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Digital Signage for Personalized Guest Engagement: A Step Towards Customized Hospitality
To be successful in the hospitality business, your guests need a unique, memorable and positive experience. Sacrificing service by streamlining operations in a boutique hotel, casual restaurant or other leisure-centric establishment usually results in customers who do not make return visits. One-off visitors are vital but you need them to make return visits and also praise your brand through their social media accounts and personal interactions.
An innovative solution is hospitality digital signage which will change the way staff interact with clients, from the start of their brand experience from end to end. If your establishment(s) is/are ready for to upgrade your hospitality service, you need to read this guide to adding digital signage to your operations and marketing strategy.
The Basics
There are many ways for brands in the hospitality industry to use technology, with innovations in various areas such as digital wayfinding, menu customization and digital signage for Apple TV and other systems. That might be in the lobby of the establishment, offering wayfinding and a directory when customers enter the door. It might be showcasing special deals or promotions or it could be posting schedules for meetings or events. For locations that serve foods and drink, digital signs are an easy and dynamic way to broadcast the current menu.
How to Implement Hospitality Digital Signage
A digital signage system requires a few components: to get it up and running. That includes:
- Media players – this might be a tablet, laptop or small computer.
- Content management system – this allows for designing your displays, and scheduling when content appears.
- Screens – these should be the appropriate size for the area and could be a TV or a touchscreen.
Many online templates are available for the hospitality industry for content creation. They are generally customizable to fit with your current technology solutions or when you are starting from scratch.
Pricing and Return on Investment
Investing in new IT infrastructure is a considerable commitment for many SMEs within the healthcare sector but there is a variety of entry level options for hospitality digital signage that are affordable and scalable. After the initial investment, you can expect some return on investment that make quite worthwhile. Consider the following:
- Improves the perception and recognition of your brand.
- Streamlines communication with your staff members.
- Increases guest spending, based on your promotions and discounts.
- Reduces the cost of paper, ink, manpower and other resources.
Even a single digital sign will give you some return on investment, while also enhancing the customer experience. As the need grows, you can add to your signage without having to spend a lot up front.
Challenges You May Encounter and Their Solutions
Hospitality digital signage has a long list of advantages, but there are some drawbacks to consider as you implement them into your strategy. Potential downtime is the biggest challenge, something you solve by using remote content updating and monitoring. This allows for personalized and relevant content in real time. Another challenge is safety, which you can easily solve by using digital signs to broadcast safety regulations and rules for all visitors and staff to see.
How to Engage Your Guests with Hospitality Digital Signage
Guest engagement is paramount in the hospitality industry, so operations need to maximize customer interaction. For example, in a hotel, you can customize signs to welcome guests by name and with personalized greetings. Signs can also highlight special deals and promotions in restaurants and retail stores. They might be used to advertise a special event or to highlight specific food and drink selections. Such tailored content has been proven to increase sales and customer satisfaction, a win for everyone involved.
How to Choose the Right Digital Signage
It makes sense to research various digital signage tools to find the best match for your brand. The first step is to find a system that is designed with hospitality in mind, so that it integrates with your existing systems and technology. It’s also vital to choose an option that allows for precise customization so that it is relevant to your brand and target audience.
Summary
The future looks bright for hospitality digital signage, with trends and future predictions leaning toward screens that are energy efficient, integration with artificial intelligence for more precise personalization, and merging with the Internet of Things (IoT) for more control over content and displays.
The hospitality industry will benefit from digital signage now and in the future as it becomes more sophisticated and tailored. Get started now to redefine the customer experience with digital signage in your hotel, retail store, restaurant, bar or other business.