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By Alberto Jessurun / June 9, 2021 / Blog

7 Ways COVID-19 Has Changed Digital Signage

From touchless screens to remote control technology, COVID-19 has altered digital signage — potentially forever.

Empty streets. Looming digital signs. In a world without crowds, digital signs have taken on a new, incredibly important role. During COVID-19, they have been used to communicate information that would otherwise be shared from person to person. They display up to date messaging on social distancing guidelines, communicate information on ever-evolving business hours and operational standards, reflect crucial regulations from government health authorities, and, in some cases, simply offer hope through text and graphics with messages such as: “Stay safe; we’ll get through this together.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues — and mercifully winds down — enterprises that use digital signage have wondered what the future of this important marketing, customer service, and informational tool might be in 2021, 2022, and beyond. While it is impossible to predict the future, it is worthwhile to investigate how the past year has affected trends surrounding digital signage. This can be used as a navigational tool to make an educated observation about what the future might hold.

In this article, we will take a look at seven ways COVID-19 has shaped the current landscape of digital signage and what that might mean for the future of this critical technology:

No more touch screens
Enhanced sanitation
Virtual customer service
Deployment of essential information
Messages of hope
Digital display control from a remote location
Using technology to keep up with online shopping
The future of digital signage

1. No more touch screens

Pre-pandemic, touch screens were everywhere — from tablets used for ordering at restaurants to self-checkout kiosks at the grocery store. Digital signage was no exception, with more and more businesses and organizations opting for digital signs that allowed users to engage through touch.

During COVID-19, touch has been replaced with voice control, gesture command, and the use of QR codes allowing people to scan a digital sign for information and engage with that information on their smartphones. This not only prevents the spread of diseases and germs by reducing touch to surfaces, but it also helps prevent crowds from congregating around the sign and improves social distancing.

2. Enhanced sanitation

Enhanced sanitation is essential during COVID-19. From hotels to retail spaces to offices and everything in between, people are wiping down surfaces more frequently. Digital signage must be sanitized regularly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, those who install digital signage must be sure their technology can sustain the frequent sanitation required amidst our current crises.

3. Virtual customer service

Remote learning, contact-free deliveries … COVID-19 sent an onslaught of careers and services shifting to virtual spaces. Digital signage has helped fill gaps that would typically be handled by customer service representatives. They can display information, maps, answers to questions, and offer guidance to help consumers get what they need.

4. Deployment of essential information

As regulations continue to shift around COVID-19, few tools have been as effective as digital signage for disseminating information to the public. Digital signage can remind people about mask mandates, encourage social distancing protocols, and keep the public aware of changing hours of operation during the pandemic.

5. Messages of hope

In addition to displaying pertinent information about social distancing, masks, and other mandates, digital signage has also offered messages of hope. This may not be a measurable contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been a valuable tool in offering kindness and compassion during a time when so many people have been isolated from one another. Many businesses have used digital signage to display customized messages directed at their customer bases, wishing them well and eventually welcoming them back when the time is right.

6. Digital display control from remote locations

In 2021, one in four Americans are working remotely. Even pre-pandemic, remote work was on the rise. Post-pandemic, the trend will likely continue. Digital signage and other technologies have accommodated this out-of-office shift by allowing users to control displays remotely. This allows digital signage to display up-to-date information and relevant content without requiring anyone to physically be in a set location to make those changes.

7. Using technology to keep up with online shopping

Nike made waves in 2018 by introducing a fully automated store in New York filled with screens and driven by a smartphone app that allowed customers to make purchases without interacting with employees. Even before COVID-19, brick-and-mortar businesses were trying to compete with online shopping by using more technology, such as interactive digital signage, in their stores.

The future of digital signage

So, what does the future of digital signage look like? Many experts predict that some trends from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue after the crisis has abated. Online shopping, for example, rose during COVID-19 and is very likely to continue rising, even after customers have been given the green light on returning to stores in person. As such, businesses will likely continue to use digital signage to stand out in a technology-focused world. With remote working and increased sanitation continuing, remote-control technology, voice control, and digital signage that displays information typically presented by humans are all trends that are likely here to stay in the future.

If you are interested in bringing this type of technology to your enterprise, Unisol International can help you find, design, and install the right solutions. To find out, more contact Unisol International.

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7 Ways COVID-19 Has Changed Digital Signage

From touchless screens to remote control technology, COVID-19 has altered digital signage — potentially forever.

1. No more touch screens

2. Enhanced sanitation

3. Virtual customer service

4. Deployment of essential information

5. Messages of hope

6. Digital display control from remote locations

7. Using technology to keep up with online shopping

The future of digital signage

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