Digital signage comes in many shapes, sizes, and formats, and each version is best suited for particular use cases. Check out our article below to learn more about the different types of digital signage and how they can be helpful for your business.
What is digital signage?
At its core, digital signage is the use of electronic displays to present multimedia content. This content can include videos, images, animations, or text-based messages that are designed to inform, engage, or influence viewers. A digital signage deployment includes digital signage hardware (a display screen and media player), digital signage software for scheduling and remote management, and the digital signage content itself.
Indoor digital signage
Indoor digital signage appears in locations such as shopping malls, retail stores, corporate lobbies, and entertainment venues. Because these digital displays are situated in controlled environments, they can focus on aesthetic appeal without the added stress of needing to withstand harsh weather or direct sunlight. Common applications include promotional screens, reception area video wall installations, and interactive wayfinding solutions.
Indoor displays are often the first step for businesses exploring digital sign options, thanks to simpler installation requirements and the immediate visual impact they provide to visitors. Many Screenly customers find that these flexible solutions help them communicate more effectively and improve overall customer engagement.
Outdoor digital signage
Outdoor signage is engineered to operate in challenging conditions and must handle variations in temperature, humidity, and sunlight. High bright displays with weatherproof enclosures are used in places like bus stops, highways, and public squares to ensure the content remains visible. Larger-than-life billboards also fall into this category, delivering sweeping advertisements for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Outdoor signage can become a powerful branding tool, especially when paired with a reliable media player and content management system that enables real-time updates. These outdoor digital signage solutions can range from massive LED boards to smaller screens installed in kiosks or on building exteriors, all designed to make a memorable impact on passersby, whether they are walking or driving.
Interactive kiosks and touchscreen displays
Interactive kiosks represent a more hands-on form of digital signage that encourages viewers to become active participants rather than passive onlookers. These kiosks appear in shopping centers for wayfinding, in hospitals for patient check-in, and in airports for self-service ticketing.
The touchscreen element empowers users to explore signage content, search for specific information, or complete transactions on their own, improving satisfaction by reducing wait times. Beyond convenience, interactive digital displays enable businesses and organizations to gather real-time data about customer and user preferences, which in turn helps refine strategies for future messaging. Screenly customers often integrate interactive features with our remote management tools to keep information current and appealing, regardless of whether the display is located indoors or outdoors.
Video walls
Video walls consist of multiple screens arranged to form one large, high-resolution display. They can be configured in standard rectangular layouts or creative mosaic-like shapes. Often found in corporate headquarters, hotel lobbies, or control rooms, a digital sign video wall is intended to make a dramatic visual statement that holds viewers’ attention far longer than a single display might. The sheer size of a video wall allows businesses to showcase branding videos or other multimedia content in a visually striking way.
LED tickers and real-time information displays
LED tickers are narrow, scrolling displays that deliver real-time data such as financial updates, sports scores, or breaking news. They excel in environments where continuously updated information is crucial, including banks, stock exchanges, and corporate offices. Transportation hubs and sports bars also integrate LED tickers to keep visitors informed about schedules, flight information, and live scores.
These displays tend to be attention-grabbing due to the constant motion of the text, making them an effective choice for businesses that rely on immediate updates. With Screenly, these dynamic digital signage installations can be managed centrally, ensuring that fresh details are always delivered to viewers.
Digital menu boards
Digital menu boards are especially popular in quick-service restaurants and casual dining establishments. By replacing traditional static menus with digital sign setups, businesses can effortlessly update prices, change menu items, and promote limited-time offers without incurring printing costs.
Alongside text, these digital menu boards often employ mouth-watering visuals or rotating specials to entice customers. Digital menu boards can integrate nutritional information, tie into online ordering systems, or feature dayparting schedules that switch content based on the time of day. This seamless approach to displaying content is a prime example of how a media player and content management system work together to elevate the customer experience while staying cost-effective.
Corporate communication signage
Many organizations install digital signage throughout their offices for internal communications, turning lobbies, hallways, and break rooms into places for sharing corporate news, announcements, and real-time metrics. Corporate communication signage fosters workplace culture by keeping employees informed and engaged. It also provides a platform to celebrate achievements, announce events, and disseminate emergency alerts.
Interested in aligning your team with corporate communication digital signage? Check out Screenly AlignCentral. By maintaining consistent branding within every digital display, organizations can reinforce their corporate identity while promoting a sense of unity. Screenly’s remote management capabilities help businesses keep these displays fresh and relevant, regardless of how frequently signage content needs updating.
Transportation digital signage
Airports, train stations, and bus terminals rely on digital signage to guide travelers, display timetables, and share gate or platform information. This type of dynamic digital signage improves passenger flow and reduces confusion, especially when schedules change unexpectedly.
Whether it’s a large arrivals and departures board or smaller overhead screens, effective transportation signage plays a key role in delivering timely messages to those on the move. Screenly’s centralized content management system simplifies the process of updating information across multiple displays in real-time, ensuring travelers stay informed at all stages of their journey.
Interactive retail displays
Retailers take customer engagement to another level by implementing interactive displays that allow shoppers to explore products, view additional details, or even visualize how items might look in different settings. In clothing outlets, virtual fitting rooms let customers see how outfits appear without physically trying them on. In electronics shops, interactive product demonstrations compare features side by side. These retail digital signage installations elevate the shopping experience, foster brand loyalty, and enable retail stores to collect valuable data on consumer behavior.
Content strategy for each digital signage type
No matter which category of digital signage a business chooses, an effective content strategy is critical. Some displays are best for quick bursts of information, while others can showcase lengthier video content or interactive elements that invite user participation. It’s vital to rotate signage content frequently and schedule it based on the times of day or unique audience segments you wish to reach.
Get started today with Screenly
If you’re ready to explore digital signage for your organization, sign up for a free trial with Screenly. We do not require a credit card to sign up, and you can test out our digital signage platform right now at no cost.
