Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the global launch of its 32-inch Colour E-Paper (EM32DX model), expanding its portfolio of energy-efficient digital signage solutions. Featuring advanced digital ink technology, this latest model delivers ultra-low power consumption, high visibility and a lightweight design.

“Samsung is committed to pushing the boundaries of display innovation with solutions that enhance engagement while reducing energy consumption,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics.

Energy-Efficient Digital Signage With Vivid Colour

The new 32-inch Samsung Colour E-Paper operates at 0.00W¹ when displaying static content. With a fully charged integrated battery, users have the ability to install and use Colour E-Paper freely² without being connected to a power source.

Equipped with QHD (2,560 x 1,440) resolution, it leverages Samsung’s advanced colour imaging algorithm to optimize colour accuracy and readability. This optimization softens the edges of the image while creating smoother and more vibrant colours for an eye-catching display resembling traditional paper posters and retail promotional stands. For businesses, Colour E-Paper enables a seamless transition from printed materials to enhanced digital displays.

Slim, Lightweight and Easy To Deploy

Weighing only 2.5kg³ and measuring 17.9mm thick, the display has a thin design that allows for versatile placement on walls, tables and ceilings using the hanging accessories that come with it.⁴ With 13.9mm bezels on all sides, the display provides high usability in both landscape and portrait modes, while its VESA⁵ mount compatibility further expands installation options and enhances convenience for businesses. With two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and 8GB of onboard storage, the display offers seamless integration for businesses to manage their content with ease.

Smart Content Management for Businesses

Available on Android and iOS mobile devices⁶, the dedicated Samsung E-Paper app allows users easy control to directly create content, schedule display times and set up content on Colour E-Paper devices. Additionally, the Samsung VXT⁷ (Visual eXperience Transformation) platform — which provides real-time remote control and intuitive content management of devices and effortless content creation — is now compatible with Colour E-Paper. This allows for centralized device management and smooth integration with existing supported signage products. Samsung VXT also includes a feature uniquely tailored for Colour E-Paper to optimize content visibility and a preview function to ensure colours are accurate before deployment.

For enterprises, Samsung VXT also supports real-time monitoring⁸ and centralized device management, streamlining content deployment across multiple locations. Powered by Samsung Tizen 8.0, businesses can integrate the display seamlessly into existing systems via Tizen Enterprise APIs.

Innovation in the Global Digital Signage Market

Samsung has reaffirmed its position as the world’s leading digital signage manufacturer in sales.⁹

In 2024, Samsung achieved a record market share of 34.6% in global digital signage sales by volume.¹⁰

For more information about Samsung Colour E-Paper, please visit www.samsung.com/business.

¹ The power measurement is based on IEC62301 standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission. According to the standards, an average power below 0.005W is indicated as 0.00W.

² The estimation is based on Samsung’s internal testing under conditions that protect panel cells, using Samsung’s official 25W EM32DX charger and the provided 4600mAh battery. Actual time may vary depending on usage patterns and other factors.

³ Colour E-Paper weight of 2.5kg measured with battery included.

⁴ The EMDX series’ packaging includes rear holders (2) and hanging brackets (2).

⁵ Video Electronics Standards Association.

⁶ Samsung E-Paper app is available for Android devices running version 10 or later, and iOS devices running version 15 or later.

⁷ Samsung VXT must be purchased separately.

⁸ Network connection required.

⁹ Omdia Q4 2024 Public Display Report; Based on sales volume. Note: consumer TVs are excluded.

¹⁰ Omdia Q4 2024 Public Display Report; Based on sales volume. Note: consumer TVs are excluded.

Having entered the commercial display market with a B2B Signage category in 2009, Samsung continues to make history of digital signage with consistent technological innovation, differentiated solutions, and market leadership.

Samsung started by achieving first place in global market share of digital signage in 2009. Then in 2012, Samsung opened the LCD renaissance by introducing two transparent LCD models. In 2017, the world’s first cinema LED, Onyx, was unveiled, presenting a new standard for theater screens with unbelievable picture quality and infinite contrast ratio.

Over a decade and a half of “firsts” has led to myriad breakthroughs in digital signage. The world’s first modular display “The Wall,” introduced in 2018, has a freely adjustable screen size and shape, expanding the scope of digital signage to various spaces, like art museums and department stores.

As demand for immersive content increased, Samsung created a new version of “The Wall” exclusively for virtual production studios in 2023. With ultimate picture quality, it overcomes the challenges of physical on-site sets and leads to a reduction in production time and cost. The Wall for Virtual Production continues to change the landscape of the content production with a top-tier customizable solution.

Here’s a look at the footsteps of Samsung Signage, which has been solidifying its #1 position globally for 15 consecutive years² with innovative display technology.

^{1, 2} Omdia Q4 2023 Public Display Report; Based on sales volume. Note: consumer TVs are excluded.

Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Spain to attend Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) for the first time in two years. It reminded me that the world is returning to routines and norms. At the same time, it will be a fundamentally different world moving forward.

I can also apply these observations to Samsung’s digital signage business. In 2022 and beyond, Samsung will deliver a variety of solutions that were and still are important to businesses today, as well as new technologies designed to meet the needs of the modern world.

It’s clear that we will never fully return to what we used to think of as “normal” life. We’ve already reimagined offices, classrooms, entertainment and so much more within our daily routines. It’s my job not only to keep up with these trends, but to fundamentally reimagine the role of digital signage moving forward. That’s why Samsung is focused on redefining our most common spaces, reconnecting the world through new experiences and re-emphasizing the importance of digital signage in our daily lives.

Redefining Learning and Collaboration in a New Era

One of the largest shifts of the past few years is the role technology plays within common environments such as classrooms in schools and meeting rooms in offices. These environments saw an increasing demand for digital transformations and now new considerations are required to ensure every student and professional has the same high-quality collaboration experience regardless of whether they attend in-person, online, or in a hybrid manner. In other words, learning and collaboration spaces have been redefined with an increased emphasis on inclusivity in any scenario.

Samsung is addressing this need with the new Samsung Flip Pro. It provides students and professionals with high-quality collaboration experiences whether they are in-person or remote with enhanced usability and specialized features to meet ever-changing business and education needs. With a focus on seamless and intuitive interactions, it’s easy to set up and easy to use. The newly added intuitive control panel enhances the overall classroom or meeting room experience along with the industry’s fastest touch latency, enhanced multi touch features and the ability to simultaneously connect devices to the display wirelessly for enhanced collaboration.

Reconnecting Through New Outdoor Experiences

As consumers return to public shopping malls, sporting events and other forms of entertainment, businesses are competing now more than ever for their attention. With more outdoor activities, signage has become a bridge between consumers and brands while helping people enjoy digital art. In other words, signage reconnects consumers with the world.

LED signage also helps create unforgettable experiences inside sports stadiums. Delivering the best viewing angles for fans was one of Samsung’s highest priorities. As part of these efforts, Samsung designed the largest videoboard ever created for sports, the Infinity Screen in SoFi Stadium as a part of the Hollywood Park Technology Alliance. Measuring 70,000 square feet, the incredible curved, 360-degree, dual-sided screen greets fans and provides a state-of-the-art way to experience the game.

Another trend where we see a major opportunity for growth is the electric vehicle industry. As demand for electric vehicles surges, carmakers, governments and local businesses are rushing to build more electric vehicle charging stations. This provides a new outlet to serve information and deliver promotions to electric vehicle owners, and Samsung outdoor signage is the perfect solution for this scenario. With ultra-bright picture quality and durability with certified IP56-rated protection, the outdoor signage can excel in a variety of weather conditions and environments, hence businesses can create engaging visual experiences while customers top up their batteries in charging stations.

Re-emphasize the Vision of ‘Screens Everywhere’ With Unmatchable Micro LED Technology

Micro LED technology is set to define the future of display innovation. From the luxury industry to hospitality and travel, the potential of Micro LED is endless. The Wall is Samsung’s state-of-the-art display technology, which features even more options for businesses looking to transform their spaces with next level picture quality and immersion.

Samsung is the leader in Micro LED displays, which contain smaller LEDs, and allow incredible LED density, enabling bright and detailed colour expression inside a slim display profile. To create our cutting edge Micro LED technology, we have focused on three key areas: Samsung developed fully integrated ultra-fine Micro LED chips; such densely populated LEDs result in stunning brightness; and we continue to secure processing know-how for ultra-fine semiconductor chips to improve mass production.

These incredible technologies helped Samsung’s 2022 lineup of The Wall (IWB) open up new possibilities. The micro pitch feature of the IWB delivers the most detailed picture with 0.63 pixel pitch, the slimmest ever, in addition to providing a variety of screen sizes to meet any consumer or business need. Meanwhile, The Wall All-in-One (IAB) has transformed the installation process with a pre-adjusted seam and a ‘Pre-Assembled Frame Kit’ which makes the whole process as simple as a consumer TV. The Wall All-in-One not only helps save valuable time but can lower the total cost of ownership while delivering a great viewing experience.

In a constantly changing world, Samsung will continue to deliver breakthrough innovations to realize the vision of “Screens Everywhere” based on cutting-edge Micro LED technology.

Reimagining the Role of Digital Signage

Our digital signage solutions, including the 2022 Smart Signage, have received certified energy efficiency grades that rise to new industry standards, such as ENERGY STAR and EPEAT. Samsung also has incorporated eco-conscious packaging featuring recycled materials in all signage products since 2021 and became one of the first businesses in the industry to achieve the reducing CO2 label, certified by the Carbon Trust for its display portfolio.

In recognition of our eco-conscious efforts for our sustainability initiative, we won the ‘Sustainability Innovation of the Year’ at the AV News Awards in ISE. As we are grateful for the recognition of our efforts, we plan to make each step count while we collectively change production practices for a sustainable future.

The return to routines combined with new customer expectations and habits provides businesses with a rare opportunity to reimagine their offerings and practices. By considering a new role for digital signage moving forward, we’re helping our customers reimagine what’s possible to keep them ahead of the curve.

I’m excited for this next chapter for digital signage. At Samsung, we’re passionate about bringing game-changing innovation and value to our enterprise customers. We will continue to innovate, reimagining the role of digital signage in new and conventional spaces, all while increasing our customers’ possibilities in this new era.

*Content created in partnership with Sign Media and appeared in Sign Media Canada’s May 2022 issue

The lives of consumers have changed. How they work, how they learn, how they unwind, and how they connect with each other. They have also changed their expectations.

So, what does this mean for businesses?

The pandemic has forced companies to adapt and evolve to meet these new consumer expectations. One way in which successful businesses are doing this is by embracing the power of digital signage. For the past two years, digital signage has experienced rapid growth across a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, and transportation. Now that people have come to rely so heavily on technology for the information and entertainment they consume daily, flexible and reliable digital signage has become more important than ever before.

The role of display technology has expanded to complement more aspects of today’s new lifestyles. In fact, it’s hard to avoid digital signage these days. From the self-service kiosks at quick-service restaurants (QSRs) to animated billboards to adaptive, collaborative screens in modern boardrooms, it has become clear that digital signage is here to stay. With the latest display technologies, people are more informed and connected.

For businesses that want to grow, communicating with their customers in a meaningful way is key. With the right digital signage, they can provide real-time updates with the information that matters most to their customers, such as physical distancing rules, hours of operation, and special promotions. By going digital, business owners will have the peace of mind of knowing that their consumers have the most up-to-date messaging – no matter what.

Here is how digital signage is enabling businesses to keep up with shifting consumer lifestyles and provide an elevated experience.

Rain or shine: Outdoor digital signage is here to stay

In the past, rain, snow, heat, and cold had conspired to make installing screens out in the elements—in a drive-thru lane or on a transit shelter wall, for example—a costly, complicated, and temperamental proposition, but not anymore.

These days, outdoor displays reflect years of engineering designed to make running an LCD in harsh environments as crisp as running an LCD on the reception wall of an office. Outdoor displays are designed to work flawlessly, for years, despite extreme temperature changes, direct sunlight, precipitation of all types, and dust.

In industries like QSRs, the need for reliable outdoor digital signage is almost non-negotiable. Restaurants have come to rely on it to communicate menu items, new products, promotions, nutritional information, rewards programs, and prices.

The drive-thru, in particular, has become a primary destination for outdoor digital signage. With indoor dining restricted in many places during the pandemic, restaurants turned their attention to their drive-thru and take-out offerings, representing a major portion of their business. This is why it became more important than ever to communicate the right information on their outdoor displays.

Unlike static displays, digital signage enables QSRs to reduce their business costs as there is no need to constantly produce new signs. They also provide greater pre-sale opportunities as their audience sits in their vehicle waiting in line and they can speed up the entire ordering process, leading to higher sales.

Just like their vivid screens, the future is bright for outdoor digital displays in this industry as some major QSR companies are already testing order and payment using mobile devices, with walk-up and drive-thru pickup windows. In fact, some operators are using their drive-thru screens to let customers know the state of traffic in the immediate area, potentially warning them off a planned route.

Beyond QSRs and drive-thrus, outdoor digital signage can help all kinds of businesses upsell and attract customers, raise brand awareness, and speed up orders. Digital displays, with static or moving content, are also more attention-grabbing and memorable, they can be updated remotely, and they offer more opportunities for engagement through interactive touch technology.

Self-service solutions for everyone

As customers’ behaviours changed in reaction to health and safety protocols, businesses were forced to quickly adapt to provide them with a safer experience. One of the most popular methods of doing this was to introduce contactless or self-service solutions. Whether it was during the ordering process or at checkout, businesses that offered flexible display technology, such as self-guided kiosks, earned high praise from their customers.

These self-guided kiosks present many advantages, especially when consumers are extra cautious about their proximity to others and the surfaces they touch.

For example, with the right technology, these kiosks can provide fast shopping transactions, which allows operators to speed up their services, improve their order accuracy, and improve the overall experience to secure customer loyalty. Kiosks can also be informative to consumers by delivering on-demand answers about products, pricing, and availability. Finally, and most relevant to these current times, kiosks give customers and staff peace of mind when they are trying to abide by physical distancing and hygiene guidelines.

By speeding up transactions, more consumers can be served, which requires businesses to hire more staff to cook food or manage inventory or stock shelves. The technology also allows managers to reallocate staff to other duties so the business’ overall efficiency and experience for customers is improved. The rise in popularity of self-guided kiosks has been particularly apparent in the QSR industry, where consumers have quickly adapted to reviewing the menu and promotions and selecting their orders using this technology. Top-of-the-line kiosks even boast payment pads, card readers, receipt printers, QR/barcode scanners, optional near-field communication (NFC), and Wi-Fi.

Recently, St-Hubert restaurants in Quebec installed touchless interactive kiosks that allowed customers to order their meals without having to physically touch the surface of the screen. Instead, the kiosks’ cutting-edge AIR TOUCH® technology can read their gestures mid-air from 50 mm (2 in.) away from the screen. Moreover, Aisle 24, a fully automated, cashier-less grocery store, recently introduced Samsung Kiosks at several of its locations to elevate the in-store experience. Now, customers can pay for their groceries quickly and easily with an intuitive, all-in-one payment system.

These are just two examples of the endless possibilities self-service kiosks can provide businesses. With so many options, such as tabletop, floor-standing, and wall-mounted variations, or screens that are shatter-resistant, it’s no wonder so many businesses have embraced this technology and customers have come to expect this kind of convenience from their shopping experiences.

The Workplace Reimagined

Now that many employees are working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement where they only go into a physical office periodically, businesses have been tasked with finding ways to connect their teams in a seamless and collaborative way.

This is where digital signage comes in.

Technology will drive how these revamped workplaces operate, with digital signage informing, guiding, and motivating staff — on displays at desks and everywhere from lobbies and common areas to high-density seating areas. As workers will only be visiting the office on a part-time basis in these hybrid arrangements, it’s more important than ever for businesses to create an atmosphere that is conducive to productivity and collaboration.

To do this, workplaces need to introduce the right tools and communication technologies to help their whole team understand their updated operations and where they need to be. To inform, recognize, and inspire their teams — and keep them engaged — digital displays and monitors play a critical role in ensuring success.

In a physical office, high-definition video walls, which are now one of the fastest-growing subsegments of audio/video (A/V) displays for corporate use, and indoor LED signage can offer transformative ways to communicate, whether installed individually or as part of a seamless, large-palette LED screen.

For boardroom meetings, employees connecting remotely will feel more included with remote conferencing tools and digital displays, such as collaborative whiteboards and interactive screens that offer a smooth pen-to-paper-like writing experience and allow individuals joining from anywhere to share information and notate in real-time. Larger meeting rooms might benefit from the use of a full LED video wall to improve team communication and display compelling visuals while smaller rooms might prefer fixed-size LED bundles or large flat-panel LCD and QLED displays.

Other popular tools include integrated videoconferencing display solutions that can be customized so workers can initiate meetings on their mobile device and push the content to office displays. On-screen support for multiple operating systems and security solutions allow employees to use their own devices, IT-approved software, and peripheral equipment.

As workers gradually return to physical offices, digital signage in entryways, hallways, and other common areas can provide them with peace of mind by promoting new health and safety guidelines and reminding employees about critical protocols and information. Digital displays can also provide contactless wayfinding and issue alerts in the case of an emergency.

The possibilities are endless, but what’s clear is consumers both welcome and expect screens as part of their daily interactions. The businesses that recognize this and embrace it will be the most successful in the long run because they will be well-equipped to adapt to consumers’ and employees’ evolving lifestyles and needs.

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A seasoned enterprise business leader, Mary Peterson is Vice President, Enterprise Business Division for Samsung Electronics Canada, where she shapes the strategic vision for the company’s commercial digital display solutions in Canada. Throughout her extensive career in the technology industry, she has led successful business divisions within the Canadian operations of some of the world’s most respected technology companies.

Between lockdowns, shifts in consumer habits, and disrupted supply chains, quick service restaurants (QSRs) and other businesses have had to make dramatic adjustments as to how they operate—and digital signage technology has played a huge role in enabling positive change. As businesses continue adapting to the new normal, they need to communicate in meaningful ways with their customers. Digital signage solutions allow for real-time updates so businesses can arm customers with the most up-to-date messaging. Thanks to the latest innovations in technology, today’s businesses can inform customers about social distancing measures, business hours, and other relevant updates, while at the same time keeping staff safe.

The benefits of digital displays are well-established, with their impact seen across a variety of businesses, including retail and QSRs. In the restaurant space, digital displays can deliver improved visibility and an elevated customer experience compared to static displays, in addition to reducing costs for businesses.

To remain relevant and meet consumer expectations, operators in the food service industry will need to increasingly rely on technologies like digital and interactive signage. In recent years, QSRs have adopted digital signage management systems and display technology to:

• Communicate menu items, new products, and promotions;
• Provide nutritional information;
• Pre-sell and promote specials;
• Highlight customer rewards programs;
• Raise awareness of the business’ community contributions and philanthropy; and
• Recruit new staff members.

Going digital at the drive-thru

Bright, vivid outdoor digital displays are increasingly common in QSR drive-thrus because they attract customers, promote offers, speed up orders, and boost sales. Drive-thru sales represent a major portion of many restaurants’ business. Operators who were previously focused on walk-in traffic are now adjusting, where possible, to drive-thru options. While customers move through the drive-thru lane, marketing and upselling opportunities are passing them by. As outdoor signage continues to evolve, restaurants are seeking digital technology to engage this captive audience and capitalize on new opportunities to increase customer loyalty.

Positioned along the drive-thru lane, outdoor digital displays for pre-selling can raise greater awareness of new items on the menu that might otherwise be lost among a variety of options at the order station. Moreover, with many QSRs operating late into the night or 24-7, having the ability to easily update menus by time of day ensures customers are viewing the most up-to-date menu options when ordering.

With more and more people taking out rather than dining in, tools that influence and speed up ordering are big wins for QSRs. That said, digital signs in the outdoor environment must be bright enough to handle the glare of the sun as they can both inform and pre-sell to customers as they approach the ordering position. Beyond drive-thru digital menu boards, outdoor signage also offers an effective, hard-to-miss way to communicate business changes, such as operating hours, dine-in reopening, or other topical messaging. Optimal outdoor displays for drive-thrus are those that have a slim-depth design with the added convenience of an embedded power box. They should also be ruggedized to withstand elements from weather to vandalism, and be durable, flexible, and offer 24-7 performance—even in extreme temperatures. By effectively protecting outdoor displays, QSRs can reduce repair costs and avoid risking lost sales opportunities resulting from inclement weather or environmental conditions.

Display solutions are a key driver for accelerating the digitalization of today’s businesses. QSRs need to improve how to present and highlight their menu and services to stand out from the competition as well as create an enriching customer experience. With digital signage solutions, businesses can meet these needs with vivid imagery and accurate information.

Driving positive business impact

When comparing the use of static and digital menu boards at restaurants, it becomes clear how using digital signage provides a significant advantage over the use of static menus. While installing digital signage causes companies to initially incur slightly higher upfront costs, businesses are likely to receive a higher return on investment (ROI). The use of digital menu boards immediately eliminates maintenance costs as well as the expenses related to creating new printouts for static menus.

Further, digital displays can provide other measurable financial benefits by providing engaging promotional content, driving increased sales. In an industry like QSRs, most purchase decisions are made on the spot, as customers are looking at the menu. Digital signage allows for dynamic effects, providing additional bundling opportunities, such as take-over images that show graphics across multiple screens, driving focus to seasonal and the most valuable promotions.

Delivering a versatile solution

QSRs have faced several challenges where outdoor digital signage has helped this market overcome. This signage will also play a pivotal role in how consumers engage with these businesses moving forward.

Digital signage can deliver a variety of content from images to dynamic videos, all in vivid, vibrant colours. It is engineered to operate 24-7, providing night and day visibility that is unmatched by static displays and ensuring customers are deeply engaged with the content. Increased flexibility allows businesses to quickly and conveniently update promotions, offerings, and messages to reflect consumer trends and important events, alleviating the slowdowns and missed sales opportunities these businesses may face by having its static assets made and delivered.

Bright window displays also drive awareness of order-ahead options as operators are opting for double-sided displays, which allow restaurants to maximize messaging. The outward-facing screen handles ordering, while the inward-facing screen promotes special offers and helps recruit new staff members. A digital screen with a brightness rating of 3000 nits that faces the street will be bright enough to win any battle against ambient or direct sunlight to ensure messages are visible to viewers even on the brightest day. The reverse side, facing into the store, does not need the same level of brightness; however, a brightness rating of 1000 nits will certainly overpower any potential glare from restaurant lighting.

Elevating the customer experience

The benefits of digital signage go far beyond just savings and stylish menus. Digital displays equip a business to evolve and create opportunities that are not possible with static alternatives. Consumers are constantly looking for the most up-to-date information and promotions, and the ability of digital menu boards to be updated in real-time to reflect demand, trends, and unexpected events allows businesses to act quickly and efficiently.

Additionally, the time required to update menus and other forms of content is drastically reduced with digital signage. The time between starting design planning for content and actually seeing it displayed to customers can realistically be as short as two weeks, while simpler modifications such as updating product information or complying with new calorie count posting requirements can be made in as little as two hours. Once these changes are finalized, they can be distributed across the entire signage network instantaneously.

This dynamic approach provides more engaging experiences for customers and drives both satisfaction and sales. For QSRs, purchasing decisions are often made on the spot; therefore, customers in this environment must be equipped with the most up-to-date and accurate information to ensure they make purchasing decisions they are happy with. Digital signage allows them to do just this.

The benefits of digital displays go far beyond better looking signage. By harnessing the ability to relay information in a creative manner than is both easy-to-read and current, outdoor digital displays are adding customer engagement and operator ease into the drive-thru equation. Overall, digital signage is an efficient and effective solution when it comes to saving on costs, introducing versatility into signage, and fostering genuine and mutually beneficial relationships with consumers.

Canada’s foodservice industry is undergoing some of the most dramatic changes it has experienced to date, and digital display technology is increasingly central to its new reality. To remain relevant and meet consumer expectations, operators in the Canadian chain foodservice industry will need to increasingly rely on technologies like digital and interactive signage – both in front of customers and behind the counter.

Between lockdowns, shifts in consumer habits and disrupted supply chains, operators have had to make dramatic adjustments to how they do business — and digital signage technology has been a huge part of enabling positive change.

Digital signage technology has become a key tool to keep customers informed and satisfied in the quick service restaurant industry. Screens in targeted positions attract diners, display promotions and support hungry consumers to make quick and informed decisions about their next meal. Operators have adopted digital signage management systems and display technology to pre-sell and promote specials and overstocks on digital posters, raise awareness of the company’s community contributions and ties, recruit new full and part-time workers and brand the chain on dining area displays. Digital signage displays, such as the Samsung SMART Signage QBR/QMR Series, are now common at order counters and rapidly finding their way throughout restaurants — and outside with the Samsung Outdoor Display OHF Series, as curbside and drive-thru services see increased demand in 2020.

However, there has been a recent shift toward digital displays to address the business challenges introduced by COVID-19. When operators evolve from static, printed poster material to digital menus and promotions, they gain incredible flexibility. Updates take minutes — not days or weeks. And digital menus pay their way by influencing ordering decisions and removing the printing, shipping and labour costs of printed signs and posters. Restaurant operators who suddenly couldn’t open their dine-in areas had to rely entirely on drive-thru lanes and pickup windows to service their hungry customers. Drive-thrus are a big part of quick service restaurant chains, but amid health and safety restrictions, drive-thrus have come to represent a significant percentage of sales.

Outdoor digital menu boards in drive-thrus have recently seen a dramatic rise in popularity. The Samsung Outdoor Display OHF Series is bright enough to handle the glare and heat of the sun[1] and can both inform and pre-sell to customers as they approach the ordering position. Beyond drive-thru digital menu boards, outdoor signage also offers an effective, hard-to-miss way to communicate business changes, such as operating hours, dine-in reopening or other topical messaging. Outdoor displays from Samsung feature a slim depth (85 mm) design and the added convenience of an embedded power box. They also boast durability, flexibility and 24/7 performance, even in extreme temperatures[2].

Delivery has been a saviour for operators without drive-thrus. Ordering ahead has dramatically increased in popularity, with operators keeping their staff and customers safe by offering curbside pickup. Super-bright window displays visible from the parking lot, as well as outdoor-ready screens, act as beacons that guide diners. Tied to the brand’s online ordering platform, software drives messaging to the screens, letting motorists know their order status. With food delivery becoming hugely popular and multiple app-driven services fulfilling remote orders, we’re seeing more screens in meal preparation areas to dynamically track orders and drivers — like an airport displays flight gates and times.

Bright window displays also drive awareness of order-ahead options as operators are opting for Samsung’s unique double-sided displays. The OMN-D Series from Samsung is a dual display with screens on both sides, allowing restaurants to maximize messaging. The outward-facing screen handles ordering, while the inward-facing screen promotes special offers and helps recruit new staff members. At 3,000 nits, the screen facing the street is bright enough to win any battle with ambient or direct sunlight, ensuring messages are visible to viewers even on the brightest of days. The reverse side, facing into the store, doesn’t need that level of brightness, but at 1,000 nits will overpower any potential glare from restaurant lighting.

Content management software, such as Samsung’s MagicINFO, make it possible for owners and operators to fully view and control what’s happening on all of their displays, inside and outside. That toolset can be operated from a PC on-premise, or managers can control messaging for one or many locations from a distant office, or even from their home.

Understanding customer behaviours and patterns enables operators to directly influence what people see on menu and promotions screens inside stores and in drive-thru lanes. Data harvested from sales, loyalty and analytics systems can produce insights and directions that will then shape and trigger the content and even the layout of what’s on the digital signage screens in front of people. So, layouts and menu options are not only changeable by time of day and location, but can also be amended to reflect segmentation on diner types.

Making the right choice before screens and related technologies are ordered can go a long way toward ensuring success in sales, order sizes and transaction speeds. The key to QSR success will always be delicious food and swift, friendly service, but digital signage is playing an ever more important role in making diners aware of what’s cooking, simplifying order and pickup routines and ensuring the process is progressing smoothly and efficiently.

Digital displays have become central to how many QSRs do business, and in the COVID-19 era, benefits of premium displays are even more evident. For more information on Samsung Digital Display solutions, visit Samsung.com/ca/business or click here if you would like to connect with a Samsung Signage Specialist to assist you with your specific requirements.

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[1] The OHF Series displays feature innovative Magic Glass, TUV-certified image quality and an Auto Brightness sensor to improve picture quality and optimize message delivery for any viewer. The OHF series displays have been verified and validated by TUV Rheinland, a leading international certification organization.

[2] Each OHF Series display undergoes rigorous IP56 ingress defense testing* to ensure resistance to dust, heat, moisture and other environmental variables that can impede operations. IP ingress defense testing helps to determine a product’s susceptibility to solid particle (including dust) ingress and liquid (water) ingress. IP56: Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction, limited ingress protection.

When rushing to catch a flight, the last thing any traveller needs is further hassle when searching for flight information.

A problem many airports face is finding the right digital display technology to communicate live updates as efficiently as possible. With innovative digital displays from Samsung Electronics Canada, you can see how cutting-edge display solutions have been used to improve efficiencies and optimize both business and personal travel in major airports, like Toronto Pearson International Airport, Edmonton International Airport and Istanbul Airport.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) was searching for innovative digital signage with custom enclosures, designed to meet the esthetics of the surrounding architectural environment at Toronto Pearson International Airport. As experts in digital signage and innovative technology, Samsung Electronics Canada was able to provide appropriate display solutions, such as its innovative IP56 IK10 fully-outdoor 85” displays, which were used to enhance the overall experience of travellers. Twenty displays were installed at Terminal 1, with an additional 11 displays implemented in Terminal 3, offering an outdoor display technology upgrade, and helping travellers stay informed from the minute they arrive at the airport. 

Through these installations, Samsung Electronics Canada helped Toronto Pearson offer a digitally-driven experience for its passengers, with timely updates promoting efficiencies for passengers. This helped one of North America’s busiest and largest airports secure its position as an innovation hub and launch pad for airport technology best practices. 

Problem-solving right across the country, Samsung Electronics Canada also helped increase efficiency and communications at Edmonton International Airport (“EIA”). Samsung partnered with PATTISON Outdoor Advertising to mount a 4K HDR LED display screen in a high-traffic area. The 32’ x 12’ sized screen, coupled with its bright and detailed image quality and viewing angles, ensured that travellers were able to access critical information and updates in a visually enticing and impactful way, while also allowing EIA to meet their goal of digitizing their terminal. 

Even when it comes to international airports, Samsung has provided innovative solutions for some of the world’s largest. Istanbul Airport set a goal of becoming the largest international airport in the world, which Samsung has aided by implementing its SMART Signage. The project included nearly 700 Samsung SMART LCD and LED displays, including the 193-sqm LED screen to welcome passengers. For the Helsinki Airport in Finland, Samsung’s heritage in digital signage made them the ideal partner for Finavia, who were looking to ensure their passengers were left with a memorable and lasting experience of Finland, from the moment they arrived. 

Both here in Canada and overseas, Samsung is committed to providing industry-leading digital display solutions to the world’s major travel hubs. With a wide offering of products to choose from, Samsung is able to pull from cutting-edge tech options to create customized digital signage plans for clients. 

Digital displays offer flexibility and create efficiencies

In recent years, operators in the Canadian foodservice industry have adopted digital signage management systems and display technology to communicate menu items, new products and promotions on digital menu boards above and behind the counter. They have also implemented digital displays to pre-sell and promote specials, as well as raise awareness of the company’s community contributions and recruit new full-time and part-time employees.
 
The most prevalent use of digital signage is the array of menus behind ordering counters. Digital menu boards, such as the Samsung SMART Signage QBR/QMR Series, provide the ability to change menus without having them printed and delivered multiple times every year. Using digital signage technology, changes to menus are scheduled and automated, and can even be tied to restaurant management systems, so that out of stock menu items can automatically disappear from menu screens. As customers now expect to see what they are ordering, with Samsung SMART Signage, operators can rotate lifelike images through ultra high-definition resolution.
 
Quick service restaurants want to provide their customers a vivid and unique experience through lively, immersive video wall content, while also providing necessary information about their menu offerings and ingredients. With the VMR-U Video Wall Series from Samsung, operators can display dynamic content with visual impact to grab customers’ attention and provide them with key information. This efficient system on chip (SoC) embedded video wall can easily transform screens from displaying standalone content to operating as one cohesive unit, without the need for additional hardware.
 

Digital signage works in any environment

The recent wave of digital display adoption has involved outdoor drive-thru areas, with daylight-readable screens replacing printed pre-sell and menu posters. With outdoor digital signage, such as the Samsung Outdoor Display OHF Series, changes take a matter of minutes, as messages are fine-tuned and promotions catered to consumers rolling into drive-thru lanes. Outdoor displays from Samsung feature a slim depth (85 mm.) design and the added convenience of an embedded power box. They also boast durability, flexibility and 24/7 performance, even in extreme temperatures.
 
Moreover, in a study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Samsung^[1], digital signage in drive-thru lanes decreases drive-thru times, reduces food waste due to improved order accuracy, and reduces the labour costs of printing, shipping and putting new posters in place.
 
Ultimately, between boosted sales and better experiences for customers, outdoor digital menus will gradually be as common in drive-thrus as the menu displays inside quick service restaurants. Operators are no longer talking about trying out digital; they are talking about rollouts. Because of the enhanced, personalized customer experience digital menu boards bring, restaurants are in a position to upgrade their old displays and start reaping significant financial benefits from these new digital displays.
 

Interactive digital marketing solutions for store fronts work inside and out

Just about any business with a street-level presence has the opportunity to use window marketing to drive sales and boost their communications strategy. Putting a bright digital display in a storefront can be an effective way to market to passersby and drive foot traffic through the front doors. However, using that technology has tended to come with a compromise: screens look great from the outside, but staff and visitors on the inside see the back end of a display or its enclosure.
 
That is where Samsung’s dual-sided LCD screens are filling a need. The OMN-D Series from Samsung is a dual display with screens on both sides, allowing restaurants to maximize messaging. The window-facing screen features bright visuals and prominent positioning, giving passerby’s motivation to enter the restaurant. Once inside, indoor-facing displays enhance the dining experience with relevant content, such as menus or promotions. This single display reduces equipment and installation costs, increasing operational efficiency, compared to installing two separate displays.
 
Moreover, when it comes to watching the big game, major restaurant chains in the foodservice industry are continuing to deliver incredible entertainment options. Sports and entertainment-themed restaurants are evolving from using single TVs suspended from ceilings to installing giant video walls that can show the big game — or be segmented to show multiple games at once.
 
With the Extreme Narrow Bezel Video Wall UHF-E/UMH-E Series from Samsung, diners can enjoy an immersive, near-seamless viewing experience for catching every play in the game. These video walls feature an extreme narrow-bezel (1.7mm.) that produces a near-seamless picture across multiple screens without interruption, generating countless opportunities to captivate customers. Another option are direct-view LED screens that counteract direct sun and glare, making them better suited for locations flooded by natural sunlight.
 

Display Technology and the Evolution of Dining

As the Canadian foodservice industry continues to undergo dramatic changes, operators are tailoring their technology investments to meet consumers’ heightened demand for a more personalized dining experience. Getting the experience right is critical because consumers have so many options, and because technology presents a key opportunity for restaurant operators to differentiate and compete in the mobile ordering and delivery industry. Indeed, the future of quick service restaurants is rooted in a technology-driven experience reflected in digital displays, both inside and out.
 
For more information on Samsung Digital Display solutions, visit www.samsung.com/ca/smartsignage.
 
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^[1]Source: The Total Economic Impact Of Samsung Outdoor Digital Menu Boards (Forrester Consulting, February 2017)