Why Digital Beats Print for Long-Term Savings
In commercial real estate, every dollar counts. Every upgrade—whether it’s a lobby renovation, a technology investment, or a cosmetic refresh—is scrutinized for its ability to improve Net Operating Income (NOI), strengthen tenant retention, or reduce operating costs. For office buildings, where competition is steep and tenant expectations are higher than ever, proving digital signage cost savings and realizing digital signage ROI is essential.
In our earlier research, we established the foundations of how ROI can be realized using digital signage: It saves money by eliminating print costs, streamlines staff time with centralized updates, and generates new revenue through advertising and sponsorships.
But in 2025, the digital signage ROI conversation is evolving. Today, the value is not just in the dollars saved—it’s in the indirect, often overlooked impacts on tenant experience, brand reputation, employee morale, and operational efficiency. This is the next layer of impact.
Why Digital Signage ROI Matters More in 2025
Office buildings are no longer just about desks, conference rooms, and cubicles. Hybrid schedules and return-to-office dynamics mean tenants and employees evaluate a property differently. They’re asking: Does this work experience make my day easier? Does it reflect innovation and convenience? Does it give me more than I’d get by staying home?
Meanwhile, property owners face rising costs and investor pressure to show clear NOI impact. Aesthetic improvements like new furniture or decorative upgrades may look impressive, but rarely move the needle on tenant satisfaction or operational efficiency.
Digital signage, however, sits at the intersection of experience, efficiency, and economics. It’s an investment that cuts ongoing costs while delivering scalable value in how people interact with a space.
Revisiting the Baseline Digital Signage ROI
Before diving into the next layer, let’s briefly revisit what we already know from prior blogs and research:
- Reduced Operating Costs: Static signage requires paper, printing, and ongoing labor to update. Over time, those costs add up. We’ve seen organizations save tens of thousands annually by replacing paper postings with digital kiosks.
- Revenue Generation: Unlike static directories, digital signage creates opportunities for ad sales, promoting sponsored content, and tenant-paid promotions—new revenue streams that flow directly to NOI.
- Tenant Attraction and Retention: Digital displays modernize the property’s look, demonstrating innovation to prospective tenants and strengthening loyalty among existing ones.
Those points remain true today. But they’re only part of the ROI picture. The new ROI story for 2025 digs deeper into the less tangible—but equally powerful—ways digital signage drives value.
4 Hidden ROI Drivers
- Reduced Frustration = Elevated Brand Perception
Tenants and visitors don’t consciously tally “signage efficiency” on a lease evaluation form. But they do form impressions. A dated lobby directory or outdated paper posting creates confusion and frustration.
But a sleek, interactive digital display that gets people where they need to go? That communicates professionalism, organization, and care. When tenants and guests feel confident navigating a property, they associate that ease with the brand itself.
- Employee Morale and Productivity
Building tenants are focused on employee experience. They want office environments that reduce friction, foster connection, and make employees want to come in. Digital signage contributes by:
- Guiding visitors and new hires to reduce time wasted asking for directions
- Highlighting events and wellness programs that build communit
- Showcasing sustainability dashboards that reinforce company values
Studies support what property managers see anecdotally: 59% of employees say digital signage improves productivity, and 61% say it enhances engagement. These workplace gains translate into tenant satisfaction scores—critical for lease renewals. Even a modest boost in employee morale can strengthen a tenant’s decision to stay long term.
- Operational Efficiency for Property Teams
Property managers juggle endless tasks: communicating with tenants, maintaining compliance, coordinating vendors, and managing budgets. Updating static signage should not consume their time.
With digital signage, teams can push updates across multiple buildings instantly, automate recurring messages, and reduce human error. The ROI here is time recaptured—staff hours redirected to higher-value tenant services. Those labor efficiencies add to your overall digital signage cost savings. When operations run smoother, NOI reflects it.
- Flexibility & Future-Proofing
Static signage locks properties into fixed information delivery. Digital signage adapts. In recent years, we’ve seen displays shift quickly to deliver:
- Health reminders during public health emergencies
- Transit updates to support commuter tenants
- Live building data like air quality, occupancy, or energy savings
This adaptability is part of digital signage ROI. It prevents obsolescence, protecting long-term investment value while ensuring the property can pivot to new tenant or market demands. And because workplace signage boosts engagement by 22%, it demonstrates the operational benefits of having information that’s always timely, accurate, and flexible.
Digital Signage Cost Savings & ROI: The Ripple Effect
Think of digital signage ROI as concentric circles:
- First ripple: Hard-dollar digital signage cost savings (printing, labor, static signage replacements)
- Second ripple: Revenue generation (ads, partnerships, premium placements)
- Third ripple: Intangibles—frustration reduced, morale improved, perception elevated, staff time recaptured
Together, these ripples create a more resilient property with stronger tenant satisfaction, lower vacancy, and higher NOI.
Sustainability & ESG Alignment
Tenants and investors alike demand environmentally responsible practices. Static signage consumes paper, plastic, and other materials. Digital signage reduces waste while also communicating sustainability goals directly on-screen—whether energy dashboards, recycling stats, or green initiatives.
That dual benefit—operational efficiency plus visible ESG alignment—is a critical ROI factor in 2025, when sustainability is a leasing differentiator.
Confidence in Budgeting
We know adopting new technology requires confidence. That’s why TouchSource created the Digital Signage Budgeting Resources Kit, along with a webinar featuring our CEO Ajay Kapoor and VP of Sales Susan Brubaker. These resources cover:
- Cost ranges and common line items
- Hidden expenses to anticipate
- ROI benchmarks from thousands of customer projects
- Templates for purchase justification
By arming property teams with data and tools, we make it easier to build the business case and secure approvals.
The Real ROI: People, Performance, and Perception
At the end of the day, digital signage ROI isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet. It’s the feeling of confidence a tenant gets when they can navigate a building with ease. It’s the pride of place employees feel when they see dynamic content that reflects their values. It’s the efficiency property managers gain when communication is streamlined.
Digital signage cost savings show up in dollars saved and revenue gained—but its greatest value lies in transforming buildings into communities.
Conclusion
The ROI of digital signage is clear—and in 2025, it’s also deeper. Yes, the ROI includes measurable digital signage cost savings and revenue generation. But it also extends to perception, morale, sustainability, and adaptability.
Whether you’re upgrading a single lobby or rolling out across an entire portfolio, digital signage delivers ROI in every sense—financial, operational, and experiential.
Ready to explore the next layer of ROI for your property? We can help you start building your case today. Contact us at info@touchsource.com or 866-476-1872.