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The annual Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) kicked off on February 4th, 2025. It brought together the broadcast and pro-AV technology world in a 4-day event that is the highlight of the industry.
The ISE 2025 was the busiest yet since its inaugural post-pandemic 2022 edition, with over 85,000 unique visitors from 168 countries, a 15% increase from the previous year.
The 4-day event drew 1,605 exhibitors, filling Barcelona’s Gran Via's eight halls that span 92,000 m² of exhibition space. The ISE recap below features the key trends and highlights in digital signage and AV technology unveiled at the exhibition.
Integration of AI in AV Solutions
AI-Powered Content Creation
"You compete with AI" was the mantra at the ISE Keynote speech by Brian Solis of Service Now. In his speech, ServiceNow, head of global innovation, delved deep into why AI has become a boogey man-in-the-closet topic in most workplaces.
His speech, "AI is Eating the World: Why the AI Revolution is Good for Business," sort to allay those fears by highlighting ways we can all use this disruptive technology to “unlock the unknown” and re-ignite our productivity.
“When AI starts to become magical is where you expect the unexpected,” said the digital analysts, AI integration and author.
Besides the insightful opening keynote, the AI track showcased outstanding AI meets AV innovation use cases that reveal that AI is a trendsetter in the audiovisual world, reshaping both commercial and retail systems' user experience, analytics, and automation features.
For instance, marketing and publishing leader Invidis, moderating an AI in retail and digital signage conference at the event, explored topics like the use of generative AI in the artistic creation of digital signage.
The digital signage industry expert showcased that AI in AV Technology can automate content generation, enabling real-time personalization and enhanced audience engagement.
For instance, AI-powered content creation features such as avatars can act as relatable middlemen between us and the complex world of AI. Businesses can employ AI in AV as a point of sale or interest feature to enhance sales.
The Invidis conferences also broached topics like Agentic AI and bots, which can solve the digital signage industry problems independently. These personal assistants are a seismic shift from analytic AI, as they can learn, adapt, and collaborate and their users.
For instance, Agentic AI can gather your digital signage real-time data from foot traffic or cameras and leverage it to tailor on-screen content, offering viewers relevant and personalized information at all times.
Over and above that, AI in AV supercharges predictive maintenance and performance optimization of AV equipment, reducing downtime and improving efficiency.
Check our video What ISE Market Experts Think about AI in Digital Signage
Advancements in Display Technologies
MicroLED Displays
LED (Light Emitting Diode) screens are now a staple in the digital signage industry, an upgrade from the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). But, as per AV industry trends at the ISE 2025, MicroLED technology is about to put even the outstanding OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) that we all love for its color quality and high contrast to dust.
Championing the newest kid on the block is M-Cube, a specialist in immersive digital experiences. Their microLED technology will provide bigger, even more realistic screens for large-scale installations. Moreover, the newest technology provides affordability, which previously limited MicroLED technology usage.
MicroLED screens come in prepackaged sizes, making them expandable. Another difference between MicroLED screens and regular LED is that there are millions of LED bulbs on them, meaning that each pixel offers incredible brightness and infinite dynamic contrast. They are so good that you can view each micro-LED’s reflection on the screen. Then, you can enhance each screen using different pixel pitches.
More to that, Micro LEDs last longer than OLED screens, plagued with faster pixel degradation or “Burn-ins." Even more amazing is that while Micro LED technology offers more screen brightness, if you put a hand up to the screen, you do not feel any heat coming off it at all. Therefore, these screens enhance energy efficiency, making them ideal for large-scale installations.
E-Paper Displays
Leading the e-Paper Displays ISE 2025 highlights are companies like Samsung. Samsung Electronics Color e-Paper is a near-zero power paper thin slim display. Its digital ink technology, mobile app, and rechargeable battery perfectly replace old-school posters and fliers in retail stores and office meeting rooms.
E-paper displays gained attention for their low power consumption and readability in various lighting conditions, offering sustainable signage solutions.
Emphasis on Sustainable Solutions
Energy-Efficient Displays
Do you know that LED technology has lowered the digital signage display industry's electric power consumption by 70%? Then, screen features like motion sensors, intelligent content scheduling, or brightness controls further lower digital signage carbon footprint innovations. That said, the multi-award winning, energy-efficient e-Paper displays offer zero power static content displays at incredible color depth!
Manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and Sharp NEC Display Solutions showcased energy-efficient ePaper products that offer amazing visual quality without the drawbacks of content playback energy consumption. These digital signage innovations lower the environmental impact of digital signage through energy-efficient static displays.
Eco-Friendly Materials
The digital signage industry is indeed more eco-friendly than its traditional printed signage counterpart. That said, while it does lower the industry's printing carbon footprint, further innovations in the use of recyclable and sustainable materials in AV equipment is a challenge that innovators at the ISE 2025 took head-on.
Leading the charge in sustainable digital signage solutions is SOLUM's Touch Finding Solution, which blends its Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) to offer eco-friendly AI-driven personalized pricing displays. On the other hand, Hikvision LED digital signage displays showcased its TÜV Rheinland Green Product Mark-certified LED display products. TÜV Rheinland-certified ‘Green’ products follow eco-friendly manufacturing and full-cycle quality control, which are now a priority in meeting global environmental standards.
Enhanced Interactivity and Immersive Experiences
Interactive Kiosks and Touchscreens
Some fan-favorite ISE 2025 highlights were innovations in touch technology. The retail track that ran on mid-morning Thursday showcased awe-inspiring customer-facing technologies like interactive mirrors and digital mannequins for fashion shoppers, powered by innovations in touchscreen technology.
Developments in sensors and camera technology have led to the design of 3D holographic signage and video wall innovations that support interactive kiosks, enabling more engaging user interactions in retail and informational settings.
Immersive LED Overlays
We have already touched on how the good people at M-Cube employ MicroLED technology to reboot how businesses and their customers feel, connect, and engage in-store. Besides M-Cube,
Major display companies like Alfalite, Philips (PPDS), LG, Samsung, Dynascan, and Panasonic showcased LED overlays that are the future of display depth and dynamic visual effects.
The Multi-Technology Zone had dozens of other ISE flagship exhibitors showing the highest resolution displays in versatile, transparent, folding, curved displays. For instance, we loved Panasonic's blend of seamless video walls, starlight-like projectors, and 4K displays, the dream of all corporate, educational, and studio presentation technology designers.
Highlights from Leading Exhibitors
LG's Transparent OLED Displays
The LG Booth ISE 2025 displayed its collaboration with design companies like Kartell, showcasing how transparent OLEDs can enhance the exhibition of luxury furniture for interior design applications. The blend of Kartell's iconic furniture and the use of transparent materials with LG's transparent OLED TV create a transformative home ambiance that will change how we live, connect, and interact with our indoor living spaces.
LG Kinetic LED Media Art
LG Electronics' impressive charge at the ISE 2025 theme was “Customised Solutions, Optimised Growth.” Under this theme were LG's advanced technologies and solutions for its B2B clients in retail, hospitality, education, corporate, and transport sectors. The appliance brand booth entrance unveiled its ‘shape-shifting’ Kinetic 88 connected LED display, complete with a 360-degree horizontal rotation for captivating visuals.
Using a QR code, visitors to the LG Booth ISE 2025 booth could upload their pictures to the screen and watch as LG’s generative AI turned them into Pop Art-style characters. Another outstanding feature was LG MAGNIT, its commercial microLED wall and 136-inch AM microLED display for the high-end retail living room.
Samsung The Wall: 462-Inch MicroLED Display
Samsung's impressive 462-inch MicroLED display, known as "The Wall," stole the show with its stunning visuals and captivated attendees. The giant 4K Smart wall facade's immersive visuals stood out at the Samsung Booth ISE 2025, a challenger to LG’s MAGNIT. Besides The Wall's micro-LED technology's stunning, vibrant clarity and colors, its technology also eliminates the need for extensive post-production adjustments.
The Future of Digital Signage and AV Technology
The Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025 is a benchmark for the audiovisual and systems integration industry innovations for the new year.
AV Industry trends like kinetic LED displays, large-scale immersive installations, and energy-efficient e-paper technology are real-world AV applications that will positively impact efficiency, reliability, and the performance of the digital signage and display sector.
