Monthly Archives: May 2023

Will SIGNAGE survive the current AI revolution

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3D sign

White, Illuminated 3D sign

Will SIGNAGE survive the current AI revolution

If you are alive and online – which we can assume you are if you are seeing and reading this post – you MUST have heard of AI (artificial intelligence) and how it is likely to reshape the workplace and employment in the future – both foreseeable and long term.

When asked if Signage will survive the current AI revolution, ChatGPT answered as follows: “Absolutely! While artificial intelligence is revolutionizing many aspects of business and technology, signage serves a different purpose entirely. Signage is a tangible and physical way for businesses to communicate their brand, products, and services to customers. Signs can be seen, touched, and experienced in a way that AI cannot replicate. Additionally, many signs are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, which is not a task that AI has yet mastered. So, rest assured that signage will continue to be a vital part of businesses for many years to come, even in the age of AI. “

This writer tends to agree with ChatGPT, but not necessarily for the same reasons.

While there are AI programs and Apps available that can CREATE wonderful pictures, logo’s and pieces of art, all of which can be incorporated into modern signage, it is the physical creation (or manufacturing) that has yet to be repalced by a machine.

Yes, there are computer based tools such as 3D printers and benders that can help create a 3D sign, but at this time – and for the foreseeable future, it does not look likely that sign makers will be replaced by robots. Good news for sign makers, not necessarily such good news for customers as when items are not made by machines they tend to be more costly.

This is definitely the case when it comes to signage, especially since the vast majority of signs are custom – custom look, custom design, custom feel and custom size – there is very little chance of an affordable robot taking over the physical work that is necessary when making most, especially 3D, signs.

One can ask if signs will be required in the future, especially as the world moves to digital which can do so much and is fast becoming more and more affordable. This writer believes that digital signs will be used more and more to sell – lifestyles, products, services and time – BUT for the foreseeable future BUSINESSES will still be physical – people want to touch and smell and feel – which cannot be created online, and as long as people want to touch they will want to go to physical stores (or physical destinations) which will most likely continue to want signs to make customers, prospective customers and suppliers aware of where you are. People want to SEE your business.

To find out how SignForce can assist your business to make itself visible contact SignForce now on info@signforce.co.za or WhatsApp +27 (0)82 558 6413 or call +27 (0)11 440 7525

http://www.signforce.co.za

Illuminated 3D signs

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3D signage

3D sign, internally illuminated

 

Signage is a simple industry, that is until it IS NOT.

Signage is one of the few industries this writer is aware of that has almost ZERO barriers to entry, with the resulting HIGH level of competition that one would expect from an industry that is established, simple and requires very little specialized knowledge or specialized equipment.

Since signage has been sound for thousands of years – yes literally (but not quite the way it is today) signage seems to be a simple industry to get into. And in reality for the most part signage is a simple industry.

As with any industry – or sport – it is very simple to be a spectator and KNOW what the ‘experts’ or players should be doi9ng, but when one suddenly finds yourself say on center court at Flushing Meadows facing a serve from Ivan Lendl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Lendl) what always seemed like a simple move is suddenly more than overwhelming. I can attest to this from personal experience, as for kicks I was asked to face a serve or two from Mr. Lendl. Needless to say, he had the first tennis ball back in his hand BEFORE my tennis racquet HAD MOVED!!!

As the saying goes, professional’s make complex tasks look simple, mostly because they PRACTICE over and over and over again, so when they get to face an unusual situation – or a sign that looks simple but is in fact highly complex to produce in 3D format – the time practicing allows one to come up with workable solutions.

The YINGLI SOLAR sign at the top of this post is one such sign. Looking at the sign one would never imagine the multitude of ways the sign can be produced to create the desired 3D look and feel the client desired.

SignForce managed to produce the internally illuminated 3D sign after some interesting fabrication were assessed, and got the sign out ON TIME! And ON BUDGET!

When you are in the market looking for signs that have a strict deadline and a set budget, SignForce is the supplier for you.

Contact SignForce now on info@signforce.co.za or +27 (0)11 440 7525 or WhatsApp +27 (0)82 558 6413

Find out more about SignForce by visiting http://www.signforce.co.za