Top 5 Digital Signage Trends in 2021

Digital signage has been a popular way to convey messages to consumers and employees for several years now. Technological advancements and the demands brought on by the coronavirus pandemic are expected to change the user experience significantly in 2021. Here are the top digital signage trends to watch out for in the next year.

Affordability

The overarching trend for 2021 is the desire to get the biggest bang for your buck. Countless businesses have struggled in the age of COVID. Budget cuts are the only feasible option for many, making it necessary to get more done in less time with fewer resources. This will likely lead to the following:

• Cheaper digital signage upgrades that are compatible with existing hardware
• Emphasis on ease-of-use to reduce content creation and management time
• “Signage as a service” that can be upscaled or downsized easily

Screens in All Shapes and Sizes

This trend has been developing for a few years now, which will continue into 2021. Some notable innovations to watch for include:

• Increasing screen sizes
• Curved screens
• Translucent screens
• Higher resolutions
• More brightness options
• Small, strategically placed screens

Interactivity

While screens in many applications will be getting bigger in 2021, others will remain small to facilitate more personal interaction. Touch screens have gained steam in recent years, but the COVID-19 threat has negatively affected this type of signage. While “touch” won’t be phased out next year, you’re likely to see other forms of interactivity, including:

• Gesture technology
• Facial recognition
• Voice commands
• Augmented Reality (AR) with the aid of a smartphone

Information Dissemination

The diversity in screen sizes and capabilities will result in replacing traditional signage with screens. Consider a modern office building conference room. An ordinary sign might identify the room and possibly indicate whether it’s in use, but a touch screen sign can show the schedule of upcoming meetings and allow the user to reserve the room for a future date and time.

Another example of using screens to disseminate information is the so-called “information radiator.” This is when a screen is mounted where personnel or customers often gather, showing relevant information about the organization as a multimedia presentation or interactive dashboard.

Integration with Other Channels

These days, more companies than ever understand the importance of brand image. As they diversify the methods they use to communicate with their customers, business owners know they must convey consistent brand images and “stories.”

A digital signage trend for 2021 is to integrate screens with other communication channels. Automatic integration removes the burden of monitoring yet another communication method.

Security and Privacy

Integrating digital signage into other systems increases cybersecurity risk. After all, if one system is integrated with another, hacking one means data from both may be compromised. This concern has led to a rise in privacy protection efforts. Here are some important factors to consider when optimizing your company’s security:

• Follow US data privacy laws by implementing and maintaining reasonable data security measures.
• Implement user authentication with the ability to maintain accounts and withdraw rights easily.
• Don’t allow internal data to leave the local intranet.
• Don’t resort to changing the firewall to get new digital signs to work.
• Restrict playback on screens to specific devices or IP addresses.

Digital Signage Installation, Repair & Maintenance in Arizona

As you can see, the digital signage trends for 2021 focus on saving companies’ money and optimizing the user experience. The coronavirus pandemic has driven some of these trends, while others have been accelerating on their own for years.

The audiovisual division of Corporate Technology Solutions proudly serves business owners in Arizona and other Southwestern states from our offices in Tucson and Tempe. If you’re seeking digital signage services for your business, we’re confident our installation, repair, and maintenance team can meet your needs.

Contact us today at 877-685-2626 for help making the most of your digital signage in 2021.