Blog

Digital signage – a sign of the times

Posted on the 16th of Apr 2014

Signs are everywhere – bus stops, shop fronts, billboards to name but a few – and we all see plenty as we go about our day to day lives.  More and more signs are becoming digital and it’s estimated that there’ll be over 20million by 2015.  So how do they work and what’s the future of digital signage?

Currently, the most common type of digital sign is a one that works in a fairly similar way to a standard sign – it just looks better and is far more eye catching.  One billboard can display multiple signs and they can rotate easily and quickly, with graphics, wording and icons ‘flying’ in from all angles.  Animation can also feature and they can become almost akin to an advertisement.  Placed in shops at relevant points they can be effective at encouraging shoppers to buy certain products.  On shop fronts or in reception areas, digital signage can be used to show a range of products, services or messages where a traditional sign could have only displayed one. 

The future for digital signage looks bright.  The main trend is that they’re going to get a lot more interactive and this in turn will allow businesses to gain a better understanding of their consumers.  Digital signs could be used to show comparison information to help customers with their purchases.  Using information such as the products consumers show an interest in could allow tailored adverts or promotions to pop up. Incentives could be added to encourage a purchase to be made there and then.  Given our love of mobile phones and tablets, it’s no surprise that touch screens are going to become big news in the digital signage world. 

Live feeds may also become a feature of digital signage.  If a sign is featured in a shop then interviews with shoppers could feature or a live exploration of the latest deals and offers.  Research shows customers are more drawn to live footage so it could be a great way of keeping your customers in your shop for longer. 

Digital signage may also become more of an opportunity to show customers your products and using interactive technology like touch screens they’ll be able to turn them round, listen to them and fully interact with them….without actually touching them. 

When we look further into the future, digital signage could (and almost certainly soon will) boast 3D screens.  This is going to make consumers stand back and take notice and we’d be surprised it’s not the next big thing in the signage world.  

But the signage world isn’t always we have to talk about. Because the thing you display your sign on has change too. It used to be that you could mount your billboard or poster to a frame or wall. And that’s still the case. But what happens if you want to adjust that advertisement? Make it higher, lower or rotate it? You’d have to go and alter the advertisement yourself wouldn’t you?

Here at Reel Tech we offer remote controlled lifting solutions – the perfect way to adjust your sign. Alter it. Raise it. Twist it. Make it visible. Because that’s what’s most important. That people see the advertisement that you’ve worked so hard to create.