Government work can be very lucrative for a business.  

In our line of work, we receive requests from the digital signage industry (city improvement projects, transportation authorities) as well as the industrial sector (waste water treatment plants, military).

For wayfinding applications, the cost for digital will always be higher than a traditional static sign. 

The comparison between the two forms of wayfinding is not apples to apples. A digital wayfinding kiosk is important for visitors/customers navigating an unknown space or building and digital makes this effort more dynamic and powerful. Therefore, there are many layers and questions to consider, for a digital project, that simply do not exist for static, including the LCD (size, orientation), mounting hardware, kiosk, media player, and a content management system.

Each year, the U.S. federal government spends hundreds of billions of dollars purchasing products and services.*

There is no better time for restaurants to invest in digital menu boards.

Static signage will soon be rendered passé, because digital menu boards allow various, revolutionary options for restaurants, including quick price changes and the flexibility to provide real time nutritional and caloric information to customers. Ever changing nutritional information may accompany the menu items displayed on the screen and enable customers to make informed, healthy ordering decisions.

An effective and smart content strategy plays a major role in the success of digital signage. 

When the layers of the onion are peeled away, how does one accomplish this task? A plan begins to take form when the end user can answer several questions related to the overall project objective.

Take the time to ask the following 7 questions to all possible team members including IT, marketing, sales, facilities, and any others that may be involved in a portion of the project. It will be surprising how each department may answer the questions differently.

Deploying outdoor digital signage presents a set of unique challenges.

Challenges can be overcome with proper preparation and can maximize the user’s return on investment. Ryan Kh, in his article, ‘3 Case Studies That Prove Digital Signs Work,’ explains how digital can be a valuable resource for any company’s marketing strategy, “Digital signage is becoming a notable trend in marketing. Both local and multinational companies are using digital signs to reach and engage with their customers, and if you’ve been paying attention, they’re working…Digital signs have been proven to be very engaging.”

When planning for a signage project, be sure to research the various options available to make an informed decision. Compared to an indoor solution, outdoor digital signage installations require more robust enclosures, electronics, and thermal management systems. Do not make the mistake of using the same budget as indoors, because the environments are simply not the same.

In 2010, new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations were put into place regarding accessible design for disabled Americans.

These changes particularly impact how digital signage can be installed in public places. Installations may include self-service kiosks, LCD enclosures, and video walls, just to name a few. These types of digital signage need to adhere to the proposed guidelines for ADA compliance. Ultimately, it just makes good business sense that a digital signage message is reachable and viewable to all users of the system. For example, one of the guidelines require a non-glare finish and 70% contrast between the sign background and lettering.

For the purpose of this blog, we will only address items associated with installing digital signage enclosures. For more helpful information on creating ADA friendly content, reference Kiosk Marketplace’s article “Meeting the ADA Compliance Challenge.” 

Many Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are making the exciting switch to digital menu boards - inside of their restaurants - to boost sales, create a buzz, promote specials/limited time offers, and reduce print costs. 

Choosing the perfect combination of a dynamic LCD and a strong content strategy are top concerns, but there are many other considerations that dictate the overall success of a digital menu board project.

In some environments, it may be advantageous to install a protective enclosure around the digital menu board system. 

When deciding on the perfect outdoor LCD enclosure, a good bit of emphasis is put onto the outdoor environment.

Will the LCD be exposed to direct sunlight? What are the high and low temperatures? What electronics will be used inside of the enclosure? What type of thermal management is needed? These are all common questions an enclosure company will ask to make an appropriate recommendation. With that being said, preparing to install digital signage outdoors includes a number of risks and hazards. The installation should be well planned to prevent potential problems. Installing digital signage that is heavy and in an area it was not originally intended can pose a risk to the public.

When visiting a college campus, large healthcare/hospital facility, or amusement park, using digital signage, in the form of wayfinding kiosks, to figure out your current location or destination is extremely important.

When planning a large outdoor wayfinding project, it is critical to keep the message simple. With the rise in outdoor digital signage, it may be tempting ‘to make a big splash’ by incorporating fancy technology or overloading the signage with flashy and stimulating content. However, including too many elements can be overwhelming to those who are just trying to find their way around an unfamiliar place. According to Irfan Khan’s blog, ‘7 Digital Signage Trends for 2016,’ digital offers a better experience for the end user, “Digital signs are inherently more attention-grabbing than a traditional static sign. Thanks to recent technologies, digital signs can be even more engaging to customers and viewers—in fact, they can be interactive, turning viewing them into a personal experience.”