Why Is The Right Music Important In A Spa?

The perfect music can induce a feeling of calmness.

Spas are the places where an individual seeks maximum relaxation and comfort. It is essential to create an environment in a spa that promotes the healing of the soul, mind, body and spirit, as well as the release of muscle soreness.

The body is driven to obtain a sense of calmness with proper tones, music, rhythm, and background music for spa, and that is why the right music is extremely important to improve the consumer experience in a spa!

Not only in spa treatments, but the right music also enriches the spiritual zone during Yoga. It adds to the inward calm that is achieved by Yoga asanas. The breathing in time with entrancing music and the movements cadenced by the relaxing sound creates a sense of extreme relaxation.

What Is The Purpose Of Music In A Spa?

Making an excellent choice of background music for a spa will help you to successfully excite your guests’ senses, allowing them to unconsciously experience the comfort and tranquillity that your Spa offers.

1. Creates the right atmosphere

The best background music for a spa can help the person relax, which involves the production of endorphins hormones that give the feeling of well-being. It creates the ideal atmosphere for relaxation, one that a customer expects from a spa.

2. Creates a calming environment

Ambient music has been shown to aid in the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate. The right background music for a spa creates a soothing and relaxing atmosphere that instantly eases the customer and provides a sense of calmness.

3. Enhances and complements the treatments offered

The background music for a spa is crucial since it controls all the customer’s senses. This helps in conjunction with other therapies and treatments the client is undergoing. It adds to the feeling of calmness and relaxation providing better results.

Types Of Music That Are Suitable In Spas

The peaceful and soothing background music for a spa is a favourite of many spa therapists. The music induces a meditative state of complete tranquillity, with tones that nourish a sense of joy and liberation in your mind, body, and spirit.

1. Genres that work best in a spa

The only goal of a spa is to provide relaxation, and the background music for the spa must be relaxing for that. Relaxing music in a classic salon or spa is usually lo-fi. Ambient music, booming waves, and pounding rain are among the sounds heard in certain spa music. Tunes from Indian Folk, Native American, Chinese, or Japanese music on acoustic instruments can also be included in background music for the spa.

2. Genres specific to treatments

Each of the treatments offered at the spa needs different kinds of background music for the spa. One kind of music will not work for all treatments like Swedish, Thai, Ayurveda, Yoga, etc. Research or take the help of professionals and choose the music genre specific to the treatment to ensure customer satisfaction.

3. Music with the right mood

Every spa has a different vibe, and it will need different background music. The music in your spa should be in accordance with the calming mood and should help the person come out of the stress and offer them a soothing feeling.

4. Music with the right tempo

To create a relaxing atmosphere in the spa, it is crucial to have a pleasant tempo. The tempo should be loud enough that people can talk comfortably without the voices of music prevailing.

How To Choose The Right Type Of Music For Your Spa

While there can be various styles of background music for spa, all of them can be ascribed to one type of music: relaxing music, which has many benefits.

1. Research genres that match the treatments offered.

Make the background music for the spa more personalised. Research specific genres of music that are in sync with the treatments selected by the client. This will help in the enhancement of the effects of treatment and create a more relaxing and soothing environment.

2. What kind of music do your customers expect with their treatments?

It is important to consider your clientele’s age and demographic while deciding the right background music for your spa. Inquire about your clients’ favourite music, take a survey, understand what type of music they prefer to listen to. This can help you gain a better knowledge of their musical preferences.

3. What moods and tempos provide the most relaxing and calming atmosphere?

Choose the background music for a spa that matches the right mood and tempo you are attempting to create in your spa. The exact rhythm with the right tempo can create a much better and calmer atmosphere that helps customers relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

What Are The Benefits of Music In Spa?

Music can be really beneficial for your customers, especially when they are relaxing during their massage therapy. One of the proven benefits of background music for a spa is improved client wellness. Music helps your customers get into the right state of mind while relaxing. When customers are relaxed during the session, they are more likely to return to your facility and also recommend their family & friends. A relaxed and satisfactory client is enough to accelerate your growth by bringing in more customer referrals.

What Alenka Media Can Do To Help You Play The Right Music In Your Spa?

Most people head to the spa with a very clear objective: to relax and rejuvenate. When they are relaxed and satisfied, they will love to come again with the thought of benefitting from your spa. Choosing the right music for your spa can do wonders in delivering exceptional customer results. However, there are different types of background music for a spa, making it tough to choose the right music for your spa.

At Alenka Media, we have a large selection of the best background music, specifically curated for spas. We offer multiple choices of genres and styles to customers and provide a simple solution to create the most soothing atmosphere. We strive to provide a cost-effective solution to spas with customised music for different treatment types and rooms.

10 Benefits of Digital Signage

Digital signage is a combination of physical and digital spheres as it is broadcasted through physical devices like small interactive kiosks to large display screens in different locations and displays digital content like graphics, videos, and interactive content. It is an important messaging medium that brings renewed vigour to any commercial environment. It catches the attention of customers and improves their experience. It can be used to provide a wide range of quantitative and qualitative benefits to different sectors like food service, retail, health sector, banks, hospitality sector, schools & other government and corporate establishments. 

Digital signage can be used to inform, educate and communicate effectively with your audience and target consumers. Let us look into some of the benefits of digital signage in today’s scenario. 

  1. Increased Audience Exposure

Placing digital signs in high-volume areas guarantees you an unlimited audience exposure compared to print media or even email targeting. You can choose the timings, locations, and the frequency of messages which increase in reaching a larger audience. Multiple contents like animation, videos, alerts, and announcements can be displayed through a variety of mediums like monitors, tablets, touchscreens, room signs, or large video walls. These are dynamic content that engages the audience better than static content. Digital signage imparts a rich and interactive experience that has a favorable impact on the audience. 

  1. Accurate Targeting 

Digital signage is controlled by a central system that can distribute content to any number of screens. You can target different audience sets through multiple channels from a single computer. You can match the specific content with the potential customers and demographics. You can use dedicated playlists to localize content that lets you display relevant content to the audience. 

  1. Automated Content Scheduling for Specific Times

One of the useful benefits of digital signage is its automated scheduling function. You can set it to play the scheduled content at specific times of the day. E.g., a diner or food chain can automatically schedule the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu at the appropriate times. This ensures that relevant content is displayed to the audience. 

  1. Consistency in Messaging 

Digital signage lets you manage screens in different locations from the same platform. This ensures consistency in messaging and compliance. This is especially useful in the case of an organization having multiple locations where a single message can be displayed at the same time ensuring all the employees are getting the same information even if they are working in separate geographical locations.

  1. Decreased Perceived Waiting Period

Another benefit of digital signage is that it reduces perceived wait times which leads to less consumer dissatisfaction. Digital signage provides entertainment through its display screens that include audio, video, and animation content. Consumers get distracted as the content occupies their mind thus reducing perceived wait times by up to 35%. That means a consumer waiting for 30 minutes will perceive that they waited for only about 20 minutes. 

  1. Easy Navigability and Wayfinding

Digital signage is used for navigation and digital wayfinding displays. It helps guide customers and visitors who are new to public or business places. These may include hospitals, malls, and public places like bus and railway stations. Customers can easily find their way, thus saving time and getting an enriched customer experience. 

  1. Versatile and Easily Modified 

Digital signage has more versatility than other mediums of communication. You can easily change and update content and messages from a central platform. Audience engagement can be easily gauged by testing their reactions to different messages and thus tailored content can be created for them. If an item is sold out or has become available again in a store, it can be quickly updated and displayed.

  1. Reduced Operating and Printing Expenditure

The benefits of digital signage also include saving money by reducing operating and printing costs. Replacing print communications with digital signage leads to the elimination of expenses on ink, paper, and recycling. Fewer people are required to manage digital signage solutions compared to print communications which lead to lower operating costs. This includes employing resources on regular hanging and then pulling and disposing of printed material. Digital signage is a one-time investment while printing materials are an ongoing expense. 

  1. Digital Signage is Sustainable 

Digital signage is sustainable than print communications. Printing materials like posters and brochures litter and pollute the environment. Around 9 trees and 13,000 liters of water are required to produce 500 kgs of paper. Substituting paper communication with digital signage contributes towards the environmental conversation. Digital signage also lights up and beautifies the surroundings.  

  1. Digital Signage Leads to Higher Profits

Digital signage may lead to increased revenues and profits for your business. The messages and advertisements broadcasted through digital signage are very engaging and impactful and create a favorable view of your products and services. This leads to increased sales and higher revenue for the business. Another way to increase revenue is by lending your digital advertising space to other non-competing businesses during your slump or off hours. This way you get extra revenue and if the location of your digital signage space experiences higher footfalls, you can quote higher rates and increase the revenue further. 

Conclusion

So, these are some of the benefits of digital signage. Digital signage is a dynamic medium with a big edge over the traditional static modes of communication. Use it to reach a wider audience, increase efficiency, reduce costs and grow your business. 

How In-store Audio Messaging can Help Ease Customers Back into the Retail Environment

Nearly 2 years into the corona pandemic we are slowly limping back to normalcy. Cafes and restaurants are back in business, movie theatres are reopening and malls are witnessing customers again. But with the regained freedom of movement and social interaction, there is a feeling of apprehension too. These feelings are more pronounced in the case of establishments that record greater footfalls, like malls and retail stores. Most of us are still not sure of what to do, like social minimum distancing, and what to touch. In-store audio messaging can help a great deal in easing the customers into the ‘new normal’ retail environment. So, what are the benefits of in-store background messaging in helping retail customers in a mid and post-pandemic world? 

How In-store Audio Messaging can Help Retailers and Customers

The In-Store audio service can help retailers reopen to the public by airing clear and direct communication in real-time to the audience. In-store background messaging is the primary mean of communication in the store. It is a versatile and easily adaptable medium. The messages and announcements relayed through it reach everybody in the store including staff and customers. They can inform them of the new safety regulations in the store and also assist in creating a welcoming and relaxed environment. 

Ways in which Audio-Messaging in Retail Stores Helps Retailers and Customers

What are the benefits of in-store background messaging? Let’s look into some ways in-store background messaging helps all the stakeholders. 

  • Through Background Music

Music is a universal language. It inspires and moves people and can be used to convey various moods and emotions. Music helped a lot of people during the pandemic phase. People were cooped inside with so many doubts and fears. Music helped them cope with the situation and lift their spirits. Playing the right background music in retail stores will create a relaxed and reassuring atmosphere. It will set the right mood and help relieve the tension and induce customers to spend more time in the stores. More time spent browsing leads to more sales, which is a win-win proposition for both customers and retailers. 

  • Through Messages & Announcements

In-store background messaging is the backbone on which retailers can build their businesses back to former levels. Create and relay regular, effective, and timely messages and announcements aimed at both staff and customers. Inform customers of the steps undertaken for their safety and security and what instructions they need to follow for their protection. Instruct staff members on the rules and regulations and remind them regularly of preventive steps like sanitization, compliance of wearing masks, and required distance to be maintained by all. 

Let’s look into how in-store messaging should be directed specifically at customers and staff members.

  1. In-store Audio Messaging Directed at Customers

In-store messaging should reassure customers and maintain a welcoming environment for shopping. For this purpose, the messages should be formulated in the following two ways. 

  • Informative Messages

Customers should be informed about the measures taken by the retailers for the safety of the premises and the protection of customers. These include mentioning safety devices & personnel and protection and preventive measures like regular sanitation and compulsory compliance procedures like wearing a mask at all times. 

Inform consumers about the additional services provided by the stores for a safe shopping experience. These include options such as home delivery, online shopping, cashless payments, etc. 

  • Emotional Messages

Emotional messages create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for the consumers. These messages connect emotionally with the customers and they form a personal connection with the brand and view it favourably. 

The messages should include sentences like ‘welcome back’ and ‘thank you for returning’. 

Apology messages for minor hassles due to safety measures like forming of queues, social distancing measures, and limited availability of certain items like sanitizers, etc. 

  1. In-store Audio Messages Directed at Staff Members

Message staff members at opening and closing times to maintain discipline and a calm and welcoming environment.

Regular messages about the guidelines and protocols to be followed at all times by the employees.

Information about the measures undertaken by the stores which ensure staff wellbeing and safety within the store premises. 

CONCLUSION

What are the benefits of in-store background messaging in helping retailers and customers in today’s scenario? Correctly formulated and targeted audio messages help convey the necessary information which reassures visiting customers. This helps customers transition back to the shopping environment in a better way by lowering stress levels generated due to still lingering pandemic-related fears. This in turn induces customers to shop more with increased footfalls which translates into higher revenue generation and more profits for the retailers. 

6 Benefits of Digital Signage for Restaurants

Restaurants and food chains have welcomed and embraced digital signage. It has become a necessary part of restaurant displays, taking over traditional menu cards. Digital signage is aesthetically appealing and with its bright displays of delicious food items it’s also more attractive to customers.

1. Digital Signage for Restaurants Increases Visibility and Makes Communication Easier

Digital signage grabs attention easily with colorful animations, videos and entertaining content. These are eye catching and increase visibility. Restaurants can share images of dishes outside the restaurant premises to attract passersby.

By displaying the menu on signage boards along with other details like pricing or vacant tables, you can make communication easier between customers and the staff members. You can also highlight the day’s specials and other menu items that may influence the customer’s choices of food items. Waiters and other service personnel can also be notified of orders from the kitchen, reducing the waiting time to serve customers and increasing efficiency.

2. Save Time & Money Through Easy Display Updating

Save time and money by adopting digital signage for restaurants. Digital signage can be easily and quickly updated. By using digital signage, you don’t require printed menu cards for displaying new introduced dishes. It saves both time and the money spent on printing costs.

3. Increase Sales and Promote and Upsell New Menu Items

Digital signage is an easy and low cost way to promote new menu items. It helps makes newly introduced dishes popular in a short amount of time. More orders mean more sales. Surveys show that digital signage has boosted restaurant sales by nearly 23 percent. You can also upsell to the customers by displaying desserts or other specials and offering discounts on buying food items together.

4. Reduced Wait Times and Ordering Period

Digital signage for restaurants helps the customers decide on the menu earlier. Since the menu is already on the digital board accompanied with the images and videos of the dishes, it becomes easy for a diner to decide on what to eat. This saves time and makes more space available for waiting customers.

Waiting customers on the other hand can be entertained through digital signage devices. Play engaging content and videos in the waiting area to keep customers engrossed. You can use digital signage displays as gaming consoles too. By pairing up with mobile devices through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, waiting customers can play games on these devices. All these steps reduce perceived waiting time for customers.

5. Display Calorie Content and Reviews and Ratings

You can assist calorie conscious customers make better choices by displaying the calorie content of the food items featured. Your customers will appreciate this gesture and you get free word of mouth publicity and returning business too.

Continuing on the free publicity thread, you can also feature good reviews and ratings given by your customers on signage boards. You can collate positive reviews from review sites like Yelp! and other social media sites and display them on your screens.

6. Ease of Dayparting

Digital signage for restaurants can help you schedule menus for different times of day easily. You need not manually replace the menu cards from each table three times a day. You can schedule different menus that will automatically display at the requisite time. You can concentrate on your customers and on other necessary activities instead of fretting over replacing menu cards every few hours.

CONCLUSION

So, these are some of the advantages of having digital signage for restaurants. You connect visually with your patrons and focus more on customer service. Use digital signage solutions for delivering a great dining experience to your customers and increase profit margins in the process.

Why Digital Signage for Retail Stores Is Must In 2023

During the pandemic, people started preferring to shop from the security of their homes, avoiding having to leave their homes. But with customers venturing out now, retailers are using innovative technologies like interactive digital signage displays to provide an enriching experience and encourage them back into stores. Digital signage in recent years has become essential to the working of retail stores and marts. It appeals to the customers and improves the instore marketing experience.

1. For Advertising, Launching and Promoting Products and General Announcements

Digital signage works as a marketing channel and keeps customers informed and updated on the launch of new products, their promotion and offers on them. It can also display the availability of a particular product and if it’s out of stock. That’s better than having to post staff members at various aisles and risk breaking social distancing norms.

2. Improving Communication with Customers

Digital signage for retail stores helps improve communication and the instore customer experience. It can be used to guide customers through product aisles and at the same time display the list of product catalogues. Digital signage can also be used to inform customers about occupancy levels at different aisles for managing the flow of customers. It will reduce overcrowding in aisles that is so necessary to maintain social distancing.

3. Support Staff through Interactive Digital Displays

Interactive digital signage can engage customers and provide necessary information at the touch of a finger tip or through voice commands. Digital signage can be set up so that it provides general answers about a product or brand to customers. For specialized information, it can connect to a staff member. In this way, digital signage provides a virtual satisfying customer experience without any face to face interaction. It saves on staff resources as well as helping with social distancing.

4. Educate the Customers and Generate Revenue

Continuing on the above theme, digital signage for retail stores can display videos and instructions on how to operate a product or make the best use of it. It incentivizes customers to make a purchase when they learn how to operate a product and the benefits offered by a particular product.

Digital signage can also inform customers about complementary products and increase opportunities for cross-selling and upselling. This increases sales, generates higher revenue and also enhances customer experience and satisfaction.

5. Brand Awareness and Recall Value

Digital signage can play interesting information and engaging videos related to the instore or other brands you want to promote. Storytelling has more recall value than quoting or listing facts & figures. Through digital signage you can communicate the brand identity and generate higher recall value. Customers patronize brands they remember.

6. Attract Passersby to the Store

This is the age old requirement of a retail business. It needs to entice passersby into the store to convert them into customers. It has become much more important in the current scenario when people tend to avoid visiting public places. Install digital signage for retail stores in strategic locations near the store’s vicinity and display your most sold products and the safety features and precautions you employ for wellbeing and safety of your customers. All these steps nudge the customers and passersby to visit your store and make purchases.

7. Personalized Service

Digital signage today uses enhanced algorithms, video analytics and data to offer personalized service to the customers. It can serve dynamic promotional content by analyzing the relevant data like demographics, gender, prior purchase details. Based on these details It can also display the recommended products to the customers.

8. Use at POS Terminals

Use digital signage for retail stores at POS terminals for influencing last minute purchasing decisions. Studies show that 70% of the purchasing decisions are made at POS terminals. By displaying compelling ads at checkout counters, you can influence customers to add more products in their carts and increase your sales.

Guidelines For Creating Great Digital Signage Content

Great digital signage content is essential to create effective signage solutions. It doesn’t matter if you have the best hardware or software. Without good content your digital signage solutions won’t have the desired effect on the target audience. Good content will give you great returns and results on your decided goals. Here are some tips to create effective digital signage content.

1. Keep it Simple so Everyone Understands It

Your digital signage content should be clean and easy to understand. Don’t overcomplicate your message. Keep a simple color scheme. It should be well contrasted and optimized so it can be viewed by human eyes. Have a dark background with light text or vice versa. Use fonts that are easy to read. When displayed, the signage should be visible clearly from close quarters and also from afar.

2. Use Engaging Graphics and Designs

Use high quality graphics in your digital signage content to engage your target audience. Use audio visual aids and videos to make the content interesting. If possible, make it more interactive and fit the content around how your products and services will benefit the audience.

3. Scrutinize and Make Necessary Edits

For digital signage content to be effective and appealing to the audience it should have the correct format, grammar and syntax. An unfortunate error can ruin the content and even make the brand a laughing stock. There have been instances when good advertisements were ruined as they weren’t properly proofread and edited. Also, in this world of political correctness check and scrutinize your content up ahead, before it’s displayed for public consumption, so that it hits only the right buttons.

4. Fit the Content as Per the Occasion and Location

Your digital signage content should be rotated regularly to suit the occasion. For a diner, the morning digital display should feature a breakfast menu, that automatically changes to the lunch menu at noon. Location also matters. Digital displays for FMCG goods should be installed with locations having high footfalls while a college location could be used to advertise trendy apparel. Also regularly check the displays and make changes suited to occasions and events like festivals, sporting events, etc.

5. Should Include Calls to Action

For any advertising or marketing activity, add calls to action to nudge the audience towards the desired action. It can be what to buy, where to buy, or a variety of other actions. Use an action verb at the start of call to action to demonstrate the sense of urgency to the message so that the targeted audience acts on it quickly.

6. Integrate with Social Media

Integrate your digital signage content with your organization’s social media profiles. An individual spends more than 2 hours every day on social media platforms. It’s an essential part of people’s lives and is still growing. Digital signage can be used as a hook to entice audience to visit your websites or social media handles to view engaging content. Use a call to action in your content to achieve this. Use streaming platforms like YouTube as a continuation of your digital signage strategy. The options are limitless.

CONCLUSION

Great content is essential to create effective digital signage solutions. Without great content it will feel like travelling in a rudderless ship that has no aim and direction. Use the pointers above to create great digital signage content and reach your target audience.

8 Reasons Digital Signage for Hotels is a Game Changer

The hospitality industry is embracing digital signage as it aligns with their core competency of customer service. First impressions count a lot and digital signage helps hotels win the trust of their guests and form a long-term relationship with them. Digital signage makes your establishment more accessible and provides more value. Signage can be utilized throughout the hotel premises whether it’s reception, cafes, guest rooms or lobbies. There are numerous benefits and advantages of using digital signage in hotel industry.

1. For Automated Check in

Digital signage can be of immense help during rush hours and when there are long queues. Screens can be rigged as automated check ins. The process can be completed in seconds saving both the customers and receptionists time. When there are no queues, these screens can revert to their original purpose.

2. Reviews & Testimonials

Use digital signage at the reception or welcome desk to your advantage. Display customer reviews and testimonials left by prior guests. You can also collect reviews from social media and review sites like Facebook, Yelp and Google reviews. You can also add a QR code to your review display. Visiting guests can share their reviews and experiences there. Positive reviews contribute a lot to generate new customers by building trust and reliability of a business.

3. Display Special Offers

Digital signage for hotels is used to display special offers and discounts that you are currently offering. For example, offering lifetime memberships, room upgrades, combo offers, restaurant coupons and other discounts. These are easily noticed and customers will eagerly take up on the offers.

4. For Relaying Important Announcements

Use digital signage to display information and important announcements to your guests. It will help reduce the workload of your staff members which can be utilized better in a busy hotel environment. You can display weather forecasts for the day and week, and other announcements. You can also notify personalized information directly to a hotel room without having to call or knock personally on every door.

5. Flight & Travel Information

Use digital signage for hotels to display important travel information for guests. Display flight updates, train arrival and departure times, information about bus stations and other travel related information. It will help your guests plan accordingly. This improves the overall customer experience that helps retain and acquire more guests.

6. Property, Facility and Services Highlights

Use digital signage to inform the guests about the different services and facilities you provide. Display information with images and video content to highlight amenities like spas, pools, conference rooms, restaurants, and banquet hall services you offer. It prompts and nudges your guests to use them.

7. For Wayfinding

Guests may want to explore the city and the attractions it offers. Digital signage for hotels can display self-help directories and maps to provide relevant information to the customers. Display the places to visit, opening and closing times of attractions like museums, ATM locations, and other important information. These displays can be installed at all strategic locations like reception, lobbies and hallways. You can also display the internal map of the facility in case a guest gets lost.

8. For Displaying Wall art

Use digital signage to display attractive wall art in your establishment. Digital art is flexible which means you can change it periodically as per the tourist season. It also gives the illusion of a bigger space. Use digital signage to create the specific kind of ambience and setting for different locations. For example, a bar and a conference room will have a different ambience. A banquet hall booked for a meeting will have a distinct ambience than when it is used for a wedding function. You can easily change the displays depending on the occasion to fit the environment required and it does not cost anything.

CONCLUSION

So, these are some of the effective ways digital signage for hotels can be used to provide guests with the ultimate hospitality experience. A good digital signage strategy will engage and impress guests and help grow your hotel business.

Top Trends in Digital Signage You Need to Know About

Digital signage is used to inform and engage an audience, promote products and services and facilitate and help both consumers and employees of businesses. Digital signage is implemented across a wide range of industries and businesses that include retail, healthcare, events, security and much more.

Digital signage is a constantly evolving field. And with the “push” given by the pandemic worldwide it is changing and keeping up with the times. Now the emphasis is more on safer and contactless interactive solutions and virtual connectivity. Digital signage has seen innovation in this regard.

1. Non-touch and More Interactive Content

Due to pandemic consumers tend to avoid physically coming in contact with touch screens. It has led to consumers leaning more towards online, where they can view and purchase products without coming into unnecessary physical contact. To keep up with this, technologies like face and voice recognition, near field communication, body sensors, RFID and the use of QR codes are being integrated in digital signage solutions. Areas with high footfalls and increased physical interactions benefit more by it. For example, in banks, retail stores, and public transportation spaces like airports, contactless digital queue management solutions can be applied where customers can generate their virtual queue tickets through scanning QR codes directly through mobile phones. Another trend in digital signage is be increased use of self-help kiosks for a contactless fast order and check out process and payment through QR codes or RFID without any need to come directly in contact with Point of Sale machines.

2. High-quality Functional Digital Signage

High quality and more tech-enabled digital signage solutions will communicate better with the audience. These will improve the user experience and be more accessible. Strategically placed digital signage devices displaying discounts to the first 100 customers who scan the QR code incentivizes customers to make a purchase and also increase footfalls in the stores. Digital signage screens can be used as gaming consoles too. By pairing up with the mobile devices through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, waiting customers can play games on digital signage screens and reduce perceived waiting times.

3. Trigger Based Personalized Signage Solutions

Smart digital signage solutions can understand the customer’s needs and display advertisements accordingly. This portrays the brands being advertised as problem solvers and gains them more traction. Signage near traffic stops during lunch hours can provide data on traffic updates and also advertise about food outlets nearby.

4. Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence

Upcoming trends in digital signage include the increased use of Artificial Intelligence(AI). Combining facial recognition technology with digital signage solutions will allow AI to display informed choice of products. Face recognition algorithms can detect demographic details like gender, age, purchase history, clothing, accessories and shopping patterns. For example a visitor in a retail store could be shown products that she has bought before, or which complement previous purchases. It can be used in diners and food chains to display and provide offers on food items ordered by the customer before.

5. For Internal Business Communication at Multiple Locations

Digital signage can be used to provide clear notifications and messages in multiple locations of an organization. It ensures that the message is not missed and relayed to all employees. Digital signage devices can be installed at multiple locations within the premises and also within several premises set geographically apart.

6. Immersive Experience Through Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Upcoming trends in digital signage include the increased use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to provide an immersive experience to the consumers and thus interest and engage them more. It is used in real estate business to display the 360 degree view of the rooms and apartments for sale or rent. It’s also used in the apparel and accessories businesses that lets the customer try out the products without even touching and wearing them. AR/VR is also increasingly being used in tourism, education, e-commerce and many other industries.

7. Multitude of Digital Signage Screens

Increasingly, digital signage screens will be installed as people avoid direct interactions due to social distancing. Smart digital screens will display the relevant items, store addresses or correct areas within the stores. It will save customers’ time and at the same time save more money for retailers in terms of labor cost.

8. Increased Use of Data Analytics

Another upcoming trend in digital signage is the integration of data analytics with digital signage. Digital signage solutions can capture data and provide periodic reports to formulate more effective solutions and optimize resource allocation.

CONCLUSION

Ongoing and upcoming trends in digital signage focus on providing contextual, dynamic and real time content to the audience. It will no longer be intended only for displaying stock videos and images but will focus on engaging the audience, improving the customer experience, providing more benefits and above all, increasing sales and conversions.

The Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing Music Programming

How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Music Programming

The world of music programming has been revolutionized by the introduction of AI. So what is artificial intelligence and how can it be used to create a better listening experience for music lovers in the retail and hospitality spaces?

What is Artificial Intelligence?

No, we’re not talking about Skynet or terminator machines that arrive from the future! Artificial intelligence (AI) is a well-known concept in the tech industry. It’s been used for decades to help in the creation of intelligent machines that solve complex problems and, more recently, the same technology has been applied to another well-known problem: music programming.

A great example of AI in use is Alenka’s Smart Playlist. This playlist algorithm creates a personalized playlist for each of your locations based on the genres and styles you like, the mood and tempo you want, and whether you want vocals or not. It then generates programming that ensures the same songs don’t repeat, either that day or until much later. If you’ve ever been forced to listen to three different versions of “Jingle Bells” one after the other at Christmas, you’ll know how important this is. The AI also makes sure you don’t hear the same artist back to back. Yes, we love Adele too, but playing her four times in a half hour could get a bit much. The best part? Programming and playlists that intelligently change every day, not just randomly shuffle with no apparent reason.

How AI Changed the Music Programming Scene

In the past, music programming relied heavily on humans. Radio stations, for instance, would program their playlists with a general idea of what listeners would want to hear. But, as technology advanced and the world went digital, this became near impossible.

Nowadays, radio stations have a much harder time figuring out what people want to listen to because they can’t predict it. That’s where artificial intelligence comes in.

Artificial intelligence is a system that learns from its mistakes and improves upon them. AI has been used in many other industries and has been very successful so far! In the music industry, AI has been programmed with millions of songs to create top playlists with which your customers can readily relate. It’s already increased brand awareness in stores by 80% and is being used for background music by retailers and restaurants all over the world.

So how does it work? The AI will create programming from your likes and generate daily playlists based on your, and more importantly, your customers’ tastes in music. This way, you’re always listening to new but similar songs that you know your customers will love!

The Future of AI and Music Programming

At its most basic definition, artificial intelligence is an area of computer science, which studies how computers and machines can be programmed to behave like humans and animals. AI can be used in creating automated tasks or machine learning programs.
One example of music programming would be Alenka’s use of AI for music tagging. The company uses machine learning algorithms that constantly classify music based on a wide range of parameters and then create customised programming for each and every location in a brand’s portfolio.
We’re even tapping into the power of AI to create new sounds and songs that our direct license clients can use, without sacrificing quality. Our bank of musicians are able to generate melodies and harmonies that make songwriting easier and more efficient, which means a larger catalogue of music available in genres that weren’t economically available earlier.

When combined with other emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence could even pave the way for a new economy where intellectual property rights are managed by decentralized networks.

But what does it mean for you? And should you even care?

It does mean better music programming in your retail stores and hospitality outlets. A fresh sound daily, instant updates of new songs, and the ability to create fresh playlists in less than 30 seconds. The control now comes into your hands. And that’s more powerful than Skynet could ever be!

How Can Digital Signage in Shopping Malls Improve the Ambience?

We all go to the shopping mall at least once a week. What attracts you the most there? The stores, the lightning, the interior, or the open space? Well, it’s the combination of all that, that makes your experience better whenever you enter the mall premises. The most modern malls are updated with new technology. It’s not difficult for them to create an excellent experience for the public who want to enjoy the shopping destination. But not all malls have new updates built in. Instead, they’re looking to leverage technology to digitalise their spaces and improve the ambience.  Digital Signage in shopping malls is the most attractive way to enhance the mall’s overall environment. From just housing the retail merchants to food courts, shopping malls have evolved into a full-fledged entertainment complex featuring large screens for cinemas, amusement parks, gymnastics, swimming pools, kids playing sections, and so many others. In order to attract the audience from every nook and cranny and convert them into customers, digital signage has proved to be the innovative technology they need.

Digital Signage- Introduction

You know all those large screens you see in the shopping malls, from entry to parking, stores walls and exits, with fast-moving and engaging content? This is what Digital Signage is. 

Digital Signage in shopping malls is the easiest, fastest and most effective communication medium that eases your shopping and walking through the facility. 

According to the studies, 8 out of 10 people enter the shopping mall just because digital signage attracts them. Over 40% of shoppers say digital signage in shopping mall impacts their buying decision by displaying relevant information at the purchasing points. Alenka Media offers engaging Digital Signage solutions for retail stores and shopping malls helping your business with increased customer engagement and sales.

Digital Signage in Shopping Malls- Ideas To Improve Branding and Environment

Now that it’s pretty clear that digital signage in shopping mall creates an appealing environment, let’s talk about the best possible ways to install digital signage in shopping malls. You need well set up screens with clear images, texts, and videos. As it’s the most powerful way to showcase your content, advertise your brand and display your stories, you should be a little strategic so you use digital signages at their utmost potential. Luckily we have got some ideas on what to show on digital signage in shopping mall. 

Display Social Media Pages

Do you have a good number of followers on social media? If you’re proud of your followers, let’s boast about them out loud. What about showing your client reviews on a bigger screen? Sounds good? That’s where digital signage can help. 

Social media is a great way to bring your customers back, get their feedback, new ideas and perceptions. Also, it will remind customers to follow you and, of course, increase your online traffic. 

Digital signage in shopping malls takes advantage of social media to improve customer engagement and increase the chances of expanding your clientele. 

Some of the social media apps you can use to build pages and display on digital signage include:

  • Facebook- Social Feeds
  • Instagram- Gallery 
  • Twitter-Timeline

Social media dashboards can also help you showcase your activeness, engagement, and popularity.

Showcase Your Products on Digital Signage in Shopping Malls

The benefits of digital signage in shopping malls are beyond entertaining and educating customers. They don’t just create an immersive experience but also aid branding. If you have some trending products, services or retail partners, you can use digital signage in the shopping mall to display them and introduce them to potential buyers.

Strong visuals can significantly affect purchasing, resulting in increased sales, engagement and improving the overall digital presence.

Image Galleries

Visuals are one of the best ways to grab audience attention in seconds. If you have interactive visuals of events and promotions and want to broadcast them to your new audience, digital signage in your shopping mall is the best way. 

Images essentially speak louder than words. Hence, galleries will always allow your brand to offer a much better insight to your audience.

Notice, Health and Safety Measure

As big screens can reach a large audience quickly, digital signage in shopping malls is the best way to grab people’s attention and alert them. With digital signage, you can update your customers with new launches, parking norms, and even health & safety measures in seconds. 

If you want to keep your customers updated all the time and provide them hassle-free experience, digital signage is the quickest and most effective platform to notify.

Navigation

If you want to improve the customer’s experience, start with navigating your customers throughout the way in the mall. It would be a great way to put your faith in them. 

As shopping malls are huge, it is difficult for the customer for the first time to find the exact store that they are looking for, displaying the map on the digital signage in shopping malls will save their time.

Digital Signage is a Great Way to Improve Customer Experience. Let’s Start!

The truth is, digital signage is technology that facilitates advertisements, eases shopping, and compellingly provides information. Hence, it is best to always stay updated with the top trends in digital signage to reap the best results. When it comes to digital signage in shopping malls, there are numerous options to craft your content to make it perfect for audience views. We, at Alenka Media, would love to get it started for you at the best prices. 

If you have content that can be shown on digital signage in shopping malls perfectly, partner with Alenka Media. We get your ideas displayed beautifully on the large screen, where you will get thousands of views in a quick turnaround time. 

Whether it is an LED video wall, a digital menu board or a shelf mounted tablet, we will take your message to the right audience and convert them into customers with our know-how. We provide digital signage designed to reflect your personality and unique business traits. Are you ready? Partner with us now!