datmedia insight and expertise:

Make Digital Signage A Priority When Refurbishing

colette led brisbane airport

A smart business makes refurbishing with digital signage a priority.

Opening a new store or refurbishing an existing one is no small project. There are many stakeholders to satisfy: Store Design, Marketing, IT and of course, the CFO. Although each party has different priorities, the overall objective is about improving the customer journey. That’s where refurbishing with digital signage comes in.

Google research says that over half of all purchase decisions are influenced by digital marketing, and that bringing an online experience into the physical world is one of the greatest challenges facing retailers.

Consumer engagement has never been more important and that’s where digital signage comes in. Here are some common challenges that it helps overcome and why including digital signage in the design and shop fit makes perfect sense.

happy installer screen mall

Posters are boring

Not to mention expensive, and wasteful. You know the headaches caused by printing in multiple sizes then relying on humans to ensure all that paper reaches its audience on time. There’s no option to adjust if it’s out of date, and then it gets thrown away. There’s got to be a better way, and there is. Put digital signage at the top of your refurbishment to-do list.

Shop-fitting adds value

Although retrofitting digital screens is always an option, it can look like an afterthought (usually because it is). When you see digital signage that has been part of the architectural design and installed by professionals, it becomes more than a marketing tool. It improves the aesthetics, enhances customer experience and validates you as a digital native.

Refurbishment helps fund hardware

Your marketing team has wanted an easy-to-manage, self-funding digital signage solution for years. Now’s the chance. While approving budgets for shop fitting and furniture, incorporate a digital signage network. And it makes more sense than Marketing having to fund the network from their own budget.

Plan for the future

To paraphrase Karen Lamb, the best time to start a digital signage strategy was a year ago. Failing that, do it now. Digital transformation is not only empowering, it’s inevitable. These are a few reasons to involve digital signage when planning a rebrand, refurbishment or new site. If you need help incorporating an innovative, easy-to-use digital solution into your upgrade, get in touch.

Want to talk?

We have helped some of Australia’s favourite brands connect with consumers, boost sales, streamline communications and improve efficiency. Book a 1:1 online discovery meeting with our team. Learn about the best signage solutions and let’s talk about how digital signage adds real value to every project.

Want a free demo?

With any new tech, there’s nothing quite like holding it in your hands. Our demo device trial is your very own personal preview of what it will be like when you successfully roll out the ultimate digital signage solution in all of your stores. Get in touch so we can understand your needs, your project and send the right device for you. After all, it’s a big investment in time and money – you want digital signage that fits.

datmedia insight and expertise:

Better Connection Means Better Connections

happy installer screen mall

Real time messaging keeps customers and staff better informed - it improves the bottom line.

Old information is worthless. If you want to connect with people, it’s vital that messages are always on and always up to date. You can’t afford to be one of those businesses so focused on placement that it overlooks crucial issues. Notably digital signage connectivity, security and compliance.

Consider this

There are man things to consider when planning a digital signage or kiosk deployment. Think about the number of displays you want, the types of displays and their location. Likewise think about installation, shop-fitting, budget. Here are some other considerations that are just as important.

Connectivity

Without reliable, ‘always-on’ digital signage connectivity, your smart network quickly becomes a group of dumb screens. To ensure the network is functioning properly and your messaging strategy is always up to date, make use of all the technology available to you. For example, a wired line can provide a primary connection with failover to a second wired connection or a 5G connection. Most importantly, network design needs to be thoughtful. It should always place 4 or 5G modems where they get the best signal then connect devices by ethernet rather than WiFi.

Hardware

Indoor locations can challenge network design where it’s essential to provide a quality signal in dense buildings. Obstructions like walls and pillars don’t make it easy. A trend toward outdoor settings (such as fairs or pop-up stores) also requires reliable connectivity as well as using ruggedized, fit-for-purpose hardware.

Security

The larger your network, the greater the opportunity for cyber-attack. Therefore routers that support digital connections must be “secure by design” with built-in security that’s thoroughly tested. It should manage multiple levels, from secure boot to encryption and authentication of passwords and data.

Device management

As data travels between applications and devices, you need to integrate a management solution. One that monitors data communication between devices and quickly identifies potential issues and cybersecurity threats.

Cost

Above all, always evaluate the full setup costs before starting your deployment. With digital signage and kiosks, the costs of operations and ownership can be complex. It spans hardware, software, connectivity, deployment, management applications, security monitoring and support staff. That’s a lot to think about.

Like what you hear?

If you would value some guidance on best practices to ensure good digital signage connectivity, please get in touch. Ask about a free demo device so you can trial digital signage at your own site, in your own time. We’re ready to help support you with digital signage that fits.