While digital signage is used widely in retail, hospitality, and even education venues, local council digital signage is less common. But this is changing, with many councils choosing to upgrade key pieces of signage to digital displays. Here we explore how digital signage is being used by some local government organisations and the benefits this provides them.

How is digital signage being used by local councils?

Most early adopters of local council digital signage have followed in the footsteps of their more commercially focused counterparts. They have seen how digital screens can help streamline the customer journey, improve the customer experience, and strengthen staff engagement. They have also learnt from other organisations – retail stores, in particular – how to effectively communicate using digital display screens.

This has led to some fairly creative, and highly functional, uses of local council digital signage technology, including:

Storytelling: In many ways, the local council is one of the main custodians of an area’s history. Some councils are fully embracing this role, putting together digital content that tells the story of key moments and people. And local council digital signage is perfect for screening such material, either within council offices or in other important community locations.

Promoting events: Most councils have a calendar packed full of important occasions – from their regular meetings to festivals and other community events. Some councils have turned to digital screens to advertise these events as they can create more dynamic and eye-catching displays. Outdoor signage and LED screens are effective ways to promote events and other announcements to the community. Once again, these screens are generally placed within council offices and in other locations where community members congregate.

Managing visitors: Council office reception areas can be busy places, with community members coming in for a wide range of reasons. To help manage this, some councils have installed digital kiosks that allow visitors to check themselves into the office. These displays generally provide important safety information and can even be set up to notify staff of their guests’ arrival. 

Facility management: Most local councils are always looking for better, and more efficient, ways to manage access to their public facilities. Digital signage can help with this, allowing community members to make bookings and check when facilities are in use. It can also support the collection of visitor feedback and submission of maintenance requests.

Is digital signage worth the investment?

In short, yes, a well-designed local council digital signage solution should deliver a great return on investment. Whether you’re aiming to support public education, increase staff engagement, or simply improve your visitor experience, digital signage can help.

One of the biggest benefits digital signage provides is its flexibility, particularly compared to more traditional public communication methods. Displays can be changed or updated quickly and easily, usually with just a few simple clicks using a content management system or CMS. A CMS is cloud-based computer software that allows users to create, schedule, monitor and deploy content across a network of screens. You can automate content updates based on a variety of criteria, like the time of day or local weather. 

The dynamic nature of a digital display also makes it possible to create more interesting and engaging content. You can use eye-catching visuals, animation, or even near real-time data to complement and reinforce your messaging. You can also roll content out across multiple screens at the same time, improving the consistency of your messaging.

What’s more, once a digital screen is installed, it’s a very low cost to manage and maintain. Good local council and government digital signage equipment should last up to 10 years and content can be updated at minimal cost. It also uses less electricity than traditional lighting, making it cheaper to run and better for the environment.

What do you need to consider when designing a local council digital signage solution?

When planning a digital signage solution, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from. Everything from the number and size of screens to the supporting content management software can be tailored to suit your organisation’s needs. So, to get the most from your new digital signage system, there are a few things you need to think about:

What you’re trying to achieve: Different digital screen technologies are better suited to different uses. As such, how you plan to use your new local council digital signage should inform your equipment selection. 

Who you’re trying to reach: The placement of government digital signage can have a major impact on who sees it and how they respond. It can also help inform your choice of screens as some types work better in certain locations.

How much you’re willing to spend: While there are local council digital signage options to suit most price points, your budget will still influence your system design. That said, a good digital signage supplier, like Amped Digital, will be able to tailor a solution to suit your budget.

If you need help maximising the effectiveness of your new local council digital signage solution, contact Amped Digital. Our experienced team are experts in tailoring digital signage packages to suit a range of purposes, organisations, and budgets. We’re also a leading supplier of government digital signage equipment and regularly work with many of the industry’s biggest names.