In an article published by Forbes, the author asks their readers to describe their ideal museum experience. Instead of browsing the entire museum, “What if you come to a museum and select one item of interest to you?"
What if museums could help curate their collections better and offer visitors the best of their collections?
Naturally, the question arises: How can museums achieve this?
With a little help from museum digital transformation technologies, of course.
In an era of AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and data analytics, museums can go beyond their physical exhibits and offer customized and personalized experiences to visitors through digital transformation.
Imagine the following scenarios:
Digital galleries of exhibits accessible through a single click on a web browser or mobile app
Augmented-reality supported exhibits that come to life on mobile devices
Multi-language audio tours that transcend borders and cultures to offer an unparalleled visitor experience
Digital transformation started out as a necessity during the Covid-19 pandemic but has today played a key role in making museums relevant in an increasingly digital world.
In fact, a staggering 98% of museums realized the urgency of investing in online platforms and digitizing their collections after the pandemic.
In this article, we explore the profound benefits and new possibilities that museum digital transformation brings, from personalized visitor experiences to unlocking data that can improve museum functionality.
Why Museums Need Digital Transformation?
Museums in the USA in 2024 are navigating various challenges, particularly revenue loss due to a decrease in museum visitors.
As of October 2020, museums faced an average revenue loss of approximately $850,000 due to the pandemic, highlighting the necessity of a museum digital strategy.
To rebound from this, museums are exploring innovative digital avenues. The comprehensive integration of digital technology into museum digital strategy extends to all aspects of a museum's operations.
This includes digitizing collections and revolutionizing audience engagement, educational outreach, and revenue generation, which are key to the impact of digital transformation.
This strategy focuses on using mobile technologies and online platforms to enhance visitor experiences and educational opportunities.
For example, a study conducted by Axiell, which surveyed 71 museum professionals globally, emphasized digital transformation in the museum industry.
The research revealed that the integration of smartphones and tablets allows for more personalized visitor interactions, leading 53% of museums to invest in such engagement strategies as part of their museum digital strategy.
Digital transformation in museums is essential for creating a sustainable future, going beyond immediate financial recovery.
This approach offers long-term benefits like increased accessibility and reaching wider audiences, key aspects of the importance of digital transformation. It also opens new channels for revenue generation, such as virtual memberships, online events, and digital product sales, underscoring the impact of digital transformation in the museum industry.
Let’s understand these advantages in further detail in our next section.
Key Benefits Of Digital Transformation In Museums
Till now, we have learned that the impact of digital transformation on museums has been strong. Despite 69% of museums claiming to have a digital strategy, only 23% have partially digitized their collections.
This gap presents a unique opportunity for museums to pioneer in the realm of virtual offerings, addressing a high demand with a relatively low supply in the US.
Digital transformation opens up numerous avenues for revenue generation, which is crucial considering the importance of digital transformation in sustaining and growing museum operations.
Methods such as charging admission for special online events, offering virtual memberships, and conducting virtual tours can significantly boost revenue streams.
These digital offerings are not limited by physical space or location, enabling museums to reach a broader audience globally. For instance, virtual events can accommodate far more participants than in-person events, breaking geographical and logistical barriers.
Additionally, selling digital products and offering virtual courses are innovative ways to leverage a museum's unique assets and expertise.
Digital products can range from high-value resources to exclusive online content, while virtual courses offer an educational dimension, making museums centers for lifelong learning. These offerings not only drive revenue but also enhance the museum's prestige and impact.
As museums navigate their digital transformation strategies, we will explore the different digital transformations available on the market. Here’s how you can effectively implement these strategies to achieve desired outcomes, with assistance from Museums22’s team!
Types Of Museum Digital Transformation To Increase Museum Revenue and Visitors
Here are the specific digital transformations that Museums22 offers to museums:
Full Stack Museum App - The Complete Experience
Plans and Pricing:
Starts from $199 per month*
Features:
Comprehensive app solution with PWA and mobile app options, offering unlimited downloads.
Content development for audio tours and options for augmented and virtual reality features.
User dashboard, analytics dashboard, and content management system.
Social connect services like push notifications and newsletter sending.
Features for events and exhibitions, and extensive options for virtual tours.
Online Web Gallery - Digitize Your Collections!
Plans and Pricing:
Starts from $149 per month*
Features:
Web-based gallery platform adaptable to all devices and supports various media types, including images, videos, audio, and text.
Customizable themes, bulk import into media library, and cloud storage options ranging from 3GB to unlimited.
API access, controlled download by visitors, and social media sharing capabilities.
QR code generation for each exhibit and search functionality.
Support services include online backend training, troubleshooting, and maintenance, with optional SEO services for promotion.
Number and QR based Audio Guide App - For An Interactive Visit
Plans and Pricing:
Starts from $149 per month*
Features:
Platforms include Progressive Web App (PWA), and options for Android and iOS apps.
Unlimited downloads, with content development for audio tours.
Features like registration and login, favorites, social media feedback links, and feedback pop-up.
Audio guides available in multiple languages with various content formats.
Enhanced navigation options including museum map-based and key press-based navigation.
GPS Based Tours Audio Guide App - Make Tours Easy
Plans and Pricing:
Starts from $149 per month*
Features:
Offers PWA and mobile app platforms, with unlimited downloads.
GPS-enabled audio tours for multiple points of interest, with various language options.
Features include on-location and off-location access, list view of points, and a gallery classification system.
Event and exhibition features with image and text descriptions.
*Note: Each museum digital transformation offer comes with a free one-month trial option.
Why Museums22 Is Your Perfect Partner In The Museum Revolution
"The great growling engine of change—technology," as Alvin Toffler famously stated, aptly describes the museum digital transformation unfolding in the museum industry.
Museums22 has been at the forefront of this transformation:
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai:
The NGMA, spanning three campuses, leveraged digital transformation during the pandemic to enable virtual visits from home. This initiative was particularly impactful when physical visits were impossible.
The museum's app, available on various platforms, features audio tours for multiple galleries and exhibitions in several languages. This inclusiveness is a key aspect of the importance of digital transformation.
The NGMA's digital transformation during the pandemic resulted in 10,539 registered users, with 9,265 active users, 33,630 points visited, 3,183 QR scans, and a distribution of usage with 57% on the web, 27% on Android, and 16% on iOS. Additionally, a total of 21,763 tours were accessed on Android, iOS, and PWA platforms.
Jaya He New Museum at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai:
Located in one of the world’s busiest airports, this museum presents unique challenges in terms of security and visitor traffic.
The museum's audio guide app and tours are designed for a diverse audience, overcoming hardware maintenance challenges in a high-security transit space.
Quick response scan codes on each artwork enable in-transit passengers to engage with the exhibits without needing to download an app, a testament to the digital transformation purpose of increasing accessibility.
The app not only features tours of the airport museum but also includes tours of various tourist destinations across nine cities, further extending its utility and audience reach. This approach also generates additional revenue for the museum
Join us on this exciting journey – book your free demo today!
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