Transportation Digital Signage In A COVID-19 World

The pandemic has affected almost every facet of daily life. Getting where we are going is one of the big ones that has had to be adapted. As more people begin traveling more often again, transportation facilities are going to need ways to help them get to their destination while keeping them safe.

The transportation industry has used digital signage with great success for years. The large screens, visual optics, and changeable messaging are a few of the many ways the solutions have helped the industry be more productive and efficient, and deliver a positive customer experience to the travelers who use them.

When the pandemic began, the transportation industry had to look for opportunities to operate safely within the parameters of safety and regulation. Fortunately, digital signage offered several non-traditional ways to do just that. Here are seven ways the transportation industry and its users are benefiting from digital signage software in a COVID-19 world.

Before the pandemic, information within the transportation industry needed to be communicated frequently and changed often. Now, it's even more important to employ communication tools that are agile and flexible. With regulations like mask wearing, social distancing, and what can be open when changing constantly, digital signage software must be able to keep up. A nimble, easy to operate back end means the message can be freshened up, or changed completely, as often as it needs to be. Large transportation operations, like subways and airports, can manage the many displays they need through one central system. This keeps all the signage consistent and updated with information like train and flight schedules that the travelers need to know.

A key component to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus has always been to keep your distance from others whenever possible. Traveling poses particular challenges to be able to do this, from crowded check in areas to tiny waiting areas, to packed in hallways. Digital signage can assist in achieving this by providing a way to measure the most crowded areas and re-directing the traffic flow to even the populous pockets out. By driving this message home more than once, and with a more powerful and dynamic message than traditional signage, people are more likely to comply.

It's a widely accepted idea that a fever is the most prominent and trustworthy sign that a person has COVID-19. Instead of hiring staff to physically take temperatures, which would be expensive and potentially expose that person to the virus, investing in a hands-free kiosk that automatically records travelers' temperatures is a smarter choice. If a person has a fever, there could be protocols in place to test them for other symptoms before allowing them to travel.

Effective and practical wayfinding was critical before the pandemic, and digital signage software plays an even more crucial role now in managing it. Creating paths travelers can take that won't slow them down is key. Being able to notify people that a bus or train is reaching capacity, so they can opt to take the later one is also a solution offered by digital signage. In addition, involving digital signage in making people aware of their gate or terminal can encourage the traffic to flow instead of stagnating.

It's easy to get in a hurry and let safety practices slide. Digital signage messaging can combat this absent-mindedness. Safety reminders can be set up in real-time or ahead of time to help busy travelers remember to put their masks on, use hand sanitizer, and practice social distancing. Details about the facility's deep, consistent cleaning measures can also be showcased. The displays can show interesting graphics or even videos as part of the messaging to engage more people and keep them paying attention longer than if they had to read paragraphs of text. It can also make those who are already following the rules feel more comfortable traveling and safer regarding their health.

Ancillary services inside transportation centers such as bars, salons, stores, restaurants, and food courts may be open decreased hours because of the pandemic. These closures can be frustrating to travelers and cause them to have a negative experience. After all, no one wants to walk to a specific concourse for a burger or a manicure to find out the place is closed for the evening because of early hours. With digital signage, travelers can easily digest the schedules of services around them and better plan out their schedule. This gives them confidence and helps them plan their schedule, cutting out the annoyingly unexpected "Closed" signs that everyone hates seeing.

Instead of having your pass or ticket scanned by an attendant, digital signage can scan it without the human contact. In the same vein, a traveler can use kiosks to place their food or drink order or shop in the available stores. Using digital signage to simplify wayfinding in transportation facilities offers a bonus that it's a touchless solution and users can drive the experience, instead of needing to wait on a staff member to explain where they need to go.

As we all navigate the changes brought about by the pandemic, travelers especially must re-think how they've always done things and adjust to new safety protocols and regulations. Feeling confident that their health is not at risk is one of the main ways digital signage software can function in the industry. Helping to provide a better thought out, intuitive positive user experience is another. Transportation facilities should take the time to consider investing more resources in software that will help them adapt and thrive in this new environment.