Digital Signage For Innovation.

Digital signage solutions for the growing business.

Let’s look at the digital signage solutions that have developed into something new and innovative, these range from NFC (Near Field Communication) to ESL (Electronic Shelf Labelling) in supermarkets.

Development of digital signage.

It was only 5 years when people thought they could use a regular TV from Costco to use outdoor for outdoor advertising, after many frustrating telephone conversations with people who did not understand the market they soon realized that digital signage needed the correct hardware. It was futile going down the budget route as the displays had to be replaced within weeks especially in the summer when the TV’s were in direct sunlight, they soon burnt out.

Now you may do to a supermarket do to your shopping and see a digital screens with a promotion on it, when you pass the display you cell phone bleeps, because you have received a message via Bluetooth (this was called proximity marketing in 2012) the message is a promotion for the seasonal item on the digital poster. You have just been introduced to ESL Electronic Shelf Labelling!

ESL using digital signage displays.

As you can imagine the system is based on a wireless master and salves throughout the store. The master receives the incoming communication of which items are on promotions and then the master sends the signal wirelessly through to the slave wireless receivers. The store then deploys special shelf labels that are fitted in the location of the promotional items. So when anyone passes the display the display and electronic shelf labels send an electronic handshake to your cell phone and you get the promotional offer. This is used with major supermarkets such as Walmart, Target, Lidl and even the leading budget brand Aldi.

Who thought 5 years ago we would be receiving discount coupons through our mobile phones? Not I.

NCR using digital advertising displays.

Within the frame of the digital signage hardware is a built in Bluetooth receiver and sender and when you connect using the Bluetooth connection on your phone, you can then get additional information. You may be need to a city, so it can literally walk you through the streets of the city to your hotel or even to the major shopping district and you can search for your favourite designer outlet. The uses of near field communication is growing rather quickly and more will be seen in the coming months and years as it is just in it’s infancy.

There is a company (http://www.lcdtvenclosure.com) who started out manufacturing digital signage enclosures for flat panel displays, who are now looking at integrating NFC into their solutions and how mobile devices can be utilized as we all have a mobile device within 10 yards of us 99% of the day. So using a mobile friendly advertising solution is something to be mindful of in the near future, because everything you do on a PC or laptop, you can do on a cellphone and more people have a cell phone than own a tooth brush: frightening but true!

5 years ago digital advertising was a new trend, now everyone is using it to promote their business, and business owners are looking for the next best thing, so check out the digital signage forums for future updates.