NECCreating a More Connected Visitor Experience Across the NEC Campus

Summary

Together, SCC and NEC developed a digital signage strategy that replaced fragmented, end-of-life infrastructure with a modern, centrally managed platform. This featured high-impact LED displays, enhanced digital wayfinding and cloud-based content management.

Working as a strategic partner from design through to delivery, SCC helped NEC create a future-ready digital environment that supports both operational objectives and commercial growth. The transformation improved the reliability and manageability of NEC’s digital signage estate, reducing their LCD footprint from approximately 600 screens to 250. This created a simpler, more manageable estate while supporting its long-term strategy to enhance visitor experiences and maximise advertising revenue opportunities across the campus.

Challenge

Over time, NEC’s digital signage estate had become fragmented, with multiple generations of screens, varying manufacturers and ageing technology spread across its venues. Many displays were becoming increasingly unreliable, with ageing hardware requiring frequent resets and replacements. This created support overheads while limiting NEC’s ability to deliver the high-quality visitor experiences expected by event organisers, exhibitors and attendees.

The organisation also wanted to maximise the commercial value of its estate by creating more impactful advertising opportunities and improving visitor wayfinding across its campuses. As Mike Davis, Head of Partnerships at NEC explained, “the NEC had many screens across our campus, but they were relatively small. What we wanted to do, really, was to have fewer screens, but with a much higher impact.” NEC needed a partner to deliver a modern, scalable platform capable of supporting both visitor engagement and revenue generation.

Solution

SCC worked closely with NEC to define a long-term digital signage strategy focused on enhancing visitor experiences and supporting commercial growth. The programme redesigned the digital signage estate across five campuses, replacing fragmented infrastructure with large-format Hisense digital displays, high-impact LED installations. It also introduced a cloud-based content management platform, enabling centralised control of content across the estate. Technology was standardised throughout the environment to simplify management, improve reliability and create a more consistent digital experience. 

Delivering the programme required far more than a standard AV installation. SCC managed every stage of the project, from strategy, design and technology selection through to implementation, commissioning and responsible recycling of replaced equipment. Working around busy live event schedules, the team coordinated the deployment of new displays, media players and LED technology across multiple venues, ensuring minimal disruption while creating a consistent and centrally managed digital estate. As Mike Davis noted, SCC’s “true end-to-end capability, from pre-sale through design to supply and ongoing delivery” was a key factor in NEC’s decision to partner with SCC. 

Working collaboratively with NEC stakeholders, the team identified opportunities to maximise the impact of digital communications across the campus. The project reduced the LCD footprint from approximately 600 screens to 250, replacing numerous smaller displays with strategically positioned high-impact screens and ‘Hero’ LED installations. Screen locations were also reviewed and repositioned to better align with visitor flow and commercial opportunities. Mike Davis highlighted how SCC were “really proactive with their ideas and offered great advice on where we could put some of our hero screens.”