The idea of ‘digital government’ is a prominent concept widely invested in and discussed by the likes of IBM. Both local authorities and national offices face a number of challenges today that can be addressed through the use of pioneering technology, enhancing the quality of services provided. One such area for improvement is communication, especially the flow of information to the general public. This is where digital signage for government facilities comes in. It fundamentally modernises the way public offices and spaces communicate with visitors and employees.

Where can digital signage for government be used?

Digital signage, by which we mean digital screen solutions, is well suited for a wide range of public service environments. These include local council offices, embassies and military bases, as well as clinics, public libraries and emergency services – to mention just a few.
The main distinction to make between locations is whether or not the screens would be public or employee facing. A screen network is used in some instances to inform and engage visitors from the general public and others to communicate with staff.

How can the technology enhance government services?

The possibilities of digital signage in government facilities are endless but we have put together a list of 10 ideas to give your office inspiration:

1. Promote new policies and campaigns

Regardless of the level of government operations, there is a need to promote new policies. It’s important that constituents are aware of changes that might affect them and using digital signage in public spaces or offices is a great way to spread a message. Similarly, campaigns on a localised or national level can be advertised, potentially as a vehicle for promotion during political elections.

2. Inform and educate the public about services

A challenge faced by government bodies around the world is the need to advertise the services they provide. This could be local libraries, health clinics or council housing services. Screens are ideal for conveying information not only in text form but with images and videos. With a digital signage network rolled out across multiple locations, different services can be advertised at different facilities, enhancing overall engagement with the public.

3. Create a channel for inter-departmental communication

In a similar vein to how the council might advertise its service at locations like the local library, screens in multiple locations can create a channel for inter-departmental communication. In this instance, the audience would be government employees as opposed to the general public. The performance and activities of departments could be shared with other departments, enabling greater collaboration and transparency.

4. Employee training and targets

Related to performance, digital signage is well suited to display employee training information, whether it’s work-related advice or information about signing up for developmental courses. Digital displays are also popular for team targets, helping to motivate employees and fostering a culture of teamwork.

5. Offer wayfinding assistance and directories for visitors

Government offices often appear like mazes to visitors who need to get to certain areas for appointments. Council buildings and other facilities are equally busy environments where receptionists can be overworked with queues full of people. Digital signage for government facilities can overcome this problem by offering wayfinding assistance or directories for visitors. Touch screens are especially effective as they allow users to search for the department or staff member they are visiting and find tailored instructors on getting there.

6. Display meeting schedules and appointments

Above we mentioned how busy government offices can get and the risk of appointments running late. The very same screen that offers wayfinding assistance might double up as a means of displaying meeting and appointment schedules to visitors. This information can be pulled in from a live web page to provide a reliable schedule that will keep your department operating like clockwork. When waiting to see an advisor, knowing you are next in the queue can help reduce frustration.

7. Real-time alerts in case of emergency

In government or council run buildings, it is enormously important that staff and facilities are prepared for the worst in the case of emergencies. One of the great things about digital signage is its ability to quickly circulate real-time alerts. Pre-made presentations or messages can be created to trigger in the case of different scenarios, for example, a fire alarm or something more extreme like a terror attack.

8. Better advertise helplines and online services

Many government departments and health clinics have their own helplines providing vital services to members of the public in need of help or assistance. The trouble is it can be difficult to find these numbers online and people can quickly become frustrated if they are unable to contact the right person. One popular element of digital signage is the scrolling ticker which resembles the bulletin feed that you might see on a news channel. This space on a screen is ideal for circulating important contact numbers or referring people to resources online.

9. Local news and traffic reporting

A nice touch for digital signage anywhere is to add the local news and traffic reporting for the benefit of visitors and staff. Traffic reports in particular whether related to congestion on the roads or something like TFL updates are invaluable. Especially as council and government buildings are usually located in busy urban areas.

10. Local success stories and case studies

Ensuring there is a strong sense of community is incredibly important to local governments and councils. A great way to foster this is through the sharing of local success or feel-good stories, perhaps taken from local news outlets. Alternatively, positive case studies can be circulated to demonstrate the great work a department or service is doing. Screens strategically placed in high footfall areas can act as a mouthpiece for community-centred content.

That wraps up our 10 uses of digital signage for government facilities. While we are sure there are other creative ways councils and services can leverage the platform, these are types of content and methods proven to have a powerful impact.

If you are interested in learning more about our solution for your institution, please get in touch with us by calling the team on 02380 981110 or emailing info@troudigital.com and referencing this article.