The first generation of IoT Digital Signage was centered around digitally transforming your business. The second generation goes beyond smart workplaces to leveraging your IoT digital signage for customize marketing, promotions, and communication. Here are just a few ideas you can use for inspiration.
What Is An IoT?
Let’s begin by taking a quick look at what an IoT (Internet of Things) is. An IoT is a strategically designed network for your home, office, or business. For professional purposes, it connects your computers, gadgets, smart office gadgets, and technology.
This has a variety of benefits that span the range of:
- Secure remote login and operation
- Energy efficiency
- Safety monitoring and alerts
- Proactive and real-time maintenance monitoring
- Health, hygiene, and sanitation
- Internal systems and software automation
- Robust data collection and data automation
- Automated, personalized, and optimized communications
- Customized marketing and promotions
- And more!
How The First Generation Of IoT Marketing And Promotion Works?
The first generation of IoT-driven marketing and promotions empowered brands to gather in-depth consumer data points. These data points are leveraged to hyper-target both primary demographics and individual customers. Even identify entirely new consumer niches and niches within existing demographics.
For example, not just targeting moms ages 25 to 35 with children under the age of 5, but moms in this same demographic who love to spend time in nature with their kids. After identifying their love of nature, brands could segment these moms into new email marketing lists with targeted promotions. While first generation tactics are still essential, the second generation of IoT marketing and promotions take things to the next level.
How The Second Generation Of IoT Marketing And Promotions Work?
We’re just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the use cases of the second generation, but there are already some exciting developments!
While the first generation focused on connecting an internal office or place of business, the second generation integrates IoT digital signage and internal and external technologies.
Implementing this advanced technology requires beacons, sensors, and digital displays. Beacon technology refers to small, portable devices that send a radio signal to nearby smartphones and smartwatches. Sensors could sense motion, weather, traffic patterns, and more.
Examples Of How To Utilize IoT For Customized Marketing And Promotions
It’s easier to understand this next generation of IoT with a few examples. The examples below focus on increasing sales, brand, and product awareness across a variety of industries. They do not cover any of the ways IoT signs can be utilized for safety or emergency communications.
#1 Action-Triggered Retail Commercial
Add a beacon, sensor, and signs to an endcap display. When a shopper picks up an item on the endcap, the display changes from the scheduled display—to a commercial of the product that was just picked up. If not a commercial, fun facts, tips, and upsell items for the product.
Or when sensors detect an item in the shopper’s cart, they can push upsell items to the shopper’s smart device on the screens they pass while they continue shopping.
#2 Restaurant Or Retail Inventory Outage
Connect your smart fridge, freezer, or shelves to your IoT. When you run low on or run out of a product, your system will automatically remove the item from your menu. Or it will send an automated alert to the staff so that they can override the menu change or manually make adjustments.
The same concept can be applied to the clothing and retail items displayed on your IoT digital signage. This might mean removing items that are sold out or adding a line to the display informing shoppers that the item can only be purchased online. Or where it’s in stock at the nearest location. Add in-store ordering and delivery to further optimize the shopping experience for products that are running low.
#3 Weather-Inspired Updates
IoTs that connect to local weather sensors can be used to activate automated weather-inspired display changes. This strategy is popular for helping nationwide chains personalize their location-based marketing. But it also has regional and local applications.
For example:
- If it starts snowing a clothing store may automate a display change to boots, coats, hats, and scarves.
- A restaurant may automate a display change to coffee, tea, soup, and other hot items.
- A convenience store may automate a display change to umbrellas when it starts raining.
- If it’s hot and humid you might display sunscreen, portable fans, traditional fans, and AC units.
#5 Individual Preferences Trigger
Your IoT digital signage can also leverage opt-in consumer data. For example, when downloading your brand app, customers automatically opt-in to your IoT marketing—which they can opt-out of at any time. When they walk into the store a personalized greeting will pop up on their smart device. It might include items in their digital shopping cart, wish list, or upsell items for their last purchase. If they want, they can continue to interact with your app as they shop. Even get in-store directions to what they are in-store to find.
#6 Reduced Wait Times
If your retail location has multiple checkout points, such as a department store, you can direct shoppers to the fastest place to checkout. Then direct them via their smart device on how to get there. At the very least, send an alert to employees who have long lines so that they can guide shoppers to shorter lines—or have employees come for mobile checkout.
#7 Voice-Activated Displays
While interactive touchscreen displays are on the rise, there is an increased need for voice-activated displays. Voice activation is a way to personalize communication for those with visual impairment. The displays can speak to blind consumers or send a voice note to their smart device. Voice-activated displays are also ideal for interacting with children or adults who are too short to reach an item on the screen.
In The Market For IoT Digital Signage?
If you are ready to upgrade your IoT with new digital displays, we invite you to reach out to Mega LED Technology. Our signs are custom-built to any square or rectangular size for both interior and exterior placement. Get your free quote today!
