Digital signage is a dynamic and versatile medium that can enhance customer experience, improve communication, and boost sales. However, digital signage is also constantly evolving, with new technologies, applications, and opportunities emerging every year. To stay ahead of the curve and leverage the full potential of digital signage, it is important to keep an eye on the latest trends and predictions in the industry.
In this article, we will explore the top five digital signage trends and predictions for 2024 to lookout for. These include using Digital Signage to increase communication with employees, the growing presence of AI and its role in operations, increased mergers in the Digital Signage industry, how Digital Signage will boost employee retention, and the benefit of using user-sourced content. We will also discuss how leveraging all of these trends can benefit your company.
Related: 5 Digital Signage Challenges and Solutions – C&C Technology Group (cc-techgroup.com)
Trend 1 – Using Digital Signage to Increase Communication with Employees
Digital signage is becoming increasingly important in the workplace, especially with the rise of hybrid work. Companies are realizing that it is critical to talk to their employee base, especially deskless employees who don’t have access to a computer or email address. Communication is the cornerstone to a successful hybrid workspace. As the labor market tightens, companies will want to retain their employees, and communication is a cornerstone to achieving this. Therefore, digital signage will continue to grow and become more mission-critical.
An increased number of screens on the wall where people work and travel in the course of their jobs, such as hallways, will continue to increase as the need for successful communication increases. This will be especially important for desk-less employees. By using digital signage, companies can communicate important information to their employees in real-time, which can help improve employee engagement and retention.
It can be expensive to provide employees with company-owned mobile devices, and employees often resist using personal devices and personal data for work. Therefore, digital signage is a cost-effective way to communicate with employees, especially deskless employees.
Trend 2 – The Growing Presence of AI and its Role in Operations
AI is a key driver of innovation and change in the business/technology world, and it will continue to expand its role, especially in operations. We are already seeing major changes in operations, such as by monitoring screens and ensuring that the right content is displayed. If something goes wrong, AI can alert the staff or even fix the problem, such as by restarting the player or changing the content.
It is also possible that in the foreseeable future, AI will soon be able to generate dynamic playlists based on various factors, such as audience, location, time, etc., and that in another few years, AI will have the capability to create images on the fly for digital signage displays. We are only scratching the surface of how we can best use AI in the workforce, and its role in operations will only continue to evolve and increase.
Trend 3: Increased Mergers in the Digital Signage Industry
The industry will likely witness more large firms buying out smaller ones in the coming years.
The analogy made by an industry expert likened the current state of the digital signage industry to the cable industry of the 1970s. During that era, the cable industry was characterized by a multitude of small cable providers, each operating in distinct regions. This landscape was marked by relatively low barriers to entry, a scenario that appears to mirror the contemporary digital signage sector. In both cases, the industries were in their nascent stages, offering numerous opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs and businesses to establish a foothold and grow within their respective markets.
It is an inevitability that a similar transition will occur in the digital signage space.
Trend 4: Digital Signage will boost employee retention
Employee retention is a key challenge for many businesses, especially in a tight labor market and a changing work environment. To keep employees happy, it is essential to give them regular communication, recognition, and opportunities for growth. Digita Signage can support all three of these goals.
Communication: Digital signage can keep employees informed and updated on the company’s vision, goals, news and events. It can also prevent misinformation and rumors from spreading.
Recognition: Digital signage can celebrate and appreciate employees for their achievements and contributions. It can also foster a sense of team spirit and belonging.
Growth: Digital signage can offer video-on-demand content that helps employees learn new skills and advance their careers. It can also showcase career opportunities and pathways within the company.
Digital Signage can help create a culture of communication, recognition, and growth that attracts and retains employees in 2024.
Trend 5 – User-sourced content
As social media becomes increasingly central to modern consumers and workers, they want to be empowered to source or influence content directly. User-based source content is becoming critical in digital signage communication.
Crowd-sourced content can help build community and culture with a human touch. Employees love to have a hand in creating content that fuels company communications and culture, including social media content. However, this doesn’t mean that your company’s social media needs to directly integrate social media posts from, say, TikTok. Instead, finding a way to give your employees a channel to communicate directly (and safely, of course) can have big results in team cohesion.
As we step into a new year, recognizing the significance of embracing transformation and innovation becomes crucial, particularly at the crossroads of business and technology.
The realm of digital signage is set to maintain its robust growth trajectory, driven by the burgeoning trend of hybrid work environments and the imperative to effectively communicate with remote and non-office-based employees. The industry is poised for a wave of consolidation, with larger entities acquiring smaller firms that possess unique features or those lacking distinctiveness.
In the sphere of employee retention strategies, digital signage is slated to play a pivotal role, underpinned by the recognition that communication, acknowledgment, and opportunities for advancement are vital ingredients for fostering employee contentment and allegiance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to continue its expansion, with a heightened emphasis on operational aspects, such as monitoring displays, content verification, and the crafting of responsive playlists. Moreover, the incorporation of user-generated content is anticipated to enhance community spirit and cultural dynamics within organizations, as employees increasingly engage in the creation of content that enriches both internal communications and external social media presence.
Integrating these emerging trends can be instrumental in ensuring that we evolve in tandem with technological advancements.
For a deeper insight into the Digital Signage trends anticipated for 2024, feel free to contact your nearest C&C Technology Group representative.
Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Josh Mahan
