How to Upgrade to Digital Lobby Signage for a Modern & Seamless Visitor Experience
For modern lobby signage, it’s time to go digital
Your lobby is the first thing visitors see when they enter your building. From the minute they walk through the door, you have one chance to make a first impression and set expectations. You want to welcome your visitors, tell them where they need to go and let them know about the resources your property offers. Well, digital lobby signage can do all that – and the best part is, it’s easy to implement.
With traditional custom lobby signs, it can take a lot of time and money to change branding, directories and other important information. But if you don’t keep your entrance current, you could be losing out on business. In contrast, digital lobby signage solutions ensure your branding is always current and eye-catching, while saving time and money.
In fact, the right lobby digital signage software gets you up and running with TV screens or monitors you likely already own. It will also enable you to share content that matches your business goals from day one. Plus, with a cloud-based solution, you don’t even have to be on premise to update your content.
So, if you’re ready to upgrade your lobby signage with modern visual content that’s easy to manage, here’s how to get started.
How does digital lobby signage help my business?
Digital lobby displays can help you improve the experience of both visitors and staff. Identify what you want to accomplish with signage for you lobby, then choose content like calendars, wayfinding or directories. Here are just a few benefits of using digital signage in lobbies and reception areas:
Save time keeping information up-to-date
Update digital lobby signs at any time from an online dashboard. You don’t need to be on site or visit a printer. Changes to content will appear instantly. With powerful features like Enplug’s Custom Triggers, you can even set your content to update automatically on specific dates.
Keep visitors interested and engaged
Traditional lobby signs are static, so once a visitor has taken a look, they’re ready to move on. However, digital lobby displays are dynamic, interactive and adaptable. A single lobby screen can show a wide array of content, from web pages to directories to news feeds.
Modernize your lobby
Businesses with a reputation for being modern and tech-savvy tend to be perceived as efficient and effective. Adding digital lobby signs gives your entire space a modern, elegant look that’s also practical.
Enhance the customer/guest experience
In addition to serving necessary functions, digital lobby signage delivers a more seamless experience for your visitors and guests. Digital lobby signs provide not only information they need, but also supplemental information they didn’t think of asking for.
Raise awareness for your business
Whether you share your online reviews or the latest promotions and corporate news, lobby displays can actually help your business – and your tenants – gain exposure. When you use unique content and a persuasive call to action, it’s easy to get people talking about you.
Keep your employees informed
If there’s one thing employees consistently ask for from the organizations they work for, it’s better communication. Digital signage in your lobby makes your most important information clearly visible from the time staff shows up to work. And better yet, it can’t get lost in an inbox.
What lobby display content is right for my business?
Digital lobby displays can be used to communicate with visitors like customers and guests. You can also use them to share information with employees, tenants and staff. Whether your audience visits your location once a day or once a year, there are tons of content options to keep them engaged.
Digital wayfinding helps guests navigate your building
Lobby displays featuring a building map or directory help customers and guests find their way without seeking help at the front desk. It’s particularly helpful for managing foot traffic and streamlining movement from parking structures and entrances. Lobby directory signage is particularly fitting for hotels, commercial real estate and school campuses.
Business reviews build trust and awareness
If it’s the first time a visitor is entering your lobby, a positive review can go a long way. Reviews immediately establish trust and can even promote greater purchase activity. What’s more, when clients see 5-star reviews from sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp, it sets the stage for a positive customer experience. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action to leave new reviews. This will prompt visitors to create their own positive review that will help spread your message even further.
Entertainment & news content makes waiting easier
When is the last time you waited in a lobby without looking down at your smartphone? Digital signage content that’s entertaining doesn’t just give patrons another way to pass the time. Numerous studies have shown that it can also reduce perceived wait time by 35%. Nobody looks forward to waiting in the reception area of a medical office or bank. However, you can improve the experience and even make it useful with relevant content like health advice and financial tips.
Digital concierges enhance the guest experience
More and more hotels are adopting technologies that offer a personalized and on-demand guest experience 24 hours a day. Today, guests expect interactive guides on in-room TVs as well as apps to check in, book a local show or order room service. In the same way, digital signage can function as a digital concierge from the moment your guests arrive, but without an app download. Show your guests maps of local restaurants, shopping and other attractions. Display a local weather feed to help them plan their stay. You can even monetize your signage by working to promote local businesses for a referral fee.
Internal communications content improves employee satisfaction
The office lobby is usually the first area your employees see when they walk into work. This makes digital office lobby signs an ideal internal communications tool. Companies large or small can display news and announcements, employee achievements, KPI dashboards, or company social media feeds. It’s a worthwhile effort, as effective internal communications has proven benefits for employee engagement and productivity.
Where should I place digital signage in my lobby or reception area?
Lobby signage is a common use of digital signage that you’ve likely encountered before. Many different types of establishments use digital lobby signage, including but not limited to:
- Hotels: Digital displays for hospitality in lobbies can welcome guests and visitors by the entrance door, share positive TripAdvisor reviews by the check-in counter and showcase local attractions or tour bookings by the concierge desk.
- Offices: Both small businesses and corporate offices can display welcome screens by the reception desk, offer wayfinding at main entrance points, or share employee accomplishments and anniversaries.
- Schools: Digital signage in a main building lobby keeps both students and visitors informed. A network of lobby screens across campus buildings like auditoriums and libraries, or different departments also keep large campuses connected.
- Medical offices: Medical office lobby signage that displays directories goes a long way in making sure patients get to their appointments on time. Beyond the main lobby, digital signage in seating areas near reception desks keep patients occupied until they’re called to a visiting room.
- Banks: Signage in lobby windows lets passersby know what services to expect when they walk into your bank. Screens in the reception area can keep clients entertained and informed while waiting to speak with a banker.
- Commercial real estate: Digital signage makes it easier to manage commercial real estate spaces. Include a directory by the main door or security desk to improve traffic flow. Share maintenance notices and other tenant or visitor news by lobby elevators and escalators.
- Gyms: Let potential customers know about seasonal promotions with signage near your gym entrance. Use screens by the check-in desk or locker rooms to promote upcoming classes and motivate existing clients prior to a workout.
What do I need to launch digital signs in my lobby?
Launching a digital lobby signage system is easier than you might think. With the right signage solution it doesn’t even require you to have a lot of technical know-how or make a large investment. There are three main components you’ll need to build a digital lobby display system:
Lobby TV displays
The first thing you’ll need to display signage content in your lobby is a TV screen. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find cost-efficient options that fit your budget and don’t sacrifice quality, even if you need multiple screens. Not sure how to go about finding a lobby display? Our guide to choosing the best digital directory display can be applied to lobby displays in general.
Digital signage player
The next item to check off your list is a digital signage player. This small device will create smooth transitions between signage content on any display. Depending on the solution you choose, this hardware may come preloaded with software.
Lobby display software
The right lobby display software will help you get the most out of signage in your building. Look for a signage software that includes apps for custom graphics, automated news, reviews, social media feeds and any other content important for your business. You want your lobby display software to be powerful and secure, but also easy enough for multiple employees to use.
How Rising Realty Partners uses digital signage to improve tenant experience in a historic Los Angeles building
Commercial real estate developer Rising Realty Partners uses Enplug’s software to power digital signage. You can find digital signage in the lobby of PacMutual, a 460,000-square-foot complex of three buildings in downtown Los Angeles.
PacMutual is a historic landmark, but the way it uses digital lobby screens is entirely modern. A digital directory makes it easy for visitors to find the business they’re looking for among many tenants and office floors.
Alongside this digital directory, the company also loops in promotional signs, social media, news and weather. In fact, Rising Realty Partners saw almost immediate results from this new social strategy. Within one week of starting to show their Twitter feed on a lobby screen, relevant tweets grew by 35% as visitors began interacting with their brand.