2021 Top 5 Digital Signage Trends

Our world is changing and so are our signage needs

With the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw swift changes in operating procedures and practices across multiple businesses. This means notifying your audiences quickly and efficiently of those changes is key. Yes, social media is good at this, but now that more and more people are coming out of isolated quarantine, you need that message to be loud and clear at the forefront of your business—your business which is now, or will very soon be, open to foot traffic.

Enter digital signage. Estimated at $18.6 billion in 2018, the digital signage industry is anticipated to reach $31.7 billion by 2025. But what is digital signage and what can it do for your business?

What is Digital Signage?

Digital signage is a type of electrical signage designed to display LCD, LED, projection, and e-paper technologies. While that’s a fairly straightforward definition, digital signage is much more than that. It’s largely comprised of:

• Content – The capabilities of the display as it relates to text, graphics, image, video, audio and more.
• Hardware – The physical components including screens, mounting, cameras, printers, and more.
• Software – The piece that enables you to create, edit, manage, and deploy messages that you want to share, when you need to share.

What are the Trends in Digital Signage and How Can it Help My Business?

Key trends to keep an eye out for in the digital signage space for 2021 and beyond include advances in software systems and technology, and adaptations to current needs—something that has become pivotal and will continue to increase in necessity in our post-pandemic world.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for

• Advances in software systems.

Specifically, ones that give you, the consumer and business owner, autonomy of not only how your messaged is display, but when through automated systems you control.

In the past, software wasn’t a given with digital signage—you often had to consult with a service provider to make these changes for you. These days, digital signage remains solidly in the control of your brand, meaning you can dictate your message, how it’s displayed, and the aesthetic to convey your message in a way that compliments your brand image.

• Technology is more sophisticated.

Reflective LCD makes outdoor screens much easier to see, no matter the time of day or weather conditions. This opens up more avenues to your business that once wasn’t an option, such as outdoor digital menus, digital billboards, and interactive maps, to name a few. Or, perhaps most useful for now and in the future, public display panels that communicate the most important information to your customers and employees. Whether it’s a one-day sale, changes in COVID-19 safety protocols, important information about reserving your spot at your restaurant or hotel, and more.

• Adaptation to current needs.

Digital signage is no longer just something nice to have—it’s becoming an essential, integral part of the in-person, brick-and-mortar business model. Safety and hygiene protocols are becoming the new norm, which means technology like touchless touch screens that utilize voice and gesture commands will become the standard.
Now more than ever, increasing public safety with business continuity is becoming the standard. Increasing security will continue to be on the rise, too. For places that see heavy foot traffic, digital displays that integrate identity verification and temperature screening is going to become more available and integral to large spaces like conference and business centers, hospitals, universities, stadiums, and more.

• Direction for your customers or employees.

The concept and practice of dynamic wayfinding is on the rise. This is especially helpful for visitors of convention centers, hospitals, and sports venues. In offices, it can prove useful as well. Virtual receptionist devices can assist with the flow of traffic in business complexes, minimizing the number of people in any given space. And possibly most helpful in our hygiene conscious world is the ability to alert occupants of the building to essential safety measures and guidelines, like which seats and areas have been sanitized and are ready for use.

Social responsibility isn’t going away—and if you’re not prepared to make your customers and employees safe, your business will suffer the consequences.

• Enhance the customer buying experience.

Interactive digital signage and display systems lead to higher customization and personalization. Meaning, you can improve the overall purchasing experience by anticipating their needs and offering services and products before they even know they need them.

Customer recognition software which allows you to have their purchases ready, along with offerings for additional services that go along with that purchase—think fittings and alterations for clothing and jewelry, assistance loading products into vehicles, and last-minute order add-ons.

In an Amazon-run world, personalized customer experience for smaller businesses packs a bigger punch. Tech integration is one way to help you achieve the best customer experience possible.

Where Do We Go from Here?

2020 showed us how quickly the world can change. It showed us how truly adaptable we as people and businesses are.  Now isn’t the time to revert back to old businesses practices and tricks you once relied upon. Your customers expect you to be ahead of trends, the leader in your industry, and depend on you to deliver consistent service during a time that feels as solid as a Jell-O mold. Digital displays and digital signage checks a lot of boxes and with the technology becoming more advanced and useable. It’s becoming necessary as opposed to a nice to have feature.

By providing superior technology that keeps your customers and employees up-to-date and safe, you are setting your business up for the most successful return on your investment.