Companies are adopting sustainable technologies in their processes to streamline their operations and enhance efficiency.
Digital signage and interactive kiosks are innovative ways for enterprises to improve their marketing initiatives. The digitization initiative will enhance customer service and user experience.
Suppose you’re not very tech-savvy. This digital signage vs kiosk guide will tell you everything you need to know about both these smart tech solutions.
Find out which you should implement at your business venue!
What is Digital Signage?
Digital signage is a display businesses use for marketing and communication purposes. The system will include hardware or software components.
They aim to display messages and content to an audience. Examples of digital signage include smart touch video walls and LED or LCD displays.
The technology is common in restaurants’ menus, showing directions in airports, public marketing displays, and shopping malls.
The digital signage you choose depends on where and how you want to use them. When selecting the best interactive digital signage option for your business needs, you must consider the features.
A digital signage screen is very significant and visible. Consumer grade digital signage is ideal for indoor and outdoor applications.
However, these digital signage screens need a media player. Ensure the player supports the type of media you want to display.
You will also need access to the internet and you will need to make sure the installation includes security features.
You must consider the content you’d like to display when you decide to invest in digital signage: it is an essential feature.
What is an Interactive Kiosk?
It is a digital station used in different sectors for clients’ self-service. Unlike before, when the digital kiosks used keyboards and mouse to operate, the modern options are more interactive.
They utilize a touchscreen and can perform more tasks than a mounted digital signage screen.
In addition, modern interactive kiosks can be used in a variety of different industries.
Digital signage improves businesses, and you can get customized plans from the service provider depending on your needs.
Interactive kiosks can be known as freestanding kiosks or digital standees. Their interactivity makes them very useful.
It is the technology that restaurants use to let customers key in their own orders. In airports and shopping malls, they can be used to provide personalized directions or other specific information.
This tech solution also shortens lines at information desks as customers can pretty much serve themselves.
Kiosks help with e-commerce transactions as well. Customers can make payments for goods or services if there’s a device that can receive payment affixed to the kiosk.
Comparison: Digital Signage vs Traditional Kiosk
Over time, the functionality of interactive kiosks and digital signage have become similar.
Each approach borrowed from the other, and their functions overlapped: The digital signage adopted interactive technology.
At the same time, digital kiosks integrate advertisements into the content they display. Let us look at some common characteristics to know the difference between kiosks and digital signage.
1. Functionality
The primary function of digital signage is to display marketing content or communication messages. On the contrary, interactive digital kiosks do more than display content to printing, reading barcodes, and dispensing products.
However, the functionality of interactive signage and digital kiosks is becoming blurry as the system developers expand the scope of each device.
The user experience of digital kiosks and digital signage increases with interactive features: like touch screens and motion sensors in digital standee.
Also, ensure the digital signage player can play different types of media. Interactive kiosks are ideal for indoors due to their functions.
At the same time, digital signage can be adaptable to indoor or outdoor applications making them functional across different sectors.
You only need to safeguard the digital display and its components against weather elements and secure the location.
2. Placement and Location
Digital displays are versatile depending on the location you can place them. They can fit in an indoor or outdoor environment, especially when you want to project content to a large group.
Digital displays are more versatile in their placement than interactive kiosks.
They can be ideal for public spaces but should place the hardware away from tampering and where it is visible to the public.
On the other hand, interactive kiosks are meant for physical interaction with users and are suited for more secure locations.
Some familiar places to locate them are waiting lobbies, restaurants, and office entrances. For usability, it is essential to place the self-service stations in accessible areas for users.
3. Cost
Digital signage will cost much cheaper than interactive kiosks and are an ideal option when working on a tight budget.
Apart from the initial investment in adopting the technology, the operation cost is minimal as you will not need personnel to man the digital signage.
Interactive digital signage use will be much cheaper for small enterprises and can perform some tasks traditionally for kiosks.
Interactive kiosks are more of a long-term investment than digital signage. You must factor in additional costs like installation and shipping.
A self-service kiosk will require continuous support and maintenance during the initial period of its implementation, which will increase its long-term cost.
Also, the price will change with the features you want and the type of audience you are targeting.
4. User Experience
Making digital signage more interactive will give your business an edge and attract customers. Touch screen signage will appeal to a potential customer.
Their experience with the digital display will be much better if they can get responses after inputting a query.
An advantage of digital signage is that multiple users can use them, unlike kiosks where it allows one user at a time.
However, kiosks support customer service as they function continuously and can update information on the system in real time.
5. Interactivity
Modern digital signage has become significantly more interactive than its predecessors. They include motion sensors and smart touch to integrate interactivity features into traditional marketing tools.
The former feature helps customize the content to display depending on movement. At the same time, a multi-touch kiosk provides a personalized experience. It allows a customer to input queries and receive solutions.
The interactive kiosks offer more interactivity with users: In e-commerce, it enables payments for goods or services. The level you want the customer to interact with will depend on your business needs.
6. Remote Management and Tracking
Operating digital signage and interactive kiosks remotely are essential to avert the costs of going to a physical location to change content.
Still, it is necessary to monitor its performance and functionality. Content management software helps with remote management and tracking for your digital signage.
Selecting a cloud-based system will enable you to change the content on display from a different location to the signage.
Remote management will help in synchronizing several devices. Integrated kiosks have an added advantage as they can offer customer behaviour insights by tracking their activities while using the stations.
7. Flexibility and Customizability
Digital signage and kiosks are customizable to fit your business needs. The flexibility makes them applicable in different industries. Service providers will have a standard plan that you can personalize and integrate into your venture.
Still, you can request the system developer to customize the application to suit your business operations. Knowing the specific needs and gaps the digital solution fills is essential. The experts will conceptualize the idea and actualize it.
8. Scalability
Digital signage is more affordable to scale up than kiosks. Content management software gives you vast space to add displays and operate from a singular platform. It will be cheaper to purchase the screens than to invest in an entire interactive kiosk station.
Besides the investment costs, the management application will have a limit on the number it can host. You will need to spend a lot of money scaling up interactive kiosks rather than digital signage. The former process is more complex than the latter.
9. Installation and Maintenance
Digital signage is easy to install, and it is advisable to purchase many units when setting up. The connections are straightforward to an expert, but you can find most product guides. You will need to identify an ideal place to mount the signage.
Digital signage requires minimal maintenance. On the other hand, kiosks use a more complex network and can be challenging to install if you do not have the right experience.
Professional installers know the steps to follow and will test the systems to determine if they are functioning correctly. Interactive kiosks require frequent maintenance due to their high interactivity.
10. Longevity
Digital signage has a more prolonged service life than digital kiosks. Still, it is essential to use weather-proof components as the hardware is prone to degradation from external factors. Secure the physical location to prevent theft. Contrary to digital signage, a kiosk is more interactive and degrades with continued use.
If unmanned, someone will likely damage and tamper with them. A casing limits unauthorized access and prevents thieves from stealing.
Still, you can add extra digital signage security features to safeguard the technology hardware in your interactive kiosk.
| Digital Signage | Feature | Interactive Kiosks |
|---|---|---|
| Used for advertising and communication | Functionality | Interactive features for self-service |
| Placed in public spaces for the audience. | Placement and Location | Provide support for front desk services. |
| Cheaper than kiosks. | Cost | Will cost more than digital signage |
| Supports multiple users. | User Experience | Supports one user at a time. |
| Modern signage is becoming more interactive. | Interactivity | Kiosks have more interactive features. |
| Cloud-based for remote access. | Remote Management | Accessible through the remote network. |
| Cheaper to scale up. | Scalability | Requires substantial investment to scale up. |
| Easy to install and requires minimal care. | Installation and Maintenance | Installation is complex and requires routine maintenance. |
| Longer service life. | Longevity | Degrade faster than digital signage. |
Rev Interactive as a Digital Signage and Kiosk Provider
Unlike in the past, when digital signage and kiosks were utterly different items, modern technology is merging their functionalities.
The applications operating the systems are similar for both types, with functionalities overlapping.
It is advisable to source versatile management software for your business needs. The ideal platform should include features of digital signage and interactive kiosks.
Interactive technology is taking centre stage in many industries, and it is prudent to invest in high-quality systems. Finding the right service provider in Malaysia will give you an edge over your rivals.
Rev Interactive is a trendsetter in digital solutions for businesses. Our objective is to provide holistic services by integrating interactive technology into digital signage.
You can share your ideas with professionals, and they will help you find a suitable plan. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, we will make the management system more functional and enhance user experience.
Final Word
Interaction with customers is what drives engagement. Whether you end up choosing digital signage or an interactive self-service kiosk, make sure that you do the research first.
Get a consultation today with Rev Interactive!
We love new projects and we would be thrilled to help you find a holistic solution for your business.
