Review: DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2008

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DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2008 and KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2008 opened in May 2008 at Messe Essen, near Düsseldorf in Germany, to great acclaim from visitors and exhibitors alike. Over the course of the three-day event, 170 exhibitors presented their latest innovations to a total of 3,306 unique visitors, making it the largest show of its kind, not only in Europe, but across the entire globe.
 
The growth in the numbers of visitors and exhibitors and the expansion of the exhibition space covered equates to an increase of 31% over the already impressive results of 2007’s KIOSK EUROPE EXPO. Exhibitors including JVC, Panasonic, Samsung, Scala, Sharp and Sony presented their digital signage solutions to an audience of the highest quality; 38% of all visitors were Managing Directors and CEOs, 30% were project leaders and head of departments, and half of all visitors were of international origin.
 
The main exhibition hall featured a range of eye-catching digital signage solutions for a wide range of different vertical markets, including airport digital media, in-store floor screens and advertising network solutions. Among others, Sony chose to demonstrate its solutions by recreating a retail store on the exhibition floor and placing its digital signage solutions directly into the retail environment.
 
The Digital Signage Auditorium was the venue for the “Put Your Message Into Motion” Panel Workshops, which were held during the mornings on each day. The unique format of the workshops enabled delegates to choose which day/s they wanted to attend, even making it possible for delegates to attend on all three days and still have the opportunity to visit the rest of the exhibition during the afternoons. Delegates were impressed by the quality and variety of speakers and presentations given during the three days. In particular, Steven Platt of the Platt Institute provided some fascinating insight into digital signage and integration, and Dr. Jasmin Top demonstrated how well-known company BASF has successfully made use of digital signage in its internal employee communications. GIM and POPAI also presented the results of their global digital signage market survey, revealing some exciting global trends.

Throughout the three days of the event, the Digital Signage Content Centre ran a series of content presentations. Visitors were able to walk in and experience digital content for a number of different vertical markets right at the centre of the exhibition.
 
In the afternoons, the Digital Signage Auditorium hosted a range of free-to-attend, drop-in presentations from across the industry and covering a wide selection of vertical markets. Experts from companies such as Sharp, Zytronic, Nanonation and Netvico, among many others, gave their views on a diverse range of digital signage topics and issues of importance for the industry today. Case studies from businesses including Audi, McDonalds, Karstadt and Tesco were discussed and presented, and visitors enjoyed the opportunity to come and go throughout the afternoon, staying for the sessions that interested them most.
 
The events will return next year on 5, 6, 7 May 2009. KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2009 and DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2009 are organised by hf media & events, Europe’s leading B2B publisher & events organiser. DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2009 is presented in partnership with POPAI, the global association for marketing at retail.