In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, consumer experience reigns supreme. The use of digital signage has emerged as a dynamic tool. It transforms traditional shopping environments into immersive and engaging spaces.
This is just one of the many reasons why the U.S. Digital Signage market is on pace to achieve an impressive $11.5 billion worth by 2028. The latest trends in retail digital signage are reshaping the way brands connect with customers.
Retail signs create captivating in-store experiences. This includes vibrant displays showcasing product information. It also encompasses interactive kiosks offering personalized recommendations.
Are you interested in exploring cutting-edge technologies and innovative digital signage strategies? Keep reading below to discover how businesses can leverage these trends to drive retail business growth in the digital age.
Interactive Displays
Interactive displays in retail often resemble oversized tablets and screen setups. These types of signage allow customers to touch and swipe. Encouraging interaction improves user engagement.
They provide a dynamic way to showcase products and offer detailed information. Additionally, they may come loaded with branded interactive games. In certain retail settings, they can even provide virtual try-on experiences.
These retail digital signage displays create an immersive and engaging shopping experience. This allows customers to explore products in-depth before making a purchase. Interactive displays combine the convenience of online shopping with the tactile experience of brick-and-mortar stores.
For businesses, interactive displays offer valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. It helps them better tailor their offerings and marketing strategies.
Personalization
Personalization in retail digital signage is essential to retail business growth. This involves tailoring signage content based on customer preferences and purchase history.
Digital signs can show products that match what a customer likes. If a customer puts in their data like a phone number connected to their account, the signage can show them similar items of interest. For example, a customer who frequently buys running shoes can get recommendations for new running shoes.
Using personalization makes customers feel understood and valued. Personalization also helps businesses sell more. This is because customers are more likely to buy things that are tailored to their preferences.
Mobile Integration
A Pew Research Center study found that 90% of U.S. adults now own a smartphone. This is why mobile integration in retail digital signage is so crucial. It involves giving customers the ability to connect digital signs with smartphones and other mobile devices.
For instance, customers can scan QR codes on digital signs to access product information, reviews, and exclusive offers. They can also use mobile apps to receive notifications or access special promotions through Near Field Communication (NFC). This allows two devices, like smartphones or tablets, to communicate with each other when they are very close together.
Data Analytics
Data analytics in retail digital signage means using information to understand how well the signs are working. Retailers can see which signs are popular and what customers do when they see them. If a sign about a sale gets a lot of attention, the retailer knows the sale is interesting to customers.
Using data analytics also helps retailers know when to show certain signs. For instance, they can show ads for umbrellas when it’s raining. This makes the signs more useful and helps businesses sell more of a certain product.
Implementing data analytics helps retailers make smarter decisions about their digital signage. This leads to better customer experiences and increased sales.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Once thought to be the wave of the future, AR and VR technology are now being utilized in retail digital signage. Both technologies bring virtual elements into the real world. These technologies make shopping more interactive and fun.
Augmented Reality adds digital images to what you see around you, like trying on virtual clothes. Virtual Reality, on the other hand, creates a completely digital world that you can explore, like a virtual store through a wearable visor.
As much as 61% of customers said they prefer retailers who use AR. Another 71% reported they would shop more often in a store offering AR tech.
Customers can see how products look or work before buying them. Big brands like IKEA and Amazon let shoppers see how furniture looks in their homes using AR. This helps them make better purchasing decisions.
Dynamic Content
Retail digital signage can offer dynamic content that changes based on different factors. This could be based on factors like the time of day, weather, or how many people are in the store.
For example, in the morning, the sign might show breakfast items, and in the afternoon, it might switch to lunch specials. This makes the signage more relevant to customers. It also helps businesses promote products or deals at the right time, increasing the chances of making a sale.
Social Media Integration
Social media connection is everywhere we look these days, even in retail signs. Integrating digital signs with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is a powerful marketing tool.
It allows businesses to display social media feeds and customer reviews on the signs. This integration also taps into displaying user-generated content. For example, a clothing store might show Instagram posts featuring customers wearing their clothes.
This creates a more interactive and engaging shopping experience. Customers can see how others are using the products, which can influence their purchasing decisions. Social media integration also helps businesses increase their social media presence and reach a wider audience.
Wayfinding Digital Signs
Using wayfinding digital signs in retail helps customers navigate the store more easily. They provide interactive maps and directions to different sections or products. Common uses include showing the way to the electronics or clothing department.
Wayfinding signs make shopping more convenient and less stressful for customers. They can be especially helpful in large stores or malls where it’s easy to get lost. As a result, it improves the shopping experience by helping customers find what they’re looking for quickly and efficiently.
These types of signs can also be used to highlight special promotions or new products along the way. This can encourage impulse purchases which are a key element of retail business growth.
Sustainable Retail Signs
Sustainability in the modern retail landscape is vital. These signs are made from eco-friendly materials and use energy-efficient technologies. They are designed to minimize environmental impact while still effectively conveying messages to customers.
A sustainable sign might use LED lights, which use less energy than traditional lighting options. They could also be made from recycled materials or be easily recyclable themselves.
Sustainable retail signs demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. Using sustainable signage can resonate with eco-conscious consumers.
They can also help businesses save money on energy costs in the long run. This benefits both the environment and the bottom line.
Queue Management
Queue management in a retail setting involves using digital signs to inform customers about wait times and manage lines efficiently. These signs can display the current wait time and provide updates in real-time. For example, they might show that there is a 10-minute wait at the checkout counter.
This helps customers decide whether to wait or come back later. Queue management signs can also provide information on how to join a virtual queue or use self-checkout options to reduce wait times.
Using queue management digital signs offers efficient retail solutions. They can help improve customer satisfaction by providing transparency and flexible options for managing queues effectively.
Contactless Payments
Modern retail digital signage even allows for the use of contactless payments without touching a physical POS device. Customers can use their smartphones or contactless cards to pay for items by simply holding them near the payment terminal.
This reduces the need for physical contact with surfaces, which is especially important in a post-COVID-19 world. Contactless payments are also fast, convenient, and secure which makes them a popular choice among shoppers. They also help reduce wait times at checkout counters to improve the overall shopping experience.
Accepting contactless payments through digital signs provides a safe and efficient way for customers to make purchases while minimizing the risk of spreading germs.
Content Automation
Content automation uses software to create and deliver content without manual intervention. Automation software can automatically update product information, promotions, and other messages based on predetermined criteria.
For instance, it can change the display to show lunch specials at noon and dinner specials in the evening. It can also inform customers of special flash sales.
Utilizing content automation saves time and reduces the risk of human error. It also allows retailers to deliver timely and relevant messages to customers.
Tapping into data analytics further personalizes content based on customer behavior and preferences. This enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of retail digital signage.
Stay Ahead of Retail Digital Signage Trends with Ascentic® Retail Engineering Today
Retail digital signage is changing more and more each day. For retailers to stay successful, they must continue to offer consumers the latest technology. Those that don’t will likely get left behind.
Ascentic Retail Engineering can help you create the retail solutions you need to stay on top of current trends. We strive to offer our clients expertise in electronic design and innovative custom retail products. Using our faith as a cornerstone, we work with integrity and dedication to serve our clients and the community.
Let us help you with your unique retail display needs. Contact us today!