples, but there are few industries that would struggle to find a use for them as they offer a more visually pleasing alternative to conventional signs, which will fall into disrepair and are costly to replace. They will also save you money in the long-run, present a more eco-friendly option and are surprisingly easy to maintain.
So, there’s really no reason not to join the digital signage revolution, regardless of your industry. The industries above have blazed a trail, so maybe now it’s time to follow their lead into a bold and brilliant digital future.
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