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Q&A: Digital signage current and future trends part 1

The digital signage industry may seem like a mature industry, but it continues to grow and expand in different ways. Trends are a moving target, especially in a technology industry, so it's important to regularly get some perspective from companies in the field.

September 5, 2017 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

This is part 1 of a series examining digital signage trends from a vendor's perspective.

The digital signage industry may seem like a mature industry, but it continues to grow and expand in different ways. In the past, digital signage was mainly for big deployments, for example, but now even small businesses can jump on board. Innovative formats such as interactive displays, outdoor menu boards, curved displays and others are also continuing to take off in the market.  

Trends are a moving target, especially in a technology industry, so it's important to regularly get some perspective from companies in the field. Digital Signage Today spoke with Nixplay Signage, a digital picture frame company, to get its take on current trends, especially since Nixplay recently entered the digital signage market.

Nixplay saw an opportunity to enter the digital signage market when it learned that many of its customers from small or medium sized companies were using its frames for digital signage. It designed an all-in-one digital signage solution to help meet their needs.

Digital Signage Today interviewed Mark Palfreeman, founder and CEO of Nixplay Signage(pictured below) to get his perspective on current and future trends.

Q: What current trends is your company observing in the digital signage industry?

A:

• The 'democratization' of signage, where digital signage is now for everyone, not just for those with complex messaging requirements who can afford a big integrator or complex system setups.
• Small and medium-sized business owners are poised to source, install and control digital signage
• themselves; without needing integrators, an IT or even marketing department.
• LCD technology remains by far the dominant technology of choice – predominantly because of price, ease of deployment, low maintenance and overall value for money. We foresee that this will remain so at least until there is a massive drop in the price of LED technologies.
• There is rapid up take of digital signage in smaller, independent venues (restaurants and bars),real estate agents and beauty salons.
• There is growing demand for signage in smaller and medium size formats, especially in small stores where wall or counter space is limited.

Q: What do you see as the biggest future trends in the digital signage space?

A:

• Growing demand for digital signage from small and medium-sized businesses that don't have large signage budgets, IT or marketing departments. These owners are increasingly likely to want to order and fulfill their signage requirements completely online without having to speak to a salesperson.
• The entry of media companies as new players in the signage market, offering display with paid advertising content.

Image via Istock.com

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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