Smart Сities with Digital Signage as a Trend of our Time

Smart city digital signage is an indispensable solution that paves a way for a brighter urban future. Screens in combination with data ensure sustainable growth. 

$679 billion was spent on smart city projects worldwide in 2020. It is estimated that in 2025 the investments will reach $1123 billion. These figures show that the concept of a smart city takes over the world and that the future is reserved for agglomerations that incorporate technological solutions. 

As the IoT concepts become more prevalent, the need for an organized interconnected network is very relevant. Because in order to function efficiently, cities have to find tools that cut chaos and nurture growth. 

Digital signage for cities is one of the most important parts of urban digitalization. The static signs are obsolete, they are slow, they are costly. Screens provide versatility and flexibility, they are perfectly fit for the rapidly changing world and can adapt to any sudden change. The speed of display technology is very valued as more cities across the globe are implementing smart city digital signage. 

Commute done right

As the cities grow they become sophisticated urban labyrinths where going from point A to point B may take a lot of time. Maps of megacities like London or Tokyo bring more confusion than they bring clarity. In such a complicated city environment it is essential to provide inhabitants with clear and visual wayfinding. 

Displays are suited perfectly for this task. Deployed at the right spots, they have the power to organize people’s commute and provide clarity to the chaotic cityscape. Screens allow city administrations to show directions, broadcast emergency updates, provide instant messages. This feature can help lower the stress levels among the public and positively impact the public transportation system and most importantly win people’s trust. 

Smart city digital signage as a safety tool

The global COVID-19 pandemic had a tragic effect on the way cities operate. As many countries imposed lockdowns, city life as we knew it basically ceased to exist. Instead, the social distancing measures were put in place limiting the person-to-person interaction. Also, this situation has shown the importance of a rapid response in order to tackle the negative pandemic effects and make sure there’s no virus outbreak. 

Digital signage is an ultimate safety solution that helps cities in times when speed matters. Screens allow administrations to react instantly to the challenges and use the visual power of technology to get the message across. Installed at the public places where people are looking, displays and kiosks can ensure that all the security measures are being followed and that the people are safe. 

Great advertising opportunity 

Signage technology is one of the best when it comes to data. As the interaction rates with digital screens are much bigger than the static signs, displays are a perfect advertising tool that the city governments can use to run social campaigns as well as earn through renting space to third-party advertisers. When installed at the right place, digital boards are guaranteed to draw the attention of the right people. 

Also, as we mentioned before, smart city digital signage is very versatile. In practice, that means that one screen can function both as an advertising board and a wayfinding tool at the same time. The thing that matters the most is content. If it’s relevant to the audience then the display would fit seamlessly into the urban environment where it is. If it’s bad then the efficiency of the signage technology is diminished. 

By treating digital signage as an advertising space, cities can save on installation costs by partnering with third parties that can finance the screen deployment. 

Sustainable growth

When done respectfully to the people, technology can improve the quality of life and make the use of city services much better. Digital signage can be the connecting link between people’s smartphones and the city. The governments can use screens to talk to the inhabitants asking for feedback, running interactive questionnaires and making polls to decide various aspects of urban life. 

The display technology has all the potential to be a driver of growth and we see more and more cities around the world making full use of it everyday. It’s time to step into the future and smart cities have digital signage to help with that. 

FAQ

Is hardware needed for smart city digital signage?

There are both hardware and software solutions on the market. As Kitcast is an application, we represent a cloud-based part of the industry, and we stand firmly behind its advantages of flexibility, versatility, and easy deployment.

How can the city control what is shown on the screens?

Digital signage is always about content management. Kitcast offers a state-of-art user panel where you can easily create content you wish to show as well as manage a network of screens.

Is digital signage for cities expensive?

As always with technological solutions, it all depends on the size of the network, the equipment you’re using, and the goals you want to achieve. The good thing is that there are myriads of tools on the market right now that allow you to choose what works best in your particular case.