It's no secret that midmarket companies don’t have the advertising and marketing budgets of their larger business counterparts. So, when it comes to channeling funds to bolstering your company’s exposure in the marketplace, money must be spent wisely. While opportunities in social media (Facebook groups, Twitter accounts) can link you with an online audience of thousands, it is important to remember that physical displays—namely, digital signage—can provide a big boost for your business’s image on location.

A study from ABI Research found total revenue from the digital signage market in the United States, including hardware, software, installation and maintenance, is expected to grow by about 33% in 2009, despite a devastated economy.

There are several reasons for the positive outlook, according to industry analyst Zippy Aima, reasons that are tied to longer-term trends. “Traditional advertising media is losing its appeal for many consumers,” she said. “Consequently, digital signage has emerged as a way to deliver highly customized and targeted messaging in a variety of locations. And in a fast-changing world, the digital signs’ ability to be updated in real time is a benefit.”

The latest generations of digital signage, which include interactivity, can offer a more compelling experience to users and provide valuable consumer feedback to marketers. However, the market is fragmented, with several vendors and multiple solutions that can seem overwhelming to small business owners. Concerns over data security also continue to hamper the industry’s growth.

Cost is also a factor, especially now. “Although digital signage technology promises increases in sales and revenue, such growth is not immediate,” cautioned Aima. “The investment in installing a network can still be very high depending on the number of sites and the cost of the other components. Yet, businesses with ready access to capital may see a real opportunity here.”

However, major vendors like Hewlett-Packard are reaching out to small business owners with special deals on digital signage, like the HP LD4200 ($1,399), a full high-definition 1,080-pixel-resolution, 42-inch display designed for indoor venues, retail environments, and advertising and control room applications.

The falling price of the essential component—large-screen displays—has reduced the upfront investment significantly. SMBs are able to enter the market with a new cost-benefit outlook. SMBs who can’t afford to buy tons of software and hardware can turn to digital signage-as-a-service using the SAAS (software as a service) model.

For a long time the idea of a complete digital signage solution seemed out of reach for small business owners; as the cost of the displays continues to decline and the market for custom installation matures, SMBs will be more able to make a smart investment that can bring flash and polish to the company.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Midmarket/Digital-Signage-Sales-Set-to-Rise-in-2009-253096/

ITSENCLOSURES, the expert in electronic display and computer protection equipment, has added a new feature to their wide assortment of enclosures. As always, ITSENCLOSURES is taking it to the next level by now offering touch screen technology to their viewstation line of large format display enclosure products.

The new technology ensures total environmental protection within a standard viewstation while offering full touch screen capabilities for both indoor and outdoor venues. The touch screen technology works with standard large format LCD displays by adding a specifically manufactured glass modification to existing viewstation enclosures.

The new, innovative touch screen technology can be used in virtually any touch screen kiosk application including; retail stores, maps and way finding, transit stations, stadiums, arenas, lobby info centers, and many more.

For more information on the touch screen technology or any of the viewstation products, please visit out website at www.viewstation.com.

When Best Buy Canada was in need of an enclosure product that would handle the harsh weather conditions in the Vancouver market, they turned to ITSENCLOSURES viewstation line of enclosures for help. Faced with doing an upgrade to the existing Station Entrance Emergency Information Panels (SEEIP) to accommodate the many travelers being brought into town for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, Best Buy was under substantial pressure to not only deliver a quality solution, but also do it in a very brief time frame.

Ron Keenan of British Columbia Regional Transit stated; “Not only did ITS understand the project parameters, but performed admirably in fabricating our typical quality product within the timeframe outlined.At this time I want to convey my compliments on your company’s viewstation enclosures, both the 57” and dual 40” units. I am impressed with the structural appearance, quality and attention to detail to the design of the enclosure and brackets. To date we have had a lot of positive comments from our own employees and also from our Transit Customers.” Scott Campbell of Best Buy Canada was also impressed; “ITSENCLOSURES certainly pulled this project together and there is no plan to deviate from the quality and appearance of your wonderful product.”

Though this project had a number of challenges in both engineering and production timing, ITSENCLOSURES was able to produce the quality solution needed for the SEEIP system. ITSENCLOSURES will be working on further projects with BCRTS and Best Buy Canada in the near future.