“Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction” – Lewis Carroll

Would it be possible to navigate the world around us if we were not pointed in the right direction? If we just take a cursory look and we cannot ignore that the signs are all around us – literally. Modern-day signages, whether they are directional or informative, have undergone a huge transformation. These signs today play a key role in businesses. The right signage, the consistency of display, the choice of the right colour contributes greatly to the visual branding of a company. Having said this, while it might seem that all signs are created equal in the modular signage universe, the truth is far from it. With the wide variety of signages on offer which one suits your requirements best? After all, a wayfinding sign will be quite different to signs needed for visual merchandising right? When it comes to signages, sign makers not only have to look at the aesthetics of the design but should also take into consideration the following:

Functionality
As the name suggests, modular signs have to be, well, modular. As we move towards an ecosystem where users want more self-service, modern-day modular signages should give the users the freedom to make changes to the signages with ease. Certain environments such as hospitals, offices, banks etc. need signs that can be changed easily. The modular signs need to offer the flexibility to change with the least possible effort.
Since the needs of modern-day businesses keep changing, they always look for scalability and consistency – especially when it comes to signage. For example, if a hospital opens a new branch, it would want the signages in the new branch to be completely aligned with their existing units. For this, the sign maker should have the capability to replicate the modular signages at scale.

Maintainability of the signages is another area to inspect. Businesses need to ensure that the material used for the modular signage corresponds with its place of use to ensure product longevity and that it makes no high-end maintenance demands. When it comes to modular signage, one should ideally be able to fit it and forget about it and let it do its work in silence.

Consultative Support
Having access to a bunch of signage solutions will not help unless you exactly know how and where you can use those signs. Whenever you are working with a modular signage vendor, see if they can provide you the consultative support. Looking at a vendor who knows the market and is aware of the design trends will be able to help you not only get the modular sign that you think you need but will actually help you select the sign that is actually right for the need. Further, as the name suggests, modular signs come in parts and have to be installed. While installing modular signs is easy, you need to make sure that the vendor offers you the support and guidance to install the sign in the right order.

Innovation
As in any other industry, for signages too, you should look for a vendor who builds innovation in their approach. Having long-standing associations with the best in class designers, keeping an eye on latest developments, and having the capability to identify needs should lead to new product development capabilities. Whether it is to augment a signs’ aesthetic value or to improve its longevity, partnering with a company that focuses on product innovation ensures that you have access to the latest design trend that is in the market.

Service
‘Service’ is one key ingredient that differentiates a good company from a great one. In the journey to choosing modular signs, along with looking at the product portfolio, you should also look at their service portfolio. You need to assess what kind of post-sale support you will get. Will the company help you in case if you need any assistance once the sign has been installed? How well will product issues, if any, be resolved? Do they have the manpower who are equipped with the right knowledge and skills to guide new users will dexterity? Do they have the capability to answer all questions asked by the customer? Will they make the effort to inform you for product upgrades if it is relevant to your need? Will they look at your business as their own and ensure they help you make the right product selection? Will they help you in addressing your signage issues proactively even after a sale has been completed? The more ticks you have in these checkboxes, the better it is for you.
With this laundry list in place selecting the right vendor to address your modular signages requirements becomes a piece of cake.
What parameters have you been using to assess your signage vendors?