What is Digital Signage?

Digital signage is a term used to describe the display of up to the minute information on electronic devices such as plasma screens, LCD panels, and projectors. Other terms such as narrowcasting, electronic billboards, digital messaging and place-based media are also used to describe this communication tool. Information can be common or unique among any number of display devices and information from multiple sources can be displayed simultaneously.

No special hardware is required, information is assembled using a standard Windows® based computer and transmitted across a network to a PC near or inside the display device(s). This local computer will display the content on one or more screens as scheduled or based on an event or trigger. Entire networks of displays can be managed from a single point. The system can support any number of displays and scale as the network grows. Redundant operation, hardware monitoring, content monitoring and feedback to a central management point is easy to provide through the software.

Effective digital signage combines data from a number of sources with your media assets to deliver relevant content to the viewer. Some data sources are internal information such as databases, internal feeds or triggers. Some data may be external such as RSS feeds that provide weather and news information. Lastly, there are local feeds that can respond to local inputs such as a touch screen, camera or RFID. The digital signage system combines this information to determine the most appropriate content for that unique viewer. This data centric approach makes interactivity (either through internal or external triggers) easy to incorporate into your digital signage.

Where Can Digital Signage be Used?

Digital signage can be used wherever there is a need to communicate to individuals or large groups of people. It is more than just replacing static signage with digital displays (replacing whiteboards, easels and posters) it increases operational efficiency and performance, while facilitating decisions. Digital signage is being implemented across all business sectors, including:

Private Sector - Often used in lobbies to communicate with visitors and customers, or employee areas for human resources and corporate communications, digital signage can provide the right message to the right audience at the right time. In the financial services markets, real-time information provides a call to action. In production environments, performance metrics, process requirements and instructional information can be delivered to targeted areas for quality assurance purposes.

Service Sector – Retail, hotels, auditoriums, restaurants and sports stadiums are common venues for digital signage. Providing customers with product information, special offerings, current schedules, wayfinding directions or real-time information such as news and weather helps inform and engage your patrons and visitors. For timely advertising and impulse decision influencing at the point of purchase, digital signage provides a more compelling message. Many retailers and advertisers are seeing the advantages of in-store digital signage over traditional print and television buys. They are reaching their target audience and viewers are captive – they can’t change the channel. Retailers can dynamically change the content being displayed based on factors, such as inventory levels, margins, time of day, POS data, etc.

Public Sector – Providing timely and relevant information to the public can be demanding. Education, healthcare and transportation facilities typically serve large and diverse audiences, with a small number of staff members who are focused on other functions. By tapping into the information that you have at hand, you can automate much of your information delivery tasks without any additions to head count.

How can I find out more?

The Omnivex sales and support group can help you assess whether or not digital signage is appropriate for your business. Our consultants have extensive industry experience and have excellent relationships with the major industry stakeholders.

Contact sales@omnivex.com or call 905-761-6640 or toll free 1-800-745-8223.

Omnivex Digital Signage Software

The industry’s most complete software suite designed specifically for managing digital signage networks covering content, device, and data management.