One of the prime messages that zoos send to patrons is the importance of conservation. In order to practice what they preach, some zoos are implementing digital signage as a way to cut down on paper waste created from printing out posters. These digital signs are a low-cost, low-energy, low-maintenance solution that has the added benefit of delivering engaging, dynamic content to patrons.
The trend has spread to multiple countries and continents, with the common factor being that the zoos needed a permanent, weather-resistant product. Another common factor? All the zoos seem quite pleased with the results so far.
Zoos as Beacons in the Digital Signage Community
Participants in digital signage adoption wield such prestigious superlatives as “The Best-Rated Zoo in the World” and “One of the Oldest Zoos in the World.”
Fulfilling the former title is the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha Nebraska. With top ratings on peer review sites and a subsequent award from Trip Advisor, Henry Doorly could be said to know a thing or two about the animal keeping business. Last year, they decided to spruce up their entry way with an enormous 40 foot long and 10 foot tall digital sign to welcome visitors and lure people driving by on the adjacent roadway.
Taking the latter title is the Bristol Zoo Gardens in Bristol, U.K. First built in 1836, the Bristol Zoo Gardens is one of the oldest continually-run zoos in existence. Like Henry Doorly, they sought for a replacement to static signs that could reduce waste, display a versatile range of content and freshen up the park’s appeal to modern visitors.
Rugged Hardware for a Rugged Business
Since outdoor sign displays at zoos are usually in the middle of a path with no shelter, zoos require durable hardware that can resist a wide range of inclement weather.
One such zoo was the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio. Their central location in the U.S. due south of Lake Erie means that they see weather that can run the gamut from snow and ice to blazing sunlight and intense humidity. They wanted to replace their more sensitive and bulky consumer flat screen TVs in protective enclosures with a more weatherproof solution.
The hardware they chose from Peerless-AV can endure all of these conditions thanks to its sealed housing. It can even withstand pressure washing! Without fans or filters, the design is also extremely low-maintenance and energy efficient.
In addition to substituting way-finding signs and display information, the signs at the Columbus Zoo point guests towards the other services the park can provide. “As a dynamic property with shows, talks and events occurring year-round, we needed a solution that would help us further promote these activities, while maintaining the true essence and habitat of the zoo and aquarium,” explains Gregg Oosterbaan, the zoo’s vice president of technology. “We were able to install a non-intrusive solution that required very little maintenance on our end, and afforded us the ability to share information in an exciting way.”
Oosterbaan’s experience was so positive that he intends to expand the program, gushing: “We can’t wait to continue the installation and add even more signage.”
Use cases like these illustrate how digital signage can accommodate a huge variety of needs even for a highly-specialized organization like a zoo. With digital signage and a user-friendly content-delivery platform, brands can achieve new levels of capability.
Digital Social Retail wants you to unlock the full potential of your digital signage program with a content management system that is both robust and simple-to-use. Visit our Content Management System page to learn more about how engaging customers through digital signage and other channels like social media can be accomplished nearly effortlessly.
