What You Need to Know Before Attending DSE 2016

Paul Fleuranges, veteran attendee of DSE and vice president of corporate communications for the New York City Transit Authority discusses what to expect at DSE 2016 and how to make the most of the experience.

CI Staff

If you’ve been to Digital Signage Expo (DSE) once, you know you have next year’s Expo inked in on your calendar before you leave Thursday afternoon at the close of the show. The experience is that good, that informative, and not to be missed if you are serious about digital signage.

As my team and I gear up for this year’s Digital Signage Expo, we will be looking to see if the trends that all the bloggers have written about are in fact “trending.” There has been a lot of talk in the industry regarding “dynamic digital content” so it is important to know where these technologies are headed in 2016 and beyond.

For instance, when discussing proximity technology, many of us want more discussion on measureable activity.  How are Beacons, NFC, and other technology being utilized to provide interactive user experiences?  What can be done to better bridge the digital-mobile experience effectively? There is always a lot of talk about content being “king,” but are there new content triggers we should know about?

I’m very interested to see the latest trends in digital screens. Bigger is not always better, but clarity, durability and interactivity is becoming even more important. Since the retail sector has taken the lead on providing interactive experiences for their customers, I am interested to see what we in the transportation sector can learn from those applications in order to provide our customers with immersive experiences that better engage them and meet their needs.

RELATED: 6 Reasons Why Higher Ed Decision Makers Need to Attend DSE 2016

Looking back at my first DSE, I truly didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to do it all—attend my seminars, listen in to the “On-Floor” presentations and of course walk the Expo show floor to see EVERYTHING. Well, I can say that was my undoing. I ran myself into the ground trying to soak up everything I could possibly absorb to share with my colleagues back in New York who didn’t make the trip. I was physically spent by the time Thursday was done, so much so that I barely made it to the airport for my flight the next day.

This is because, like most first-time attendees, I was not really sure what I wanted to accomplish. Now a veteran attendee, I have developed my own approach to the show largely by focusing on specific goals and dividing the time with co-workers who now attend with me. But not everyone knows exactly what they need, which is why professional systems integrators bring an added value for those who need guidance.

DSE is a great opportunity to connect with people who may need help now or later. Those who are attending seminars on the fundamentals of digital signage and want to learn how to get started are likely the very people who would be glad to make your acquaintance and would view you as a resource. You may wish to consider preparing a few questions that will immediately qualify them as folks with whom you’ll want to sit down for a cup of coffee or follow up later.

DSE is also a great place to begin discussions about potential partnerships. Many exhibiting vendors need integration partners like you in the field to ensure that equipment is installed and in some cases, managed properly. The opportunity to establish a reputation with manufacturers as a dependable partner can be a valuable annuity going forward.

One last thing – make a point of stopping by the Digital Signage Federation booth. This year the DSF has introduced a Systems Integrator Committee comprised of organizations, which focus on delivering solutions related to digital signage. This committee represents DSF constituents from the traditional reseller, ProAV, distribution and value-added reseller communities. Each brings a different level of understanding to help the DSF serve the needs of this industry sector.

Note:  Paul Fleuranges, vice president, corporate communications, New York City Transit Authority, will be providing a summary of his experience as a follow up to this article and will share his observations during the DSF’s March 23 Hangout at 2pm EST.

As a member of the Digital Signage Federation (DSF), author Paul Fleuranges will be a panelist on the DSF’s March “Hangout” discussion entitled, “Interesting Outcomes from DSE 2016 – An Attendee’s Perspective,” on Wednesday, March 23 at 2pm EST. More information on this and other DSF events can be found on the DSF website. Both DSF members and non-members may join this or any of the DSF’s scheduled Hangout discussions for free – but registration is required and can be accessed on the DSF website.

As a member of the NYC Transit Executive Staff, Paul Fleuranges directs NYC Transit communications, and has oversight of Marketing & Service Information, NYC Transit Customer Service & Travel Information and NYC Transit Customer Relations, which is responsible for several key MetroCard programs. He also oversees the operations of the New York Transit Museum. In addition, he oversees the agency’s On The Go Travel Station network of digital interactive kiosks.

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