From year to year, trends slowly shift and transform into something different. The same applies to the realm of digital signage. For example, last year we talked about how AI and its generative content will become more sophisticated and focused. By year’s end, we’ve gotten quite used to seeing it everywhere and are now looking for new uses for AI applications. This is only one of the upcoming digital signage trends in 2025. Some are highly focused on digital signage itself, while others dominate across multiple industries.
Programmatic DOOH expansion
The world of outdoor advertising has been adopting the programmatic component throughout the past years. Given its benefits, it stands to reason it will continue into the years ahead of us. Programmatic DOOH enables ad automation, allowing advertisers to target their audiences in real time and adjust campaigns dynamically, as needed.
Furthermore, combined with other methods of automation, pDOOH allows advertisers seamless integration across multiple channels. For instance, integration with social media and mobile apps create multi-touchpoint campaigns with a much wider reach. Lastly, with consistent improvements in data measurement, advertisers have access to precise metrics enabling them to deploy highly focused campaigns.Â
AI Integration
The highlight of AI in 2024 was undoubtedly its ability and potential for content generation. We’ve seen it everywhere, from social media posts to AI-generated ads. Of course, Artificial Intelligence has provided many other advantages, however, which are certainly more beneficial. For example, AI can provide insights into available analytics and make sense of colossal quantities of data. It can also help anticipate and prepare for trends within a particular field.Â
In the area of retail, AI will enable hyper-personalized shopping experiences. Dynamic content creation makes it easy to whip up content which fits specific contexts. Additionally, AI-powered virtual assistants can engage customers in real time. When it comes to digital signage trends in 2025, digital signage acts as a platform for this content, alongside further developments inevitably to come. For example, we’ve seen many attempts at holographic AI assistants. And even though they might not look the best in most cases, much like generative AI in general, it will inevitably get better.
Interactive and immersive experiences
AI aside, businesses always strive to create digital signage campaigns being more immersive and engaging. With digital signage software at your disposal, it’s never been easier to create interactive content, whether it be through touchscreens or other means of engagement. The only thing truly in question is the user’s creativity to best use the tools at hand. For example, QR-codes are everywhere these days, and the audience is quite accustomed to them. Including them in the corners of exciting campaigns makes it very easy for consumers to engage.
New approaches to digital signage content emerge continuously, creating immersive and memorable experiences for the viewer. For example, 3D digital signage has provided some truly impressive sights over the years, and it continues to impress. Tech such as transparent & curved displays and video walls offer new ways to pull the viewer into an experience that stands out in their memory.Â
Sustainability initiatives
One of the growing digital signage trends in 2025 in most industries around the globe will be sustainability and environmental awareness. On one end, companies are actively trying to adopt eco-friendly materials and technologies to demonstrate their commitment and stand out to consumers. On the other hand, new restrictions and demands from regulatory bodies sprout more and more, gently pushing companies in this direction.
Digital displays have long been viewed as a more environmentally-friendly way of reaching consumers than printed media. Further improvements continue to develop, with commercial displays becoming more energy efficient. We’ll surely see the outdoor ad industry, like most others, continue along this path. One example of an emerging piece of tech are e-paper displays mounted with solar panels.
Display advancement
One much-awaited advancement in the field of displays is the gradual shift to 8K resolution as the norm. It is an inevitable destination, and we’re sure to approach it in 2025, if not reach it by its end. In terms of tech advancement in the world of digital signage, there is much of it that is already present and developed, but simply isn’t adopted. Among these are transparent, curved, and even stretchy displays which are just recently emerging on the market. 3D displays and holographic content is also on the more flashy side so it’s not really adopted as a normal application for digital signage users.
As new tech emerges, standard tech at scale becomes more affordable and common. Video walls, for example, used to be a rare sight and an investment worth the time only for big brands. With affordable displays and digital signage software, it’s never been easier to build one.
Cross-platform integration
Social media, outdoor advertising, as well as most marketing paths may be taken by any industry looking to reach their target consumers. With that, it makes perfect sense why cross-platform access is growing so rapidly. As businesses build content for one platform, they want to utilize it to the max and deploy it wherever possible. As such, you can now create content for social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and spread it over to your digital signage.
By linking digital signage with other platforms like mobile apps, social media, and IoT devices, businesses can offer dynamic customer experiences which are consistent everywhere!Â
We shall see how events unfold as we step deeper into 2025. Meanwhile, to aid you in keeping track of them, particularly in the cross-platform sphere and across all compatible operating systems, try out OnSign TV, for free!
Cover image by Solen Feyissa.
