Digital Signage Summit (DSS) MENA 2015, which took place at the Conrad Hotel in
Dubai, UAE on 16 November 2015, received widespread acclaim from both
delegates and exhibitors who attended the first DSS event to be produced in the
region.
The Digital Signage Summit Series is a group of regional events, held in Middle
East, Europe and Russia, which explore the business, technology and strategy of the
digital signage and digital-out-of-home (DooH) marketplace.
DSS MENA featured 12 speakers, 11 exhibitors, 10 presentations, three panel
discussions and attracted 196 delegates – a significantly high number for a launch
event. The venue proved an ideal location for networking in and around the one-day
event. Two thirds of the attendees were visiting from the UAE, indicating how DSS
MENA struck a positive chord with the local market.
Satisfied exhibitors included Sharp, easescreen, NEC Display Solutions, AndSign,
Barco, B-Tech Audio Video Mounts, dimedis, Famasete, ONELAN, Signwave and
United Entertain.
Delegates and exhibitors also reported positively on the newly introduced
matchmaking service, which they used to schedule appointments with people and
companies they wanted to connect with. The easy- to-use system utilised the latest
scheduling technology to support the creation of business relationships.
The conference itself saw a series of important keynotes, presentations and panel
discussions, covering key industry topics like retail signage, guiding and controlling,
digital agencies and DooH.
One of many conference highlights was Fredrik Holmvik´s keynote speech about
Smart Retail at ICA, Scandinavia’s largest food retailer. ICA introduced digital
signage at the POS six years ago. Now, revealed Holmvik, for its second-generation
rollout, ICA has analysed its experience across hundreds of stores and adapted the
original concept to cover 480 stores with 5,500 screens today. The keynote provided
numerous insights into the major lessons learned and how the food retailer
dramatically improved sales by harnessing the power of digital signage.
Stewart Caddick, CEO of Dubai Duty Free, discussed its new 80,000 square feet
retail space at the new Concourse A to serve Emirates Airline and its A380
passengers. A major development within the new format has been the integration of
a significant digital advertising platform comprising over 100 screens and video
walls, revealed Caddick.
The organisers also presented the first Digital Signage Awards MENA, which
honoured the finest digital signage projects in GCC and MENA.
DSS MENA continues the legacy that invidis consulting started with the launch of its
first Digital Signage Conference in Europe in 2007. The 2015 European edition in
September attracted almost 500 delegates to Munich, Germany. This was the first
since it linked up with Integrated Systems Events, the producers of the Integrated
Systems Europe exhibition.
The next DSS MENA will be held in autumn 2016 in Dubai. Further details will be
released in the coming months. For more information on Digital Signage Summits,
please visit www.digitalsignagesummit.org.
