7 Reasons Why You Need Digital Signage for Transit

Effectively incorporating digital signage has been revolutionary in transforming public spaces and improving the user experience. This is perhaps most true when it comes to digital signage for transit.

With hundreds of people gathering in subways, airports, train stations and other mass transportation hubs, digital signs provide an invaluable tool that allows users to stay on time and instantly receive valuable information and notifications. It is one of the most efficient ways to provide real-time mass communications. However, some transportation hubs have yet to adopt this technology or implement it to its full potential.

If you haven’t made the switch yet, here are seven reasons why you need digital signage for transit information purposes:

1. Alleviate perceived wait times

There is nothing that will make a traveler’s blood pressure rise faster than showing up at the airport and seeing a security line that stretches around the entire terminal. Just the visual impact of seeing a long line can begin to heighten frustrations and cause a negative travel experience. This can be bad for employees who have to deal with an angry customer. It can also be bad for business in the long term.  

Digital signage for transit provides a simple solution. By strategically placing signs at specific points along the line, you can notify travelers of perceived wait times. You can also let them know exactly how long they can expect to wait before they arrive at the checkpoint or ticket counter. This information can go a long way to reduce tempers and keep travelers happy.

2. Enhance the travel experience

Traveling can be a fun and enriching experience. But, it can also be full of crowds and plenty of wasted time in lines. Digital signage for transit can not only ease a lot of the common stresses associated with traveling. However, it can also provide a nice, relaxing distraction.

Educational videos about the area and local programming can make wait times pass by faster. They will also help travelers have a more immersive experience as they are moving between destinations. This makes traveling less of a hassle and more a pleasure.

3. Engage passengers with news, weather, or interesting programming

One of the significant aspects of digital signage is that it allows you to create a personalized experience that targets a specific audience. For example, if you know that passengers are on their way to Tampa, Florida, you can stream local news and weather updates, so they can learn more about the city and know what to expect when they arrive.

It can also be exciting and compelling to advertise points of interest worth visiting or even certain restaurants and museums that are popular in the area. This helps local businesses and allows people to have a more authentic experience no matter where they are going.

4. Deliver real-time, location-based information

When traveling, even a five-minute delay can throw an entire itinerary off the rails. That’s why it is essential to stay aware of arrival and departures times, as well as cancellations, delays, and service stoppages. Readily providing this information to travelers in real-time provides a helpful travel tool that can keep them on schedule. It will also allow them to make alternative plans if they run into a problem.

Digital signs can also be used to display Uber and Lyft wait times and pricing. Hotels, restaurants, and bars can place displays in lobbies. These will help passengers avoid pricing surges and know exactly how long it will take them to get to their next destination. It is just another way that businesses can help make travel as hassle-free as possible. Ultimately, digital signage for transit provides a real service. But, it also translates into happier customers who may show their appreciation through loyalty.

5. Improve operations by reducing the workload of employees

Digital signage for transit effectively automates many of the daily customer service tasks that eat up employee’s time. Whether they are helping travelers figure out what gate they need to be at to catch their flight or calling a cab for someone who needs a ride, that time is something that could be better optimized. Digital displays can help travelers find the information they need. This will allow employees to tend to other tasks that better utilize their skills. This will reduce their overall workload and improve job satisfaction.

Additionally, employees won’t have to worry about updating other signs and information throughout the building or space. Static information boards can quickly become outdated and require expensive and time-consuming updates. With digital signage, the content can be programmed and updated with just a few clicks.

The software functionality can also be expanded with the help of widgets that allow real-time information, such as weather updates and ride times, to constantly be updated. Travelers will always have access to the latest information without putting any extra burden on the employees.

6. Help to keep passengers safe

Digital signage for transit can provide information and entertainment, but it can also improve the distribution of emergency messaging. Since the displays can be instantly updated with new content, it makes it easy to deliver messages to crowds if there is a security threat or an emergency. It is the most efficient way to communicate across a large public space quickly.

These announcements can also be used to warn travelers if there was a security problem along their route that may have delayed or canceled transportation. In a world where security threats continue to exist, digital signs can serve an important role in keeping people safe.

7. Provide a “travel guide” through interactive wayfinding kiosks

Strategically placed digital signage for transit can take some of the stress out of navigating a new place and provide fun and informative displays. If travelers are having trouble finding their way through any public space, they will know to be on the lookout for displays.

These can be used to show maps that can be zoomed in or out or simple directions along with travel time to their destination. Cities often include walk times so that travelers can decide whether or not to get a ride. These can provide a virtual tour that guides users through a particular space, giving them fun facts and relevant information.

In this way, the users are actively engaging with the displays and effectively partnering with the technology to enjoy a guided tour.     

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The uses of digital signage for transit are only limited by your imagination. These tools can be fully programmed and automated to display whatever content and advertising you think would be most helpful to the travelers in your area. The many benefits even extend to employees who will find that digital displays serve as a tool that can help with customer service and allow them to concentrate on other areas of their work.

Digital signage for transit allows transportation services to take advantage of available technology and connect with travelers through a medium that everyone is already familiar with using.