Digital signage has come a long way since its inception. The days of setting a television set in your window to attract customers are long gone and increasingly complex and interactive technology is required to grab the attention of consumers in 2016.
With digital signage projected to grow at a rate of 12% this year alone, retailers are investing more and more thought and resources into their digital signage systems and paying close attention to trends.
If your company is wondering what trends you should be keeping an eye on, consider these four emerging trends for 2016:
Interactivity
What a better way to grab a customer’s attention than by involving them in the technology you’re using? With the development of beacon technology that operates via Bluetooth, it’s now possible to send your customers push notifications that provide customers with information and special deals as they walk past displays.
Touchscreen technology is another rapidly expanding area; customers can look through products, search for coupons, and even play interactive games. Adding interactive touchscreen technology is a great way to keep your customer in the store longer, and expose them to new information.
Mobile Integration
According to a recent study, 68% of US adults own a smartphone or tablet. This means there is a tremendous opportunity for retailers to integrate their marketing efforts with mobile devices. Mobile devices can integrate with digital signage in many ways such as displaying scannable QR codes and presenting Apple Pay information.
Social Media Interaction
Social media is now a critical part of any business’s marketing efforts, and retailers have a prime opportunity to merge social media marketing efforts with their digital signage. In addition to displaying social media URLs on your signage, retailers should consider generating promotions that will elicit engagement.
For example, a clothing store could use digital signage in dressing rooms asking customers to upload a photo of themselves in Instagram in their new outfit using a company hashtag to receive a discount, or offer customers a coupon for following them on their social media channels.
LED Screens
LED technology has come down quite a bit in price over the last year, and a flood of affordable options should hit the market this year. This increase in affordability means that a greater variety of compact, practical options will be available on the market for indoor use.
LED screens are not only eye-catching, but they are also a major energy saver. They provide far better image quality and contrast, making them more appealing to a wandering eye than traditional monitors. The fact that they run on a much smaller amount of energy is an added bonus for your company’s energy bill!
If your company is looking to get ahead of the game and give your digital signage an upgrade in 2016, Wordlink can help with everything from project management to installation. Our staff is up-to-date with cutting edge digital signage technologies, and will help your business integrate them seamlessly with your existing equipment.
What type of emerging digital signage technology do you find most interesting, and what are you most likely to engage with? Let us know in the comments below!