Museums worldwide have undergone a significant digital transformation, accelerated dramatically by the challenges of recent global events. The 2021 Museum Innovation Barometer by MUSEUM BOOSTER reveals essential insights that museum directors and curators must consider to enhance visitor engagement through digital innovation, notably through tools like mobile audio-guides.

Growing Digital Expectations from Visitors:

• Increased Adoption of Digital Tools: Over 80% of museums see digital technology as "very important" or "extremely important" to future success.
• Mobile & Web App Usage: 70% of museums plan to expand their use of mobile and web applications to deliver personalized visitor experiences.

Interactive Content and Personalized Experiences:

• Audio and Video Content Leading: 85% of museums regularly use audio and video elements in exhibitions, highlighting visitors’ preference for rich multimedia experiences.
• Significant Rise in Digital Mediation: Over 30% of museums plan to introduce portable multimedia and audio guides, showing a growing commitment to personalized storytelling and interactive content.

Enhancing Visitor Flow and Experience:

• Increased Demand for Digital Wayfinding: Digital tools for visitor flow, real-time tracking, and wayfinding are planned by nearly 25% of museums, significantly more than current usage levels.
• Improved Visitor Journey: 66% of museums emphasize the importance of enhancing visitor journeys through technology to create smoother, more intuitive experiences.

Expanding Digital Revenue Streams:

• New Digital Offers: 28% of museums successfully launched new digital revenue-generating tools, including online guided tours and virtual experiences, indicating significant untapped potential for monetizing digital content.
• High-Value Digital Content: Online guided tours, virtual exhibits, and interactive audio content are among the preferred formats.

Future-Proofing Your Museum with Mobile Audio-Guides:

• Seamlessly integrating preferred multimedia elements, enhancing visitor understanding and emotional engagement with exhibitions.
• Effectively addressing evolving expectations, offering engaging, personalized content.
• Enhancing visitor journeys, providing intuitive navigation, personalized pacing, and enriching content.
• Offering a potential new digital revenue stream by providing high-value, easily monetized content.

You can find the study here: https://cultureactioneurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Museum-Innovation-Barometer-2021.pdf