How Digital Signage is Transforming Retail: A Beginner’s Guide

With 80% of customers more likely to walk into a store that uses displays, digital signage solutions are slowly becoming the norm in shops. Today’s article is a deep dive into the basics of this technology focusing on the benefits it has for the retail industry.

Keep reading to learn more about:

• How digital signage is transforming the retail sector
• What are the cost considerations for digital signage projects
• How to achieve success with digital signage 
• The benefits of using interactive digital signage 

How Digital Signage is Transforming the Retail Sector

In today’s fast-paced environment, catching and maintaining the attention of any audience can prove challenging. With an average human attention span of 8.25 seconds, it can be quite difficult to attract customers. Luckily, when implemented correctlyright, retail digital signage is an effective tool for enhancing clients’ engagement rate and keeping them longer in the store. 

The Impact of Digital Signage on Retail Businesses

In the retail sector, digital signage goes beyond traditional advertising methods by creating immersive and interactive customer experiences. This powerful tool enhances customer engagement by providing relevant and targeted information, promoting products in an eye-catching manner, and significantly influencing purchasing decisions.

Numerous studies show that digital signage has the unique ability to capture the attention of passersby, encouraging them to enter stores and explore further. Once inside, strategically placed digital screens will guide customers, highlighting promotions, and providing detailed product information, all while creating a seamless shopping experience.

Retailers leveraging this technology can adapt their messaging in real time, responding to stock levels, time of day, or specific customer demographics. This level of flexibility ensures that the content is always relevant and engaging, which is crucial for converting interest into action.

For a real-life application, check out the EPOS case study and learn how they used digital signage and MagicINFO to showcase their products interactively.

Top 3 Benefits of Digital Signage in Retail

Using digital signage in stores can bring many positive changes such as improving the customer experience, and increasing overall sales all while simplifying the store’s advertising strategy. 

1. Improved Customer Experience

Digital signs are used to display eye-catching and engaging content, making shopping an enjoyable experience. It can help customers navigate the store while learning more about products and create an entertaining experience, which helps reduce perceived waiting times.

2. Increased Sales

By promoting products and offers directly at the point of sale, digital signage can significantly influence buying decisions. Dynamic displays can also be used to remind clients of items they might need but have not yet added to their cart.

3. Operational Efficiency

87% of retailers agree digital signage is more effective in creating brand awareness than traditional advertising. Additionally, this technology can streamline operations by displaying queue times, checkout locations and other important store information, enhancing the overall efficiency of retail operations.

The integration of digital signage into the retail environment is not just a trend but it is a strategic move towards creating more engaging, efficient and profitable retail spaces. As technology advances, the potential of digital signage continues to expand, promising even more innovative ways to attract and retain customers.

Discover more about the in-depth benefits of digital signage and Samsung MagicINFO in retail and learn how this technology can transform your business. 

Cost Considerations for Digital Signage

When adopting digital signage, businesses generally must consider several costs: hardware (screens, media players), software (content management systems) and content creation. Hardware costs can vary widely depending on the quality and size of displays. Software expenses involve subscriptions or licences for the digital signage platform. Content creation costs depend on whether the content is produced in-house or outsourced. These components must be evaluated accurately to create a realistic budget.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the potential costs involved in a digital signage project with 5 Samsung screens using a MagicINFO Premium Cloud subscription. For this estimate, we will use the Samsung QB50R 50" 4K Smart Digital Signage as the chosen hardware, which has been identified for its ultra-high-definition resolution and innovative features like UHD upscaling, Dynamic Crystal Color and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, making it an excellent choice for retail environments looking to engage customers with lifelike images and interactive content.

*The cost of a Samsung QB50R 50" 4K Smart Digital Signage display was estimated using the available information online. For a personalised estimation, contact the relevant Samsung subsidiary customer support. 
**The cost of a MagicINFO Cloud Premium subscription was calculated using the pricing available on the MagicInfo Services website. The software costs can vary based on the provider's pricing structure and any potential discounts for multiple screens or long-term contracts. 
***Content creation costs can vary widely depending on whether the content is created in-house or outsourced to professionals. Factors to account for include the complexity of the content, frequency of updates and whether specialised skills (e.g., interactive content design) are required.

Additional Cost Considerations

While most of the available budget will be dedicated to acquiring the right hardware and software as well as creating the content needed, other additional costs need to be taken into account to ensure an accurate budgeting of the actual costs.

Installation and Setup

Depending on the complexity of the setup, professional installation services may be required. These are one-time costs and can also vary depending on how the installation will be performed: on-site or remotely. 

Maintenance and Updates

Ongoing costs for software updates, hardware maintenance or subscription renewals should be budgeted. Also, consider regularly having an external party check the installation for any vulnerabilities and points of improvement. 

Training

Finally, there are also costs associated with training staff to use the digital signage software and hardware effectively. At MagicInfo Services, businesses can choose between Training for Content and Training for IT, allowing us to tailor the training based on in-house needs.

How to Achieve Success with Digital Signage 

Embarking on the digital signage journey is guaranteed to transform retail spaces into dynamic and engaging environments. However, for those new to this technology, the path to success can seem daunting. Understanding how to select the right solutions and implement them effectively is crucial for a successful digital signage strategy.

Choosing the Right Digital Signage Solution

The foundation of a robust digital signage setup lies in selecting the appropriate software and hardware that meet retail needs. The best digital signage software should offer a blend of user-friendliness, flexibility and scalability. For beginners, ease of use is crucial to ensure smooth content management and deployment without requiring in-depth technical expertise.

Selecting the Best Software 

When selecting the software, look for platforms that provide intuitive design and content management tools. These features enable retailers to create, schedule and update content effortlessly. Additionally, software with pre-designed templates can be a significant advantage for those new to digital signage, allowing for professional-looking designs without the need for graphic design skills.

Lost in the sea of endless choices? Try the free 30-day trial and discover Samsung MagicINFO, the most versatile, easy-to-use, secure and customisable software on the market.

A multi-award winner, MagicINFO is a testament to Samsung's dedication and commitment to revolutionising the customer experience for any business from corporations to small and medium enterprises. As mentioned before, MagicINFO is highly versatile, meaning you can opt for 3 different plans, but also choose if you want MagicINFO on-premise via licences or as a cloud solution. Not only that. MagicINFO is a sustainable and energy-efficient option, offering remote control capabilities and automatic on and off switches. Awarded the ISO27001 and ISO27701 certifications, Samsung's digital signage MagicINFO is considered one of the most secure content management systems currently on the market. 

Hardware Considerations

On the hardware front, the choice will depend on the scale and complexity of the digital signage project. Basic setups may only require high-definition screens and a reliable media player capable of running the chosen software. 

Nowadays, it is becoming more common to see the player integrated within the content management system itself, removing the need for external cables that can make the installation look quite messy. For instance, MagicINFO comes integrated with different players, the most popular being S6. Read more about the different player features in this detailed comparison between the S6 and the S10 player. 

For more interactive setups, consider using touchscreens or kiosks. Durability, connectivity options, and display quality are critical factors to consider. Check out the in-depth Samsung digital signage hardware guide and learn about all the different aspects to keep in mind when selecting the hardware. 

Implementation Strategies for Retailers

Digital signage in retail involves careful planning and execution. Below is a quick step-by-step guide outlining the most important steps, from the planning stage to deployment.  

Set the Objectives 

Define what the main goal of implementing digital signage is before moving any further with the project. Whether looking to enhance customer experience, increase sales or improve communication, having clear objectives will set any strategy for success. 

Design the Content Strategy

After thinking of the project objectives, plan the types of content that will be displayed. This could range from promotional messages and product information to interactive content and social media feeds.

Decide on the Best Locations

Conduct a thorough assessment of the retail space available to determine the best locations for the digital signs. Consider factors such as customer flow, visibility and lighting conditions.

Check the Technical Setup in Advance

Choose the right mix of software and hardware based on your needs and budget. Ensure the available infrastructure (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) can support the digital signage network.

Repurpose and Schedule Content

Make the most of the digital signage software to create engaging visuals. Schedule the content to ensure it remains relevant and fresh, aligning with promotions, time of day or specific audience segments.

Test before the Big Launch

Before going live, test the setup to troubleshoot any issues. Once everything is running smoothly, launch the digital signage installation and monitor its performance.

Evaluate the Installation 

Regularly review the impact of your digital signage against the objectives established in the beginning. Gather feedback and use analytics (if available) to refine the overall approach and content over time.

For more detailed advice, download the free ebook on getting started with digital signage and discover more implementation tips and best practices. 

Interactive Digital Signage: Engaging the Modern Consumer 

Interactive digital signage involves more than just showing different content items on the displays. This technology allows people to interact with the screen, offering personalised recommendations, product information, and engaging multimedia content. Using custom-made applications and add-ons will turn any installation into an interactive experience, and take any project to the next level by engaging the modern consumer with creative and immersive shopping experiences. 

Leveraging interactive digital signage can also help improve customer satisfaction by providing useful information and entertainment, resulting in higher conversion rates as customers are more likely to make purchases after engaging with interactive displays. For instance, 40% of customers claim interactive content makes them more likely to buy a certain product.

Additionally, implementing interactive elements into the digital signage installation can help businesses gain insights into customer preferences and behaviour, enabling retailers to further refine their marketing strategies and product offerings.

Conclusion 

Today’s article explored how digital signage is transforming the retail experience. As this technology continues to evolve, its role in transforming the retail industry becomes increasingly indispensable. For those embarking on their digital journey, the key takeaways are: understanding the transformative potential of digital signage, carefully planning the strategy considering all associated costs and embracing the interactive possibilities to fully engage customers.

The future of retail is digital, and with the right approach, retailers can unlock the full potential of digital signage to create captivating, efficient and profitable spaces that stand out in today’s competitive market.