10 Industries that need Interactive Digital Signage

Expecting a cliche read? My assumption is that if you are at all intrigued by this article’s title -  which, by the way, would mean you’re either a digital signage solution provider or investigating its business opportunities - you probably consider yourself to be pretty well acquainted with the broad application of interactive digital signage. Besides, where “interactivity” is not necessarily concerned, it’s true that we find mixed forms of digital display nearly everywhere. So what could possibly be new? But you know what they say about how sometimes the most obvious thing is the most unnoticed. So read on.

Interactive Signage Technology

Interactivity, despite the fact that many would recognize it as core to the next generation of digital signage, is being adopted at varying speeds by industries to improve engagement and communication. 

‍

Digital signage application trends

According to a study by Grand View Research, Inc., forecasting the digital signage application trend by segment from 2012 to 2020, the retail industry accounts for almost half of the global application use while the other half is shared by more than six other industries.

Such disparity in digital signage adoption across different industries, and especially the predominance of the retail industry, may have digital signage’s own history to blame as a big part of its roots come from advertising for retail. The history of publicly installed digital signs goes back as far as the 1970s, but the concept really started transforming into what we are familiar with today around the late 1980s when retailers started ubiquitously placing time-orchestrated promotional content on bigger displays, regardless of whether or not viewers are paying attention. But those archaic days are gone and digital signage has become far more useful for far more purposes with far greater benefits. It’s time to scrape off the preconceived definition and replace it with a new one. 

Today, owing to the technological advancements that brought us new approaches to machine-human interaction and the rise of user-friendly digital signage software such as Intuiface whose customizability and quality of outcome competes with bespoke development, more individuals and organizations are empowered to deliver interactive digital signage across diverse scenarios. The cost of creating, deploying, and managing those installations as well as the hardware components have also become increasingly affordable. Interactive digital signage, by all means, can be easily achieved by anyone who wishes to provide it.  

The following ten industries are perfect candidates for the use of interactive digital signage.

Trade show digital signage

Luring people into your show booth and encouraging them to dwell voluntarily - what else could be the primary objective of an exhibitor at a tradeshow? Interactive digital signage is a perfectly viable option for achieving precisely this for two main reasons: wow effect and deep engagement. Ideal installations can halt passersby’s steps with uniquely designed content displayed on screens of various forms, replacing boring printed handouts. When equipped with extensive content and various interactivity options such as motion sensors and tangible object recognition, exhibitors can offer a rich demonstration of their products and services beyond the physical limitations of the small space while keeping it fun and empowering. 

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for trade shows.

‍

Museum digital signage

Are museums interesting places or just sleep-inducing places people go to out of obligatory sentiment? The good news is that an increasing number of museums around the world are adopting interactive digital experiences in an attempt to increase visitor count and to transform the space into something motivational and entertaining. After all, considering how the exhibition content at museums remains the same for a long period of time, there has to be an extra value to visit then to see the same content repeatedly. Museum digital signage and interactive installations are welcomed at museums include floor-to-ceiling interactive walls responsive to tactile, gesture, or object movements, interactive wayfinding kiosks, lift and learn experiments, and self orchestrated multimedia kiosks integrating VR/AR content.

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for museums.

‍

Workplace digital signage

Our life is being reshaped around digital interactivity so shouldn’t workplaces keep up? The workplace is where communication and engagement matter. It is also the face of the brand for both employees and visitors. There are various ways to revamp the workplace environment with workplace interactive digital signage: interactive whiteboard/brainstorming installations, voice-controlled presentations, showroom/lobby signage or walls, room booking systems, and office equipment control panels. Interactive digital signage can not only modernize the look of meeting rooms and common areas but also improve the efficiency and quality of information sharing as well as increased attention and engagement by members of the workplace.

Watch video examples and download samples for the workplace.

‍

Government digital signage

Government facilities are where we come to seek information and assistance, and interactive digital signage can be the right tool to accommodate these needs in innovative and cost-efficient ways. More and more places like city halls, tourism centers, and post offices are steadily improving their services and the perceived impression of the administrative area by installing self-service solutions such as wayfinding kiosks, area maps, live news/information signs, and queue management kiosks. Interactive digital signage can also be a great vehicle for nurturing more engagement by members of the regional community by offering a more inviting and empowering experience. 

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for government. 

‍

Education digital signage

Interactivity is the primary mode of communication for the generation raised on technology, making it the right approach to generate engagement in an educational setting. From early education to universities, schools are introducing interactive tools to facilitate learning and information sharing. For example, students can now browse through class information and enroll themselves for the next term on an interactive kiosk, learn about the school athletes and achievement on the multimedia wall in the Hall of Fame. Younger learners can be exposed to different science apparati on an interactive screen integrated into a vending machine where after browsing they can purchase what they need. Students can even stay more up to date with school activities and news as they interact with constantly updated digital signs. This way everybody has access to important information regardless of any personal devices they may possess.

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for education.

Real estate digital signage

Flyers and printed advertisements used to be the king of real estate marketing. Now, brokers, realtors, property managers, builders, architects, and other real estate professionals can accelerate sales using modern, engaging, and memorable interactive experiences using their uniquely digitized content. Prospects can thoroughly and freely browse property information to solve as many mysteries as possible on their own because interactive real estate digital signage content offers a nearly unlimited amount of content using diverse types of multimedia including AR/VR and 3D images. Passersby can also move content from the digital show window onto their own mobile phone via QR code for further investigation on their own.‍

‍
Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for real estate.

‍

Hospitality digital signage

Hospitality businesses can benefit greatly from adopting interactive digital signage. Hotel lobbies can create attention-grabbing ambience with video/multimedia walls, informational signage can substitute the need for queuing up in line to speak with the Concierge, and wayfinding kiosks can help people locate their rooms through the complex layouts of the building. Hospitality digital signage is also an effective means of displaying updated information about local events, attractions, traffic, weather, transportation options, and more without the hassle of reprinting new information each time there is an update. 

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for hospitality

‍

Quick Service Restaurants Digital Signage

It’s needless to elaborate on the penetration of digital signage in QSR industry. Just name one quick-service restaurant where you are not assisted by a self-service kiosk...It’s difficult! How and why did this happen? There are legitimate reasons well demonstrated by numerous studies. 

• 88 percent of all diners would prefer self-service menu boards at the table. (source)
• If the line length is longer than 4 people, customers would prefer to order from a self-service kiosk rather than a cashier. (source)
• 54% of millennials also said they order exclusively on self-serve ordering kiosks when they are available and 60% of millennials say they would go more often to restaurants if self-serve ordering kiosks were installed. (source)

The trend hints that today, the question is not whether to introduce digital installations at QSR restaurants anymore, but to deliver a “gratifying” digital experience in the physical space.

One surefire answer to that question is to deepen and mature their adoption of interactivity. Restaurants can jump beyond the concept of a self-service machine to offering something bigger: a memorable, empowering, entertaining, and of course purposeful in-store experience. Think about a table integrated with a self-orchestrated personal interactive menu board and ordering system, voice or gesture-controlled self-ordering kiosk, AR integrated menu board tablet, or how about demographics recognition system displaying age-appropriate menu? There can be unlimited ways to impress visitors when supported by the right software. Also when supported by the right software, businesses can greatly benefit by collecting data from all interaction points identifying in the installation, visualize them in customized charts and dashboards to analyze trends and preference as well as the performance quality of each installation for constant improvement of the service.

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for quick service restaurants

‍

Sports Digital Signage

Honestly speaking, visiting a sports venue whether it’s a baseball park, ice hockey arena, or a football stadium, it’s never ONLY about seeing the match. If that was the unique goal, watching the game through a television would suffice. We visit the sports arena for the experiences we can make only by physically being there: the vibrant atmosphere and the joy of cheering with the crowd, the junky but mysteriously yummy hotdogs and nachos, or the mix of watching through the big screen and the small people on the ground, who knows? What’s important is that visitors at a sports arena seek to bring back home a gratifying experience so they are motivated to come back next time and that sports arenas are not free from the competition to attract people in. Sports arenas are a significant source of revenue for professional sports clubs and a contribution to the local economy, so visitor experience matters more than anything. That’s where Interactive digital signage comes in as a perfect addition to those classic yet romantic examples given earlier. Various forms of Interactive digital signage can greatly upgrade the quality of service, entertainment, and perceived impression of the venue itself. For example, multimedia kiosks or interactive walls can revamp the atmosphere with entertaining content, interactive wayfinding kiosks can help visitors find their ways to their destination effectively, interactive vending machines can add fun to feeding hunger, self-orchestrated player highlight signage can double the fun of watching the game. 

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for sports arenas

‍

Retail Digital Signage

Interactive digital signage can become the lynchpin of success for retail business - if done well. With the rise of e-commerce and connected lifestyles in today’s world, retailers are increasingly putting effort into finding inventive ways to engage with consumers during their visit to brick-and-mortar stores. As more customers are looking for in-store experiences that rival what online services offer - such as convenient inventory exploration, ability to choose from multiple delivery options and more - progressive retailers are blending the nature of physical shopping with the advantage of digital experiences, providing a consistent and interactive experience encompassing multiple touch points. One of the ways retailers are making this blend possible is through the incorporation of interactive digital signage into the customer experience. According to a recent survey made by WBR Insights involving 100 retail leaders in charge of in-store environments, 87% of respondents believe that interactivity is the most likely successful feature of an in-store digital signage strategy. Another survey 75% prefer to have hand-held or fixed devices to check inventory availability and prices to improve speed and convenience while shopping. Offering a truly engaging and effective interactive digital experience in a physical space depends upon one or more of the following:

• real-time connection to external data
• variety of interactive options
• attractive and functional form factors
• flawless integration with external devices
• eye-catching design
• ease of use - both for customers and suppliers
• deep analytics of user interactions
• smooth deployment

Watch video examples and download samples of interactive digital signage for retail