Digital directory is a digital form of signage where a map and/or wayfinding directions to navigate a large building can be easily found. These type of digital display maps known as; digital building directories are used to help your building visitors quickly find the fastest route from where they want to go from where they are located in the building.
Digital directories are really a huge time saver for building managers that have a lot of tenants. With digital directories you can easily change the information including the tenant’s name, pictures, display text and
maps at the same time from a remote location and update it in seconds. Digital directories can be equipped with interactive screens depending on which directory features you need. Digital building directories can be updated in near real-time when certain elements are out-of-date.
There are general two main types of Digital directories: interactive digital signage and standard digital building directories. An interactive digital directory are more expensive because it enables the user to look for the tenant’s information through a touch screen. This digital directory style has a unique software that is customized specifically for a particular property and has all the information that the tenant wants to be seen. However, the most common DBD does not use touchscreen because all of the general information lives on the main digital screen.
Digital Directories for Malls
In big shopping malls like the Mall of America which covers an approximate area of 5.6. Million square feet,
visitors have a challenge navigating across. The challenge even becomes more as the mall of this calibre
receives approximately 40 million visitors per year. In this case, it is imperative that visitors can navigate the mall using a digital directory platform. The owners of the store need to decrease chances of their customers getting lost which would decrease store revenue and might lead to high turnover. To solve this problem, the owner’s must install a powerful and useful digital directory.
Installing a digital directory instead of traditional directories that malls used to use provides a mutual benefit to the retailers and shoppers. Digital directories greatly reduce mindless foot traffic and loitering thereby increasing the amount of time customers spend in the shop they want to visit, thus increasing sales. Additionally, the customer will also get increased satisfaction as they are able to navigate easily to locate the stores.
Digital Directories for medical facilities
Big hospitals like Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) in Australia needd to use a network of digital directory signs. The hospital has about 8 buildings with 59 floors, 250 departments and 8,000 rooms. For smooth navigation in such hospitals they need to map the entire hospital in a digital directory including a mobile wayfinder for this facility. This is because some rooms or the whole department are often moved around, shrunk or expanded.
During visiting hours, visitors would like to find a route to their destination in the hospital. Again, patients too
would like to move around this facility with ease. In addition, the hospital staff would have a need to find
non-public rooms, because after visiting hours, in-patient areas are usually closed and on weekends some
departments are often closed. In such situation, the hospital management need to provide people with an
efficient platform to get direction. The best solution to this problem is installing digital directories in various strategic locations around the hospital’s campus.
Digital directories for government and commercial buildings
In Government buildings, a digital building directory where visitors are able to search for people, departments and/or offices and then use an interactive directory to map out the route to their destination can be very effective. This can be extremely helpful in government building because visitors can use the directory instead of bothering staff and cut down dramatically on staff interruptions. Digital directories are able to offer extra information such as office hours and phone numbers. The use of this kind of technology provides the visitor with the information they want and this makes them happy to come back and have a good experience. Digital directories are designed to show information in different major languages as well.
How to find the best digital directory display?
It is important to know the kind of digital directory display you are looking for. The kind of display needed
depends on the building and thus a display that fits the building is admirable. There are three types of
displays:
1. TV displays: For commercial buildings and offices, these are the most preferred digital directory. With the
reduction of the TV prices, it is possible to get a high quality screen that displays pictures with clarity at a
very cheap price. This option is cost effective if there is a need to expand the digital directory to several
floors. Multiple digital directory screens in the building can allow other signage content together with the
directory, including, update information, promotions and more other.
2. Kiosk displays: This type of digital directory is commonly used in malls. This type of display suits this
premise because visitors in malls are most likely to look for directory information while in the open public
space. Kiosk digital directory display has an advantage of being highly visible. Visitors are more likely to see
kiosk displays in the middle of walkway than on the wall. Double sided kiosk digital displays are easily seen by
several people at once. With good customization of the software, other digital signage can be seen
alternating with the digital directory.
3. Floor stand digital displays: these displays have tilted screens on floor stands that is raised up to the waist
level. This kind of display are the commonly incorporated with an interactive touch screen technology. This
technology usually requires a touch screen software. The limitation of the floor stand displays is that they
have limited visibility. In comparison with the kiosk display, floor stand display provides a more personal
experience as it usually allows only one user at a given time.
It is recommended to use TV directory displays for commercial building and Kiosk directory displays for malls.
This is because they provide a high viewing efficiency and also they are cost effective. When buying the
digital directory display, put in consideration the cost, picture resolution and also energy efficiency of the
display.
Commercial directory displays are specifically for digital signage unlike the consumer TV. They are able to
offer bright pictures; a feature that is very important during the day time. Commercial displays are also
designed to endure long hours of operation and thus they can’t overheat.
If you need any assistance with your digital directory signage needs just reach out to TJG Digital Signs, and just GO Digital today!
