What is Digital Signage Software?

Introduction

Digital signage software solutions allow video, animation, and text to be shown on an electronic screen. They deliver content via a remotely handled display such as a computer monitor, television, or a network of digital signs. This signage is meant to inform the public like a menu outside an eatery or an electronic billboard.  

Digital signage is used for marketing, for instance, to build a brand or to improve the customer experience. These solutions are integrated with content management platforms and the latter are used to store, manage, and publish the content on the displays. In addition, digital signage tools need to be integrated with suitable hardware such as the content display screens. The advantages of digital signage software are you can easily manage content from a remote place and also update it as frequently as needed.

Features of Digital Signage Software

Simple-to-Use Software

Digital signage applications are utilized to create, publish, and update the content that the audience sees and interacts with. The content is therefore important to keep the onlookers engaged and informed. The software is typically easy to use and can be effortlessly managed by assigning various levels of user roles.

Commercial-grade Display

This display is more durable compared to consumer-use screens found in homes. Plus, commercial-grade screens provide more facilities for interoperability and external device connection. They typically have stronger consoles, glass, and housing along with heavy-duty hardware which is essential as these screens are operated for long hours each day. Other must-have features for heavy use digital signage solutions are commercial-grade glass, reinforced switches or bezels, A/C, and extended manufacturer’s warranties.

Media Player

A digital signage player is also called a media player. It is basically a small computer that it utilized to display content on the signage system. To keep pace with technology, operators need to update their media players at regular intervals to expand functionality, enhance system performance, and present new tools to interact with their target audience.

Engaging Content

You need engaging and interactive content to entertain, inform, educate, and advertise to the audience. The digital signage solution should first attract onlookers’ audience and keep them hooked long enough so that they comprehend the message and take the action you desire. As the cliché goes, content is king.

Dynamic Content Integration

This feature enables the digital signage platform to effectively deliver relevant content in an engaging, timely, and easily repeatable manner. The integrations permit operators to update the content automatically without the need for user involvement.

An API (automatic programming interface) or web feed is utilized to dynamically update the content. It is essential to keep refreshing your content, and dynamic content integration offers you enhanced flexibility for regular content updates.

Benefits of Digital Signage Software

Interactive Signage

You can utilize digital signage to engage your consumers and learn about their needs. This is termed data-driven marketing. For instance, you can implement a social promotion in which your customers can register to receive newsletters and get a discount in return. The right time to deliver this message is when customers are waiting to check out with their mobile device.

Boosts Sales

An industry report reveals that digital signage improves dwell time and purchase amount by about 30% in retail businesses. Thus, it offers one of the highest ROI rates in digital marketing.

Run Pertinent Ads at Specific Times

For instance, a restaurant franchise can run breakfast ads in the morning. A clothing franchise can run ads for sunglasses on sunny days and for rain apparel on rainy days.

Saves Money

Compared to conventional print signage, it’s much less costly to create and display ads on digital screens. Plus, you can run local, targeted marketing campaigns by taking into consideration local events. For example, you can create two ads for a local football match and run the appropriate ad depending on the game result.

Show Time-sensitive Ads

The lead time for print ads is six weeks minimum and longer for restaurant franchises. Digital signage scores here too as they are linked to the internet, which means you can easily roll out fresh ads similar to social posts. You can run blog posts, weather, social feeds, and basically anything that could be shown on a website. In addition, you can run pertinent and local ads to engage your chosen audience.

Reduces Perceived Waiting Time

Consumers who are waiting in line can become easily bored. Digital signage keeps them occupied as they can watch interesting and relevant displays. This helps to reduce the perceived waiting time.