8 Winning Digital Signage Trends for 2022

To say 2021 was a rollercoaster would be underselling it. Finding footing amidst the upheaval, a pandemic, and a will they open won’t they open game with schools, has been a challenge. Honestly, if we never hear the term “new normal” again, we’ll be good. We’re done with 2021 and looking forward to what we can expect from 2022. Because it’s coming fast, and we want to be ready for it. So here are the must-watch digital signage trends for 2022.

1. Cloud-based digital signage software

Gone are the days of plugging a flash drive into your screens in order to play content. Now, most digital signage can be controlled through cloud-based applications. We already do this all the time with our homes, from our doorbell to our lights, and the technology is here. Applying it to your digital signage is a no-brainer.

With cloud-based digital signage software, you can design your slides right in the system, control or upload them, and then schedule out your content for every sign you own -- internal and external. You can even schedule multiple signs with identical or different content. It is much faster and easier to control all things in one central location from wherever you are. And being able to schedule ahead means you don’t need to worry about changing the ads after hours and staying late.

2. Live streaming

In 2022, we’re doing it live. The ability to live stream on your digital signage offers up all sorts of applications. No longer is your signage simply an ad board, now you can have celebrity appearances in your store through your signage, or give your customers access to product launches while they are right there ready to purchase. 

Providing these “WOW” moments can give customers a reason to come into your store and to browse while waiting for the event to start. You can even use countdown timers to build up hype for the event. 

3. High definition displays

As technology increases so too should our digital signage. Interior displays should be crisp and clear as people get close to them. Consumers have come to expect a lot as 4K TVs have entered our homes. However, we do not recommend you use a tv out of the store for your digital signage. Consumer TVs are not meant to be on 8+ hours a day, 7 days a week. They will die very quickly if you try this and it will cost you more replacing them in the long run.

Digital signage designed for commercial use has a longer life span and can be made bigger or smaller based on your needs. You do not need the clarity of a 4k tv, but your sign needs to be legible both up close and at a distance so that your customers or employees can see your message no matter where they are in your business.

Outdoor Signage is also getting sharper. Older displays were originally designed for billboards or as simple displays, and they look fine at that distance, but as businesses update old letter signs or vinyl banners into digital signs you need more clarity. You want to ensure that people walking past your business can actually read your message. If you want to keep up with marketing trends and use video or gifs in your ads you need to have a sign that can keep up. Given digital signage, especially outdoor signage can be costly and last up to 10 years, it is worth seeking out a higher definition display to future-proof your business. 

4. Trigger-based personalized content

Imagine if your signage could change to match the people passing your business. Say you have an insurance agency and you sell both car and motorcycle insurance. A camera can detect what sort of traffic is passing your store and play an ad to that particular passerby. When the motorcycle passes, the sign could play an ad for motorcycle insurance. If your shop sells clothes it could switch from a family with kids, to a group of teen girls based on who walks in. This sort of personalized touch can make people feel more engaged with your products and services. 

When your ads provide relevant, real-time value, customers feel more confident and connected. Seeing themselves reflected in your content can increase interest in the products you’re displaying. We’re starting to see this in some areas already, but we expect this digital signage trend to keep growing throughout 2022.

5. Better integration with other platforms

The ability of digital signage to speak with other platforms is a huge bonus. Sometimes you want to hook up your social channels so that people can read what others are saying about you. Sometimes you want to connect to analytics to share dashboards with your employees. 

We expect to see more integrations going forward. This will allow you to get more out of your signs, and to do more with the same displays you already have. 

6. A new life for QR codes

Speaking of integrations, making your digital signage more accessible to your customer’s smart device is often a big win. QR Codes are making a comeback in a big way. For a while, everyone assumed they were dying out. But with the need for touch-free options and social distancing, QR Codes are popping up all over. 

You can add a QR code to your digital signage to connect people with your app, get them connected to your wifi, or send them to your social media. As smartphones quickly read and open QR codes, many consumers are happy to use their phones to engage. And given that QR codes are free to make, there is no reason not to try this trend in your marketing.

7. Solid-state outdoor signage

Okay, we’re going to get a little nerdy with this one. We can’t help it. For a long time technology needed fans to remain cool. But in the last decade, much has changed. Consider your smartphone, it is full of LEDs and is literally a computer in your pocket--and it doesn’t have a single fan, and has minimal wires. Using high-quality parts and modern technology, you can do a lot more with a lot less stuff. 

LED and processing technology have come a long way. You no longer need bulky signs full of extra parts and fans to ensure your sign is cool and running great. This allows the signs to be lighter, thinner, and have fewer points of failure. Fans bring in dust and extra wires mean you have to trace problems through a maze instead of knowing exactly which piece needs fixing. It’s a huge step forward for the quality of outdoor digital signs and we couldn’t be more excited about how it will change what we see going forward.

8. Increased security

As with everything in this digital world we expect to see a focus on security in 2022. The truth is that digital signage is a tempting target for hackers. Preventing malicious actors is something we expect digital signage software to focus on in the coming year and beyond. Keeping your signs safe should be a top priority. We recommend you always turn on two-factor authentication and that you update your password regularly to ensure your account remains safe. 

Want to know more?

Want to know the potential revenue of an outdoor sign for your business? Check out our digital signage ROI calculator.

If you’re looking for more information on digital signage, we’re here to help. Cirrus specializes in content management software and digital signage hardware. Reach out to us through our contact form and our experts can help you with your project.