Author: Ram

For decades, DOOH relied on the “fixed loop”—a 30-second ad playing on repeat regardless of who was watching. AI and edge computing have effectively dismantled this “set-it-and-forget-it” model.

Today’s screens utilize dynamic decision-making to react to real-world triggers:

• Weather-Responsive: A sudden downpour instantly switches a screen from sunscreen ads to ride-hailing services or hot coffee promotions.
• Demographic Sensing: As a group of Gen-Z shoppers approaches, the creative shifts to trending streetwear or the latest sneaker drop.
• Contextual Assembly: Instead of one static video, AI assembles multiple creative elements (headlines, visuals, and offers) on the fly to match the moment.

💡 Pro Tip: Stop designing “an ad.” Build a kit of creative parts. Let the AI determine which combination of visual and headline will convert best in the current environment.

Precision Targeting: Measuring Attention, Not Just Traffic

In a high-velocity urban world, footfall is a vanity metric. What matters is attention. AI-powered sensors now allow brands to move beyond “how many people passed by” to “how many people actually looked.”

Modern systems now measure:

• Gaze Duration: How long eyes stayed on the screen.
• Dwell Time: How long a person remained in the vicinity.
• Engagement Signals: Whether the viewer interacted via mobile or gesture.

This data allows for a Temporal Content Strategy: morning commuters get punchy, direct messaging, while evening crowds with higher dwell times are served immersive storytelling.

AI-powered DOOH is no longer limited to large global brands.

Platforms like Intelisa are making cloud-based digital signage solutions accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Instead of manual updates, businesses can now run proactive campaigns that adjust automatically.

The growth of AI in DOOH is driven by several global trends.

These factors are driving rapid adoption worldwide.

DOOH is no longer passive.

Interactive kiosks are becoming common in malls, airports, and retail spaces.

Your billboard is no longer a static piece of vinyl—it is a connected, data-driven team member. Success in this new era doesn’t go to the brand with the most screens; it goes to the brand that uses them most intelligently. With Intelisa, you aren’t just buying visibility; you’re buying relevance.

Pro Tip: Use 3D visuals and immersive formats to capture attention and increase recall.

Digital out-of-home advertising is no longer just about visibility. It’s become a smart, data-driven channel where every screen can deliver the right message at the right time.

Artificial intelligence is transforming DOOH into a responsive and measurable medium. Instead of static ads, brands can now run dynamic campaigns that adapt to time, location, and audience behavior.

For businesses of all sizes, this change opens up new opportunities. With Intelisa, managing and optimizing digital signage has become easier, faster, and more effective.

In the coming years, the brands that will win won’t be the ones with the most screens, but the ones that use them most wisely.

Because today, it’s not about being everywhere.

It’s about being relevant when it matters most.

• Eliminate the Queue: Kiosks allow customers to bypass the traditional counter. This can slash wait times by up to 70%, turning peak-hour chaos into a streamlined flow.
• High-Volume Throughput: By deploying multiple units, you can serve more patrons simultaneously without increasing your headcount.
• Precision Ordering: When customers enter their own data, miscommunication disappears. Error rates drop by nearly 80%, ensuring the order is right the first time.
• Hyper-Personalization: Integrated with loyalty data, kiosks can greet repeat users and suggest their “usual” order, making a digital interaction feel surprisingly personal.
• Autonomy and Control: Customers appreciate the ability to browse menus or catalogs at their own pace, free from the pressure of a waiting line.
• Inclusive Design: With multilingual support and adjustable UI heights, kiosks make your services accessible to a much broader demographic.
• Sleek Brand Perception: Modern, high-res touchscreens signal that your brand is forward-thinking and tech-literate.
• Chain-Wide Consistency: Ensure that every branch delivers the same service standard. A single cloud update can sync pricing and promos across every location instantly.
• The “Silent” Upsell: Kiosks never forget to ask if a customer wants a meal deal or a complementary accessory. These automated prompts typically lift average order values by 10-20%.
• Transaction Privacy: For sensitive purchases, kiosks provide a discreet checkout experience that encourages fuller baskets.
• Always-On Service: Kiosks don’t take breaks. They enable 24/7 service in unmanned or late-night zones, capturing revenue that would otherwise be lost.
• Actionable Data: Every click is a data point. Learn which items are being viewed but not bought to optimize your inventory and marketing.
• Lowered Stress Levels: A self-paced interaction reduces “order anxiety,” leading to a more relaxed customer who is more likely to return.

While the ROI is clear, a successful rollout requires more than just “plugging it in.” Here is how to handle the most common challenges:

• Technical Reliability: Don’t cut corners on hardware. Use industrial-grade screens and a CMS that offers remote diagnostics to fix bugs before they cause downtime.
• User Adoption: If the UI is confusing, people will walk away. Stick to intuitive, large-button designs and consider having a staff member nearby for “concierge” assistance during the first week of launch.
• Security & Trust: Use end-to-end encryption and secure QR/PIN authentication. For outdoor units, ensure the casing is weather-resistant and tamper-proof.
• System Integration: The biggest bottleneck is often legacy software. Work with open-API platforms that can talk to your existing POS and inventory systems without a massive custom build.
• Space & Aesthetics: Avoid a “clunky” look. Use modular mounts (wall, counter, or floor-standing) that fit your store’s specific flow and design language.

The shift toward self-service is no longer optional—it’s expected. If you aren’t offering your customers the speed and control of a kiosk, you’re likely losing them to someone who is.

Take the guesswork out of your deployment. Intelisa provides the intelligent CMS backbone needed to manage, update, and optimize your kiosk network from a single dashboard.

Book a Discovery Session with Intelisa Today.

AI fundamentally reshapes content creation, delivery, and measurement.

• The “Right Now” Content (GenAI): We’re moving away from fixed 30-second loops. If a sudden thunderstorm hits a mall, the system shouldn’t be showing sunglasses. It should be generating an umbrella promo or a “stay dry” cafe offer in real-time without a marketing manager having to click a button.
• Context-Aware Triggers: Computer vision has matured. We aren’t just talking about “detecting a person.” We’re talking about a screen recognizing that a group of teenagers is standing in front of it and swapping a luxury watch ad for a trending sneaker drop instantly.
• Operational Intelligence: This is the most vital part. It’s about the screen talking to the inventory system. If the kitchen is low on chicken, the Digital Menu Board removes the chicken burger automatically. That isn’t “magic”—it’s basic operational efficiency.

This framework moves us beyond traditional, high-friction touchscreens toward a more natural interface. By integrating voice, gesture, and sentiment analysis, we can now offer a truly multimodal experience that feels intuitive rather than forced.

While retail gets the most attention, the real “proactive” wins are happening in sectors where friction used to be the norm.

• Transportation & Smart Cities: We’ve all seen “static” wayfinding. The 2026 version is dynamic. If security Line A has a 20-minute wait, the signage reroutes you to Line B in real-time. In cities, screens aren’t just showing ads; they’re monitoring air quality and shifting transit alerts during pollution spikes.

• The “Advisory” Bank Branch: Modern banks are using signage to kill the “sterile” vibe. If sensors detect a customer lingering at the mortgage rate screen, a QR code for a first-time homebuyer’s guide pops up, or a nearby staff member is alerted that someone might need specialized help.

• Manufacturing & Safety: On a factory floor, these screens are the “nervous system.” They pull data from IoT sensors to predict a machine failure 48 hours before it happens, flashing alerts to the crew before a breakdown halts production.

With AI-driven hubs, we’re finally closing the loop. We can now measure “Attention Scores” (how many people actually looked, and for how long) and link those views directly to a timestamped purchase at the register.

The best part? It’s finally privacy-first. By using Edge Processing, the system recognizes a “30-year-old male” in the moment to show the right ad, but it never records his face or stores his ID. It’s smart, it’s targeted, and it’s compliant.

Digital signage in 2026 isn’t just about pixels; it’s about making physical spaces as responsive and data-driven as a website. Digital signage is no longer a “screen on a wall”—it’s the nervous system of intelligent environments, blending worlds for seamless, personalized impact.

The Indian mall shopper today is very different from a decade ago. People now walk into malls with smartphones, short attention spans, and multiple intentions. Some are there to shop, some to eat, some to watch a movie, and many are simply browsing.

Shoppers consume information quickly. They rarely stop to read long messages; instead, they react to visuals, timing, and relevance. This behaviour makes traditional static posters less effective.

Digital signage systems use electronic displays—such as LED screens, video walls, and interactive kiosks—to deliver messages. These displays are connected to software that allows for remote content updates.

In a shopping mall, digital signage systems are used for:

• Store promotions
• Wayfinding and directories
• Food court menus
• Event announcements
• Brand advertising
• Emergency or operational messages

Unlike printed posters, content can be changed instantly without printing or manual replacement.

One major advantage of Indian malls is that people tend to linger. They wait in lines, sit in food courts, stand near escalators, and spend time in common areas. These moments create excellent opportunities for communication. Digital signage captures attention during these natural pauses without interrupting the shopper’s journey.

Large malls can be confusing, especially for first-time visitors. Digital directories and wayfinding screens make navigation easy. Touch-enabled screens allow users to find stores or services quickly, providing convenience and reducing frustration.

Not every store in a mall enjoys prime visibility. Digital signage allows retailers to promote new arrivals, seasonal sales, and limited-time offers to shoppers who might otherwise miss their storefront.

Food courts are one of the most effective areas for digital signage. Digital menu boards make menus easier to read and more attractive, allowing restaurants to update prices, combos, and visuals instantly.

Festivals, exhibitions, brand launches, and entertainment events are a regular part of Indian mall culture, but relying on static posters to communicate updates can be slow and inefficient.

Digital signage helps mall operators streamline event communication by enabling them to:

• Promote events instantly
• Update schedules in real time
• Maintain consistent messaging across all screens

It is not practical to manage hundreds of screens manually. From a cloud-based system, mall operators can control content on all screens from a single dashboard. Updates can be made instantly without visiting each location.

Intelisa provides smart, AI-driven, cloud-based digital signage solutions designed for scale and ease of use. Intelisa’s platform helps malls:

• Standardise branding across locations.
• Schedule content in real time.
• Adapt messaging based on audience behaviour.

Intelisa’s solutions are trusted by rapidly growing companies worldwide and are tailored for industries including retail, restaurants, advertising, corporate offices, healthcare, and manufacturing.

One of the greatest strengths of modern digital signage is personalization. AI-powered platforms can tailor content based on factors like time, location, and audience behavior.

For example, morning visitors might see café promotions, while evening audiences are shown dining or movie offers.

This level of personalization makes content more relevant and drives stronger engagement.

Unlike static posters, digital signage provides measurable results. Mall managers can track:

• Screen uptime and content performance.
• Interaction through QR codes.
• Campaign effectiveness via data-driven insights.

Data-driven insights enable ongoing campaign optimisation and better performance over time.

Digital signage offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional printed posters by reducing paper waste, ink consumption, and transportation expenses.

For malls aiming to improve sustainability while controlling costs, digital signage becomes a smart long-term investment with strong returns.

Over time, digital signage proves more cost-effective than frequent printing and replacements.

As malls evolve into smarter, tech-enabled spaces, digital signage will increasingly integrate with mobile apps, loyalty programs, and interactive technologies. Displays will become more intelligent, engaging, and highly personalised.

Malls that adopt advanced digital signage early can build a clear competitive advantage in customer experience and advertising opportunities.

Over time, digital signage proves more cost-effective than frequent printing and replacements.

Digital signage has become an essential part of the modern shopping mall experience in India. It improves communication, enhances the customer experience, and creates new revenue opportunities. With a smart platform like Intelisa, malls can turn every screen into a powerful communication and advertising tool.

Will be happy to receive additional examples, comments & ideas on your take on innovative digital signages that add to communication and engagement. Do write to us at info@13.201.127.92

Digital signages have many uses, like running promotional ads, interacting with the audience through exciting contests, and showcasing product galleries. Begin by identifying the intent behind setting up signage. Most businesses prefer a blend of promotional and interactive content to keep the customers engaged.

Ideas You Can Implement

• Running time-sensitive ads during crowded hours.
  The time of the day also plays a crucial role in selecting the content type. For instance, time-sensitive ads remain suitable during crowded hours. Running ads through signage remains ideal as it remains a cost-effective method compared to traditional advertising.

• Showing interactive content to capture and retain attention.
  People have a low attention span, and losing interest is common. Your thought-out promotional videos won’t survive if you only boast about your product collection and trending offers. Therefore, work on running interactive quizzes, contests, and animated slides for fresh, dynamic, and engagement-driven content.

• Standing up for a cause.
  Whether you run promotional or interactive content, it connects with your products or services. However, many businesses take it up a notch by standing up for a cause that they are passionate about.

For example, a shopping center in England partnered with Battersea, a home for cats and dogs, to start a #lookingforyou campaign.
The home aimed at increasing adoptions and volunteers began by giving out brochures with a radio frequency tag. Every person who took the brochure would see a dog named Barley pop up on a digital sign throughout the center.

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The campaign remained highly influential in gaining engagement. Standing up for a cause you deeply believe in helps your audience understand you better and develop an emotional connection.

The importance and relevance of the ads heavily impact the frequency. For example, running an enticing offer on your bestselling products will likely capture attention. It makes sense to run these ads more frequently than others; as you know, customers already love these products. Therefore, give more display time to ads with high relevance to potential customers.

Other Factors Impacting Ad Frequency

• Screen’s distance from the viewer: If the screen is installed far from the viewer, you can run ads multiple times to ensure it catches the audience’s attention.

• The crowd in the store: There’s no point running multiple ads in an empty or barely crowded store. Make it a point to increase ad frequency when you have enough people in the store. Therefore, schedule ads based on the timings with the maximum crowd.

As discussed earlier, digital signage must have the correct promotional and interactive content blend.

Key Areas to Target

• Displaying more video content.
  Use short yet compelling videos as viewers interact better with videos than static images. You can showcase product demos, new product launches, production processes, different ways of styling your products, customer feedback, etc.

  Raise awareness about existing products and their key benefits. Sometimes, users fail to notice products they like among a store’s hundreds of products. Display your best products on a digital screen to pique interest and initiate more action. Also, slip in the idea of visiting your social media pages, website, and newsletter subscription.

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• Keep your audience updated with news from your niche.
  People love knowing about industry-specific information. Instead of boring them with the usual content, try going into specifics and monitoring the engagement. You can also keep them updated with your business’s different locations.

• Showcase images and videos from recent events and workshops.
  Businesses conducting events and workshops must share the experience through digital signage. These images and videos help build a connection with the audience beyond basic selling tactics. Moreover, it motivates people in your store to participate in the next event.

• Share the experience of past customers.
  People’s buying decision is drastically affected by what other customers say about a business. Therefore, share reviews from your website, social pages, or Yelp to build trust and garner engagement.

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• Answer frequently asked questions about your products.
  Go through user reviews and connect with your sales reps to identify FAQs related to your business. Answer these FAQs to help out customers who hesitate to ask any question.

Additional tip: Along with informing about an upcoming event, give customers a chance of an exclusive entry to garner engagement.

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to create compelling content for digital signage. Platforms like Adobe and Canva have many templates suitable for diverse content creation. You can easily create posters, infographics, short videos, etc., without hassle.

For example, Rawshorts is a great free tool for creating animated videos. But if you are more inclined to develop presentations, go for PowerPoint.

You can also keep an eye out for digital signage providers who help with end-to-end service offerings, including creating content. Intelisa, besides having an in-built integration to Canva, also provides a great additional introductory package for customers by designing the right creatives and managing their creative library. This greatly eases the process of adopting the new digital signage channel and getting the best ROI through it.

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You can hire a graphic designer or display free stock content (images and videos). Many businesses go with purchasing compelling stock images, too.

Here are some of the best free and paid stock photography websites you can consider to get you started:

• Adobe Stock
• Pexels
• Pixabay
• Unsplash
• Shutterstock
• Getty Images
• Vecteezy
• Offset by Shutterstock (content from more experienced photographers)
• Fotolia

The placement of digital signage plays a crucial role in capturing the audience’s attention. It might seem straightforward, but it requires some thinking.

Key Questions Before Installation

• What’s the general path taken by your customers to reach the location?

• Which areas have the highest amount of crowd during rush hours?

• Where do your customers spend time waiting around in the store?

• Is there any extra wall space that directly captures the audience’s attention?

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Placement Ideas

• Interior walls for conveying broad messages: Fixed in angles directly facing customers for general messaging like “50% off on weekends.”

• Aisled endcaps for targeted content: Smaller digital screens with highly specific content such as exclusive offers or product demos.

• To reduce the waiting time: Install a screen with informative content at checkout counters to keep customers engaged.

Tip: Avoid filling empty wall space — go forward with strategic signage placement.

Easy setup and installation remain a priority when considering digital signage software for your business.

For instance, Intelisa’s cloud-based software ensures you get started within a few clicks. You can control it using your smartphone or computer, integrate your social pages, create dynamic content, and offer a personalized experience.

Core Features Intelisa Provides

• Plug-and-play solution is active in 5 minutes

• Displays all content types (images, videos, documents, etc.)

• Works in offline mode for intermittent internet areas

• User-friendly interface for all tech levels

• Affordable subscription-based model

• Increases revenue through third-party advertising

• Centralized monitoring and content control

• Social media integration for reusing online assets

• Many advanced features to future-proof your investment

The software you choose eventually decides the success of your campaigns. Therefore, ensure you go through all relevant features before choosing.

How often have you walked into a store after seeing a sale sign or a tempting offer?

Our excitement to purchase heightens when our most-loved products are highlighted, especially with special offers. But what if disappointment follows as the sale ended weeks ago or the product displayed is out of stock?

The traditional ways of communication (posters, pamphlets, magazine displays) show a single offering for an extended period. Conveying new information takes an unnecessary amount of time and effort.

Why choose digital signages over traditional approaches?

• Display real-time information on limited period offers and sales on the best-selling products.

• Automation removes the burden of manual effort and costs.

• Enhance customer excitement with countdowns for upcoming sales.

• Scheduling offers and promotions become more accessible while you convey your top offers to a mass audience.

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Takeaway tips:

• A 50% off sign next to a fast selling product will likely drive enquiries for that product. Changing offers dynamically is as important as highlighting the right product, and both are key to amplifying sales.

• Use a digital signage solution that lets you schedule your promotions in advance and track analytics. For instance, Intelisa’s AI-driven analytics help create targeted content based on results. Measure the results, modify your content creation strategy, and follow it with strategic signage placement.

Do you have a crazy story behind how your brand came into existence?

Use digital signage to convey that story and show your brand is more than the products or services it provides. A unique brand story helps establish a connection with your prospective customers.

Brand loyalty often stems when prospects connect with your brand’s values. Here are some questions you can focus on:

• What core problems you identified led you to start your brand?
  Explain how you came around to the solutions that stem from your personal troubles.

• What are the unique ways you use to solve the concerned problems?
  Give your audience a glimpse of your thought-out approaches.

• Does your brand name have deep values attached to it?
  People love dwelling on compelling stories driving an action.

• How much have you progressed over the years?
  Play with numbers and create a visual impact while depicting your progress.

• Is your brand focused on producing eco-friendly products? What other soft aspects do you cater to through your products?

Every successful brand recognizes the importance of storytelling. Instead of conveying the idea of selling products with every content piece, focus on selling experiences.

Do you know that 93% of consumers agree to make quicker buying decisions with User-generated content (UGC)?

Prospective customers will likely believe past users’ experiences and reviews rather than the experience the brand claims to provide or advertises. The impact of user-generated content on conversions remains high. Moreover, providing unbiased information on your products helps make quicker decisions.

Showcase a social media wall

Creating a social media wall is the easiest way of incorporating UGC into digital signage. Social media works wonders in capturing attention in the retail setting. Focus on the following aspects while creating a social media wall:

• Either target a specific platform like Twitter or have a blend of different ones (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.).

• Work on identifying the platforms where your target audience talks the most.

• Next, extract all these conversations, photos, and videos and display them to your prospects.

• Include social icons on the signage to drive traffic to your social platforms.

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Takeaway tips

• Show your prospective customers the experience you provide through text, images, and videos. With Intelisa, you can communicate real-time updates with social media integration, ERP integration, and more. It’s time to eliminate static posters conveying outdated information to users.

• Displaying past users’ experiences next to the products helps give customers a real-time experience to initiate the buying decision.

Does your production process differ significantly from your competitors? Is it a short yet exciting journey your prospects should know about?

Audiences love knowing the production process of the items they use regularly. Brands often make heavy claims about their products in marketing campaigns. But they rarely put effort into backing it up with proof.

Words continue to have a substantial impact, but showcasing the actions builds trust. Here is what you should do instead:

• Instead of claiming the use of eco-friendly raw materials, display the entire production process.

• Provide utmost transparency to establish credibility among your target audience.

• Add enough transitions in your videos for a visually pleasing effect.

• Blend the production process with funny behind-the-scenes videos to make it interesting.

People outside your retail store can see only a limited number of products displayed on the front.

What if they are interested in spending on products they can’t see?

You can interpret audiences’ needs, but the final decision comes from their end.

With digital signage, showcase your wide range of products in a captivating and dynamic video walls. Combine them with the top benefits they provide to a targeted customer segment. Moreover, giving quick access to various works well in capturing interest.

Here’s how Rebecca Minkoff, one of the luxury fashion brands, uses digital signage to provide an interactive experience.

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Using this interactive digital signage, users can browse through product catalogues, contact attendants, etc. It provides a hassle-free experience of exploring items, especially during a heavy crowd in-store.

Let’s say you launched an excellent new product solving a key customer challenge.

How do you know that customers wouldn’t postpone their buying decision?

Once they do, what are the odds of them returning to purchase the same?

Highlight any of the following three components to initiate a quicker buying decision:

• The top common challenges your product solves

• The benefits you provide to different target segments

• Limited-time deals/enticing offers to fasten the buying decision

Do you know that QR codes work great for impatient customers desiring quick information?

There are various ways of using QR codes in your product launch to enhance customer engagement. Start by understanding the needs of your target customers. Here are some everyday use cases of QR codes on digital signage displays:

• Many customers require detailed information about specific products.
  How about installing digital signage with a QR code that loads and provides all the information one needs to decide? Try adding specific discounts for first-time users to improve the chances of instant conversion. Remember that most brands succeed in increasing conversions by making QR codes a source of additional information.

• Organize a fun quiz or giveaways.
  QR codes also remain efficient for entertainment purposes. People love indulging in a quiz or giveaways. Many brands organize puzzle challenges or exciting events like scavenger hunts.

• Use QR codes to display your product catalogs.
  Showcasing your wide range of products remains one of the most efficient ways of customer engagement. Provide access to your product catalogs in one easy scan, and you are good to go.

• Using QR codes for extracting customer information.
  Include a short form demanding basic customer information in return for discounts or coupons. Then use the information to keep customers updated with the latest products, upcoming sales, etc.

• Direct them to your website or social page.
  Customers love understanding a brand inside and out before making a purchase. Many minute details about your brand become a great decision-maker. Use QR codes to direct customers to your website, eCommerce store, or social channels. Help them understand the range of your products, brand story, current following, etc.

Takeaway tip: Use QR codes on digital signage to organize exciting quizzes, challenges, and additional product information.

Customers have abundant questions about a new product in the market. Some are quick to address their queries while others expect to know without asking.

Using Digital Signage to answer frequently asked questions regarding the product will establish clarity. Remember that a customer’s mind having fewer questions increases the chances of conversion.

Do you know what’s the most successful feature of an in-store digital signage strategy?

Our research has found two in-depth surveys trying to figure the same out:

• According to a survey conducted by WBR, interactivity remained the top feature. They survey 100 different retailers with 87% of them dwelling on the importance of interactivity.

• Another retail survey conducted by SOTI showed that 66% of shoppers hate human interaction and prefer self-checkouts. It also revealed that 75% of shoppers like digital displays showcasing inventory availability. This shows that they hate looking for someone to help them out.

Both surveys emphasize the importance of interactive digital signage solutions.

What better way to entice your customers than using animation to showcase information?

No one likes looking at boring displays.

Let’s say your product has multiple uses and stands out amongst the competition based on the areas of diversity. Imagine explaining the uses with 2-D or 3-D animation.

Another great idea is using different animated characters to target your various customer segments. Furthermore, if you are targeting teenagers then adding animation is the best way to capture attention.