Don’t Make These Digital Signage Mistakes In Your Workplace

Successful companies are using digital signage in a variety of ways, from communicating routine announcements and directing visitors to recognizing top performers.

Like any new technology, however, digital signage is sometimes treated as the next shiny object—organizations are so eager to try it that they don’t always think it through.

If your workplace is considering digital signage or you’re already using it, here are five common mistakes to avoid.

5 Digital Signage Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

1. Not Using Quality Digital Displays

Remember those pixelated signs announcing upcoming holidays at your high school? That’s not a good look for your workplace. Digital signage is often the first impression visitors and prospective employees have of your workplace. A good digital display system starts with a high-definition screen that is sized appropriately for the space where it will reside. Think about how and where you plan to use digital signage solutions before investing in them. Digital signage directing traffic arriving at your corporate campus will need a different size and specifications than an LED screen you plan to mount on your cafeteria wall. Also, consider the digital signage system that will power the screen and the functionality it has. Is it a single screen, or do you have the ability to customize the layout, such as display a scrolling ticker of information at the bottom?

2. Too Much Text

The average passerby will spend just a few seconds glancing at your digital signage. If there’s too much text on the screen, the message won’t register, even if you’re announcing a severe weather event or a nearby road closure.

Don’t try to say too much. Stick with a single, simple message of a few words per frame. You can always add a second frame into the rotation if needed—but don’t overdo it. This is a digital sign, not a PowerPoint presentation.

3. Lack of Visual Elements

Your local church can get away with a plain-text sign because people are expecting it to say something witty or thought-provoking. (“We’re not Dairy Queen, but we have great Sundays!”)

In the workplace, digital signage has to go a bit further to command the attention of busy employees who are rushing through your parking lot or common areas. And the best way to do that is with bold colors or eye-catching graphics.

4. Too Many Distractions

While you don’t want boring digital signage, it is possible to overdo it. A sign that’s too flashy or has too many competing elements will only confuse people. Good digital signage has a clear information hierarchy. The most important elements—in this case, the who, what, where and when—need to be displayed most prominently.

5. A Static Display

The best digital signage in the workplace today has dynamic elements, whether that means movement or interactivity. Again, the features need to fit with the sign’s purpose. If the goal is help employees and visitors find their way around, there’s no reason to invest in digital signage if your only display is a static map. Employees should be able to find (and book) available meeting rooms and potentially even locate colleagues via an employee directory.

Digital Signage & Wayfinding Solutions That Empower Your Workforce

Effective digital signage enhances the employee experience by providing clear communication and direction. Digital signage that integrates with other workplace technology, such as space management software and room reservation software, is even more powerful. iOFFICE Hummingbird is a set of workplace solutions designed to empower the workforce by enabling employees to find people and places, reserve rooms, request service and receive visitors and mail. These solutions offer an employee-facing interface for integrated workplace management systems, enabling employees to access information through mobile apps, desktops or digital signage and wayfinding kiosks.

To learn more about how it works, watch a live demo now.