The most famous part of Times Square in New York is its digital signage. LED digital signs surround the center of the square, lighting it up in the evenings. These signs sport everything from advertisements to news and featured stories. While the LED signs are a characteristic feature of Times Square, they exist worldwide as well, portraying everything from government notices, precautionary measures and other media content. In contrast to government-owned signage, commercial signs are usually owned by a complex or a company. Depending upon ownership, they display related media (advertisements, posters, branding, etc.).

Maintaining these signs is essential; it is made easier with digital signage software with which digital signs work. As a business, owning digital signage is imperative for gaining a customer base. While there are many forms of advertising and marketing available, a digital sign in a public place with heavy foot traffic can boost sales and brand awareness like nothing else. An LED sign lights up space around it and draws people’s attention to it. Brands can use it to introduce themselves, announce sales and discounts, display video and picture advertisements, or mention their brand’s features and specialties. This flexibility makes digital signage a must-have for both budding and established brands.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE SOFTWARE: WHAT IS IT?

Also known as Content Management System (CMS), this software helps control, monitor and even analyze the contents displayed on the signage. This software is like the headquarters of all the digital signage owned by one entity. The owner of the business or the person in charge of the company’s digital signage can use this software to control their digital signage across the city, state, etc.

This CMS software allows a person to curate and displays their content across the different digital signages they own. For example, if a company owns 10 LED signs across a city, they could change, queue, and monitor its display content on one app or software. This software offers a one-stop solution to all digital signage needs. Companies can curate playlists of ads specific to one sign for each sign and control its display features on a single app or desktop software. Besides this, these apps and software also offer a range of other features, making them a must-have for big and small commercial enterprises.

WHAT DOES A DIGITAL SIGNAGE SOFTWARE OR CMS DO?

The CMS’s role is to provide a platform for a company to control and manipulate all their digital signage completely. It offers the following features to this end:

Managing Multiple Screens

Using the CMS software, a company can manage all of its screens located in various places. They can create playlists of contents specific to each sign or create groups of signs to display the same content. The software also allows the user to create a default image or video to play so that the screen isn’t blank. It offers them full access to each sign; they can pause, replay, clear data or cache, troubleshoot and even take screenshots remotely using the software.

Synchronizing Content

The software is also available as an app, so the user can customize and control their signage wherever they go. The app data is in sync with the desktop software, allowing real-time accessibility. This software can also be synchronized across devices allowing multiple persons to control the signage, with customizable permissions for each device.

Full Customization

The CMS software allows the user to customize the contents to display for each sign, for example, creating layouts. The software also allows them to schedule playlists of mixed media (images and videos). They can also connect to different apps like Facebook, Twitter, etc., and stream content from there. The software accepts a range of formats and third-party apps for displaying, broadening the user’s design and creativity options.

Additionally, the software can be customized for touch-based or touch-free signage. When customized for touch, it offers more features for an interactive display. The software gives them complete access to all their signage virtually in real-time.

Analytics

The software also produces periodic reports on digital signage. These reports primarily collect and collate data on different screens, like what content played when and for how long? The user can also request customized reports from the software company; this is especially useful for touch-based digital signage. Using this data, companies can curate better and more targeted content.

Security

Digital Signage Software comes with a top-quality security framework, ensuring that no one other than the company can access the signage. This security effectively minimizes the chances of vandalism and other unwanted elements. The security encloses the network of devices and signs behind extra fortified walls, deterring external access. It protects company data and assets and also prevents access to display the contents.