The DSA is launching the DSA Industry Awards for Excellence this week. Your first thought may be, “why do we need another awards program?” or “tell me more, I might like to enter.” If you’d like to know the answers, read on…

First, a quick history

From 2003 through 2009, the Self-Service & Kiosk Association (one of the DSA predecessor organizations), inducted individuals into its Self-Service Kiosk Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, KioskCom presented its Self-Service Excellence Awards for outstanding deployments in various vertical market segments.

Since the Digital Signage Association’s inception in late 2007, there was talk about whether the Association should have its own awards program for digital signage, but recognized that several already existed in the industry.

As you may know, the SSKA and DSA merged in April to form the Digital Screenmedia Association and then announced an agreement in October that would make Customer Engagement Technology World its official show. As the show’s partner, DSA was pleased to assume the awards program previously operated by the show organizer.

If you think about it, it makes sense that the industry’s largest non-profit association should present the industry’s awards. And since our mission is to “advance the growth and excellence of the global digital signage, interactive kiosk and mobile community,” a credible awards program is a great way to do this, shining the spotlight on the best implementations of these technologies.

I'd like to give props to Sean Andersen of Six Flags, who is chairing our awards program (and giving this year's keynote at CETW). 

What’s new?

Since the Self-Service Excellence Awards were refined over the last five years, there was no need to start from scratch. But since the previous awards program only included self-service, we chose to expand it to include digital signage and mobile. Therefore, the categories are still vertical market based and will recognize the best digital signage, self-service kiosk and mobile deployments in:

• Retail
• Financial Services
• Government/Education/Non-Profit Agency
• Travel/Hospitality Deployment
• Entertainment/Gaming
• Healthcare
• Restaurant/Food Service
• Other (industry not listed above)

For example, there will be a Best Digital Signage Deployment at Retail, a Best Self-Service Deployment in Financial Services and so on. Projects that use two or more of the technologies also have an opportunity to win an award called Best Screenmedia Integration.

We are continuing the Industry Deployer of the Year, an individual honor given to an end-user (customer) who has demonstrated leadership and vision in moving a successful screen media program forward in their organization.

We are introducing the Network Operator of the Year, an honor given to a company running a thriving digital-out-of-home network.

Anyone can nominate someone for Industry Deployer of the Year or an organization for Network Operator of the Year.

Award winners will be announced prior to Customer Engagement Technology World in San Francisco in April. While we will not have a formal awards ceremony at the show, we will recognize winners during the opening keynote session and on screens during the show. And of course there will be recognition in the press.

All award submissions will be required to submit a five-minute video demonstration. Videos of the award winning entries will be posted on our site and will serve as a great industry resource.

Want to learn more? Go to our awards page for entry rules, guidelines and links to the entry forms.

Entries are now being accepted and the deadline to enter is March 4.

Good luck!