South Korean household names Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Co. command unrivalled leadership in global commercial digital displays as well as screens for homes.

According to market researcher Omdia on Thursday, Samsung Electronics commanded the largest 34.2 percent share in worldwide shipments in digital signage in the first quarter ended March this year. The company has stayed at the top for the past 11 years in a row, with share expanded from 27.9 percent in the previous quarter and 26.8 percent in the first quarter of 2019.

LG Electronics claimed the second largest share of 14.5 percent in the January-March period this year, followed by Japan’s NEC with 5.8 percent and China’s SeeWo with 4.0 percent.

Global commercial display market has been expanding rapidly this year as companies increasingly look for ways to communicate with customers and advertise their products without direct contacts amid increased health concerns from the coronavirus crisis. According to U.S. market research firm NPD Group, revenue at drive-thru stores, one of prime users of digital signage, in the country amounted to $8.3 billion in March alone.

More food and drink franchises are increasing use of commercial displays for customer communication, said a market expert.

Demand for digital signage from other industrial sectors is also rising on growing use of digital contents.

“Digital signage’s presence in everyday life is rapidly growing bigger,” said Ha Hye-seung, head of commercial display business team at Samsung Electronics, adding that displays are evolving into a comprehensive solution that combines software and hardware aspects into one.

By Hwang Soon-min and Cho Jeehyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]