A Digital Signage Network is a collection of Digital Signage Media Players controlled from some central location via a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide area Network (WAN). Provision is generally made for a Media Scheduler which allows the collection of Media Players to be controlled from a central location. Some solutions also make provision for local operators to customise the Media displayed. A network of Players will generally require a Network Management System to allow the health status of the entire network to be observed from a central point.
Digital Signage Networks deployed in the retail sector for the purposes of advertising may also require a means to provide an Audit Trail of the media played.
The three core sectors who benefit hugely from digital signage are education, retail and corporate.
It displays powerful communications in high definition using live TV or video feed, RSS, HTML and Flash content all on one screen.
A small high-speed network appliance with built-in web server allowing users to configure scheduled, zoned multi-media content for a variety of display screens.
The applications are endless. Digital Signage is a popular choice in education, from Primary Schools through to Higher Education establishments. Through the use of screens placed in reception areas, staff rooms, canteens and boarding houses Digital Signage has been a proven method to communicate to pupils, students, staff and guests. Examples of information used in these environments are sports results, menus, timetable or room changes and photos of school trips.
In the retail sector one only has to saunter through a shopping mall to see examples of digital signage application. Content in this sector can vary from being highly informational, for example listing features of the latest mobile phone, to aspirational, showing images intended to resonate with the viewer, for example pictures of a car rally shown at a performance car dealership.
Digital Signage is becoming commonplace in the corporate arena as a means to communicate to both internal and external staff as well as visitors and customers. Staff facing screens can inform about call statistics in a call centre, sales targets in a business or provide relevant news information on the trading floor of a bank.
Take a pilot study customer. It was discovered that the holiday tour operators were competing for the window space. The tour operators alone gave this customers enough revenue in two months to completely pay for the audio visual projector system. Thereafter he generated income from the projector and estimated about a third more customers coming into his shop. Holidays booked and hence turnover increased which overall had been his main aim.
The following information may be required by Network Administrators before a digital signage solutions is installed on the network. It covers the following issues: Installation, Access, Security,Data Backup and Recovery maintenance . Before contacting a reputable digital signage company ensure that you are able to provide this information. Also choose a company who is partnered with leading digital signage manufacturers as they will have had comprehensive training, and support will be optimal.
If you want to enjoy the same benefits find an audio visual company that can design install and offer post installation support. Ensure that they hold insurance and are qualified electrical engineers who do the installs.
