InfoComm 2022 Top Trends – Digital Signage Displays
AV Technology’s Cindy Davis cites the following trends from InfoComm 2022 – 1: Collaboration; 2: Shipping Status 3: Solutions, Not Boxes; 4: Virtual Production / Extended Reality; 5: Audio Comes First in AV — From AVTechnology June 2022
As I reviewed my mental notes from InfoComm 2022(opens in new tab), five trends coalesced. In the coming days, I will dive deeper into some of these topics, but I wanted to share this top-level with you. There were 557 exhibitors, and I could only see a fraction of them. I would love to hear from you about what trends you saw.
Solutions, Not Boxes
Crestron(opens in new tab), Kramer(opens in new tab), Legrand AV(opens in new tab), and Panasonic Connect(opens in new tab) booths were notably different at InfoComm 2022 than in the past. These booths were thoughtfully designed to present complete solutions representing specific applications or room layouts. Previous booth tours would comprise nicely presented black boxes with a litany of alphanumerics representing the model number and a bullet list of features. Kudos to these companies and others that are moving toward the ecosystem narrative versus the pieces and parts.
Crestron booth at InfoComm 2022 (Image credit: Future)
Kramer booth at InfoComm 2022 (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Connect booth at InfoComm 2022 (Image credit: Future)
They made it official. Periodically Google suddenly decides to kill a product but also sometimes refresh/resurrect a project. In this case kiosks and digital signage are the keywords in their titles. Surprised me they used the word kiosk to a certain degree. And in the bottom of the hero graphic there are a list of companies which are announced partners. We don’t see any kiosk companies. There might be some light wayfinding and even some NFC connectivity but this is about digital signage. It’s noteworthy that Samsung has used Tizen and its media player in transactional configuration now. Matter of time for Brightsign.
We are scheduled to do an interview with the Google lead and will cover both kiosks and digital signage as two separate verticals. Several digital signage companies listed (DOOH) but no wayfinding or kiosk partners. For more information or to submit questions for our interviews email [email protected]
We were going thru posts and noticed our first blog entry on Google Digital Signage (and Kiosks too) was from April 2015. Seven years and not a lot to show for it.
Hope all is well! Following up to let you know that today Google announced new changes to Chrome OS that will help drive revenue growth and amplify customer experiences for businesses across industries who operate kiosks. As businesses utilize kiosks and digital signage as two ways to provide better access to information and deliver faster transactions, we are excited to reveal:
A Kiosk & Signage Upgrade license for an end-to-end integrated solution for kiosks and digital signage: whether they’re deploying menu boards, check-in kiosks, digital signs, or anything in between, IT admins can reduce maintenance through automatic updates, ensure system security by blocking executables (Chrome OS has never had a reported ransomware attack or virus), monitor and manage devices remotely, and deploy validated kiosk solutions.
The ability to deploy the kiosk solutions on your existing hardware by first using Chrome OS Flex (currently in early access), a version of Chrome OS that can be installed on existing Windows and Mac hardware.
The Google lead who leads product management for Chrome OS commercial experiences is available to be interviewed on:
Details behind the new Chrome OS capabilities and specific use cases across industries
How the integrated tech solutions work to benefit both kiosk employees and their customers
Notes higher problem incidence using Windows to just display content
Conclusions — Chrome OS doesn’t do it all, yet. We still need to use Windows for 6-output devices, or similar edge use-cases, but, the recently launched Chrome OS Flex is now delivering a significant ability to enable these PC devices to run a fully verified Chrome OS environment, and migrate completely away from Windows. By installing Chrome OS Flex onto older PC or Mac devices, we are also able to extend the life of older networks significantly, and remove the additional overheads associated with Windows into the bargain.
Google Release
Here’s your sign. Customers and employees want to be delighted, and delivering those experiences is key. You may be wondering how to create these premium experiences, and you may have even tried to no avail in the past. Deploying kiosks and digital signage are two ways to help users with information, transactions, and more, but the route to delight hasn’t been so straightforward. Many solutions create more IT overhead, increase security risks, and are prone to instability.
Chrome OS alleviates these problems with an end-to-end solution for kiosks and digital signage. Whether you’re deploying menu boards, check-in kiosks, or anything in between, we’ve got your back – and the platform for it. With Chrome OS, you can:
Reduce maintenance with a modern, reliable operating system
Ensure system and data security with zero reported ransomware attacks
Monitor, control, and manage devices remotely
Deploy validated kiosk & signage solutions
And to further lead you toward modern experiences, we’re announcing some new tools:
Kiosk & Signage Upgrade, an affordable kiosk and signage management license for Chrome OS devices
New Chrome OS Flex certified devices great for kiosk & signage
A new Chrome Enterprise Recommended solution track for kiosk & signage
Introducing Kiosk & Signage Upgrade: Everything you need to remotely manage your devices
To guide you through the trials and tribulations of device management, we’re pleased to announce Kiosk & Signage Upgrade, a management license which – you guessed it – has everything your business needs to manage kiosk and signage devices running Chrome OS. Kiosk & Signage Upgrade will start at $25 per year, per device, and offer:
Comprehensive Security: Prevent data theft and attacks by remotely disabling or wiping devices that have been lost or stolen. Place devices in persistent enrollment, ensuring they are always enrolled in management, even if factory reset.
Simple Remote Management: Simplify management of your organization’s device fleet with the easy-to-use, cloud-based Google Admin Console. Easily configure devices to boot directly into a kiosk or signage app, setup device policies, and access fleet insights.
Scalable Device Monitoring and Controls: Monitor the health and status of Chrome OS devices and get useful device reports to ensure devices are running smoothly. Remotely take screenshots, control, and monitor devices to quickly resolve issues and guarantee stability through Chrome Remote Desktop.
IT admin support: Contact Google for Chrome OS troubleshooting assistance with 24/7 support.
Kiosk & Signage Upgrade will be rolling out soon and will be available to order directly from Google or through our partners.
Install Chrome OS Flex on purpose-built devices or deploy new Chrome OS devices
We get it, you may have already invested in devices to delight your users, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. You can install Chrome OS Flex on purpose-built kiosk & signage devices or install on devices you’ve already deployed to get the benefits of Chrome OS. It’s easy to deploy and we’re actively certifying devices that meet the needs of kiosk and digital signage. We also have a variety of Chromeboxes, Chromebases, and Chromebooks great for kiosk & signage. Check out our device selectors to help you choose the best Chrome OS device for your use case or try Chrome OS Flex early access today.
Announcing 9 Google validated solutions to help you find your way
Providing a great experience isn’t just about the operating system running your kiosks and signage. It also requires content management services that make it easy to display valuable content across all of your devices. To ensure customers have access to solutions that are optimized for Chrome OS devices, we’re thrilled to announce the Kiosk and Digital Signage solution track and 9 new Chrome Enterprise Recommended solutions, including Arreya, Appspace, Comeen, MeldCX, Signagelive, StratosMedia, Trison, UPshow, and WAND Digital. These solution providers have worked directly with Google to ensure their content management services meet the high technical bar set by Google’s partner engineers, extending their product’s functionality, quality and security on Chrome OS.
We were looking for a digital signage platform to communicate updates to employees across our offices. Chrome OS and Comeen Play were a natural choice. Our IT department has been able to easily deploy and remotely manage this integrated solution, and our corporate communication team has been able to display updates to employees on more than 550 screens worldwide.Alan Riou
International Digital Communications Manager, Veolia
When you invest in Chrome OS, you don’t just get an operating system, you get an end-to-end solution. Chrome OS delivers a fully-integrated kiosk and digital signage solution with a wide range of devices, validated Chrome Enterprise Recommended partners, and remote management capabilities that are sure to delight customers and employees alike.
LG Creates Real-World Environments to Highlight New Technologies at InfoComm 2022
LG Creates Real-World Environments to Highlight New Technologies at InfoComm 2022 — for more information email [email protected]
SEOUL, June 9, 2022 — LG Electronics (LG) will showcase its innovative commercial technologies including Transparent OLED Signage to a diverse lineup of LED signage products and autonomous robot assistants in Las Vegas (USA) at InfoComm 2022 from June 8. LG will spotlight a variety of commercial use-case scenarios in seven distinct zones that demonstrate how LG products support business needs in boardrooms, retail boutiques, drive-throughs, residential home offices, professional creative studios and more.
Inside the booth, visitors will be treated to thoughtful technology implementations in spaces that explore how nearly all businesses today can leverage digital tools to improve efficiency, productivity and customer experiences.
Welcoming visitors to LG’s Retail Solutions zone is the LED signage solution using 54-inch bezel-free displays allowing integrators to create a seamless viewing experience. The new 54-inch LG LED Bloc (model LSAC) is approximately four times larger in area than most commonly used LED cabinets, and its unique size allows this model to use it like a 55-inch LCD video wall display with easy installation – it even fits the brackets of existing LCD video wall models.* Also being unveiled in the Retail Solutions zone, is the company’s first multi-purpose customer service robot, LG CLOi GuideBot, which is designed to provide wayfinding, enhanced security and powerful advertising opportunities. LG CLOi GuideBot’s friendly digital face and two large touch screens are designed to revolutionize the customer experience virtually everywhere from museums and convention centers to movie theaters and hotels.
The Reception zone highlights the creative and engaging possibilities of LG’s Transparent OLED Signage displays, while also demonstrating how 88-inch Ultra Stretch Displays and LG Ultra Slim LED signage can deliver informative and attractive backdrops.
In the Collaboration and Education Solutions zone, visitors will experience technologies targeted to boardrooms, meeting rooms and training rooms/learning environments. Products shown include LG’s 136-inch LED All-in-One display with onboard system controller and speakers, 55-inch and 43-inch versions of the LG One:Quick Works and One:Quick Flex 4K all-in-one collaboration tool, an 86-inch LG CreateBoard interactive whiteboard, the novel 28-inch LG DualUp Monitor with a unique 16:18 aspect ratio, a 27-inch QHD Ergo Dual desktop monitor, a 15-inch LG gram laptop and a 98-inch large format UHD signage for classrooms.
The Residential zone is split into two rooms. The Home Cinema area will exhibit LG MAGNIT – the jaw-dropping picture quality created by its several million self-emissive LED pixels lets people enjoy their favorite movies at home. And the Home Office area features a 43-inch One:Quick Flex display, a 14-inch LG gram laptop and two QHD ergonomic desktop monitors that can be independently oriented to form a 32:9 ultrawide display or a 16:18 display, or offer a vertical and horizontal screen simultaneously.
Creative, film and broadcast professionals may be especially interested in the OLED Pro Creative Studio zone, which demonstrates the exceptional color, clarity and performance of LG’s 32-inch UltraFine™ OLED Pro desktop monitor that can be supplemented with a monitor hood and a detachable self-calibration sensor. Two 65-inch UltraFine™ OLED Pro displays, one wall-mounted and the other on a stand, complete the space.
The Control Room zone demonstrates how LG’s 136-inch LED All-in-One can be leveraged in command centers. Plus, the company’s 55-inch Even Bezel LCD panels will form a variety of video wall displays with virtually no distinguishable separation between panels. A 43-inch IPS UHD desktop monitor will be displayed alongside a 49-inch IPS Dual QHD UltraWide™ curved monitor, offering a 32:9 aspect ratio.
Lastly, the Projector zone contains LG’s high-brightness and Ultra Short Throw (UST) 4K UHD CineBeam Laser projectors and the all-new ProBeam business projector showing how the company’s expansive product line offers optimized solutions for virtually every situation and need.
Interview with Alfi, who provides AI-generated in-store advertising. The RCE article leads with Amazon presumably selling ad placements in physical stores — smart shopping carts, checkout booths and digital smokescreens on refrigerator doors. Write up from Retail Customer Experience
Amazon In-Store Advertising in Physical Stores
Interview with Alfi CEO in which he makes the case for AI-managed advertising in the new “Just Walk Out” iterations that Amazon continues to rollout and other grocers for that matter. Seems to indicate it is coming but we could not locate any current specific Amazon news relating to in-store advertising.
intelligent screen identifies audiences and serves calculated messages for more valuable experience
Detect physical characteristics, such as age, gender, clothing choices, etc.
No mention of current retail placements such as Whole Foods. In-store advertising might be detrimental to Amazon brands?
We wonder how something like S2992 impacts campaigns like this.
Excerpt
Alfi is an AI enterprise SaaS platform. Its computer vision with machine learning technology identifies humans and their behaviors and provides real-time metrics to allow content publishers and brands to deliver interactive information in a privacy-compliant manner. Alfi aids in the measurement of DOOH advertising via data-rich reporting functionality that informs the advertiser that someone viewed their ad, how many people viewed the ad, as well as each viewer’s reaction to the ad.
You can find Alfi’s technology in digital displays in retail, airports and rideshare settings around the world, such as AI-enabled kiosks in Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and in rideshare services in 16 major U.S. cities. Alfi has incorporated its platform to enhance 22Miles‘ content management platform and is currently running pilot projects with Hammersmith Mall and Belfast International Airport.
Alfi’s technology can also be licensed to media companies looking for offerings to integrate into their digital screens. Its software turns a digital display into an intelligent screen that can identify audiences and serve the right messages to make their experience more valuable and effective.
Excerpt Modern RetailPut together, here’s what we know so far:
Amazon is planning on selling ad placements on digital signage its physical grocery stores beginning in the second quarter of this year, per a document leaked to Business Insider.
Additionally, the company is reportedly thinking of expanding the inventory to other parts of the shopping experience including smart shopping carts, checkout booths and digital smokescreens on refrigerator doors.
A big part of Amazon’s pitch is its data: People with knowledge of the program told me that Amazon’s touted metrics it’s offering to brands include ad play count, estimated impressions, impressions by geography as well as tracked ASIN sales data.
It is currently only available to select brands that are already stocked in the stores with fresh ASINs available.
Observations and pictures of ISE 2022 by Dave Haynes at Sixteen:Nine. It’s worth noting this might be the first post regarding a in-progress digital signage tradeshow in three years. Haynes provides a lot of pictures with lots of people. Barcelona is nice. InfoComm 2022 June 4 is the next big US AV show. Covid is a definite consideration. Good news from Spain is almost 90% are vaccinated + its not like the show is in Madrid. Cataluna is 26 cases per 100,000. Not to be cynic but Chicago is 69% and 33 cases per 100K, and on the rise. Las Vegas? Well, its 60% vaccinated and 12 cases per 100K. It has increased 83% in last two weeks.
LG Transparent OLED
In Brief
Haynes did not make the trip due to multiple factors
Lots of photos showing very busy traffic
Barcelona beats Amsterdam weather
Mentions — PlaceOS, ISE Immersive, LG monorail with transparent OLED, Samsung Wall
Excerpt
Sixteen:Nine’s German language content partner Invidis has people at the show and Florian Rotberg put up a quick post summarizing things:
Long queues in front of the entrances, full aisles in the exhibition halls and a good atmosphere everywhere. ISE is back and the industry is happy. The skepticism has gone and the move to Barcelona has been a success despite the pandemic. For most ISE visitors, the first thing to do is find your way around.
A look towards the future by Tomer Mann of 22Miles. From AVNetwork – for more information send an email to [email protected]
In Brief
Visual communication system in all types of venues is very important
Audience consists of customers but also employees.
Capabilities added last year include touchless navigation for wayfinding applications
“For us, 2022 will be all about demystifying incredible digital signage experiences.”
Excerpt:
AVT Question: With some trade shows having been canceled or scaled back and limited in-person meetings, it has been a challenge for technology managers to learn about a company’s philosophy, vision, and product roadmap for the coming year. Would you share what you can about your 2022 company roadmap? [January 2022]
Thought Leader: Tomer Mann, Executive Vice President of Sales at 22Miles
These days, the rules for public spaces are changing all the time. 22Miles’ digital signage content management software (CMS) helps its customers not just make peace with changing circumstances, but also thrive.
People need clear, user-friendly guidance as they return offices, stadiums, museums, transportation hubs, and conference centers. A visual communication system can deliver up-to-the-minute information about new policies and health and safety guidelines. Our enterprise customers use our software to help manage reallocating physical resources for long-term hybrid operations; conference centers are leveraging their digital signage networks to help attendees understand precautions and policies. Customers need to disseminate consistent information about new policies instantly across dispersed locations. In 2022, 22Miles is focused on making that as easy as possible.
Ton of heavyweights in the digital signage solution space weigh in on what’s important in writeup by AVNetwork. Contributors include Megan Zeller of Peerless-AV and Tomer Mann of 22Miles and LG Solutions.
In Brief
Digital Signage Trends
Supply and Demand
Value-Added Distributors
Troubleshooting
Preparation
Business
Content Management
Exhibit
Retail Product Showcase
Excerpt
When it comes to digital signage—and indeed all AV solutions—in 2022, flexibility is the name of the game.
As we know, effective digital signage not only communicates relevant brand or company information to today’s viewers, but it leaves the door open for any number of future use cases— suiting the changing needs of an organization for years to come. From staying open to using products that were not in your original plans if supply chain issues rear their ugly head; to rolling with unintended delays with a phased installation—in the Digital Signage Best Practices Guide 2022, we see flexibility in action across the entire spectrum of digital signage applications.
We will first hear from industry experts for their insights on how to avoid common digital signage pitfalls, partnering with value-added distributors, keeping lines of communication open with your stakeholders, planning for the unplanned, and leveraging familiar display technology in creative ways to attract (and keep) customers.
New to this year’s guide, we will then show you three innovative, inspired case studies—courtesy of manufacturers and installation professionals who are upending expectations on what is possible when digital signage is brought into art, education, and larger-than-life retail environments.
And, finally, we look at the cutting-edge digital signage products making waves right now, including mounting systems, extenders, controllers, management platforms, and, of course, the displays themselves.
AVI-SPL Dallas is happy to present this sneak peek video of our new office which is designed to represent the workplace of the future featuring the latest in cutting-edge technology.
Our doors are open and we welcome the opportunity to host clients, prospects, architects, consultants, general contractors, manufacturer partners, CRE professionals and those seeking a position within the industry. See it all under one roof!
Amazon is planning on selling ad placements on digital signage its physical grocery stores beginning in the second quarter of this year, per a document leaked to Business Insider.
Additionally, the company is reportedly thinking of expanding the inventory to other parts of the shopping experience including smart shopping carts, checkout booths and digital smokescreens on refrigerator doors.
A big part of Amazon’s pitch is its data: People with knowledge of the program told me that Amazon’s touted metrics it’s offering to brands include ad play count, estimated impressions, impressions by geography as well as tracked ASIN sales data.
It is currently only available to select brands that are already stocked in the stores with fresh ASINs available.
Excerpt 16:9
Many big retailers have screens in stores that, in theory or practice, could be made available for ads from consumer goods brands that have products sold in those environments. Walmart even has a demand-side ad platform. But Amazon has the wicked combination of very sophisticated and deep data collection capabilities, combined with its very slick, probably best-of-breed frictionless shopping technology.
In stores using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, sensors and software have such a grip on shopper behavior they can track what people pick off shelves (and sometimes replace) and complete transactions without any of the normal human or self-checkout processes.
You could maybe argue that Amazon is already kinda sorta vaguely in the digital signage business, in that some networks run off low-cost Fire TV devices, and some operators use AWS cloud hosting. But this is a lot more direct involvement, and tracks to how Amazon generally rolls. They start with subbing out, but gradually build their own capabilities, like warehouse and fulfillment, data hosting and even delivery trucks and air cargo. Amazon Go’s frictionless tech is the company’s own IP, and now they license it to other retailers.
The installation and service component has to be attractive for STRATACACHE
This time NCR opted to “partner” rather than purchase.
Excerpt from 16:9
This is different, I think.
First, Riegel doesn’t have the time or tolerance for partnerships that are more optics than genuine opportunity. He also doesn’t need a way into the QSR and fast casual space, because he’s already there in a substantial way. His estimate is 60% market share in the US and Canada, already.
Working with NCR means access to more restaurant operations that maybe use something else for signage, but NCR for payment or other systems. These days, a lot of operators like the streamlined notion of one supplier for many things, so if they can get payment systems from NCR and ALSO get state-of-the-art, data-driven software for their menu and pre-sell displays from a direct partner, maybe on one invoice, that’s likely to make them happy.
The partnership is already, Riegel tells me, leading to new business opportunities with existing NCR customers, while STRATACACHE customers – including some whale accounts – are cutting over to NCR field services.
Comment
Craig Keefner on Sixteen:Nine — Service is the huge factor. NCR supports anybody and everybody for example in a Walmart store (or did). Grocery checkout is saturated but worth noting NCR is very involved in the recent “just walk out” UK iterations. Another complication for their historical business is the inevitable decline of ATMs and the rise of Bitcoin.
NCR Press Release
ATLANTA, March 1, 2022 – Building strong connections to diners is key to enhancing a restaurant’s brand. NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a leading enterprise technology provider, is now partnering with STRATACACHE, the global industry leader in digital signage and retail marketing technology, to deliver engaging menus, compelling offers and best-in-class service.
“Digital signage is a powerful tool that goes beyond simply communicating a menu. It can create operational efficiency, personalize the guest experience and drive revenue,” said Dirk Izzo, president and general manager, NCR Hospitality. “By partnering with STRATACACHE, NCR is accelerating digital signage innovation and delivering solutions that create a competitive advantage to our customers, giving them more tools to run the restaurant.”
The NCR-STRATACACHE partnership brings together comprehensive software solutions that link to the NCR Commerce Platform, powerful analytics and 24x7x365 field service that allow restaurants to deliver agile dynamic campaigns and customized experiences to engage consumers.
“Our partnership helps the restaurant industry leverage knowledge of the customer from prior visits, mobile or loyalty to empower personalization and concierge-level service across digital menu boards, kiosks and mobile application engagements,” said Chris Riegel, STRATACACHE founder and CEO. “As restaurant operators face ongoing labor and supply chain challenges, technology, automation and smart digital menus are essential to reducing service times, improving sales results and minimizing challenging labor conditions. This alliance ties incredibly innovative technology to the operational and service capabilities required to ensure customer success, with faster service times, more efficient labor and increased margins.”
NCR is a full end-to-end provider from order creation to payment settlement that brings together software, services and hardware — trusted by more than 100,000 restaurant sites, including independent operators, domestic chains and international brands across the globe. NCR Aloha provides everything enterprise and SMB restaurants need to run their business, boost efficiency and increase growth.
STRATACACHE provides a full scope of consumer engagement technology and services to the world’s largest restaurant, retail, brand and service companies. STRATACACHE’s digital solutions use smart digital displays, advanced sensors and cutting-edge artificial intelligence to customize the guest experience, enhancing profitability, customer satisfaction and speed of service. With more than three million digital displays operating in 28 countries, STRATACACHE is the global leader in advanced retail marketing technology.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading enterprise technology provider that runs stores, restaurants and self-directed banking. NCR is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with 38,000 employees globally. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
While the visitor experience itself is a highly personal process that managers can never fully control, systems contractors can grow the opportunities to entice and comfort guests with the latest advancements in content management, digital signage, and wayfinding technology.
The trickle back to normal as we once knew it has become a steady stream of adjustments for systems contractors, AV managers, staff, and visitors across all types of venues. With a greater emphasis on safe and seamless navigation, the demand for easy-to-use and easy-to-integrate content technology is spiking. As facilities welcome back employees and visitors alike, the latest advancements in digital signage and wayfinding technology are rising to meet the demand, leaving a steep learning curve for technicians to brave.
Embracing the capabilities of digital signage in a way that benefits business can be overwhelming: No longer is a stagnant screen in an entryway up to par with visitor expectations. Customers are seeking robust solutions that offer user-friendly digital signage and wayfinding experiences, while AV managers are after partners that provide simple programming, customizable interfaces, and interoperable software.
On top of innovative and streamlined software properties, AV and facilities managers need a collaborative, easy to toggle approach to ensure a unique, premium design, mobile control options, and peace of mind. The standard uses of digital signage have shifted dramatically to focus on the visitor, aiming to create a one-of-a-kind experience among a competitive landscape.
The latest technology in digital signage and content management delivers on the whole package. Let’s dive into the technologies that are allowing companies to trade single screens and low-level access control in favor of fully interactive, immersive, and impressive experiences.
A Competitive Edge with Infotainment, Branding and More
Technology is changing fast, and it’s everywhere. Now, visitors and employees alike not only expect that signage will be on-demand for information and wayfinding, but also that it will be responsive and convenient to use. For technicians looking to upgrade existing AV environments with a digital focused experience, the right content management software can be the missing key. Immersive, custom experiences delivered through digital signage applications are immensely valuable for building brand equity and recognition, offering a “wow” factor that historically hasn’t been seen in signage.
Typically, when end users think of touch-based interaction, they picture a single touch screen that they can navigate like a tablet. While a few years ago this technology was innovative, AV manufacturers and integrators have leveled up the experience with new ways to interact. Custom signage with flexible content management platforms is growing in popularity as more companies implement AV technology that will both dazzle with design and provide meaningful information to guests.
With this, the upgrade trades displays as we know them for full experience centers: from tablet and mobile devices carrying on-demand wayfinding apps to direct LED and video wall designs, experiential design implementations are becoming a high demand “wow” factor for organizations to create that immersive experience while reducing some of the old school tools that typically occupy meeting spaces – whiteboards, “dumb” TVs, and more.
The ideal experience center is rooted in a customizable, robust content management system that grants managers complete control of their facility’s digital signage experience. The result of the initial touch screen is now a visually stimulating channel that carries throughout the facility, breaking down the barriers of single screens and creating a start-to-finish experience that serves the unique needs of any given facility.
Here, There, and Everywhere: Signage That Moves with You
Indoor wayfinding has evolved dramatically from printed signs and maps to interactive kiosks. Now, with smartphones, the paradigm is shifting once more. There are more ways to interact with signage than ever before, from voice commands and gestures to traditional touch methods, and from new implementations like thermal scanning and virtual receptionists to completely connected mobile wayfinding. The AV no longer stops at the point of signage: users can interact, receive feedback, and then take the experience with them on their mobile phone.
Users access mobile control via digital signage with a QR code scan, which allows them to interact with the display from their mobile web browser with no application install or download required. Eliminating the need to physically interact with digital signage and displays helps drive efficiency and accessibility to wayfinding in shopping or transportation centers, visitor kiosk check-ins for healthcare or hospitality facilities, and more. Supporting touch-free technology and delivering wayfinding to the fingertips, this growing application is defining a new standard for the visitor experience.
As occupancy continues to increase, digital signage software experts are focused on how to make the visitor experience stronger. One of the latest features making a splash for AV managers and systems contractors is room booking and hot desking, which provides a major assist in navigating and planning around facilities. With integrated room scheduling incorporated into wayfinding apps, AV managers can plan for space allocation and accommodate evolving safety measures.
The key to successful room booking and hotdesking for conferences, events, and office spaces is connectivity. Digital signage that integrates with collaboration apps has enhanced capabilities for room booking integration and design, wayfinding for the hoteling and hotdesking features, check-in or team member invite, real-time messaging, and RFID badge/ID support for touchless swipe check-in components. This list of features accounts for most of the visitor’s experience, providing valuable insight for managers to make continuous improvements. Even shifting into post-COVID operations, the value of the scheduling integration will carry on as managers seek a streamlined, simple, and seamless method of booking and organizing events and meetings.
Uncomplicating the Integration Process
Systems contractors are still learning about and understanding all that digital signage can do. It’s not a novelty anymore, but rather a dynamic medium for information that creates an entertaining, immersive experience. That said, it’s becoming necessary for a competitive edge, and it’s presenting a learning curve that can be braved with the right technology. Luckily, AV managers have the option to bring a CMS partner that can provide full design service assistance and consultancy on the implementation to simplify the AV engineers learning curve for new products, especially in software.
AV managers usually don’t want anything to do with managing software, but they do want to know they have a partner to consultant and offer the services to get the job done. And given the recent upgrades brought on by COVID, it’s becoming more commonplace to call on these partners to retrofit software to existing systems. Not every install is standalone; instead, most implementations are a means of improving and adding features to existing signage. From the AV manager standpoint, one of the most important considerations for implementing new software is compatibility. To upgrade systems with software interoperable with the most popular, robust third-party APIs – from Crestron to Bright Sign and from Mersive to Intel – is critical for today’s world. When choosing a partner for digital signage upgrades that will leave visitors and staff in awe, without technical snags, a robust platform that will integrate across technologies is a win.
Post-install, the demand for simplicity and customization are in. With new drag and drop layouts and visual filter capabilities at their fingertips, brands can leverage the power of digital signage to communicate, entertain, and streamline navigation across facilities. The latest developments in software allow AV managers to customize the look and feel of every sign, kiosk, and video wall, creating a memorable and lasting experience for visitors, staff, and employees alike.
Digital signage and wayfinding technologies bring people together, communicate important messages, streamline operational costs and resources, and support efficiency. Tailored to optimize the guest experience across industries, digital signage is now at the heart of facilities’ infrastructure and offers a new way to bring a great first impression to guests. While the visitor experience itself is a highly personal process that managers can never fully control, systems contractors can grow the opportunities to entice and comfort guests with the latest advancements in content management, digital signage, and wayfinding technology.
About Tomer Mann
Tomer Mann is EVP, 22Miles. As a veteran in the digital signage industry for more than ten years, Tomer strives to enhance visual communication consulting services to higher education, hospitality, retail, transportation, government, corporate, venues, healthcare, and other large organizations.
LG Electronics has already spearheaded in the fields of electronics, communication equipment and home appliances. In the digital signage field, which has been developed since 2012, we have strengthened our leading position in providing the most innovative products in the world. Digital signage solutions are designed with a focus on a deep understanding of industries, and customer convenience. Integrated solutions ranging from content management, service to maintenance are delivered.
Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS Kitted Series Flat dvLED Mounting System is designed exclusively for the LG LSAA and LSAB Series Direct View LED Displays, offering slim, space-saving, and aesthetically appealing designs for multiple configurations. With integrated cable management, easy-hang hardware, and a lightweight aluminum frame, integrators can quickly and easily build the perfect video wall.
Peerless-AV® also offers start to finish support through the SEAMLESS dvLED Video Wall Integration Program. The Peerless-AV dvLED Solutions Team is there every step of the way to ensure every customer receives SEAMLESS product support and service.
The What: 22Miles is releasing Digital Signage Ready (DSR), a portfolio of ready-built software and service bundles that allow for quick setup and deployment of the most popular digital signage experiences. DSR encompasses entry-level digital and interactive signage software and content management features that are ready-to-customize, ready-to-bundle, and ready-to-deploy.
The What Else: The DSR SaaS portfolio consists of a content management system with numerous application sets, widgets, stylish templates, and a white glove support service that is designed to set customers up for success. Customers can choose from a wide range of project examples for their respective industry and application; easily re-brand and edit the content; then drag-and-drop the content and widgets to customize to their liking.
22Miles’ DSR also includes white glove service to assist customers with project setup, training and deployment, content development, and data assistance. The DSR software bundles are installed on a growing list of DSR certified hardware and operating systems and includes tech support and cloud hosting for seamless operation. 22Miles partners with hardware manufacturer partners—like Intel, Crestron, LG, Samsung, Mimo, Iadea, and BrightSign—so adding DSR to existing and new systems alike is streamlined.
The Bottom Line: With a robust range of applications that get customers up and running within minutes, 22Miles says DSR relieves integrators, AV/IT and facility managers, and decision-makers from the costs and complications associated with proprietary design and content management. Built on the 22Miles platform, DSR offers future-proof scalability and growth potential as building and customer needs change, according to the company
Panasonic has not been an overly visible player in the North American digital signage ecosystem for many years, but the Japanese visual systems and electronics manufacturer is taking a focused run at the business with what it is calling a Complete Digital Signage Solution.
The company has announced what could be called a turnkey solution that covers displays, related hardware, software and services, and suggesting it covers everything from corporate and retail to Houses of Worship.
From Panasonic
Complete Digital Signage Solution
Panasonic is your all-in-one strategic partner for Digital Signage solutions. Digital Signage Display Package offers a portfolio of all-encompassing products and services – from unmatched product, accessories and content management to installation, logistics and warranty.
Digital Signage improves communication across your campus, business or public space, by offering maximum flexibility and better connecting your environment in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Providing you with end-to-end support, we offer options for an effortless experience to give you the ability to better deliver engaging content and drive sales.
Learn more about Panasonic Display Solutions
Professional Displays
Panasonic Professional Digital Displays provide immersive picture quality for an unparalleled visual experience.
The AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas is one of the more ambitious experiential digital projects out there – in the U.S. or globally – with a big reason being the focus from the inception on coming up with something that was more than just the technology circus coming to town.
Telecoms giant AT&T engaged the huge global design firm Gensler to come up with a cohesive, visually exciting design concept for not only its headquarters building in Dallas, but for the area surrounding it – delivering a destination and talking point.
There is a massive LED media wall on the corner of one building, what Gensler calls digital trellises on the urban office campus plaza, and more LED on the walls, support columns and even the ceiling of the head office lobby. That’s coupled with synchronized lighting and something that sounds a bit like a show control system.
It’s super-impressive, and it cost more than a couple of bucks to build, and to sustain. The first wave of creative includes digital art from some of the top people in the field, from Refik Anadol to Moment Factory.
I had a chance to speak with two of the key people behind the project – Justin Rankin, director of Gensler’s Digital Experience Design Studio, and Dana Hamdan, the Project Manager on the project.
As face-to-face interaction becomes less of a priority in the marketplace, organizations of all types are reconsidering the ways they communicate with their customers. In many cases, they’re incorporating large-format displays to accomplish the task.
July’s D=SIGN Power Hour panel addressed multi-display & video wall content creation with moderator Paul Fleuranges of the Digital Signage Federation. Experts Daniel Hurtado of Userful, Digital Signage Creative Director Jim Nista, and Bryan Meszaros of OpenEye Global.
Display signage for retail qsr is the highest capital cost (aka big potato), albeit by themselves low margin
Selling those though often means selling a bunch of “small potatoes”, many with much higher profit
As Haynes sums it up — Recurring SaaS CMS revenue is the gift that keeps on giving.
Excerpt:
If you are active on the software side of digital signage, you’ve undoubtedly seen Samsung evolving its MagicINFO software from a low or no-cost add-on for small jobs to a full-featured enterprise platform that competes against pure-play CMS software companies.
LG has also had a product called SuperSign in the market for more than a decade, and that display manufacturer is also now marketing a full-featured product. The interesting wrinkle with LG is that it is touting a turnkey solution for QSR that includes built-in capabilities like queue management, open API POS integration and back of house workflow solutions.
It’s called SuperSign QSR, and it LOOKS like it is all in-house, as opposed to partnerships with third parties that specialize in things like queue management.
BenQ debuted its ST02 Smart Signage Display Series aimed at hybrid meeting spaces. Also, its new DVY Series video cameras are shipping and include the DVY21 1080p webcam, the DVY22 4K camera and the PTZ-based DVY23 camera. They are also available as a smart videoconferencing bundle with the ST02 meeting room display series.
BenQ’s DVY Series cameras are USB and include an 88-degree field of view, omnidirectional microphones with noise suppression and automatically adjust to lighting conditions. The USB 3.0 DVY22 4K is a 126-degree, wide-angle conference camera for midsize meeting rooms with 4x digital zoom, AI-powered auto framing and dual-stream support features.
Built for AV systems, the DVY23 is a 1080p PTZ conference camera with 20x optical zoom; an option of USB 3.0, HDMI, 1GbE with PoE and 3G-SDI video outputs; RTSP and RTMP streaming support; an array of control ports, including RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 and LAN; and remote controls to ensure compatibility with any existing control protocol utilized in the room.
The 4K UHD ST02 Series displays combine BenQ’s signage, display and collaboration technology, including InstaShare 2 wireless presentation systems, Device Management System (DMS), Account Management System (AMS), OPS slot, digital signage and whiteboard features. The displays are compatible with mainstream videoconferencing platforms, including Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and Cisco Webex.
BenQ has a smart bundling deal as well located here.
Jumpstart Your Hybrid Working Solution With Confidence
Simplify deployment by implementing Smart Signage into your meeting tech stack
Save time by efficiently deploying centrally managed displays to multiple meeting rooms and WFH
Increase productivity with All-in-One Smart Signage purpose built for effective meetings and presentations
Flexibly deploy in any situation with 5 choices in display size (43″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 86″)
The trickle back to normal as we once knew it has become a steady stream of adjustments for systems contractors, AV managers, staff, and visitors across all types of venues. With a greater emphasis on safe and seamless navigation, the demand for easy-to-use and easy-to-integrate content technology is spiking. As facilities welcome back employees and visitors alike, the latest advancements in 
