Will 2012 finally be the year for digital-signage-in-a-box?

Will 2012 finally be the year for digital-signage-in-a-box?
Tags: Assisted Selling, Assisted Selling/Point-of-Decision, Digital Merchandising, DOOH Advertising, Hardware, Software
January 9, 2012 - Don Pierson

For a couple of years now I've been hearing about "digital signage in a box." In other words, an everything-in-one digital signage solution that a neophyte could buy and have up and running in hours. Not only have I been hearing about it, we've even been approached on a few occasions about being part of such a solution — and were very receptive quite frankly — but in the end these initiatives never went anywhere, at least not yet.

Why is that? It seems like such an obvious opportunity. Small businesses everywhere are waking up to the promise of digital signage. They see it becoming ever more pervasive, and they immediately get what it can do for them. At the very least it helps them communicate better with their customers, helps them come across as more substantial and progressive, and integration with other kinds of marketing such as mobile and social can really change how they market their business. I hear often from long-time players in the digital signage space that they want to go "down market" because that's where they see the biggest growth.

The distribution channel even seems ready made: Best Buy, OfficeMax, Office Depot ... Why not Costco and Sam's Club? What about traditional sign companies that increasingly are being asked by their customers about digital signage, even as they see their traditional business relentlessly shrinking away? All of these seem obvious places for the bar owner, the salon, the small restaurateur to look when they're ready to dip their toe in the water for the first time.

Is it because we're making it too complicated? Vendors often seem to make that mistake, forgetting that no one really cares about the technical challenges we've surmounted to build this industry — they just want to deliver a compelling, interesting and effective message at the right place and the right time.

Whatever the reasons, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this year someone will pull this off and launch a successful digital-signage-in-a-box solution. It can be done. And when it is I think it will have a profound and far-reaching impact on our industry.

Reader Comments

Keith Kelsen

about 4 months ago

Digital Sign in A box- MediaTile 2003. All on complete unit. Cellular.WiFi.Ethernet. With content templates. - Keith Kelsen, Founder
Mike Schoeneman

about 4 months ago

I made a comment similar to this. Agree Completely! I've been in the sign industry for almost 15 years and it all going to the in-a-box method. Sadly, the companies that will strive in this field will be the ones producing everything in China and importing them. Soon we will see ads for "Three sided kiosks only $399.00!" - Michael Schoeneman www.michaelschoeneman.com
David Vogel

about 4 months ago

I have seen some products that offer this like AllSee Technologies displays that have media players built into them and come with free software. My company, Signpost Digital, specializes in affordable, easy-to-use solutions for small business. They do exist but still require an integrator like myself to help guide them through all the choices that exist in the digital signage market.