Software

Webinar addresses emerging, existing technologies

It's no surprise that COVID-19 has had a big impact on both how we do business and the types of technologies we are using. However, as we emerge from COVID-19, companies will have to address what technologies are the best to use. A webinar looked at some of these emerging technologies and which ones are worth the hype.

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April 30, 2021 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

It's no surprise that COVID-19 has had a big impact on both how we do business and the types of technologies we are using. This has also impacted digital signage and how companies are using it. However, as we emerge from COVID-19, companies will have to address what technologies are the best to use.

A webinar entitled, "Existing and emerging digital signage technologies you should be leveraging today," hosted by Digital Signage Today and sponsored by Omnivex looked at some of these emerging technologies.

Bradley Cooper, editor of Digital Signage Today, moderated the panel discussion with Doug Bannister, founder and CTO of Omnivex, which discussed how to determine which emerging technologies such as touchless, AI, Internet of Things and others will have the biggest impact on businesses in the coming years.

To start with, Bannister addressed how work schedules have changed and will continue to change after COVID. He said we are in a "hybrid state" where some places have gone back to business as usual, whereas others are still struggling, but there is a "light at the end of the tunnel" when it comes to COVID.

However, even after COVID, Bannister said that a survey found that 56% of workers want a flexible work arrangement to work from home. Other finds include: 44% want to be in the office all the time, while 12% want to be at home all time, but at least 56% want to work from home at least a few days a week.

"These results indicate we will have a whole gradient of people, some working at home, some working at the office," Bannister said.

As a result of this trend, companies need to learn how to utilize and share data effectively, according to Bannister. Many technologies have risen to the surface to address this need, especially conferencing tools. Bannister said if COVID had hit 10 years ago, before conferencing tools had taken off, "we would have been in a much worse place."

Some conferencing tools can help facilitate these hybrid workspaces, such as by adding a screen that shows who is available and who isn't, Bannister said.

On the consumer side, QR codes are also becoming increasingly common as they allow customers to touchlessly interact with a display, menu or other things.

Bannister also addressed artificial intelligence and how it will prove even more disruptive than other technologies.

Bannister said AI will impact the bottom line three times more than the Internet did. At the same time, companies need to realize that not everyone is using AI yet, but those that do will see big improvements in their top and bottom lines.

However, there are several dangerous pitfalls with AI. For one, AI cannot succeed if it doesn't have leadership buy-in or if only the technology teams are leading the initiatives. Instead, companies should partner for "capability and capacity."

Bannister also addressed other technologies during the webinar, including:

Low-code apps.
Interactive solutions.
Internet of Things sensors.

In order to use these technologies effectively in this current era, Bannister gave several post COVID-19 lessons to keep in mind. These include:

Change is continuous.
Embrace engagement.
Combine data intelligence with human intelligence.
Transparency as a rule.
Real before aspirational.

In addition, Bannister said to remember to not let technology choices drive your business requirements but rather to let your requirements drive your technology choices.

To learn more about emerging technologies post-COVID, click here to listen to the free webinar.

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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