Years ago, video walls were a rarity. Only large corporations and higher-end retailers would even consider investing in such an elaborate display, which could easily cost six figures—or more. Luckily, video walls are no longer for the few.
Today, video wall technology is within reach for a much broader swath of customers. And we’re in the middle of a significant video wall boom. From restaurants and smaller retailers to casinos, healthcare and transportation facilities, and even houses of worship, facilities of all shapes and sizes are turning to video walls to make a statement and communicate in a high-impact way.
So why the sudden popularity of video walls? There are several reasons why these huge displays are the next big thing in the digital signage industry:
1. Prices for screens are falling quickly.
Digital signage of all sizes is becoming more affordable with every passing year. This means that video walls as a whole are more accessible and will provide a faster ROI for your customers.
Since larger screens, such as 95-inch displays, are much more affordable than just a few years ago, video walls that use fewer displays are also becoming possible. Many customers are able to use half the number of displays, for example, meaning that both content design and installation are simplified.
2. Bezels are continuing to shrink.
Bezels are the frame around an individual screen and represent the space between each piece of a video wall. Year ago, bezels were quite thick, so video walls weren’t as attractive or fluid-looking as they are today.
With slimmer bezels, video walls offer a more unified appearance, improving the experience for the end user and communicating more high-impact content. This makes them much more attractive to customers in the digital signage industry who may have stayed away in the past.
3. Resolution is keeping pace.
One of the challenges of early video walls was finding super-sized digital displays that had very high resolution—and yet didn’t cost a fortune. Today, larger-scale displays have better resolution than ever, so a couple 85- or even 95-inch screens can now be used in the place of many 42-inch displays, but still have crystal-clear resolution. For customers in the retail, hospitality and entertainment markets, these single-screen video walls will offer the chance to make a huge impact at a lower price point.
In 2015 and beyond, 4K technology is expected to continue to grow in the digital signage industry, providing even greater resolution for video wall projects. This in turn will drive the price of traditional HD displays down even further, opening the market up for more customers.
4. Video walls serve a wide range of purposes.
One of the biggest benefits of video walls is their versatility. These high-impact displays can be used for such a wide range of purposes: really, they’re only limited by imagination. Here are a few video wall uses that have been growing in popularity:
- High-profile donor walls in healthcare and educational facilities
- Travel notifications in airports and train stations
- Interactive displays that sync with viewers’ social media posts and photos
- Marketing and sales promotions
- Brand reinforcement through images, video and music
5. Digital signage competition is getting fierce.
With more manufacturers offering digital signage, competition has increased and innovation has been maximized. The result is a greater array of feature sets, at lower price points. For your customers, this means a greater opportunity to install the ideal video wall system, and achieve ROI faster than ever before.
As a value-added reseller (VAR), have you experienced an increase in interest around video walls? Where are you seeing the most growth in the digital signage industry?