Innovative Digital Signage Solutions for Post-COVID Social Distancing

Written by Muharani S Ainun | 14-jun-2024

What are the effects of COVID in business environments? Have they completely changed your business roadmap? During the global pandemic, keeping a safe distance from others has become very important for public health. This has changed how people behave and follow safety rules. In this post-COVID time, new digital tools have become helpful for businesses. They help share important information, make sure people follow distance rules and keep customers interested. Using these tools not only follows health rules but also makes the customer experience better.

This article explains how digital tools are being used in a world affected by COVID-19 by using virtual reality and advanced digital signs to help keep people safe and follow health standards. We will also look at how digital signs affect workers in the workplace. They not only help customers but also improve worker engagement and productivity. Learn with us how these digital tools are helping us move towards a safer and more connected world after COVID-19.

 

The Advancing Role of Digital Signage in a Post-COVID World

Adapting to New Consumer Behaviours

Since the pandemic started, the digital sign industry has had to quickly change to match new consumer habits. As more people go out after staying home for a long time, digital-out-of-home (DOOH) ads have become more noticeable and influential. Retailers use technology to track and study how customers react to promotions, making their shopping experiences better. Innovations like adding QR codes to ads and combining digital and physical elements are changing how people interact with brands.

Enhancing Health and Safety Protocols

Digital signs are now essential for keeping health and safety rules in public and workspaces. By connecting with sensors and IP cameras, these signs help enforce social distancing and manage how many people are in a space. This technology also helps share health guidelines instantly and can show calming scenes to improve workplace wellbeing.

Supporting Remote Work and Hybrid Environments

The move to hybrid work setups has led to the use of advanced communication tools. These tools help employees in both remote and office settings to communicate and work together more effectively. Interactive software keeps hybrid workers updated on the latest news and safety rules, making sure they stay connected no matter where they are.

 

Key Applications of Digital Signage in the “New Normal”

Touchless Interactivity and Communication

In the post-COVID world, touchless digital solutions are changing how people interact in public spaces. For instance, Jaguar and the University of Cambridge created predictive touch screens that use gesture-tracking and radio-frequency sensors to detect what a user wants to do without them having to touch the screen. This reduces physical contact and increases safety. Samsung uses LIDAR technology, which utilises laser signals to operate devices without direct touch, ensuring cleanliness in high-contact areas like ATMs and kiosks.

Wayfinding and Information Distribution

Interactive kiosks and digital displays help guide people through complex places like hospitals and government buildings. These tools provide clear directions and information, reducing crowding and helping people keep a safe distance. In banks, digital displays direct customers to where they need to go. It improves customer flow and cutting down wait times by working with queue management systems

Queue Management and Crowd Control

Digital tools also improve how queues are managed. These systems give real-time updates on queue status and wait times, making the customer experience better. In banks, they manage the flow of customers and share important information, ensuring that operations run smoothly and customers are satisfied. During events, digital signage helps direct and inform the public, maintaining order and safety.

Strategic placement of digital signage displays, both outdoor and indoor, is crucial in leveraging your digital signage strategy effectively. More comprehensive guide will walk you through the difficulties of digital signage display placement.

 

Innovations in Digital Signage Technology

Integration with IoT for Smart Navigation

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing how digital displays work by connecting them to their surroundings and users. This means displays can now react to real-time conditions and interact with nearby devices. For example, a digital sign can change its message based on the weather or connect with smartphones to improve customer interaction.

AI and Machine Learning for Personalised Experiences

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are making digital displays smarter and more responsive. These technologies help signs show content that fits the audience's age, interests, and actions in real-time. By analysing large amounts of data, AI can choose the best content to display, making each interaction more relevant and interesting. This not only improves user experience but also increases engagement and effectiveness.

Cloud-based Management for Real-time Updates

Cloud-based systems for digital displays offer great flexibility and scalability. They allow businesses to easily manage and update content on displays around the world. These systems make it possible to update information instantly, which is important for sharing time-sensitive news. Additionally, using cloud technology cuts down the need for a lot of on-site hardware. It makes digital displays more affordable and easier to use.

 

Digital Signage for Employee Engagement and Productivity

Internal Communication and Motivation

Screens in the workplace improve communication by providing real-time updates and company news, ensuring all employees stay informed and engaged. By highlighting achievements like employee of the month, these displays create a culture of appreciation, boosting team morale and motivation.

Training and Development

Using screens for training changes traditional learning methods by offering interactive and visually appealing content that helps employees retain information better. These displays can include videos and animations, making complex ideas easier to understand and more interesting for employees. Additionally, the flexibility of screens supports self-paced learning. It helps  different learning styles within the workforce.

Health and Wellness Initiatives

Screens promote employee wellness by showing health tips and reminders to encourage  a culture of well-being. Organisations can use these displays to communicate important health observances and tailor messages to specific health campaigns, enhancing employee engagement and promoting proactive health management.

 

Conclusion

In a post-COVID world, businesses use advanced tools like touchless interactions, AI-powered personalisation, and cloud-based management. These tools help them follow health guidelines and set new standards for customer engagement and employee wellness. These advancements are important not just for immediate pandemic responses but indicate an essential shift towards more dynamic and connected ways of communication and interaction in public spaces and workplaces.


Looking ahead, the potential for further innovations in display technologies is enormous. These technologies will continue to influence how we move through public spaces, receive information, and connect with each other. Businesses and organisations should keep exploring these tools, considering the changing needs and behaviours of customers and employees in a digital-first world.