Digital
signage is becoming increasingly more prevalent as cutting-edge technology
continues to drive innovation. Market research firm Markets and Markets, pegs
the global digital signage market to grow to approximately USD 32.84 billion by
2023. Tinhis is a steady 7.4% increase from the USD 19.6 billion which it was in
2016. North America constitutes the majority of this market and will continue
to be the driving force. Of course, this market size includes everything from
digital signage products to software/hardware services and applications. That
is why it is useful to know the trends for the coming year.
Types of
Digital Signage and their Uses
· Stand Alone Displays- These can be floor mounted, wall mounted or simply placed on top of any surface. Whether it’s a restaurant menu with the latest happy hour deals, to real time promotions and stock updates at a store, these can be connected to a network or left to stand alone.
· Outdoor
Signage- These are generally larger screens or surface areas that are well-encased
to keep them protected from the elements as well as from theft. Naturally,
given the size and the level of sophistication, these are higher on the cost
side, but ideal for larger companies looking to capture several eyeballs.
So,
what exactly is classified as digital signage? While kiosks, menu boards,
billboards, signboards etc. all come under digital signage,for ease of
understanding we broadly classify digital signage as:
· Indoor Signage- Using HD screens to display service related information, live updates, ad sand so on. These are often used in restaurants, office buildings, malls, stores etc.
· Indoor Signage- Using HD screens to display service related information, live updates, ad sand so on. These are often used in restaurants, office buildings, malls, stores etc.
· Posters-
Somewhat identical to regular posters, these wall-mounted slim screens allow
high-quality graphics to be displayed.
· Stand Alone Displays- These can be floor mounted, wall mounted or simply placed on top of any surface. Whether it’s a restaurant menu with the latest happy hour deals, to real time promotions and stock updates at a store, these can be connected to a network or left to stand alone.
Trends in
Digital Signage
·
Slimmer and Sleeker- Screens will get wider and slimmer
with the resolution and pixels getting even sharper. With significant innovation
in reflective displays being made, we can expect to see full-color e-paper
displays, which behave like real paper, by reflecting light. Video walls will
become ever so prevalent and an increasingly more popular choice for customers
looking to increase the use of digital signage in their marketing.
·
Interactive& Responsive- It’s not just about touch screens
with multiple options in them. Displays will get way more intelligent and
responsive, with voice recognition and programmed display based on the behavior
and data fed into it by users.
· Intelligent & Adaptive- Increasingly, more digital signage will
be adaptive to external factors driven by data. For example, if a certain area
of a mall is over-crowded, an intelligent sign will be fed this information and
will automatically direct people to stores in a different direction. Or if the temperature
is cold outside, the sign will change to show a promotion for hot cappuccino at
the nearby café. With Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and a
mix of the two, or Mixed Reality (MR), we will see a seamless blend between the
physical world and the digital world.
Conclusion
The
Digital Signage market is expected to grow significantly over the next five
years driven largely by innovation. Wtyoe can expect to see wider and slimmer
screens which offer more intelligence and interactivity for users. With the current
advances in AI (Artificial Intelligence) we can expect a considerable amount of
real-time data being fed into digital signage touch points which are beneficial
to marketers and customers alike.
