Gone are the days when retail is a static business; with advancements in technology, it is almost a requirement for retail businesses to adopt a more dynamic approach to survive, let alone thrive. These days, customer experience plays an increasingly important factor in determining how well your store will fare. This is where clever utilisation of modern technologies like digital sign boards could prove to be a game-changer, not just in advertising, but in improving wayfinding and navigation within your retail space.
Learn more: Tips and Tricks for Effective Advertising on Digital Billboards
Strategically Placing Digital Signages
Convenience is key when it comes to user experience, and what better way to showcase that than to provide your customers with all the information they need when they enter your store? Think of digital signages as interactive guides that help shoppers find their way and discover the products they need. Here are some optimal locations to place your digital sign boards:
Entrances
Placing digital signages near entrances is an excellent way to welcome and guide customers as soon as they step inside your store. You can use these screens to showcase current promotions, new arrivals, or store directories. This gives customers a better idea of what to expect.
Intersections
At intersections within your store, digital signages can act as navigational landmarks. They can display maps, highlight key departments, and offer directions to various areas of the store. This works even for small stores with difficult-to-find sections.
Aisle Ends
Placing digital signages at aisle ends helps customers easily identify the contents of each aisle. You can use these screens to display aisle numbers, key product categories, or even real-time offers.
Department Entrances
At department entrances, digital signages can provide an overview of the product range available and any ongoing department-specific promotions.
Dynamic and Interactive Maps
A digital signage system is perhaps best known for its dynamic and interactive features, making it a popular choice for advertisements. The same features can also be used to improve wayfinding and navigation in your store. For instance, you could create interactive maps that can be customised to highlight popular sections, promotions, or new arrivals. Here’s how you can maximise your digital sign board:
Highlight Key Areas
If you have a store that sells a wide range of products, it would be extremely helpful for first-time customers to know exactly where they can find specific items. Use your digital signage maps to highlight key areas in your store, such as electronics, clothing, or groceries.
Update in Real Time
When you have promotions or special events, your digital maps can be updated in real-time to reflect these changes. For instance, you could feature a “Sale of the Day” with an arrow pointing shoppers to the discounted products. This makes it much easier to hold several short events without having to tediously replace physical sign boards.
Department Overviews
Offer an overview of each department by including images or icons that represent the products it contains. This provides a quick reference for customers seeking specific items.
Product Locators and Search Functions
Interactivity is an important part of user experience, and incorporating similar features like product locators and search functions into your digital sign boards is a great way to simplify navigation and make it more efficient. These tools enable shoppers to quickly find specific items within your store, saving time and improving the chances of them buying something. Here’s how these features work:
Product Locators
A product locator is a digital feature that, when prompted by the customer, displays the exact location of a product on a store map. By inputting a product code or scanning a barcode, customers receive step-by-step directions to their desired item.
Search Functions
Digital signages can also be equipped with a search function, much like a search bar on a website. Shoppers can enter a product name or category, and the digital signage will display the relevant aisle and shelf, streamlining the shopping experience.
Multilingual and Accessibility Considerations
Inclusivity is something that is highly valued by the modern crowd, and it also makes sense for businesses to be as inclusive as possible—not only will you stand out as an advocate for a pertinent societal issue; you will also open up your store to a wider demographic, which can only benefit your business further. Here’s how you can utilise a digital signage system to achieve that:
Multilingual Options
Provide customers with the option to select their preferred language on digital signages. This is especially valuable in multicultural countries like Singapore, or places that are frequented by tourists. Shoppers can switch between languages, ensuring they can read and understand the information provided.
Accessibility Features
Consider the needs of all your customers by incorporating accessibility features. This might include text-to-speech functionality for visually impaired shoppers or adjustable font sizes for those with visual challenges. Ensuring that your digital sign boards can be easily read and understood by everyone is a commitment to inclusivity.
For all these initiatives to work, however, you’ll need to select reliable and feature-rich digital signages that can help bring your wayfaring and navigational tools to life. To that end, check out Neosys’ range of high-quality digital sign boards that boast a whole slew of features and functions, from high-definition graphics to cloud content management. Transform your retail space with us today—for more information about our products, please contact us.
