Whenever we talk about digital signage the first thing that strikes our mind is the big LED projectors, hoardings, and electronic banners with colorful texts to advertise the products and services. In brief digital signage has limitless usage in different industries and this technology was first adopted by the airports. Airports obviously are large occupy a great amount of space and have very complicated structures that require big screens and digital displays in almost every corner. This has greatly contributed to the business of the airline industry where the complex work has been simplified. The travel experience has become more enjoyable and manageable at the same time which has facilitated the work of the airline’s staff and passengers’ travel experience.
The implementation of digital signage in the airports has benefitted the lives of both the air staff and passengers. In the following blog, we shall see what is digital signage, what is airport digital signage, ways to keep air passengers engaged with airport digital signs, and usage of airport digital signage.
What is Digital Signage?
Electronic signage, also known as digital signage, uses display technologies to show images, menus, advertisements, messages, and web pages. Businesses use LED lights, LCD screens, and plasma displays to target customers with the help of textual and graphic messages. Businesses use a computer component or player to decode the content for the signage. This enables a visual display on the electronic screen.
Businesses use this digital signage in public spaces such as malls, museums, clubs, churches, retail stores, hospitals, airports, and restaurants. Businesses use it for outdoor advertising, marketing, and for displaying directions or ways in a public space or arena.
Read More: What is Digital Signage? Everything You Need To Know
What is Airport Digital Signage?
Businesses use electronic display screens in Airport Digital Signage to convey crucial announcements and information to travelers. Airport digital signs also serve the purpose of informing or making announcements for the airport staff and other authorities. Businesses use electronic display screens in Airport Digital Signage to convey crucial announcements and information to travelers. This enhances the overall experience of the passengers while navigating an airport and operations. It enables the operations to become smooth and saves a lot of expenses and costs.
The airport’s digital signage may take the form of large video walls, interactive tablets, digital TV screens, touchscreen kiosks, etc.
Ways to Keep Air Passengers Engaged With Digital Signage
The digital technologies used in airports aim to deliver overall customer satisfaction and increase the revenue of the airport industry. These digital signage solutions effectively provide real-time information, personalized services, messaging, etc. Airports prioritize the journey of passengers, taking up the responsibility to manage and plan out every step for the passenger. This encourages overall customer loyalty, a positive travel experience, and a reduction in stress levels, etc. The digital signage solution has revolutionized the whole traveling experience for passengers or customers.
The three ways to keep the air passengers engaged with digital signage are:-
1. Entertainment of Passengers
Whenever a passenger has to catch any domestic or international flight, he or she has to arrive at the airport a few hours in advance to check in luggage. Digital signage can make the process of waiting or queuing up for check-in, waiting at the boarding gate, custom checking, and the waiting time spent at the airport easier. Digital signage enables passengers to use their waiting time effectively by watching interesting content, news, sports, weather reports, and videos of the airport food court or shops available in the airport vicinity. This reduces the waiting time for passengers, keeping them entertained and distracted in case of any flight delays.
There is transition in digital signage in airports taking place continuously that includes explore the implementation of screens as digital art works, creating environments that helps in escaping the airport confined space. Businesses are integrating the displays into the centralized security screening area and departure transit zone for exposure. This has helped to keep the passengers entertained throughout the waiting time. The displays use animation characters, colorful geometric shapes, and beautiful nature scenes or views to grab the attention of the customers.
2. Keeping Passengers Informed
The passengers are usually confused and stressed in a long and complex structure of an airport. They usually cannot find their way and navigating is a very confusing, frustrating and stressful thing to do. Interactive digital signage and wayfinding signage can provide visitors with unambiguous and easy-to-find guidance, facilitating their overall travel experience. They offer a detailed map with step-by-step directions that allow people to find their way out easily.
Apart from guiding the passengers there is security which is a priority for all the airports. The Digital Signage acts as an emergency alert and raises awareness during the alarming situations. A centrally controlled system can display important messages on the digital screens, helping improve any situation through an effective communication process.
3. Keeping Travelers Engaged
Increasing the visual communication within the airports can leave a positive impact on operational functions and flow of passengers through the terminal. This gives a competitive advantage to the airports by enhancing the level of airport visibility for the passengers. The environment in airports is very appropriate for advertising purpose as the passengers have an ample of free time in their hands and they are more likely to make a purchase. The revenue of the airports shops, restaurants and bars can be increased through displaying pre-flight and gate side promotional offers.
Airports can achieve the engagement level through an effective online social media presence. This keeps the user-generated content and content feeds with brand-owned that highly engages people who are waiting at the airport. The airports can create a physical spot for Instagram selfie at the departure spots that shall boost the free marketing and increase customer engagement. These social media sites have millions of users which is considered as the biggest platform today for promotion of brand and marketing. These sites can build trust, generate traffic to airport and engage visitors.
Usage Of Airport Digital Signage
1. Digital Menu Boards
The Digital Menu Boards used in the airports shall make the businesses grow and generate revenue. The digital menus are used for attracting a pool of customers by displaying colorful, enticing and mouthwatering food images and videos. This shall promote the food items and any seasonal or daily offers made on the specific food items or beverages. There is also a touchscreen or scanned digital menus that allows the customers to order quickly without any delay. This has eventually evolved the food businesses in the airports attracting a large number of customers. Digital food menu boards in the airports has benefitted the restaurants as well as the passengers in the airport
2. Schedule and baggage information
The visitors have easy access to flight and baggage information with these digital signage. At the counter from where the person checks in his luggage, there is a digital screen above that displays all the relevant information regarding the flight schedules and statuses at the entrance and in traffic areas in the airport. The digital displays highlight the baggage information. Upon arrival airport, one can get an estimated time of baggage arrival at the carousel. The carousel displays the flight name and number.
3. Wayfinding
The airports are extremely hectic, busy, and large spaces that gets really difficult for the travelers to navigate. For this reason, an airport requires digital wayfinding systems that enable travelers to find their own way and direction. This shall enhance their overall travel experience and satisfaction level. This removes confusion, ambiguity and troubles for the passengers as they can catch the flight on time without missing it. The wayfinding in the airports are kiosks, screens displaying digital maps and digital signs displaying gates and terminals.
4. Internal communications
Airports that utilize digital signage as a means of internal communication can expect employees that be more engaged, more collaborative, and more informed on the job.
The digital screens can be used for demonstrating valuable information to the employees. Internal communication is a very crucial aspect for the smooth functioning of airports. Airports use these digital screens for the communication that takes place amongst the staff or workers in the airport. The important announcements within the airport may include employee recognition, alerts on flight delays or early arrival, any changes in the policies or work procedures, etc. This enables the balance of work-life culture.
5. Streaming video/news updates
Airlines can use airport displays in the waiting areas to stream interesting videos or live news, effectively utilizing passengers’ waiting time. This definitely distracts the minds of the travelers which reduces their stress and frustration at work. This solution goes a long way and improves the overall airport and travel experience for the passenger.
6. Emergency messaging
If there is an emergency-like situation, alerting needs or making announcements for any unidentified object or lost person the digital screens without a doubt serve utmost in making announcements in relation to them. In crowded places like the airports there is always a need for a backup robust plan if anything all of a sudden goes wrong. Putting up an emergency situation like a terrorist attack or natural disaster on digital signage should be a vital part of such an emergency plan. Providing important information about the safety procedures that need to be followed is crucial for staying protected and safe.
7. Advertising
The airports can sell the ad spaces on their digital displays to the bigger companies in order to gain high revenue. Businesses and airports consider these eye-catching digital screens in public spaces like airports as super valuable assets.
