Retail is no longer just about stocking shelves and ringing up customers, and it hasn’t been for a while. Companies like Amazon have been testing out connected retail applications as far back as 2018 with Amazon Go.

Today, more and more leading retailers are blending their physical retail stores and digital worlds to create what’s known as a connected retail store. These stores use technology to deliver smoother, faster, and more personalized shopping experiences.

If you’ve ever picked up a coffee you ordered on an app, tried on shoes with a smart mirror, or walked through a store without stopping at a checkout line, you’ve experienced connected retail in action. 

In this article, we’ll break down what a connected store actually is, show you real examples of brands doing it well, and explain the technology that makes it all work.

A connected retail store is a physical store that links its in-person shopping experience with digital tools and data. The goal is to remove friction for customers and give retailers better insights and control over everything from inventory to promo management.

Connected retail can include technologies like:

Smart shelves that update pricing in real time.

Mobile apps that let customers switch from online shopping to physical, scan, pay, and access loyalty rewards.

Digital signage that displays dynamic promotions, product info, and more.

Sensors and AI video surveillance cameras that perform inventory management and help optimize the customer journey.

Supply chain integration that connects in-store sales data directly to warehouses and suppliers, providing actionable insight for greater efficiency.

Systems that track inventory levels and provide live stock feedback across both online and offline channels.

Workflow automation tools that improve efficiency by alerting staff to tasks like restocking shelves, managing curbside pickups, or fulfilling online orders.

Instead of treating online and offline shopping as separate, connected retail blends the two into one experience. Customers move seamlessly between channels, and retailers get a smarter store that adapts in real time.

5 examples of a connected retail environment

NIKE | Smart Fitting Room | TAKELEAP

Nike stores in cities like New York and Shanghai connect digital and physical shopping in many ways. For example, customers can use the Nike app to scan products for more details, check real-time inventory, or reserve items to try on. Smart fitting rooms and self-service pickup lockers also make the experience faster and more personalized.

Smart Mirror Experience offering Virtual Try On Make up at Sephora Store

Sephora brings online data into its physical stores by allowing customers access to their profiles in-store. But that’s not all; they can also try makeup virtually with AR mirrors and get personalized recommendations that sync with their app. This creates a continuous loop between digital and in-person shopping.

Digital smart labels hitting store shelves

Many grocery stores like Walmart use smart shelves, digital displays, and mobile checkout to improve efficiency. Some locations also tie into an online grocery platform, allowing customers to order online and then pick up their shopping curbside with real-time updates.

Starbucks integrates its app into the in-store experience so customers can order ahead, pay digitally, and earn rewards. Drinks are prepared and waiting, which cuts down on lines and keeps the flow consistent.

Quick-service restaurants like McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and others are showing creative ways to use digital signage in retail for a connected experience. Some businesses in this sector link digital menu boards to POS marketing systems and online ordering platforms. This means prices, promotions, and product availability can update instantly across every channel. 

Some also use self-service kiosks, which connect with loyalty programs and mobile apps to give customers a faster, more consistent experience whether they order in-store, online, or through delivery apps.

Key technologies used in connected retail stores

While the way Amazon, Nike, or Starbucks connect their stores looks different, the same building blocks show up again and again. These core technologies are what make connected retail possible:

RFID and sensors: Track products on shelves, update inventory in real time, and trigger alerts when items need restocking.

Computer vision and AI:  Power cashierless checkout, analyze customer behavior, and personalize recommendations.

Digital signage and smart displays: Share dynamic promotions, update pricing, or guide customers through the store.

Mobile apps: Act as the bridge between online and offline, letting customers scan, pay, and access loyalty rewards.

AR and interactive kiosks: Give shoppers virtual try-ons, product comparisons, or catalog browsing right in-store.

Cloud platforms: Keep everything in sync, from POS systems to customer profiles, across all channels and locations.

Together, these tools turn a physical store into a connected environment where everything feels seamless for the customer and more efficient for the retailer.

How to create a connected retail environment with digital signage

If you’re looking to drastically improve your customers’ experience with a connected retail store, digital signage is one of the easiest entry points. Unlike more complex systems, screens are flexible, cost-effective, and can integrate with the tools you already use.

Update information instantly: Menus, promotions, or product details can be changed in real time without the need to print or manually swap signs.

Sync with other systems: A leading digital signage solution like ScreenCloud let you add dozens of integrations to your system. There’s also room for custom integrations with webhooks. That means that your screens can pull data from inventory, loyalty programs, or online ordering platforms, and make sure in-store information matches what customers see online.

Guide the customer journey: From digital wayfinding in large stores to order pickup screens in QSRs, signage helps reduce friction and keep traffic flowing.

Create interactive experiences: Digital and interactive kiosks or QR code displays let customers browse catalogs, check stock, or access reviews on the spot. Social media walls can show what other customers are saying, and even a digital signage store front can create anticipation for interactive experiences.

The best part is that digital signage scales. A single screen in a small boutique can highlight local promotions, while a global food chain can manage thousands of menu boards at once, all connected through the cloud. 

Create your connected retail store with ScreenCloud

Connected retail is already here, and the best examples show how powerful it can be when digital and physical shopping work together. From AR-powered try-ons at Sephora to digital menu boards at McDonald’s, the message is clear: customers appreciate a seamless experience.

The good news is you don’t need to rebuild your store from scratch to get started. Digital signage offers a practical first step, letting you connect promotions, pricing, and customer interactions in real time. Whether you’re a single-location retailer or a global chain, screens can bridge the gap between online and offline shopping.

If you’re ready to explore how digital signage can help you create a connected retail experience, try ScreenCloud today.

The Best Examples of Connected Retail Stores Using Tech Today

See how brands like Nike and Starbucks use connected retail technology. Learn the tools behind it and how digital signage can help you start.

5 Real-World Examples of Connected Retail Stores (and How They Work)

Digital signage is a powerful tool for internal communication or brand awareness. It fills walls in retail stores, flickers in hotel lobbies, and loops announcements in fitness centers. But what about if you have public facing screens, and you're feeling there could be more opportunity? How can you monetize your digital signage network - or what other ways are there to monetize your digital signage screens?

There are numerous ways use screens for revenue generation, from selling advertising space, running promotions to boost your own margins, or partnering with local vendors. Your screen real estate can definitely become a strategic business asset. 

So whether you've already got an established network of digital screens, or you're planning to rollout digital signage, lets look at the options...

1. The business case for monetizing digital signage

As screen installations have grown more common and affordable, digital signage is no longer reserved for flagship locations or enterprise-level budgets. Small to mid-sized businesses now use it to engage customers, manage queues, or simply reduce perceived wait times.

But customer-facing displays, especially in high-footfall environments, also represent untapped potential for monetization. Retailers, transportation hubs, fitness centers, hospitality venues, healthcare providers, and even educational institutions have the ability to leverage that screen real estate (and attention time) for profit.

Rather than seeing signage as a sunk cost, businesses are starting to treat it as commercial real estate. And like physical space, screen space can be rented, optimized, and programmed to return value.

2. Understanding the value of your screen real estate

Before diving into specific monetization strategies, it’s worth evaluating the value of the digital signage you already own.

Several factors determine the commercial potential of a screen:

Location: Displays near entrances, point-of-sale areas, or high-traffic walkways are more valuable than those tucked away.

Dwell Time: A screen in a waiting room or queue gives viewers more time to absorb the message.

Audience Type: Knowing who sees the screen helps determine which advertisers or promotions would be most relevant.

Display Size and Quality: Larger, clearer screens tend to command more attention and higher advertising rates.

If you're using your digital signage system in high traffic areas, or areas with a captive audience, ad revenue can be a simple and obvious step. 

Think of your screens as a type of private network of digital billboards. While they might not serve the specific purpose of displaying promotional material, your digital signage software gives you the power to start bringing in advertising revenue (if you wanted to)...


As an example, this screen below was in a lobby in a ski resort in Austria. The screen was positioned outside a coffee shop, at the foot of the escalators and outside the coffee shop. The screen displays varied between promoting events and services in the ski resort, job openings, content for the coffee shop and other ad partners too. A great example of monetizing a single screen for multiple uses.

3. Option 1: Selling ad space to third-party advertisers

One of the most direct ways to increase revenue with digital signage is to sell ad space to other businesses. This is especially effective in locations that attract diverse or high-volume audiences.

You sell time slots or screen zones to advertisers. These could be:

Local businesses targeting nearby customers

National brands looking to extend their reach

Industry-specific vendors aligned with your audience

For example, a chain of gyms might sell screen space to local meal-prep services or athletic wear retailers. A coffee shop in a transit hub could display ads from rideshare companies, hotels or nearby attractions.

CPM (cost per thousand impressions): Used if you can estimate foot traffic with reasonable accuracy.

Flat monthly fees: Simple and predictable, especially for local advertisers.

Time-of-day pricing: Higher rates during peak hours, discounted slots during quieter periods.

A content management system (CMS) such as ScreenCloud that supports content scheduling and proof-of-play

A media kit with screen specs, audience insights, and pricing tiers

Using a tool like Canva, or ScreenCloud's QuickPost also means you can quickly and easily create professional looking displays with zero design skills.

4. Option 2: Joining a programmatic DOOH network

If manually managing advertisers isn’t feasible, you can join a programmatic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) network. These platforms connect your screens to ad exchanges that automate the buying and selling of ad inventory.

Passive revenue stream: Once your screens are enrolled, ads are served automatically.

Access to national and global advertisers: No need to do local outreach.

Dynamic content rotation: Keeps your screens fresh and diverse.

Revenue per impression is typically lower than direct sales

Less control over ad content, although most networks provide brand safety filters

You may need to share viewer data or install analytics software

At ScreenCloud we offer access to Vengo, which is DOOH platform which allows you to sign up and offer your available screen real estate. You'll need to sign up for an account and be authorized by Vengo - which you can do on their website.

5. Option 3: Promoting your own products and services more strategically

While third-party advertising can create incremental revenue, one of the most valuable uses of digital signage is to promote your own offerings in ways that lift average transaction value or frequency.

Quick-service restaurants featuring premium add-ons or limited-time items

Gyms promoting personal training sessions or nutrition consultations

Retailers highlighting high-margin products or bundle deals

Hotels upselling late check-outs, spa packages, or dining experiences

Rather than displaying generic branding loops, signage should be tightly aligned with your business objectives. Use it to influence buying decisions at key moments - right before a purchase, or while a customer is considering options.

Time-based promotions: Lunch deals advertised just before midday, or end-of-day offers for impulse buys.

Cross-selling: Pairing complementary products (e.g., a jacket with a backpack, or a gym membership with a nutrition plan).

Localized messaging: Tailoring content by location or audience segment.

If done right, this can result in a measurable uplift in sales, often outperforming traditional promotions.

6. Option 4: Selling sponsored content or local partnerships

Not all advertising needs to come from big brands or automated networks. There’s often a strong opportunity in hyperlocal partnerships - especially for independent businesses. Hotels and tourism businesses are a great example of this, but it can be a great opportunity even for small businesses or non-profit organizatons.

You collaborate with nearby businesses to display sponsored content on your screens. This could include:

A local café promoting its new menu in a co-working space

A taxi service advertising in a hotel lobby

A bookstore highlighting community events in partnership with local authors

A gym or physiotherapist promoting their services in a doctor or dentist waiting room 

Barter deals (e.g., you advertise them, they display your posters or distribute your leaflets)

Cross-promotions that benefit both parties

This strategy works best when there is a clear audience overlap and a shared goal to drive footfall, brand awareness, or bookings.

The screen below shows an ad at the checkout in a local store. The content varies between brand announcements, promotional content for products in stock and occasionally some local partnership content such as ads for local cleaners. 

7. Operational considerations and compliance

As with any advertising channel, there are logistics to consider before monetizing your screens.

You’ll need a reliable CMS that allows:

Easy scheduling and zoning of screen layouts

Proof-of-play reporting to verify ad performance

Remote updates, especially for multi-location businesses

As a bonus, digital signage software such as ScreenCloud also offers easy to use design tools. All you need is their text, brand logo and chosen image and you can create sponsored content for clients in minutes. 

One thing to bear in mind is to be careful that third-party ads don’t clash with your brand. If you're a premium hotel, or a healthcare facility, for example, displaying discount ads for fast food may feel out of place.  Drafting content guidelines or approval workflows for external advertisers can help to ensure you get the right clients and you avoid any issues.

Ad disclosures: Ensure sponsored content is clearly identified where necessary.

Data protection: If screens use audience analytics or sensors, privacy compliance is critical.

Licensing: Make sure all visual content, fonts, and media assets are cleared for commercial use.

These areas are often overlooked, but they help protect your business and ensure a smooth rollout.

8. Measuring ROI and optimizing over time

Whether you're selling ad space or using signage to boost your own revenue, tracking performance is essential.

Impressions: How many people are exposed to the content

Engagement: Interactions with QR codes. Some tools might also track NFC triggers (payment kiosks), or include motion sensors

Conversion lift: Comparing sales data before and after campaigns

Dwell time: How long people remain in viewing distance of the screen

You can run A/B tests to compare different types of content or ad formats. For example, does a rotating promotion work better than a static one? Does video outperform image-based content?

Some CMS platforms include analytics dashboards, or you can integrate with third-party tools that track footfall and dwell time using sensors or Wi-Fi signals.

A guide to monetizing digital signage in stores, offices and restaurants through apps, collaborations, advertorials, interactive screens and promotions.

Getting content onto screens is great, but monetizing it is the next step to building an empire and gaining real return from the screens lining your walls.

How to Monetize Digital Signage: Practical Strategies to Generate Revenue

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re already aware of the power of digital signage and how it can impact buyer decisions. And while digital signage is still relatively new, with plenty of stores still using good ol’ paper, there are a whole bunch of reasons why your business should embrace digital signage.

With that in mind, we’re digging into the many digital signage benefits for retail and how simple it is to set up a digital signage system.

If we’re starting at the beginning, then one major benefit of retail digital signage is its ability to drive more customers into your store. Originally, it was only your odd Hollister or Nike flagship store that employed the power of digital window displays. Now, it’s almost everyone.

Our screen-obsessed world has been a big help. We’re naturally drawn to screens, and they catch our attention. Statistics show that 8/10 customers have entered a store because of a digital sign catching their interest. That’s a huge amount of shoppers who otherwise, may have walked right on by.

Retail digital signage is one of the fastest growing areas adopting digital displays. So to stay ahead of the competition and increase foot traffic in your retail environment, harness the benefits of digital signage before your competition does.

Next to almost any bank of tills you have a selection of items just waiting to catch your eye. In grocery stores, it’s candy bars and gum. In clothing stores, it’s often low ticket items like socks, hair ties or umbrellas.

These are primarily impulse buys, a “Sure, I’ll have one” moment at the checkout.

Yet, studies show that serving relevant information close to the point of purchase can also increase purchasing decisions. This is a great case for having digital screens or video walls set up throughout your retail store.

A cleverly placed screen next to your sweaters, showing relevant information about where the material is from, how it’s ethically sourced, what it feels like to wear and so on could make the difference between one purchase or two.

In fact, the retail in-store experience is one of the most important benefits of digital signage , with access to additional information one of the main reasons to embrace a digital signage solution in store.

Read more: Point of sale advertising with digital signage.

With digital signage, you can also easily add social media to your store’s displays. Which leads us onto...

In retail, social media is a huge way to influence and entice shoppers. But it isn’t always easy. Creating effective social media content, rolling it out and getting people to “like” it can be difficult.

With retail digital signage software, it’s simple to repurpose social media content, or user generated content (UGC), and get it in front of your audience without other distractions.

For example, with ScreenCloud, you can harness the power of Instagram or a multi-channel social media dashboard, and display some of the best posts on your in-store digital signage.

This gives you the power to filter out competitors' posts in your niche; highlighting user generated content to those window shoppers, and maybe even attract customers to try your product.

In addition, 44% of shoppers also admit to social media increasing purchasing decisions.

Another method is to highlight customer satisfaction on other platforms such as TrustPilot or Google reviews. Social proof can be a powerful tool to convert more customers.

Read more: How to Make a Digital Signage Window Display

According to a study by Urban Land Institute, 50% of millennial men and 70% of millennial women consider shopping a form of entertainment and something to share with friends and family.

Digital signs are an obvious form of entertainment where you can share everything from your social media to news, videos and advertising. This trend, also known as narrowcasting, feeds into the retailtainment trend and allows you to extend your brand throughout the store.

Digital signage doesn’t have to be boring either. You can have fun with customers, jump on real time marketing trends, use it for retail launches, share your brand story and more.

Using ScreenCloud for managing your digital signage solutions gives you access to many easy to use tools, from streaming to app integrations and more. This means you can create more dynamic and engaging digital signage content, promote products that may not otherwise get attention, or draw attention to other features in store.

When it’s easy to add content, it’s easy to think and test new ways to entertain your customers using your retail digital signage.

Read more: Essential Apps for Retail Businesses

Retail brands invest heavily in their online digital presence but what about their in-store digital presence? In fact its easier than ever to have a cohesive brand between both your online presence and your bricks and mortar store.

The right digital signage solution can make it easier than ever to join up the digital presence happening online, throughout social media and brings it into the physical environment.

Leverage the power of digital signage in your physical store to:

Add user generated or dynamic content to your static displays

Display QR codes for loyalty points, newsletter subscriptions or unique online offers that might get missed in-store

Promote upcoming special offers, sales or in-store events

Whether this is simple tablet sized screens next to specific products, video walls throughout the store, or even digital kiosks for searching your catalogue, there is plenty of opportunity with digital signage for retail.

Digital signs are great big beacons that help tell your customers what to do and where to go. This helps increase sales as customer engagement soars and people feel confident in the decisions they made based on your screens’ recommendations..

An Accenture study found that 92% of shoppers surveyed said real time product availability would influence where they shop. Retail store digital signage is a great way to catalog items and respond to peaks and troughs of specific products.

Raining? Update your electronic display to highlight your rainwear products.

Sudden heat wave? Your digital displays for retail can show that you still have an abundance of summer wear available.

You can even do a countdown on the number of exclusive products you have left which is a great way to increase demand while in the moment. Let your marketing attract customers; use your digital signs to sell.

Last but not least, you can also use digital signage to improve internal communications with staff. Increasingly businesses are leveraging the power of corporate digital signage to communicate with everyone from head office, to the logistics center through to customer facing promotional content.

For internal comms, digital signage can be used to share internal reminders, staff recognition, data and much more.

With digital screens, you can easily repeat this information in key areas such as employee break rooms, staff areas, store rooms and more. This gives employees multiple reference points and the chance to absorb ambient content in a more relaxed setting.

Repetition increases the ability to retain information, and a quick video on a digital screen is far more approachable than a printed leaflet or shouty email. The rapid-fire pace of digital signage also means your staff members aren’t faced with out of date signs or notices pinned to the staff board.

When they know that they’re only served relevant, timely information, they become much more receptive to it.

The revamped Nike Santa Monica store shows just how much you can accomplish with retail store digital signage, from creating interactive experiences to curating customer engagement.

One example is a wide, interactive table stop screen that scans sneakers and displays important info, like their specs and pricing information. Technology like this could be very useful in retail stores where store digital signage can do more than just promote new products.

But the power of retail digital signage software doesn't stop there as you can use screens to give customers freedom. For example, let them design their outfits, choose colors, fit, and more! We’ve already seen this in the Nike store with the ‘Nike by you” booth that lets you customize your Nike products, with the option to preview your creation. 

This new Nike store in Santa Monica is dope! 🏃👟 I’d go back just for more custom t-shirts 🤭 📍3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica #nikestore #santamonica #nikeoutfits #losangelesshopping #fitchec #mysecretla 

https://www.tiktok.com/@secret.losangeles/video/7253304921578114346 

Your store’s example could be much simpler, like having interactive touch screens in your retail environment that lets visitors experiment with products in real time.

cost, and you won’t need an extra pair of hands to roll it out.

10. Supercharge visual merchandising with dynamic content

Traditional visual merchandising relies on static displays and manual setup; these are great for storytelling, but not very agile. With digital signage, on the other hand, you can turn your visual merchandising into a living, breathing part of your store. 

So besides the ability to enhance customer engagement, digital screens will also help you:

Rotate product features based on time of day, season, or local events.

Spotlight slow-moving stock using targeted visuals and offers.

Sync visuals with inventory systems to showcase what’s in stock and avoid promoting sold-out items.

Coordinate content across departments to support cross-selling (e.g. pairing jackets with boots).

You can do this with all your screens, or a select few at choice locations. 

11. Streamline visual merchandising experiments

Retail businesses constantly test layouts, colors, and messaging to optimize product placement and improve the in store experience. Now, the process for this traditionally involves printing, replacing, and adjusting physical displays; it’s slow, costly, and hard to measure.

With digital signage, you can A/B test visuals, promos, and layout concepts instantly. Want to see which window displays will draw more eyeballs? Or whether a “limited time” message converts better than “new arrival”? 

Run both versions on your retail store digital signage and see what the response is. 

Using ScreenCloud for your digital signage software

Get started with ScreenCloud for retail digital signage.

ScreenCloud is the retail signage software of choice for thousands of brands across the world. From digital menu boards to interactive screens, ScreenCloud can be set up in minutes using readily available display screens and consumer equipment.

Connect your digital screens and run the ScreenCloud content management system to change the game in your retail business.

Make your retail store shine with digital signage. Start our 14-day free trial today.

Benefits of using digital screens in retail include driving traffic, selling more products, and more. See how to make these work for your store.

With the shopping season upon us, retailers usually have their Black Friday, Christmas and New Year shopping promotions planned out. And while this is great, and an important part of the retail calendar, using digital signage for your Black Friday or seasonal promotions can make a huge impact.

In fact studies show that 8 out of 10 shoppers have been drawn to a store because of their digital signage. And, 40% of shoppers have been influenced by digital signage for their purchasing decisions. (Digital signage statistics) 

So this is all well and good. But how can you leverage the power of your retail digital signage to make more sales this Black Friday?


How can you promote your Black Friday discounts more effectively? Digital signage for retail stores offers many ways to make more sales for your business

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