Digital Signage For Restaurants, Offices, and Retailers
Worcester | 2020
The old adage is that location in business is everything. However, this is 2020, and everything is virtual nowadays! Therefore, Branding and Return-On-Investment (ROI) takes ranking in today’s business world! Branding is what makes consumers and clients distinguish you from the rest. Businesses want to take advantage of every possible branding opportunity. Also, as a business owner, you want to make sure money you invest into the business earns a return on that investment. Digital signage displays offer businesses just that: branding AND a return on investment!
Digital signage displays provide branding and ROI through both technology and decor functionality. For instance, most people have been to a restaurant or pub that have screens mounted on the wall for sports viewing or to display menu options. It’s also common for medical waiting rooms, dentist offices, and even retailers to hang screens for product information, or simply for providing something to watch while waiting.
So what’s the difference between a TV and digital signage?
- 24/7. Consumer TVs are meant to be watched casually. You can get a TV at any electronics store, and they will suit a given purpose for a short period of time. Eventually, using a consumer TV for commercial purposes will cause burnout. But, digital signage displays are work horses. These displays are engineered to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! What that means is even in off hours, your digital displays can be working overtime to display your logo or branded message. Perhaps the displays can be seen through the windows at night, or maybe they are actually located outside – either way – they’ll be boasting your brand!
- Orientation. Consumer TVs are designed to operate horizontally. Commercial digital signage displays, however, can be operated horizontally or vertically! That opens up a wider range of creative possibilities for both content and mounting location.
- Remote management. Consumer TVs are created for plug-and-play operations and do not often come with outlets for more advanced capabilities. Commercial displays have connectors built in for remote access and troubleshooting.
- Brightness. Consumer TVs are rated for use in the home. The brightness levels are significantly lower than those of commercials displays, whose job it is to prevail through larger spaces, ambient lighting, glare, or even, outdoors! Consumer TVs will burn out quickly if the brightness level is set too high.
- Overall cost. It is true, consumer TVs will present the buyer with an immediate cost savings over commercial displays. However, take into account the usage for the screen and the long-term cost savings. Running a screen for 14 hours a day in a restaurant or office setting will significantly reduce its lifespan. The cost of a repair visit will have to be incurred, or the TV will have to be replaced sooner, not to mention the hassle and inconvenience of having a malfunctioning screen.
Revelation Recommends…
Revelation chooses Vestel as our primary digital signage option. These UHD screens range from 43″ to 98″ – to accommodate any size space, whether it be a small office conference room or a large restaurant environment. They are rated for 24/7 operation, which means your business can promote itself even in the off hours. The displays have no logos and are slim bezel designs, so the branding falls on your business, not the screen manufacturer! The displays have HDMI 2.0 • VGA • USB • RS232 •RJ45 • RJ12 • IR • HP • Audio • Speaker connections. We’ve found that this brand provides the best value for the dollars spent. Also, these screens can be linked together for video wall applications!
Retractable Banners vs. Digital LED Totem Signage
Going back to branding and ROI, think about those retractable banners that seem to pop up in lobbies and retail stores everywhere. They’re great, right? These little portable signs can highlight a product or promotion, and show off your logo nicely, and at very affordable prices! But, how many people are actually taking the moment to stop and read what your sign has to say? Probably not as many as you’d like! An option that you many not even be aware of is the Digital LED Totems! Here’s the breakdown…
- Branding. Retractable banners are nice to display your brand temporarily. They provide static graphics and messages, limited to the size of the banner. Digital LED totems, however, provide an animated display that may include slide shows or video content, limitless. By nature, the digital totem demands more attention by people passing by. The visual impressions are significantly increased by the digital signage, gaining wins for both branding and ROI.
- Mobility. The retractable banners are easily self-contained in their base while not in use, making them highly portable and easily carried to off-site events. The digital LED totems require more effort to transport. They’re heavier, and require a road case to keep them safe. However, in an office or retail setting, where these signs don’t have to be transported, they are easily relocated within the space via their base wheels. They can be shifted from corner to corner, or room to room, easily, without lifting.
- Durability. The retractable banners are meant to be temporary. They lose a little of their structural integrity every time they’re pulled up and lowered down. Environmental factors such as wind and water have enormous effects on the strength of the banner. So, you say the banners stay indoors? What about little fingers touching the banner as children walk by, or somebody spills a drink, or an open window gust of wind causes the banner to topple? The point is, accidents can happen and the banners are essentially fragile. The digital LED totems are more robust. The base is heavy and stable. The sturdy casing protects the LED panels inside, and finger prints can be easily wiped away.
- Production time. Every time you have a new product to highlight, or a new message to share, you have to create a new set of graphics and have them sent off to the printer who creates the banner and ships it back. It takes time. When time is of the essence, or when your messages change frequently, the digital LED totems is at your service! Your new graphics or content can be uploaded to the totem immediately through the use of a mobile app. Further, you don’t have to choose which message you want to display, as your graphics can be on a rotating loop!
- Overall cost. It is true, retractable banners cost less initially. Take into account, however, how many times through the year you have a new product or message, and how many times you would need to purchase a new banner. If your business never changes, you only need one banner, and still remain profitable – that’s great! But, most businesses are constantly changing their products, offerings, menus, sales, and messages to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers. Then consider, if you spend money on static banners that never get noticed, the return on that investment is going to be pretty slim. It’s not enough just to have signage in place – the signage has to work for you!
Revelation Recommends…
Revelation’s choice digital LED totem is one by Theatrixx. The Theatrixx Totem is a standalone, fully autonomous digital signage display. It can be used either has a free-standing structure (with optional locking casters) or installed to a wall or suspended from the ceiling in any orientation. Its direct-view LED display ensures readability even in bright environments, and a strong plexiglass cover protects its surface against long term damage. Each Totem can be connected to WiFi and loaded with new content with just a few clicks. A user-friendly PC application allows the management of your fleet of Totems on a local network, and creating new slides is as easy as designing a PowerPoint slide show.
If you’re interested in having some digital signage displays installed at your workplace, Revelation would love to help! Get in touch with us via email at info@revprod.com, or by phone at 508-797-0253.
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