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Looking back: top 5 articles of 2019

2020 is now upon us, which means its time for our annual tradition of looking back at the top stories of 2019. For this story, we will be looking at the top read articles posted in 2019. These articles covered topics ranging from Circle K and H&M's digital signage to future trends.

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December 19, 2019 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

2020 is now upon us, which means its time for our annual tradition of looking back at the top stories of 2019. For this story, we will be looking at the top read articles posted in 2019. These articles covered topics ranging from Target,Circle K and H&M's digital signage tactics to McDonald's outdoor menu boards to future trends.

More specifically, the top articles this year focused on three main topics:

• Indoor hardware and software trends.
• Specific use cases with customer experience technology.
• Future trends for the industry as a whole.

You can read more about these stories below. They are posted in reverse order.

10. Digital signage drives retail sales

Digital signage is quickly becoming more common in retails ranging in size from one location mom and pop stores to massive chains. However, many potential users express doubts on how they can justify the upfront cost of digital signage. How can they measure an ROI with a display?

9. 7-Eleven boosts the customer experience with menu boards

Convenience stores typically have a very transient consumer who is aiming to be in and out of the store as quickly as possible. In order to maximize sales, they need to have an effective advertising strategy to deliver information quickly and effectively to guests. 7-Eleven did this by deploying digital menu boards to directly draw in customers.

8. McDonald's delivers digital signage orchestra

McDonald's is known for many things, such as its Big Mac, McFlurries and fries. It has also gained an unfortunate reputation as of late for its touchscreen kiosks, which were found to be covered with fecal bacteria last year.

So it's not surprising the average customer would not typically associate classical music orchestras with the brand, until now.

7. McDonald's delivers digital signage at the drive thru

McDonald's is no slacker when it comes to innovation. The QSR giant has been at the front lines of technology as it has deployed digital menu boards and self-ordering kiosks to improve the dine-in experience for customers. Now, the QSR is looking to deliver digital signage outdoors as well through digital drive-thru displays.

McDonald's Sweden's drive thrus, which are known as McDrive, account for more than 50% of all of its business. In order to boost these McDrives further, McDonald's Sweden recently partnered with digital signage provider Visual Art to install outdoor drive-thru displays at its locations.

6. Target marketer, digital signage leaders discuss how to use big data without creeping out the customer

In the era of Big Data, retailers are in an arms race to deliver the best experience for customers based on customer data, especially with digital signage. Many companies are looking at using dynamic content, which responds directly to customers' needs. However, there is one big problem when creating dynamic content: how do you avoid creeping out the customer? No one wants to feel watched, after all.

Richard Ventura, VP of sales, NEC Display Solutions, moderated a panel with Joel Allard, senior business partner, Target, Len Dudis, CIO, Grupo Vidanta and Ian Dallimore, director of digital growth at Lamar Advertising at the Digital Signage Expo, held in Las Vegas from March 26 to 29, on this topic.

5. Circle K takes aim at better customer experience with digital signage

Gas stations aren't always known for having the best customer experiences. Most are fairly small establishments that serve a very distracted audience of locals, commuters and travelers. However, technological changes such as electric cars will encourage customers to spend more time in the store as their cars charge. Circle K is aiming to improve the customer experience to prepare for this change.

One way Circle K is transforming the customer experience is through digital signage and menu boards.

4. H&M enhances customer engagement with digital signage

Digital signage isn't just for pushing sales, it's also useful for crafting better customer engagement. By doing this, retailers can improve sales and create more loyal customers.

The most innovative end users understand this principle of customer engagement well, such as H&M, a clothing retailer headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

The retailer has performed a number of innovative deployments, such as an interactive voice mirror in Times Square, New York, deployed through a collaboration with digital signage provider Visual Art, digital experiences provider Ombori and Microsoft. Customers were able to use the mirror to take a selfie and download their own virtual H&M fashion magazine cover by scanning a QR code.

3. Digital signage hardware trends to watch in 2019

Digital signage is consistently improving thanks to hardware that has become thinner and more robust and powerful. It is easy to get lost in all the hype surrounding brighter displays and 8K resolutions, but the real innovation in the space is a focus on truly innovative experiences, which draw in customers and leave a solid impression.

Digital Signage Today spoke with Kevin Christopherson, director of product marketing at NEC Display Solutions to get his take on digital signage hardware trends for 2019.

2. Digital Signage Future Trends report delivers insights for 2019

This story looked back at some of the top predictions for 2019 in the Digital Signage Future Trends Report. Some of its insights included:

• We will see an increasing number of deployments.
• We will be able to more accurately measure the impact of digital signage with better analytics.
• We will have more robust hardware for better solutions.

1.  Looking at the future of indoor digital signage

Digital signage has been rapidly expanding its reach in nearly every market and area, especially indoors. Now, both large and small retailers are using digital signage in greater numbers to advertise, boost branding improve customer experience, according to the Digital Signage Future Trends Report.  It found that two-thirds of retailers surveyed said that improved branding was the greatest benefit of digital signage, followed by improved customer service by 40%.

Nordiska Kompaniet, a retailer in Stockholm, Sweden, for example, deployed digital signage with tanned leather bands around the top and hung those to the wall to create the illusion that the display was hanging by the band. This helped the displays integrate with the retailer's overall sober and high class brand image. 

On a general level, the indoor digital signage space is seeing better displays to improve branding, and better engagement tools to improve the customer experience.

About Bradley Cooper

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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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