Digital signage that includes an interactive display is a popular way for businesses to encourage customers’ engagement with their brand, company or product offerings. However, interactive signage has grown past simple touch over the past few years. 

What is Interactive Signage? 

Interactive signage is a type of large-scale digital display that is most often outfitted with a touchscreen. While some older versions of interactive signage utilize external keyboards or even computer mice to allow for interactivity, almost all modern systems include a touchscreen. More often than not, these displays are highly sensitive to touch, much like a smartphone would be. 

digital signage example.
Interactive signage can be amazingly versatile, offering multiple points of interaction, making it a great fit for many environments from shopping malls to office building lobbies. 

Why is Digital Signage Important for Businesses? 

Interactive digital signage is designed to be both engaging and attractive. Because of this, it gives companies an incredible opportunity to talk directly to their customers when deployed properly. At the same time, it can offer a range of business insights while capturing customers’ interest and enhancing their overall experience. 

Customer Benefits of Interactive Signage 

Interactive signage can offer a wide range of benefits to customers and other users, including:

Business Benefits of Interactive Signage 

While there are many benefits to customers and other end-users, it’s safe to say that there are equally as many benefits to the companies that deploy them, including:

digital signage benefits.

Types of Interactions Possible with Digital Signage

The original and still most common type of interactive signage is that configured with a highly-sensitive touchscreen. Touchscreens allow users to browse or search the display’s integrated database for information. These digital signs are very popular in office buildings when used as directories or for wayfinding. Similar use cases are common shopping malls, too. 

QR Codes 

QR codes let customers or visitors use their phones to scan information directly to their mobile devices. These codes can prompt everything from review collection to app downloads. They are especially useful for the mobile hand-off of wayfinding and directional information to users’ phones, and are commonly used in smart city kiosks.

Speech Detection and Recognition

Some interactive signage is equipped with passive microphones, much like an Amazon Alexa or Google Home device. This allows the signs to activate the listening functionality with certain keywords or phrases are used, making them usable even without the need to touch or otherwise physically manipulate the displays or integrated components. Speech detection can be an extremely useful feature in terms of accessibility, especially for those who may speak but not be able to write in the primary language used by the display, or for those who are blind or have limited sight. These displays make very helpful additions to government buildings, like courthouses, or college campuses. 

Motion Tracking 

This is probably the coolest looking but least common type of feature available for interactive signage. Essentially, the sign is enabled with components and software that allow the user’s gestures to be followed or “tracked,” thereby triggering various functionality. While not found in many places just yet (the technology is still very much a work in progress in most places), it could eventually be an interesting addition to signage that features games or other types of entertainment apps, like those in shopping centers or in retail stores.

Facial Detection & Recognition

Facial detection has many different uses, and is mostly used to secure accounts and limit access to them to only those who are approved to use them. Apple’s Face ID is a form of facial recognition that is used to secure their proprietary mobile devices, like iPhones and iPads. This technology also has other interesting applications. For instance, fast food restaurants are beginning to test facial recognition in their loyalty programs to quickly allow users to place orders at self-payment kiosks, when they are ordering a meal that has been categorized as a “favorite,” and instantly collecting payment via a pre-connected account.

RFID and NFC 

While most people associate RFID and NFC technology solely with the ability to process payments, both are capable of much more than that. At their core, both RFID and NFC tech are simply ways of delivering information or triggering an action. So while they are probably most commonly used for payment applications, they can also be used to transmit informational downloads, like museum maps, deliver product guides and instructions in retail environments, or connect wireless devices to one another within a household. 

Beacons 

Beacons are poised to be the next big thing in location-based marketing. While they are quite a basic technology – just a simple, wireless transmitter – it’s less the hardware itself that is making waves, and more its various uses. Beacons help businesses optimize their advertising outreach by allowing them to gather better data and offer more useful promotions via proximity marketing. Users’ mobile phones pick up the beacons’ signals, letting advertisers know where their customers are at a given point in time. Examples of successful beacon use are not uncommon, but are especially prevalent in retail environments, where companies use it to target their ads to customers who they know are visiting or have visited their locations, and better tailor their offers to them.

Mobile Phone Interactivity

Mobile phones are used in most of these examples for one reason or another, but they can also be the place where the interactivity actually occurs. For instance, some companies have used mobile-first websites to host interactive games. These can be played directly on the device, and offer the ability for huge numbers of people to play the games together, creating a sense of community and connection between brand loyalists and the brand itself. 

Augmented Reality 

Those who use Google search may have recently encountered a new feature that allows users to get up close and personal with…wild animals. No, this isn’t a joke, but it is a neat example of a company using AR to engage with its customers. If a user happens to search for one of a specific selection of animals in its database (and even some fantasy creatures, like unicorns!), Google then asks the user if they’d like to see it in their current environment. They can then choose to view the animal wherever they’re at, via their mobile device, but in their personal surroundings, whether in their living room or in the middle of Times Square. 

How to Deploy an Interactive Digital Signage Program

Developing and deploying an interactive digital signage kiosk or program might seem like a huge project, but there are ways to make the process simpler.

  1. Understand the KPIs: Important to know exactly what needs are to be met with the sign. For example, will it simply display information, or is it intended to to increase revenue?
  2. Find an experienced kiosk manufacturing partner: There are many companies that build kiosks, but not all of them are able to provide every service or type of kiosk required by a given project. Ensure that the manufacturer selected has experience building and deploying the type of kiosk needed for the project.  
  3. Design the Sign: Turn-key interactive signage manufacturers like REDYREF are able to provide assistance from kiosk design and manufacturing, all the way through its deployment and servicing.  
  4. Deploy Kiosks: Most companies prefer to utilize manufacturers that are capable of not just shipping and delivery, but also set up and training. 
  5. Measure Results: Digital signage can be equipped with software that allows for remote reporting of key metrics, in particular, the KPIs identified at the project’s inception. 

Why Choose REDYREF for Interactive Signage 

With more than 100 years of experience as a leading American kiosk manufacturer, REDYREF knows how to build interactive digital signage for any environment. From touchscreen information signage and payment kiosks to wayfinding and ticketing, REDYREF is able to create the best and most efficient kiosk solutions on the market. Curious to learn more? Request a quote online, or call 1.800.628.3603 for additional information. 

 

While traditional, analog building directories may still exist, the majority of businesses – of all sizes and across industries – have made the switch to digital solutions. Given their broad utility, attractive design and reasonable pricing, it’s easy to see why digital directories have become so popular over the past five years.

What is a Digital Directory Board? 

Digital directory boards help visitors, employees, customers and guests locate specific areas of a building or campus. This can include a wide range of locations – mall stores, businesses within a commercial office building, airport terminals and gates, conference rooms, or the offices of various individuals, such as employees or team members, for example.

digital directory board.

What Types of Digital Directories are Available?

Digital directories are available in several styles, some more complex than others. 

Which Businesses can Benefit from Digital Directory Boards? 

Digital directories can be found in any number of environments. Some of the more common places they appear are airports and other transportation hubs, hospitals, shopping centers, judicial complexes/justice centers, office buildings, and college campuses. 

Where can a directory board be placed?

One of the many benefits of digital directories is that they are available in many different sizes and able to be placed almost anywhere:

7 Main Benefits of Interactive Digital Directory Boards 

While digital directories that are configured with touchscreen, interactive capabilities may be more expensive, the range of benefits available can make them well worth the higher price. Some of these include:

1. Customizable messaging: Messaging can be updated regularly in order to keep it relevant and useful to its intended audience. In environments like hotels or conference centers, for example, digital directories can be used to communicate information about events and meetings, even when they change frequently from day to day. 

2. Better user engagement and attention: Interactive digital directories are far more modern and attractive than their analog counterparts, leading to better and more user engagement. They are a simple way to help update and modernize a range of spaces, in particular, office building lobbies. 

3. Ease of updating and scheduling: Because digital directories are computerized, they can be easily updated remotely, and new content scheduled to be pushed out on a regular basis. Colleges and universities utilize this feature frequently in order to help students and staff identify classrooms and lecture halls, especially when spaces are shared and users change frequently. 

4. Effective in emergency situations: In the case of an extreme weather event or area safety lockdown, digital directory boards, like those found in “smart cities,” can be used to quickly broadcast emergency information. 

5 .Helpful for wayfinding and navigation: Interactive digital directories can be integrated with software that allows them to be used for wayfinding and navigation, including turn-by-turn instructions, mobile handoff, and lighted paths. Large educational campuses, in particular, often find this type of utility helpful for directing new students and visitors to their destinations.  

6. Revenue generation: Digital directories can be used as an additional revenue source when partnering with local and national businesses to display paid advertisements. Shopping centers are one of the most common environments to find directories that are also used to show ads.

7. Branding and Brand Awareness: Digital directory boards can be customized with “wraps” or powder coated with the company’s brand colors and/or logos. Another way to reinforce branding is with on-screen messaging that can be shown on the “attract” screen, interspersed with other screens, or even presented subtly on every screen in the rotation. Nearly every organization that invests in digital directories chooses to take advantage for at least one of these forms of branding, from ball parks to office buildings. 

digital directory board.

How to create a digital directory board for your business

Digital directories are incredibly popular and can be one of the most affordable types of kiosks to build. In order to get the process underway and have it running smoothly, there are some simple steps to follow:

  1. Find a reputable digital signage developer and provider: There are many kiosk companies in the digital signage space. However, most are fairly new, and almost none provide turn-key manufacturing services from design to deployment. Choosing a partner who has been in business for many years and can provide end-to-end service, like REDYREF, can help ensure the project’s success.
  2. Discuss your company's use case for digital boards: This is important because it is what will determine the size and type of display needed, as well as any software, components and integrations required. 
  3. Review the development proposal and quote, as well as any installation or service agreements: Review the proposal and quote, make sure that all of the requested requirements have been met, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
  4. Approve proposal for manufacturing: Even if they handle the design and sales aspects of their kiosk programs, most kiosk companies do not manufacture their digital directory boards, but instead, bid them out for manufacturing elsewhere. Companies like REDYREF, however, manufacture their products on-site, and even welcome customers to watch their kiosks being fabricated and assembled right in front of them, whether they are working on a kiosk prototype or full production run.  
  5. Deployment: If an installation or service contract was included in the proposal, the kiosk company will install the digital directory based on that agreement, and will be available to troubleshoot any issues at that time, or in the future. This often includes training staff on how to use, maintain and update the digital directory. As a full-service kiosk solution provider, REDYREF is able to provide all of these options to customers as part of their kiosk manufacturing and service contracts. 

Why Choose REDYREF for Digital Directories?

Whether for hospitality, healthcare, educational, or office management needs, REDYREF offers kiosks manufacturing for a range of digital directory designs suitable for every environment. From static digital personnel listings, to interactive maps, weather, stock prices, digital advertising and local area information, our directory software can be customized in hundreds of ways in order meet the needs of our customers. Ready to learn more? Contact REDYREF today by requesting an online quote, or giving our sales team a call at 1.800.628.3603.

 

Digital signage has become a part of everyday life for most people, simplifying everything from buying a ticket or finding their way in a new environment, to providing an entertaining break from reality via interactive games. Below are some of the benefits of commercial digital signage displays and how they can enhance user experience at malls, in “smart cities,” at hospitals, or even while waiting at the bank.

What is a Commercial Signage Display?

A commercial signage display refers to any display that is intended for use in a commercial environment. They are generally used to communicate with consumers or educate them on any number of topics, from public health information to new product launches from various brands and companies.

More complex commercial signage displays are sophisticated enough that they have been built and programmed to grab their audience’s attention with interactive games , some even utilizing augmented reality,  that double as promotions. There are even digital displays that are integrated with various components to allow transactions, such as purchasing and payments or dispensing of goods. 

Why is Commercial Digital Signage Important?

Digital signage is important as it can be a powerful tool in influencing consumer behavior. When utilized well, it can enhance brand perception and awareness, increase sales of products or services, and assist with various tasks such as wayfinding and navigation when placed in environments such as malls, transportation hubs, or “smart city” centers.

Additionally, commercial digital signage is built to be durable, and can be utilized both indoors and outdoors, depending on the model chosen. This means it can withstand extremes in temperatures, as well as wind, rain and snow. It is also easy to update frequently, or whenever needed, as these tools are accessed remotely via Cloud servers, and available 24/7.

10 Examples of Commercial Digital Signage

Commercial digital signage is attractive and highly-visible, making it an excellent way to promote multiple products, companies, brands or services, while also providing utility for the end-user, whether to communicate important information or provide wayfinding assistance. Here are some examples of industries that utilize commercial signage. 

Malls

Malls implement commercial digital signage for wayfinding, brand awareness, and digital directory purposes. Malls use large digital signage displays to attract visitors as well as provide wayfinding solutions to familiarize them with space. In addition to wayfinding, these displays double as high-tech billboards that showcase a rotating stream of the mall’s current stores, sales and products to those passing by.

Airports 

Airports employ digital signage in multiple ways to assist travelers when visiting the airport. The first role of digital signage is to provide a directory and map of the airport. Displays also display flight information, including updates on delays of incoming or outgoing flights, arrivals, and departures, as well as baggage claim information.

airport digital signage.

They are also useful at security checkpoints and customs to provide step by step illustrations that help expedite the process by ensuring that passengers have the documentation needed ready, and have prepared themselves appropriately for metal detectors, luggage scanners, or customs agents. 

need to empty their pockets beforehand and remove their shoes to expedite the process. Lastly, digital signage can display entertainment, such as trivia, weather, local area information, and news to help passengers pass the time before or between flights more comfortably.

Supermarkets

Supermarkets use digital signage to help promote new products, as well as item-specific sales. This can help increases sales of the new items, or move older products out more quickly in order to make space for others. These displays and kiosks are also able to be built with components that allow them to scan QR codes and print the corresponding coupons or loyalty rewards offers.

Bus Stops

Bus stops employ commercial digital signage displays to provide accurate updates on bus schedules. In addition to providing real-time departure and arrival information, these displays provide an attractive area for advertisements that can reach a wide audience of visitors. Besides advertisements, these displays can also provide local news, weather updates, and area information, helping to occupy and entertain those waiting for the bus to arrive. 

Smart City Kiosks

City Centers 

Many city centers -- often known as “smart cities” -- utilize digital billboards to promote a wide range of products. Because they see a large number of visitors daily with varying tastes, flexible ad space is a must for these environments. Digital signage displays fill this role by promoting a wider variety of products and services, increasing the chances that what is shown is relevant to a larger number of people. Additionally, they can also provide information on city-wide events, alongside important news and updates.

Healthcare Facilities 

Healthcare facilities such as hospitals employ digital signage to assist patients and visitors. Hospital waiting rooms are one example. These often utilize digital displays to provide up to date information about the facilities and wait times, as well as entertainment to help provide a distraction to patients and families while they wait.

These displays are also useful for helping visitors find their way around the facility with maps and interactive navigation. Lastly, these displays provide an attractive ad space, allowing the hospital to promote departments, like medical specialties, and services, like gifts shops and cafeterias. 

Sports Stadiums and Concert Venues

A prime example of commercial outdoor digital signage is that which is used by many open-air sports and concert venues. Besides displaying information about the game, such as penalties and points, or close-up concert footage that ensures every seat in the house is a good one, these massive screens are also used to convey a wide array of useful information to guests.

They can also display player updates and statistics, information on upcoming games, ticket specials and sports news. These displays are also handy for displaying information about many of the food vendors at the stadium, advertising for businesses large and small,  and promoting merchandise for sale from a wide variety of vendors.

Movie Theaters 

Large displays at movie theaters are used to showcase new and upcoming releases, as well as display concession menus and ticket specials. Most are also located inside of the theater, but they are sometimes used outside of the theater as well. These displays are often located near the concession counter, using eye-catching animations and videos to promote various food items and make them more enticing to customers. 

Banks

Banks utilize digital signage displays to shorten perceived wait times by providing a more engaging experience for their customers. Lines at the bank typically are quite monotonous and tedious, so these displays provide information and sometimes entertainment to ensure that guests are kept better occupied while they wait.

Some banks will display local news, sporting events or weather updates as well. Lastly, these displays will often promote bank services and other available offers.

Museums

Commercial signage displays are a great asset to museums. As museums tend to be large and house multiple exhibits, easy to use and access navigation and wayfinding assistance are a crucial part of a positive visitor experience. These displays provide digital directories for easy navigation, and often offer interactive maps, too. These displays can also be integrated into exhibits, creating more opportunities to interact with and engage guests.

These displays can also be used to showcase promotions like museum membership programs, menu items for the cafe, or specials in the gift shop. Lastly, they can display featured or prominent donors, honoring them for contributions to the museum while encouraging visitors to consider doing the same. 

Commercial digital signage provides an essential asset to multiple industries. To learn more about digital signage, visit Redyref today.

Interactive digital signage is quickly changing the way that businesses interact with their customers. An ever-evolving technology, interactive signage provides consumers with more choice, greater freedom, and a more engaging user experience.

Today, let us discuss the ways in which interactive digital signage is evolving and the benefits it can offer to many industries. 

What is Interactive Digital Signage? 

Interactive digital signage is a type of digital display that allows users to interact with them by either touch or other means, such as a mouse, keyboard or even a mobile phone. Consumers benefit from a more customizable experience, and businesses benefit by gaining greater insight into their customers’ preferences, which then allows them to better design future interactions that fulfill these users’ needs.

woman looking at outdoor digital signage in city.

Why is Interactive Digital Signage Important? 

Interactive digital signage is important as it can be used to deliver a number of different experiences to customers, increasing overall satisfaction with brands, products, and companies. This can include targeted advertising, interactive games, wayfinding, or providing an alternative and often, a more convenient place, to carry out various transactions, such as paying for an item or purchasing a ticket.

The Benefits of Interactive Digital Signage

Interactive digital signage provides an interactive display that can be tailored to fit a business’ needs. As opposed to other forms of signage, interactive signage can help showcase multiple brands, products, programs, and promotions, providing a flexible marketing channel that is easily updated and changed, often making it a more cost-effective option in the long run.

Some of the benefits include: 

Enhanced Customer Experience 

Interactive digital signage tends to be larger-scale, brightly lit and attractive, allowing companies to easily grab the attention of potential customers. Interactive displays provide a unique opportunity for leaving a lasting impression on a customer as they can interact with it on their terms and create an experience that is tailored to their own desires.

If the experience of using the signage is entertaining and intuitive, it helps burnish a company, product or brand’s reputation. For those customers who prefer to shop without the pressure of a salesperson, digital signage with transactional integrations allows them the freedom to browse or buy without the need for assistance. 

Brand Recognition

As customers become increasingly familiar with using interactive digital displays, it helps enhance brand awareness and recognition. Over time, consumers will start identifying the displays and signage with a specific product, company, brand or service. If their experience with the signage has been positive, it can help improve customers’ perception of the business or products, making it more likely they would be willing to return or purchase again. 

brand digital signage.

Increasing Brand Trust

Similar to brand recognition, brand trust is essential for creating a positive image. To ensure that brands’ images remain positive, many companies choose to utilize interactive digital signage to reinforce the good that they are doing out in the world by showcasing their work with charities, including charitable giving, or with specific important causes that would resonate with their core customers. This helps create a deeper level of trust between businesses and their customers and increases revenue over the long term due to the same customers’ loyalty.

Promotion/Advertisement 

In addition to providing a better user experience, digital signage can help increase awareness of new products, programs, or special offers. As digital signage is large and easy to recognize, it provides an excellent channel to showcase anything new or exciting happening with a company or brand. 

Cost-Efficient Dynamic Marketing

With the use of dynamic ad displays, interactive digital signage can be a cost-effective marketing solution, even if it requires an initial investment that is greater than static or paper signage. Dynamic ad displays provide the ability to show a rotating collection of multiple ads that are programmed remotely and stored on a cloud server.

This provides flexibility and also allows businesses to test the effectiveness of different ads. For example, if one ad provides a call to action, suggesting the viewer visit a specific website landing page, and another unique ad for the same product features different ad creative, such as copy and images, and features a different landing page address, companies can then tell which ad was more attractive to consumers, based on the amount of traffic each landing page receives. 

Different Ways to Enable Interaction Through Digital Signage Displays

The purpose of interactive digital signage is to create a memorable customer experience while also increasing brand awareness. Below are some of the ways that digital signage can help improve the customer experience.  

Touchscreen 

Touch screens provide an interactive solution that is easily accessible. Users simply need to touch the digital screen in front of them to access multiple choices. It is for this reason that touch screen signage is employed in so many industries today.

Augmented Reality

Becoming more common today, augmented reality provides users with an interactive reality that can entertain and engage users. This technology utilizes a large camera to map out an area, providing an entertaining augmented space for the user to interact with. This can include taking photos of the user “inside” of the the augmented reality environment. 

QR Code

QR codes are scanned via users mobile phones, and generally open up a webpage in the phone’s browser. These codes can be used to store additional information that would be difficult to display effectively or attractively in person, such as details about artwork in a museum. They can also be used to create a more engaging experience through activities,  such as a scavenger hunt, making the process of discovering them more entertaining. 

Gesture Recognition and Human Motion Tracking

Gesture recognition and human motion tracking can be used in advertisements and games. Similar to augmented reality, gesture recognition and tracking can be used to entertain someone and create an engaging, memorable experience while promoting a brand or company.

Social Media

Social media, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, can provide an excellent, effective platform with which to interact with customers, giving companies greater insight into their wants and needs. An active social media presence can help expand brand awareness even further, especially with the help of social media influencers. 

Interactive digital signage improves customer experience, allowing them to personalize their choices. Conversely, understanding customers’ choices allows organizations better provide the customers with better service and products. Creating a more engaging experience via interactive digital signage makes it easier to grow a healthy customer base that is more willing and able to advocate for the products and companies they trust. 

For additional digital signage solutions, contact RedyRef to learn more about digital directory and signage solutions.

 

Conference room digital signage is an invaluable asset for any company. Used to streamline the scheduling process, it can boost productivity and save time, while providing a better experience for employees and their guests. Today we will discuss what conference room digital signage is and how it can benefit your business.

conference room signage.

Importance of Conference Room Digital Signage

Conference room digital signage serves a vital purpose in any company that utilizes conference meeting rooms. While it is primarily used as a way to display the conference room’s schedule for the day and upcoming week, it can also be used to welcome guests and visiting organizations, while simplifying some of the logistical challenges that come along with synching meeting schedules around conference room openings. In fact, according to an INC.com article, approximately 65% of the population are visual learners, which means that graphics-based information sharing is often a preferable means for communicating to many people at once. 

7 Benefits of Conference Room Digital Signage

Digital conference room signage provides organizations with many benefits, some of which are outlined below.

1) Booking a Conference Room

Digital conference room signage helps to streamline and simplify the process of booking a meeting room. It can easily be integrated with existing calendar systems and provide a streamlined way to view individuals’ availability alongside the room’s. This can help prevent double-booking as well as scheduling conflicts between employees, ultimately saving both time and frustration.

2) Visual Display of Room Availability

Digital conference room signage is able to display up-to-date information regarding the room’s availability in a graphical format outside of the room without disturbing those already inside. This display shows real-time information, so if a meeting is canceled, relocated, or rescheduled, users see the latest schedule, allowing for better transparency and therefore, more efficient utilization of company resources.

3) Better employee and visitor experience

Digital signage provides employees and guests with a better user experience overall. With many check-in solutions available to simplify visitor management, businesses can easily integrate their calendar, conference room and check-in software to streamline multiple systems into one

4) Wayfinding and welcome signage

Digital conference room signage can also serve as part of a larger wayfinding system. Wayfinding is the act of assisting new and returning visitors in familiarizing themselves with their surroundings. Conference room signage outside of meeting rooms can display a meeting room name and number, providing a helpful landmark to assist in orienting new employees and guests. Because the signage is digital and easy to update remotely, these displays are also capable of displaying welcoming images or messages for visitors.

5) Customizable Messaging

Digital conference room signage is customizable, and therefore able to be easily updated for any situation. This is helpful not just to inform as to who currently has the room scheduled, but also to mark celebrations or parties, and even to communicate information regarding emergencies or public health reminders. For example, birthday parties, company announcements, and upcoming event notices can all be displayed as customized messaging with digital signage, making it a more natural and integrated aspect of day-to-day work life. 

6) Increased employee productivity

Employee productivity will ultimately increase with conference room digital signage as it helps avoid most scheduling conflicts and simplifies the meeting room booking process. With the ease of use that digital signage brings, an employee can easily schedule a conference room for a meeting or other event without the need to contact every required attendee separately to learn their availability.

7) Space utilization and metrics

For most companies, space is at a premium, so being efficient with the space they have is a must. With digital signage for conference rooms, facilities management and building operations specialists are able to see which rooms are most in use allowing them to better understand how much space is actually needed or used, and how much space is currently underutilized. Ultimately, this data gives organizations a better idea of their space requirements, helping to manage growth while controlling costs.

Digital signage can help many companies grow via greater efficiency and transparency, leading to greater productivity.  Conference room digital signage is no different, providing these benefits while offering employees more autonomy while saving them time over the course of their workweek. 

Shopping centers and malls today are fast transforming into more modern and complex retail spaces. A major contributor to this is digital signage. Today, digital signage helps to provide mall guests with a better retail experience, helping them make informed shopping decisions, ensuring they can find what they need, and updating them on current events and trends. Digital signage is the future and it helps not only the shoppers but the public's perception of the mall, as well.

What is digital signage?

At its most basic, digital signage is simply a large format, electronic display.  Digital signage can be used for many different applications, from QSR menu boards, to local area information like weather and traffic, to advertising and wayfinding. While digital signage is not inexpensive, there are advantages to making the investment due to its overall flexibility in terms of its various uses, and ease of updating. 

mall signage.

Why is digital signage important?

Digital signage plays an important part in mall and other shopping environments, like lifestyle centers. It can quickly impart a more modern look, while serving multiple, functional purposes, including brand awareness and navigational assistance for shoppers. Because digital signage is bright and easy-to-see, it is also useful to capture visitors' attention when there is limited time in which to do so, such as along their navigational route.   

What are the benefits of digital signage in malls?

There are several benefits to having digital signage in malls:

Improved Brand Awareness, On and Offline

Digital signage is a great way to generate brand awareness and grow/engage a brand's online audience as well. Traditional media is limited to a billboard paper sign, whereas digital signage offers the flexibility of multiple advertising and marketing channels, from electronic kiosks to digital signs, all of which can be branded with the company's logo, website address, and social media handles/hashtags. 

Enhanced Brand Image 

Simple awareness of a brand isn't always enough. Brands also need to be seen as on-trend and changing with the times. Reinforcing key messages that keep brands front-of-mind with their intended audience is a common use of digital mall signage for many businesses from retail to restaurants.

Customizable messaging

One very important advantage of digital signage is how quickly and easily messaging and images can be changed. Most digital signage is simply updated remotely via cloud-based software -- no paper, printing or other hassles required.  

Communication and Engagement

Beyond just assisting with brand awareness, digital signage is also an excellent tool for communication, customer engagement, and even data collection. It can easily relay important information and announcements, from weather emergencies to new store openings and sales. Interactive digital signage, like wayfinding, can help provide information for shoppers while anonymously collecting data that can help in tailoring future marketing messages and campaigns.

Examples of Digital Signage in Malls

There are numerous examples of digital signage in malls today:

Why choose REDYREF for digital mall signage?

REDYREF is a leader in kiosk and digital signage manufacturing and one of the most trusted names in the industry. Our staff works directly with every customer to customize a kiosk that is the right fit for their specific needs, and within their budget. This includes digital signage to enhance mall and other shopping environments. Call us at 1-800-628-3603 or request a quote online today and our sales team will be happy to assist you with your mall kiosk project. 

 

Churches and other places of worship add value to communities in many ways. For instance, they can facilitate communication and understanding between younger and older generations, giving them a place and space to explore a common interest. One way to ensure a comfortable environment for worshipers of all ages is via digital technology that simplifies their visits, and makes them more willing to come back. Digital signage has become a popular choice for many religious facilities due to its multiple uses and applications. Today, we will discuss the benefits digital signage can bring to places of worship and how it can better a community. 

What Does Digital Signage Include?

Digital signage provides an easy to read display that prominently displays information of all kinds. Depending on the size of the display, the software chosen, and the various components integrated, digital signage can offer many benefits a range of form factors: 

church digital signage.

Video Walls: Video walls utilize multiple displays to showcase a variety of information and images.  They can be used together to create one large image, such as a photo of an entire congregation. Or they can be used individually to display unique information on each at the same time. For instance, one may offer the ability to search a member directory, another a list of upcoming events and services, a third could show a facility map, and a fourth an inspirational message. They are best placed in areas that receive heavy foot traffic, and can be used both to communicate and beautify a given environment. Utilizing a video wall in this way can help bring a sense of community to any place of worship, including churches, mosques and synagogues. 

Transactional Kiosks:  Transactional kiosks are a form of digital signage that is integrated with various software and physical components to enhance their interactivity and usefulness. These kiosks can be customized for a wide range of uses, from accepting member donations and printing tickets, to registering/paying for church-sponsored events.  Transactional kiosks can be outfitted with components including printers, bill and coin collectors, credit card readers, and signature pads in order to meet these needs. 

Wayfinding: Wayfinding kiosks are perhaps the most used form of digital signage, helping visitors navigate larger facilities that may be more confusing, especially to those unfamiliar with the environment. This can decrease stress and ensure visitors are able to make it to sermons, classes, offices, or events on time.

 

Why Should Religious Facilities Consider Digital Signage?

Digital signage can provide an important asset for synagogues, churches, mosques, and other places of worship, both in building community, and eliminating waste. Digital signage can offer a means to create awareness of the facility and the beliefs of those who attend, which can assist in getting the attention of young adults, something many religions are struggling with at the moment as attendance is declining in many places. It can also make older church members more comfortable by offering a bright, easy-to-read display for those with compromised vision. At the same time, digital signage decreases the need for paper flyers and handouts, eliminating the cost to print, as well as the environmental impact of utilizing unnecessary paper. 

 

What Are the Benefits of Digital Signage? 

Digital signage provides many benefits, including:

Direct Communication

Digital signage can provide a large amount of information, even when space is at a premium, to multiple people at once. It lessens the need to have additional personnel on hand to assist visitors and members.  Because it can be updated quickly via remote locations, the information displayed is easy to keep up to date, giving everyone in attendance access to the latest news and events. 

Customization

Digital signage can not only be updated easily, but it can also be customized for a wide variety of purposes. It makes rotating through different announcements, advertisements from local businesses, and event information -- all in the same place -- possible in a way that paper signage simply cannot match.  This also allows any religious facility, from churches to mosques, to communicate a mix of relevant messages based on the specific audience they want to address, making that messaging more meaningful. 

Multiple Applications

Digital signage functionality isn’t limited to showcasing simple images because true digital signage isn't simply a nice-looking television. Instead, it includes specialized hardware and software that are purpose-built to handle more than the display of attractive pictures. This means digital signage can be integrated with components to enhance its functionality, including printers, credit card readers, and bill collectors, and software that can handle wayfinding, ticket printing, and event registration.

Branding

The last benefit of digital signage is consistent branding and the ability to communicate messages of pride and inspiration to the church community. Digital signage can provide a clear and concise message that helps to promote the accomplishments of the place of worship's members, staff, volunteers, and religious leaders in a nonintrusive format. 

church groups.

Examples of Digital Signage in Churches

Digital signage is becoming increasingly common in churches and other places of worship, providing an information bank for those who don’t have immediate access to a smartphone or computer. Below are some examples of ways digital signage is being incorporated into religious facilities today.

Religious Holidays/Celebration

Attractively showcasing upcoming holidays and celebrations, as well as photos and images of past events, is one way to utilize digital signage in places of worship.

Bible Study/Classes/Event Organization

Digital signage can help can display the time, date, and location of important events, including things such as bible study, choir practice, and learning opportunities. By providing a consistent schedule that can be viewed digitally, these groups can easily maintain their schedules and make them available to the larger community.

Weddings

Digital signage can be used to display photos of the couple as well as a personal message from them, and information regarding the ceremony and reception, including date, time, and place.  This helps create a welcoming environment that is customized for the attendees. 

Funerals 

Digital signage can be used to display pictures from the life that attendees are there to celebrate, helping to remember them in a positive way. 

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Other Religious Events

Today, digital signage in places of worship can be useful to help organize and display information regarding important religious events such as bar and bat mitzvahs. They can provide a schedule of events along with location, and display pictures of the person being celebrated. For those that don’t have access to a smart device, digital signage can also make it easy for those to follow along by providing religious texts onscreen so they are able to follow along with the ceremony. 

How to Find a Trustworthy Digital Signage Partner

Finding the right company with which to partner to create the right digital signage solution for your school or university environment and purpose can be complicated. Reading reviews, consulting with different manufacturers and doing your own research will all be important to the process. Installation and maintenance of the kiosk or digital signage should also be considered when reviewing options. 

Why Choose REDYREF for Digital Signage 

Digital signage provides an invaluable service for places of worship and their communities. REDYREF is a leader in kiosk and digital signage manufacturing and one of the most trusted names in the industry. From digital signage solutions for religious institutions and restaurants to COVID-19 temperature taking kiosks, REDYREF manufactures kiosks tailored to all of their customers' needs. 

Digital signage is a growing trend and today we will discuss why it is an invaluable tool at every level, from elementary and middle grades to high school and college. By keeping students informed, digital signage ensures that students of all ages as well as faculty are kept safe and can focus on learning. 

What does digital signage include?

Digital signage provides an easy way to display important and/or timely information in a highly visible format. These kiosks can be spread throughout school campuses at areas with substantial foot traffic to ensure students are always informed about current school events and happenings, as well as other information such as local and international news and weather. Some schools choose to use digital signage to sell advertising space for area businesses, too, as a form of incremental revenue, in order to support school activities and other similar initiatives.

digital signage for school examples.

What types of digital signage are used in schools and universities? 

Video Walls: Video walls utilize multiple displays to showcase a variety of information and images.  They can be used together to create one large image, such as a photo of an entire graduating class. Or they can be used individually to display unique information on each at the same time. For instance, one may update the weather, another could show a school calendar, while the display next to it offers a map of the campus. They are best placed in areas that receive heavy foot traffic, and can be used both to communicate and beautify a given environment. 

Transactional Kiosks:  Transactional kiosks are a form of digital signage that is integrated with various software and physical components to enhance their interactivity and usefulness. Kiosks can be customized for a wide range of uses, from printing tickets to prom or sporting events, to tuition payment, and can be outfitted with components including printers, bill and coin collectors, credit card readers, and signature pads. 

Wayfinding Kiosks: Wayfinding kiosks are perhaps the most common form of digital signage, and can assist students in navigating larger campuses. This can decrease stress, especially for new students, and ensure that they get to classes, buildings, offices and events on time. Through the use of wayfinding, a student will learn to familiarize themselves with the campus grounds at a much faster rate than a campus without a wayfinding system set up.

Why should schools and universities consider digital signage?

Digital signage provides an important means for schools to communicate directly with students, staff, and visitors.  It can be updated quickly, easily, and via remote means to ensure all information, from events to changes in class locations, is up-to-date. It can also be used to disseminate critical guidance in the event of an emergency. 

What are the benefits of digital signage for schools?

Digital signage provides many benefits, including:

Direct Communication

Digital signage can provide a large amount of information, even when space is at a premium, to multiple people at once. It lessens the need to have additional personnel on hand to assist visitors and vendors.  Because it can be updated quickly via remote locations, the information displayed is easy to keep up to date, giving everyone on campus access to the latest school news and events. 

Customization

Digital signage can not only be updated easily, but it can also be customized for a wide variety of purposes. It makes rotating through different school announcements, advertisements from local businesses, and event information -- all in the same place -- possible in a way that paper signage simply cannot match.  

Multiple Applications

Digital signage functionality isn’t limited to showcasing simple images because true digital signage isn't simply a nice-looking television. Instead, it includes specialized hardware and software that are purpose-built to handle more than the display of attractive pictures. This means digital signage can be integrated with components to enhance its functionality, including printers, credit card readers, and bill collectors, and software that can handle wayfinding, ticket printing, and event registration.

Branding/School Pride

The last benefit of digital signage is consistent branding and the ability to communicate messages of school and student pride to the school community. Digital signage provides a clear and concise message that helps to promote the accomplishments of the school, students, staff, alumni, and educators in a nonintrusive format. 

Examples of Digital Signage in Schools and Universities

Digital signage is quite commonplace in schools and universities. Below are some examples found in many schools today.

School Welcomings

Keeping students up to date regarding school events is perhaps the most valuable use of digital signage. Digital displays can be spread throughout the campus, both indoors and outdoors, to inform students of important dates, providing directions for those lost on their first days on campus, and to assist with orientation as well.

General School Announcements 

Digital signage helps to provide general school announcements such as lunch menus, important dates, holidays, days off, weather updates, and can even be used with software that provides a constantly-updated social media feed to help keep students informed.

Upcoming School Events & Activities

From parent-teacher conferences and graduation dates, to social events like dances, digital sigange can provide up-to-date information. It can also be used to communicate during emergencies in the case of a fire, severe weather, or lockdown situation.

Campus News

Digital signage helps to spread campus news without the need for daily announcements and can track things such as club and sporting events for those who are interested.

School Polling Results

For school elections, digital signage helps to digitize much of the process, providing a quick and accurate way for students to get the results much more quickly.

How to Find a Trustworthy Digital Signage Partner

Finding the right company with which to partner to create the right digital signage solution for your school or university environment and purpose can be complicated. Reading reviews, consulting with different manufacturers and doing your own research will all be important to the process. Installation and maintenance of the kiosk or digital signage should also be considered when reviewing options. 

Why Choose REDYREF for Digital Signage 

REDYREF is a leader in kiosk and digital signage manufacturing and one of the most trusted names in the industry. From wayfinding solutions for college campuses and self-order kiosks for restaurants, to COVID-19 temperature taking kiosks, REDYREF manufactures kiosks tailored to organizations' specific needs via a collaborative design process. 

Digital signage provides an invaluable service for schools, students, faculty, staff, and visitors.  By giving them easy access to information and services, digital signage helps to ensure that everyone on campus is kept safe, secure and well informed. 

 

Digital directories are an important yet overlooked portion of many businesses today. Besides providing an easy format to view information, they help to reduce customers' and visitors' stress while being remarkably easy to use. So today, we will discuss why digital directories are an invaluable addition to office buildings, hospital campuses, and other large-scale, multi-location environments. 

What is a digital building directory?

A digital directory consists of a static or touchscreen display, a media player and digital signage software. One of the greatest strengths of digital directories is their ability to display current information at all times, whether local area information, events, office locations, news or weather. Depending on the size and interactivity of the display, information may remain static, or rotate through various screens.

building directory

Why are digital directories important for visitors and guests?

A digital building directory is important for visitors and guests as it offers them an easy way to access information about their surroundings. They appreciate the ability to access information on their own terms, rather than needing to waste time finding someone who can help them, therefore speeding up the process. 

Examples of businesses that use digital directories

Digital vs analog directories 

Directories are important assets for many organizations, but many people do not understand the difference between digital and analog directories. Directories that need to be updated continually generally find that investing in a digital solution is well worth it over time. Below we will discuss the differences between the two.

Benefits of digital directories 

Digital directories offer companies benefits that manual directories simply cannot. The two most important are efficiency and accuracy. Digital directories are quick and easy to update, allowing organizations to provide the most current information at all times. Below are some additional benefits to going digital.

Cons of manually-updated directories

For those who don’t trust digital formats, manually-updated directories are always a reliable, if slow, option. However, beyond the positive of being reliable, there are some drawbacks to manual displays.

How much do digital directories cost?

For digital directories, there are usually two primary costs involved: one for the display itself and another for the software. Software cost can vary greatly depending on functionality, but in general, expect to pay between $1800 and $2900 per unit. Displays are also available at a wide variety of price points -- $600-$2500 on average -- with the high end representing larger units with interactive touchscreens.

How do digital building directories work?

Most digital building directories are fairly straightforward to operate:

Companies like REDYREF also offer physical installation services, as well as maintenance and service contracts.

Digital signage is fast becoming an integral part of our lives. It provides assistance in our travels, helping us get to where we need to go. It assists with our purchases, showing us ads that are relevant to our interests or movies that are currently playing in theaters. For businesses and consumers, digital signage can be a great asset that allows them to connect in more meaningful and personalized ways.

What is a commercial signage display

A commercial signage display is effectively any display that contains a commercial aspect, generally an advertisement that is promoting a business or product. This term can be used to refer to both digital and non-digital displays, including traditional billboards and poster ads. 

differences between digital signage-and-tv

Common places to find digital signage 

Digital signage can be found in almost any commercial business these days. They provide organizations with an advertisement space that is unintrusive while being easy to see and recognizable for those who need information on a product. Common places to find digital signage displays include:

 

What are the primary differences between digital signage and TVs?

There are a few notable differences between digital signage and flat-screen TVs. One of the biggest differences is that TVs are fully functioning systems with built-in tuners, whereas digital signage displays do not have this feature. A sound system is also a common feature in nearly every TV, but it is not a standard feature of digital signage displays (although many can be customized for sound if needed). In essence, TVs have many standard capabilities that allow them to stand on their own, whereas digital signage displays are more like very large computer monitors in that they require additional support and/or input to be useful. 

digital signage pros.

Pros and cons of digital signage displays

As Digital Signage becomes more and more prevalent, it is important to understand their positives and negatives. 

Pros:

 

Cons:


Despite the few negatives of digital displays, the positives they provide easily justify the required investment. They provide an unintrusive ad space that can be seen by thousands every day, while still being relatively environmentally sound. The space itself allows immense customization for ads and other messages that businesses want to convey at the touch of a button. Lastly, they can be paired with any number of kiosk and self-service functions, helping to combine ad space with functionality that is useful to consumers as well. 

tv signage.

Pros and Cons of Traditional TV Displays

Pros:

 

Cons:

 

Can you use TVs as digital signage displays?

The short answer is yes, but ultimately it is not recommended as that approach can be more costly in the long run. TVs have limited functionality compared to typical kiosk displays or dedicated signage displays. 

Digital signage displays are everywhere, guiding consumers with purchases and expediting travel as well. Most businesses would do well to consider the benefits of commercial digital signage and in order to find out how it can help them better succeed and differentiate themselves in their various markets.

searchmenuchevron-downcross-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram