What is Digital Signage

Digital signage is a sub-segment of signage. Digital signs use technologies such as LCD, LED and Projection to display content such as digital images, video, streaming media, and information. They can be found in public spaces, transportation systems, museums, stadiums, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and corporate buildings etc, to provide wayfinding, exhibitions, marketing and outdoor advertising.

What are the componentes of Digital Signage

There are many components to a digital signage solution, but these can be covered in a few broad categories:

• Hardware – the physical components: screens, media players (if necessary), network components, mounts, etc.
• Software – the content and/or device management system(s) and playback software on media players
• Connectivity – the ways in which digital signs connect back to the content management system, whether using hard line, Wi-Fi or mobile technologies
• Installation – the entire installation process, from site surveys through the final installation
• Content – the biggest ongoing cost of the network: the continuous creation of or subscription to fresh content to keep the network current and relevant
• Procurement – the channels end customers use to purchase the various parts of the digital signage network

It can be a confusing process! Coming up with the idea of creating a digital signage network, whether for revenue, branding, education or information is complex and therefore time-consuming. Hopefully, this course will provide a good starting point and assist you as you look to become a Digital Signage Professional.

Identifying Your Customer Needs

The first question you ask your customers – and the one that they often struggle to answer – is “what is the ideal result once your deploy your digital signage network?” This is the first step in identifying your potential customer’s goals and objectives, and you can go a little deeper with a few more questions:

• How many screens are you looking to deploy?
• What’s the timeline for the project deployment?
• What’s your content strategy?
• Do you have a budget?

After conducting this exploration process you tend to either quickly move to a demonstration of our capabilities or the potential customer decides they have homework to do. Either scenario is a good one. If you’ve got a clear understanding of the intent and the resources required to make your network a successful one, it’s time to get some screens and get your feet wet. If you don’t, it’s far better to take a step back and think it through instead of falling into the trap that many people do: buying screens, hanging them up and spend months trying to figure out what to do with them.