The Future of Digital Signage: What's Next?

This article will explore and highlight the upcoming trends and innovations in digital signage, providing insights into how businesses can prepare for and leverage these advancements to stay ahead in the market. 

Digital signage has evolved over several years, bringing new options for increased customer engagement, interaction, and the ability to provide tailored content to audience segments. The future of digital signage, due to its growing importance and impact across various industries, means that further innovation will continue to propel growth. This article will focus on future trends and innovations in digital signage.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The future of digital signage means that artificial intelligence will revolutionize interactions with digital signage. By integrating these two, artificial intelligence may be able to analyze large amounts of data and change the content in real-time based on customer needs or other relevant business changes.

With time, the integration of things like smart AI can also increase options for analyzing real-time data, making display decisions based on that data, utilizing automated content, and incorporating voice recognition. 

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

In tandem with 5G connectivity, augmented reality and virtual reality experiences will be better streamlined into digital content so that customers can have interactive experiences, exploring things like:

1. Information
2. Locations
3. Products

For example:

• Museums can provide interactive exhibits with different overlays where someone walking through different rooms can see an overlay for a source of inspiration, such as a specific flower or animal that inspired the design of a chair or piece of artwork.
• Realtors can allow customers to view inventory with digital signage displays, taking a tour of what a specific house would look like given the rooms, flooring, and other components that a customer is interested in.

Advanced Analytics and Data-Driven Content

There's more opportunity for advanced analytics and data-driven content. businesses will be able to gain more insight into personal preferences and behaviors of different customer groups by leveraging this data, changing their strategies so that the content they produce is engaging and relevant.

5G Connectivity

5G connectivity is one of the more important digital signage future trends because it will be the backbone that enables the use of technology, like the integration of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality.

One of the biggest benefits of 5G connectivity is the ability to transmit content in real-time. 5G means faster streaming, faster downloads, and faster uploads.

The result?

Companies might find that their businesses can stream content in their cloud instead of having to upload content and schedule it using a Content management system. This would allow for things like:

• More immersive experiences are available for restaurants and bars looking to display live sporting events.
• Schools that can stream live lectures from other institutions across their campus.

Moreover, the increased connectivity means that businesses can manage digital signage displays across multiple locations with real-time updates and promotions.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Solutions

In the future, there may be options for more sustainable and eco-friendly forms of digital signage displays. Digital displays, particularly those with LED lights, can use up to 70% less energy than other screens. But in the future, integration with things like AI and other features might allow screens to incorporate smart sensors that automatically turn off when the system isn't being used or adjust the brightness based on how bright it is in the area, saving energy throughout the day and ensuring that if it gets dark or it's evening, the display is still clearly visible.

As there are more investments in eco-friendly solutions and sustainability, there is a significant opportunity for companies to continue contributing to reduced paper disposal and printing waste, which subsequently reduces carbon footprints while also reducing labor costs and electricity used for paper sign production.

Integration with the Internet of Things (IoT)

The future of digital signage incorporates the Internet of Things. This refers to the network of physical devices as well as items that have embedded software, connectivity, and sensors, all of which are able to better exchange data with one another without relying on a person. 

In theory, this means that companies won't have to focus on scheduling displays for events, but rather, real-time events could trigger responsive displays. For example

• A local theater could, in theory, have integration with other sales apps in such a way that new displays are automatically triggered as soon as a specific show is sold out, automatically marketing for the next show. 

Personalization and Hyper-Targeted Content

Digital signage future trends may provide personalization and hyper-targeted content for customer groups or client bases, even subdivided by employees. With relevant and engaging content derived from advanced analytics, companies will be able to capture attention and provide more memorable experiences with the content they produce on their digital displays.

All of this works toward building stronger customer relationships while also increasing customer loyalty.

Cloud-Based Digital Signage Solutions

There may be advanced opportunities for cloud-based digital signage solutions where businesses are able to remotely manage content, schedule things remotely, or incorporate AI to automatically adjust based on real-time updates. All of this contributes to greater scalability, allowing businesses to increase their network without increasing labor.

Security Enhancements

Digital signage future trends also extend to security enhancements. With all of the changes that are possible, there will be increased considerations given to improving security so as to limit things like hacking attempts for digital signage devices as well as doing away with viruses and malware. 

With more robust security enhancements, digital signage networks can be protected against social engineering, unsecured networks, man-in-the-middle attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and more. 

Conclusion

Overall, there are several key future trends and innovations in digital signage that relate to cloud-based digital signage, AI, personalization, the internet of things, sustainability, 5G connectivity, and augmented reality. Businesses can prepare for and leverage these emerging trends by getting started with digital solutions today and remaining up-to-date and adaptable so as to embrace the future of digital signage.

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