Dubai: Opening of new malls and a real estate recovery in the UAE is expected to give a tremendous boots to the digital signage industry, an industry expert told Gulf News.
“The market has evolved drastically over the past two decades. The digital signage market has gained traction due to cost savings, time and centralisation of the operations,” Mohammad Falaknaz, vice-president of Falak Holding and vice-president of International Expo Consults (IEC) part of Falak Holding.
IEC is the organiser of SGI Dubai (Sign and Graphic Imaging) which is taking place in Dubai from Tuesday till Thursday.
The show, in its 17th edition, aims to welcome over 400 global exhibitors from across 30 countries and expects over 10000 trade visitors from 75 countries.
He said the growth opportunities are more in outdoor than indoor in the UAE. But indoor segment is catching up during to the growth in malls.
According to a recent report by US-based HIS, the global digital signage systems market is expected to reach $17.1 billion by 2017.
Digital signage is a form of electronic signages displaying television programming, menus, information, advertising and several other messages. Digital signs such as LCD, LED or projected images can be found in public and private environments, such as retail stores, hotels, restaurants and corporate buildings.
Vital tool
“Digital signage will no more be just an option but a vital tool within the marketing mix as the industry unveils innovative offerings. Smartphones and tablets are posing challenges to the industry due to the growth in broadband services,” he said.
This year will chart new heights due to new projects taking shape and with Expo 2020 win,
the signage and printing industry will surely gain further ground. The industry is expected to grow 10 per cent year-on-year.
Today there are wireless digital signage products that can send “messages to a person’s phone” as he moves past a digital signage.
He said the UAE is poised to become a large hub for the digital signage market due to the exponential growth that the country is witnessing. Digital signage is definitely an integral part of the retail ecosystem and will surely revolutionise the industry.
“Floor space is becoming expensive in today’s retail marketplace and, therefore, the growth of digital signage will surely help marketers to make wiser business decisions and get better returns on their investments. Organisations such as e retail outlets, malls and airports are all utilising the power of digital signages and are able to communicate better with their target audience. This industry is set to grow due to the rapid growth within the digital signage technology industry,” said Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of IEC.
