Why USA Malls are Choosing Elevator Digital Signage

It’s the weekend, and you decide to head to the mall with your friends to catch the new Superman movie. You reach the ground floor, hit the elevator button, and wait. The doors open. You step inside, press 4 for the INOX theatre. But hold on- someone inside the lift needs to go to the basement.

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So now the lift goes down before it can go up. The lift resumes, and you cross two floors to wait. Someone else gets in on the 3rd floor. You and your friends are still in the lift, quietly waiting, staring at the blinking floor indicators or checking your phone for the time.

That elevator ride feels longer than the actual movie trailer. Nothing is interesting in that elevator to pass this moment till you finally reach your designated floor. Later, when you’re done with your shopping, you head back to a different elevator, a bigger one.

This time, there is something new. A sleek screen playing an ad for American Eagle Jeans featuring “Sydney Sweeney”. For a moment, you’re not annoyed. You’re engaged.

Now your elevator has just gone from dull to “lifted.”

These little moments happen often. Elevators are small, confined spaces with nothing much to do. But when digital signage inside the elevator starts playing an advertisement or media content, we temporarily forget the feeling of being annoyed or bored and automatically focus on the screen. And that’s all it takes to create an interest.

This is why smart business owners and brands are adding elevator digital displays in malls. And it’s such a game changer.

What is the Need for Elevator Digital Signage in USA?

How do you make sure your important messages are actually noticed? Whether it’s a store promotion, wayfinding, or a mall event, the digital signage in USA mall elevators is surprisingly the new perfect spot inside malls for all such promotions.

People are quicker to spot an elevator than they are to spot a cash counter, a trial room, a washroom sign, or even many other traditional informational displays.

Why?

Because elevators are essential for getting around big malls. When you’re inside, your choices for distraction are super limited. This creates a moment of minimum distractions and an almost entirely focused advertising and information displaying opportunity.

Essentially, it’s a space where people are less likely to be ignored because there’s nowhere else to look to (staring at people is high-key offensive).

Today’s American malls are full of stores, full of sights and sounds, which is great, but it also means a lot of distractions. They need great experiences.

So make touchpoint count– even a 30 second elevator ride.

How can Malls & Brands Benefit from Elevator Signage?

Here’s what elevator digital signage adds:

• Maximized Message Retention: Bored and isolated audiences will absorb and remember any ad or content playing on a smart screen.

• Enhanced Customer Experience: Good distractions on screens like safety guides, news, weather and time, making the elevator ride pleasant and modern.

• New Revenue Streams: The high-attention space inside lifts creates premium advertising space, ideal for brand partnerships and promotions.

• Improved Operational Efficiency: Dynamic wayfinding and information displays makes a sustainable substitute for physical directories and staff-led inquiries.

• Enhanced Brand Perception: Modern digital displays bring an innovative and customer-centric image for the mall.

How does Elevator Digital Signage in American Malls Work?

1. Mounted Screens: These screens are type of digital signage player in USA. They are carefully installed inside the elevator cabins, or sometimes on the walls of elevator landings right outside the doors.

2. Connected via CMS: Managed remotely through a digital signage content management system like Pickcel. This is where you upload all your videos, images, and schedules.

3. Automated Content Scheduling: The real-deal here is signage automation.

You can set up content to automatically change based on the time of day, the specific location like which elevator bank, the type of audience it’s sensing, or even, in more advanced setups, what floor the elevator is currently on.

4. Captive Attention: Once that content starts playing, you’ve got people’s full attention. Hook them in the first 5 seconds as they have very few other distractions, making it the perfect time to engage them with those rich visuals.

The “Micro-Content” Imperative

For elevator digital signage, brevity is key. Static content should be bright and visually attention-grabbing. Videos should be very short, ideally no more than 10-15 seconds. It’s about respecting people’s comfort while maximizing impact within a short timeframe.

This demands:

• Sharp, Concise Messaging: Get straight to the point. What’s the core offer, event, or piece of information? Do not add fluff.

• Visually Striking but Not Overwhelming: Visuals need to grab attention immediately, but avoid flashy or eye-irritating neon colors. Think professional, pleasant color palettes that align with your brand.

• Important Text Highlighted: Important info like discounts, store names, directions must be large, clear, and easily legible at a glance. Use contrasting colors and bold fonts.

• High-Quality Production: HD images and smooth video playback are essential for professionalism and interest. Blurry or choppy content just looks bad.

• No Loud or Screeching Sounds: If you use sound, the volume should be subtle, pleasant, or even muted with clear captions. No shouting, jarring noises, or loud beats that annoy or create a bad impression. The aim is a relaxed, informative atmosphere.

• Respect for the Environment: Remember that people are sharing a small space. Your content should be a welcome distraction, not an imposition. Think of the content as a polite conversation, not a loud advertisement.

Types of Content that Excel

With these guidelines in mind, a variety of content types thrive in the elevator setting:

• Promotions and Deals: Hyper-relevant, timely offers from mall retailers, especially those on floors relevant to the elevator’s path.

• Dynamic Wayfinding: Interactive or animated maps that highlight specific stores, restrooms, or exits, updated in real-time for events or temporary closures.

• Mall Events & Activities: Announcements for flash sales, holiday events, celebrity appearances, or entertainment schedules.

• Service Information: Reminders about mall hours, parking availability, or specific customer service points.

• Community Messages: Brief, uplifting messages or information about local initiatives that align with the mall’s values.

What is the Strategic Placement to Maximizing Visibility in Elevator Spaces?

Here’s the golden rule: Don’t put the screens on the back wall. No one looks there.

People do not face backward in an elevator; their natural inclination is to face the door, anticipating their exit or observing incoming passengers.

The Best Placement?

• The Sides Walls of the Elevator: This is the best placement option. Screens here are in direct line of sight for most passengers, providing a stable surface and optimal visibility.

• Elevator Doorways: While technically challenging, displaying content on or around the door frame can grab attention upon entry and exit.

Elevator Dimensions Matters

• Small Elevators: Present the biggest challenge. People often squish, leaving no room to comfortably view a side screen. Even mirrors are overlooked. Smaller, concise displays near control panels or in doorways might be the only option for essential info.

• Spacious Elevators: Big elevators set the ideal scenario. Enough room for passengers to stand comfortably, allowing for larger, interactive wall mounts that truly engages. These offer the best canvas for dynamic content.

Why Brands & Businesses Trust Pickcel’s Smart Elevator Digital Signage

Pickcel’s digital signage solutions take this captive audience a step further. With powerful digital signage software in USA, you can:

1. Create Dynamic Content

Unlike old-school signboards that just show one thing, Pickcel app lets you show a constantly updating mix of stuff. This includes:

• Short, punchy videos even looping ones for a smooth flow.

• Cool animations that grab attention.

• Scrolling text for quick news or special promotions.

• Stunning, high-resolution images and graphics.

• Live feeds, like the latest weather forecast or breaking news snippets.

While not super common inside an elevator cabin, the possibility for interactive elements is always there, especially in counter areas.

2. Get Remote Management and Scheduling

With Pickcel you get all the content on these screens managed through a specialized content management system (CMS). This means:

• You can update content instantly, right from a central location like the mall’s management office, without ever needing to physically touch the screen.

• Play different content perfectly at specific times of the day like morning coffee deals, weekend entertainment, or for special events.

• Do A/B testing of different ads or make quick changes based on what’s happening right now.

3. Targeting and Contextual Relevance

Pickcel’s smart digital signage platform can deliver really relevant messages. While you’re not targeting individuals one-on-one in an elevator, you can definitely display:

• Information related to the current floor like dining options on the 5th floor.

• Special promotions for stores on an upcoming floor.

• General mall-wide announcements, upcoming events, or even just helpful tips for shoppers.

4. Technological Integration

From cloud solutions to on premise digital signage in USA deployments, Pickcel’s hardware aren’t just standalone screens. They’re part of a smart, connected setup that includes:

• SOC Screens: The actual display hardware that everyone sees.

• Digital Signage Player: A small, powerful device connected to the screen that holds and plays all the content.

• Digital Signage Software: The brain behind it all to create, schedule, distribute, and manage content across all your screens.

• Network Connectivity: Usually needs internet (Wi-Fi or wired) to get all those fresh content updates.

5. Full Control and Transparency

Security is important, we get it. Keeping your content safe is Pickcel’s top priority. Our protection measures include:

• Complete autonomy: With end-to-end digital signage security in USA malls, you get full control over your content and network.

• Role-based access: You can assign different permissions to different team members, maintaining privacy and access to confidential stuff.

• Top-grade security: Our protocols protect your content and network from any unauthorized access or cyber threats, giving you peace of mind.

6. Intelligent Features

With advanced capabilities, messages can even be triggered by different things, making sure the right content shows up at the right time.

• Gender-based triggering: Smart signage like Pickcel displays content based on gender and demographics. It just makes the message hit home more.

• Gamification: Smart displays can now add super quick games, like mini-quizzes or interactive polls, that people can play right on the screen. Signage gamification is a fantastic way to make wait times fly by and get people to interact with brands.

• Level-wise information: Content can actually change or give more details based on what’s happening. For example, as the elevator goes up, screens could show info about stores on the upcoming floors, or if someone selects a specific floor, it could pop up relevant ads for that level.

The Power of Smart Elevator Signage

Elevator digital signage transforms awkward waiting moments into valuable engagement opportunities. It delivers guaranteed message visibility while creating premium value from previously underutilized space.

And Pickcel’s deep tech ecosystem ensures best performance through reliable hardware, flexible cloud or on-premise solutions, and enterprise-grade security.

American malls are already seeing the impact.

The question is: when will your elevators start working smarter?

Want to see Pickcel in action?

Schedule a free demo today

Elevate your retail space, literally and digitally

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