You’re standing in line at your favorite specialty food shop. A screen near the checkout stand displays tips on how to make cheese fondue, then flips over to a local weather and news report, and then subtly suggests that you can pick up a wedge of imported Gruyere cheese at a special promotional price.

Welcome to the new world of digital signage. This dynamic tool opens the way for all retailers, whether grocery stores, banks, convenience stores or restaurants, to interact more effectively with customers and improve the shopping experience, thereby building brand loyalty and driving sales.

What is Digital Signage?

A digital signage in-store network enables retailers to deliver compelling messages via high-quality video monitors to their target audiences—at specific times and specific locations. Content may be designed to entertain, to provide product or service information and helpful tips, or to post local information such as real-time weather, traffic, and news. Digital signage creates a positive in-store environment that makes waiting times seem shorter and encourages customers to stay longer, buy more, and return more often.

Retailers and customers alike are greeting the concept of digital signage with enthusiasm. But many retailers have been cautious about implementing such systems because of technological and operational complexities. Issues such as how to install screens, how to coordinate the storage and distribution of selected content, and how to set up and operate an in-store network have stymied many who otherwise understand the potential benefi ts. But no longer.

Hughes Makes It Easy

Hughes now brings retailers a proven and complete managed digital signage solution that pulls together all the required technologies and services that make it work, on time and on budget. HughesNet Managed Digital Signage is a single-source solution that handles all the technical and operational challenges—from design, through implementation, to day-to-day operation.

“Digital signage is the next big thing that every retailer in the U.S. is interested in,” said Mike Cook, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Hughes North American division. “Hughes has been providing managed services to enterprise customers in the U.S. for more than 20 years, and we are particularly close to the retail sector. We’re excited to provide solutions that make it easy for our customers to capitalize on this new marketing opportunity—without all the headaches. Our managed digital signage service lets retailers focus on their core businesses while we manage their digital signage networks.”

Digital signage is changing the shopping experience. A new world of shopping entertains and informs customers while offering retailers new opportunities to build brand awareness, enhance customer relationships, and drive sales. And makes you want to go home and whip up some cheese fondue.