Skykit Digital Signage and Workplace Solutions

When Digital Signage Meets The Internet of Things

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Quantum mechanics say that we, as energetic human beings, are all connected. The Internet of Things (IoT) says that we, as technological human beings, are also all connected.

These connections are about to get a whole lot bigger.

Simply put, The Internet of Things is the idea of connecting any device equipped with an on/off switch to the Internet.

These devices (phones, commercial ovens, restaurant kiosks, digital signs, computers, oil rigs, etc.) communicate with one another, leaving out the middleman and streamlining the entire process.

With broadband Internet becoming more widely available, the cost of connecting is decreasing, and more devices are being created with Wi-Fi ability built right into them.

That includes digital signage.

But why all the connections?

Why do we need our smartphones talking to commercial ovens? To oil rigs in the middle of the ocean? To digital signs smack dab in the center of Times Square?

Because we can.

And because we want to.

And because it’s the way advanced technology is headed.

Let’s look at a handful of industries where digital signage meets IoT, and how it’s changing the face of those industries.

1. In Healthcare

According to a report published at MarketResearch.com, the healthcare Internet of Things market segment is poised to hit $117 billion by 2020.

That’s a lot of moola.

The ways in which IoT will be streamlined in healthcare with digital messaging can’t be counted.

Every day new ideas and concepts are created. And every day, lives are being simplified because of it.

As far as patient care, patient records can talk to digital signs in hospital lobbies so that when a patient comes in for an appointment, they can enter their name or ID number on a welcoming digital screen.

A Wayfinding map can pop up specifically for them, so they can find their destination without getting lost in the many corridors of the hospital.

A patient’s experience can also be more personalized.

With handheld devices talking to monitors talking to computers talking to doctors and nurses, a patient coming in for an extended stay will feel at home when everyone that takes care of them can address them by name without shuffling papers.

Perhaps their favorite TV channels are already programmed for them, and meal preferences already in place with the cafeteria downstairs.

With the touch of a button on an interactive screen, the patient can order their meal without ever calling a nurse.

Digital signage in its many forms can serve the health care industry in ways we haven’t even begun to imagine.

2. In Retail

Retail stores have been gobbling up digital signage and using it in remarkable ways.

From sales to product tracking to interactive customer engagement, handheld devices are large screens are opening doors for retailers everywhere.

Making data collecting more efficient is a goal for many stores.

Retailers can grow more when the information they need is readily available.

IDC, a global marketing firm, analyzes that The Internet of Things would grow by 19% in 2015. Leading this increased demand is digital signage, as retail stores seek new ways to keep their cash registers full.

A great example of this comes from the retail giant, Wal-Mart.

The company is using data to gain customer insight by monitoring social media movement to discover which products and widgets are the most sought after.

They also track weather trends and compare those trends with historical sales periods to determine when to boost prices on popular products.

For example, watermelon sales may go up when the weather hits 80 degrees.

Armed with this knowledge, the retailer can prepare by ordering stock before the trend hits, and then price it accordingly.

3. In Restaurants

The restaurant industry is showing clear initiative in merging digital signage with IoT.

When it comes to inventory and safe food supply, The Food Safety Modernization Act dictates monitoring and record keeping for restaurants and other food suppliers.

To maintain this remotely, refrigerators, ovens, and other temperature gauging equipment are connected wirelessly to report real-time temperatures to management on the other end.

For example, the supervisor of a series of franchises can remotely monitor oven temperatures so cooking remains efficient and product quality is not compromised.

As far as customer integration, ordering kiosks are all the rage right now. From stores like Panera to McDonald’s, ordering from one digital product that speaks to another makes the ordering process faster and easier for both the consumer and the establishment.

Let’s not forget tabletop kiosks. They provide the same level of service as the fast-food kiosks, only you get to sit down when you order.

The kiosks offer a handful of interactive games too, to help pass the time while you wait.

Restaurants also integrate information like weather, demographics, and loyalty data. All of this collected data can determine what the best time is to promote a product and which products to upsell.

4. In Transportation

The transportation industry is in the business of moving things.

From the air and on the ground, people, cargo, merchandise, and other valuable items need to make it from one place to another safely and securely.

Digital signage is contributing to the success of these transports.

Mobile devices like barcode scanners and mobile computers have become a huge contributor to day-to-day operations in the industry.

Many transportation companies are reaching nearly 100% accuracy with shipping and receiving, thanks to these digital devices.

Inventory is also more accurate, and the ordering process from consumers is 30% faster.

As far as the vehicles we drive, digital signage has been playing a role since 2010 when vehicles began to hit car lots equipped with satellite radio, streaming video, and smartphone apps.

Cameras installed on the dashboard of vehicles to aid us in backing up safely were also introduced.

The cameras proved so effective, that The National Highway Safety Transportation Agency (NHTSA) announced that vehicles built from May 1, 2018, need to have one.

Probably the most incredible change for car consumers will be the ability for drivers to change the appearance of their vehicle.

In an unprecedented and highly technological move, Toyota is in the throes of designing a car that will allow owners to change the appearance of the exterior and interior with the touch of a button, just like we do with our mobile devices today.

The car owner will be able to pick the “car top” background, customize the name, and hit enter to see the results.

Wow.

5. In Education

This is a big one, and is truly history in the making.

Schools have been integrating digital signage into their curriculums for some time now.

From Wayfinding maps to class schedules, college campuses all over the world are helping students and faculty manage their days with the help of digital data.

Now things are getting bigger.

School security has been a concern as mass shootings continue to rock campuses everywhere.

To keep students safe, levers or buttons placed strategically throughout the campus can alert authorities and initiate a lockdown.

The lockdown can automate perimeter security, alert special needs students via digital signage, and transmit video from those same monitors to police so intruder activity can be thwarted.

IoT can also make mobile learning a cinch.

Schools and universities are fast adapting to the idea of using IoT to measure and share data, link directly to the curriculum, and create the next wave of learning for incoming students.

It’s a tremendous advancement, as fully integrating to digital content means easier sharing and more collaboration among teachers.

They can also save time, as working on digital displays is faster than writing on a chalkboard or whiteboard.

6. In the Gas and Oil Industry 

The oil and gas industry is no stranger to digital technology. Right now, working to handle refineries remotely from a safe location is a priority.

Monitoring equipment on oil rigs and using data to improve efficiency is a challenge for the industry, but not one that can’t be met.

Rockwell Automation is taking on that challenge.

The industrial automation company wanted to integrate a cloud-based solution that could help the industry track performance, be alerted of any equipment failures, and find innovate solutions to prevent any failures in the future.

They were successful.

With sensor embedded equipment and related applications, Rockwell streamlined an IoT solution and is still working on ways to improve communications with truck drivers, rig workers, and senior management to keep the oil pipeline running.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things is a big deal.

Most likely, bigger than anyone realizes.

And it’s only going to get bigger.

Of all the emerging technological advancements, The Internet of Things is the one that is going to give us the most opportunity over the next 5 years.

And with digital signage evolving every day, there is no question it will prove to be at the forefront of the movement.

How?

Digital signage already interacts with all sorts of other technological devices. The industry, software, and hardware are changing every day.

Before we know it, the world will be streamlined in such a way that the words ‘lack of information’ will be impossible to say.

No worries, though. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

Consider how your industry benefits from IoT now. How is your digital signage integrated? How can it be better integrated?

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