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How do I get my first digital signage system?

Acquiring a digital signage system is not complicated. You can get started with even a small investment and the system can be expanded as needs increase.

The digitalization of stores has been going on for quite some time and more and more companies have noticed the benefits offered by digital signage systems, such as more efficient and targeted marketing and improved customer experience. However, there are many companies that have not yet taken their first step on the digital path. Maybe it doesn’t seem necessary, not enough is known about it, or the purchase is considered expensive and difficult.

However, acquiring a digital signage system is not a complicated operation. You can get started with even a small investment and the system can be expanded as needs increase. However, certain issues should be taken into account and will be discussed in this article.

What problem could the digital display solve?

The very first thing is to find out which need or problem a digital signage system could be a solution to.

Do you want to

  • get more customers into the store
  • direct them to the areas you want inside the store
  • increase the attention and therefore sales of some products
  • increase customers’ average purchase
  • to make waiting for service more comfortable and queuing smoother
  • guide people in your business or office premises
  • share information about the services offered by your company

Once the need has been clarified, it’s time to think about how many screens would be the most ideal solution and what kind of system would be best suited for use.

A full-fledged digital signage system consists of

  • one or more digital screens
  • the media player
  • the management software
  • the content displayed on the screen.

You can get the system in the store in two ways. You can do everything yourself or hire digital signage provider who delivers the system ready and possibly offers different levels of maintenance services.

Below is a comparison between the two procurement methods.

Do I get it myself or do I choose a provider?

Can a television be used as an advertising screen?

A central part of the sigital signage system are advertising screens. If you get them yourself, the temptation to buy an affordable consumer-grade monitor can be great. However, you shouldn’t do that, because

  • they are not meant to be worn for long periods of time
  • the warranty is not valid for business use
  • their viewing angle does not support upright installation
  • their brightness is not necessarily sufficient
  • they may contain a data security risk

In addition to purchasing the screens, they also need to be installed. It’s also easy to handle, but the list of things to make sure is long.

Digital signage provider

  • has chosen displays suitable for business use from reliable suppliers
  • installs the displays in the places chosen by the customer
  • makes the connections and makes sure everything works.

A Digital Signage provider also offers comprehensive maintenance for the system. At best, it can be a so-called on-site warranty, where if a possible fault occurs, the repair is carried out on the spot where the screen is.

How do I get the ads on the display?

The displays’ own media player can show content from, for example, a memory stick in an endless loop on the screen where it is closed.

However, separate software is needed for wider content management, such as for example scheduling them.

When purchased from a provider, the package also includes an easy-to-use management system, which can be used to, for example, schedule the content on the display so that when the campaigns change, the advertisements also change automatically. If there are several displays, the management system can be used to choose which content is shown on each display.

Who produces the content?

Large operators often have ready-made content to be presented in digital signage systems as well, but for smaller companies it can be a headache. So you have to decide who is responsible for creating and updating the content. The design and implementation of content in video format, in particular, requires expertise and software.

A well-chosen partner can help in this matter as well. There are easy-to-use aids for almost automatic, video content production.

Summary

Building a digital signage system on your own is possible, but requires a lot of effort. Time passes, and the desired savings may not be obtained. Especially if you also put some kind of price tag on your own time spent on acquisition, installation, content production and maintenance.

A significantly easier and, in the long run, cheaper way than the DIY model is to acquire a digital signage system from a competent provider. You get everything on a turnkey basis, but much more. With a monthly fee the subscriber receives, in addition to the hardware, installation, management software, guidance on its use, continuous maintenance with an on-site guarantee. For an additional fee, help with content production is also available.

An easy way to try digital signage – the digital A-board

If you are still not sure whether digital signage is useful for your company, there is also an easy and risk-free way to try it out.

Digital A-board

  • is an advertising display that stands on its own feet
  • can be placed where you want
  • does not require fixed installation
  • presents changing contents in images or video format
  • contents can be managed centrally and also scheduled

Try talking about the offers in the store or stand in front of the store to make passers-by your customers. As an eye-catcher, the moving image of the A-board is a real customer magnet.

The A-board contains in a compact form all the advantages of digital signage mentioned in this article, including an easy-to-use management system and an on-site warranty.

Read more about the Digital A-board