2020 began as a normal year, but quickly turned into a nightmare for every industry – thanks to Covid-19 and its demands for mask wearing, sanitization, and social distancing. As a result, the word underwent a colossal change, financial devastation and an immense strain on healthcare systems. This led us to learn how to cope with an unimaginable tragedy and adjust to connect with people virtually.
A recent report predicts that the digital signage industry will grow at a rate of 7% every year, with the main growth coming from more businesses using digital signage, especially in emerging markets.
Despite the interruption of Covid-19, digital signage continues to prosper, but with a varied course of technological communications and how developments are being made for digital signage applications in the future. 2021 looks bright indeed with digital signage trends focusing on better quality displays, touch-free interactive user interfaces, advanced features for audience measurement, better content management and more. Adding to that, the promise of Covid-19 vaccines being made available soon, the future seems to be in good hands.
Let us now look at six digital signage future trends that will be seen in 2021 and how these will impact our lives.
1. High-Quality Bright Display Screens
Technology has become the mainstream form of communication and social interaction as a result of lockdowns and social distancing. This means that there is a high demand and necessity for increased screen time. Consequently, digital signage manufacturers must keep up with the quality of LED screens as well as brightness capacities. In 2021, tech companies will find new and innovative ways to enhance user experiences with digital signage displays, and try to make this technology accessible to a wider audience. The cost of ultraviolet screens that allows comfortable viewing even in bright settings will reduce this year, allowing the general public to afford these.
2. Automated Content Creation
Industrial automation is a digital signage trend that is becoming popular since a few years, and will see a boost in 2021 as well. It has proven to be beneficial in making production and assembly lines more efficient and automating self service kiosks at gas stations and grocery stores. Automation is all around us – including the world of digital marketing and advertising.
The feature of being able to schedule content on content management systems has significantly improved how content is delivered to the target market. With automation rapidly gaining popularity, digital marketing companies will soon start using automated digital signage software to create high-quality content.
3. A Growing Digital Market
E-commerce, also known as online shopping, has been around for many years. But with the state of affairs that the world was left in during the year 2020, the outlook on the practice of e-commerce has evolved meaningfully. As a result of Covid-19, online shopping has become more of a must-have than a luxury.
When businesses were forced to close their physical stores, they had to turn to e-commerce in order to keep their business going as well as maintain brand loyalty. Therefore, companies had to provide a wider range of products and services to their consumers, as well as make these more easily accessible for people to shop from the safety of their homes. According to experts, this trend will continue probably even beyond 2021 because more people are becoming used to the new normal.
4. Advanced Data Gathering Tools
Companies continue to collect and analyze potential customer information from websites with an aim to increase customer engagement and provide an improved customer experience. With the increased use of online shopping as compared to in-store shopping, it is necessary for companies to understand the needs of their target audience while at the same time try to reach out to a wider audience. The best way to do this is to analyze the website behavior with facial recognition and artificial intelligence, while further developing the existing relationships at the same time. For example, look at past purchases, recently viewed products and services, searches that led users to your website, and so on.
Online surveys are one perfect tool to get into the minds of existing and potential audience audiences without interfering with their privacy. With online surveys, you can also create target advertisements that interact with specific audiences and stir their interests. Using the data gathered on previous purchases and viewed products, implement algorithms on your website to determine what is interesting to them, and accordingly create personalized recommendations for certain products and services.
5. Integration of digital signage with mobile devices
With more and more businesses being managed remotely, it means that digital advertising needs to be made more personalized for your customers. Make use of smart phones to create a personalized digital relationship. Digital signage solutions are compatible with mobile phones by way of Bluetooth and other wireless connectivity. As people choose to do more online shopping, the digital signage trend of integrating mobile devices will continue to gain popularity.
With the implementation of QR codes and digital galleries into your digital media players, the audience has instant access to your physical LED display and real-time inventory without having to leave their homes. Through emails or the company website, potential customers can access these features.
6. Ensuring security and privacy of information shared online
In an effort to provide an enhanced online user experience to customers, you also need to protect their privacy because the chances of them giving you their information is higher. When browsing through your catalogue, or providing sensitive personal contact details and payment details, customers need to feel that their information is safe with you. Hackers have become busier than even these days with more and more information being shared online. They are waiting for an opportunity to steal malware from company websites. Therefore, it is critical to take maximum precautions and protect your customers as well as your business from these hackers.
