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Digital signage vendors address COVID-19: Visix Q&A

Digital signage vendors are also adjusting their offerings to meet needs such as social distancing and health protocol content distributions. Digital Signage Today spoke with Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager at Visix Inc. to learn how her company is addressing COVID-19 with digital signage.

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August 18, 2020 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

This is part of a series looking at how various digital signage vendors are addressing COVID-19.

Every single business has been affected in various ways by COVID-19. Whether it has had to shut down its locations, reduce the amount of customers served or add new health protocols, it is a major period of adjustment.

Q. What are your customers looking for in digital signage during COVID-19?

A. First and foremost, it's about safety. As employees, students and visitors go back to buildings, our customers want to educate them on COVID-19 policies for that space and remind them about basic precautions like social distancing, washing hands, wiping down surfaces, etc. Also, they may have guidelines from their own facility or local government about masks, reduced room capacities, visitor access, or even things like one-way hallways and stairways. All of that needs to be on digital signs so people know what to expect and how to behave.

In addition to that, they want to reassure and confirm the cultures they've built that may have been disrupted over the past few months. Some staff or students may not have seen their peers for a few months and might feel a bit isolated, so it's good to use screens to show encouragement and typical updates. That way, organizations can establish a feeling of normalcy and community again.

Q. What are the ways you are meeting your customers' needs during this time?

A. We've developed our voice-activated signage solutions as a direct result of COVID-19. We released our Voice Recognizer Widget for AxisTV Signage Suite software in May. It lets customers offer interactivity on any screen or our Touch room signs without people needing to touch screens, so it cuts down on germ transmission as well as improving the audience experience.

Also, since mid-March we've been offering free digital signage messages that people can use with any CMS, but also on intranets, social media and other platforms for remote audiences. There are over 200 designs that cover a wide range of topics — from COVID-19 precautions, to working-from-home tips, to fun and inspirational messages. We've just added 20 designs for places that are reopening and a handy infographic with tips. During this whole situation, we know that people have had more on their minds than creating digital signage content, so we thought we'd take that burden off of them.

Q. What are some of your top COVID-19 solutions?

A. Our Voice Recognizer Widget is definitely our top COVID-19 offering. By letting clients turn any screen into an interactive sign, it takes away the need for touchscreens. Not only does that help customers who are using interactive displays, but it opens up interactive content to everyone using static screens. The addition of touchless interaction with our room signs simply extends hands-free interactivity to collaborative spaces.

Q. How can digital signage encourage social distancing?

A.I always believe that simpler is better — simply put up reminders to practice social distancing. But use some concrete visuals to get the point across. And don't be afraid to have a little fun. One of our free messages shows common items that are six feet long, like a Christmas tree and a cow. The one thing customers may not think about is the variety of situations where distancing is needed. Most of us think about social distancing when we're at the store or standing in a queue, but digital signs can also remind people to distance themselves when seated, in meeting rooms, on elevators, in restrooms — anywhere people gather.

About Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper is the editor of ATM Marketplace and Food Truck Operator. He was previously the editor of Digital Signage Today. His background is in information technology, advertising, and writing.

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