Digital displays or screens have become popular for companies to communicate with their customers and employees. With digital screens, companies can showcase special offers, advertise external promotions, enhance their brand image, and keep their employees informed.
However, choosing the right digital display management solution is essential for success with this marketing tool. This article will discuss the key factors companies should consider when selecting the software for managing display screens. And after then, we have listed some of the most popular software providers.
Key factors companies should consider
Below are the factors to consider when purchasing the right software. In total, the list describes ten factors that we have selected as the most important. However, the list is not in order of priority or importance.
1. User interface and ease of use
User interface and ease of use are crucial for digital signage management software. The software should be intuitive and easy to use for non-technical users. It should have a user-friendly interface that helps users to manage and schedule content with minimal effort.
Companies should look for software with a drag-and-drop interface and a straightforward content creation process.
2. Compatibility with hardware and operating system
Compatibility is a vital factor to consider when choosing digital screen management software. The software should be compatible with the hardware and operating system of the digital screens.
This ensures the software works correctly and integrates with other systems, such as content management and scheduling software.
3. Content management
The software should allow easy content management, including uploading, scheduling, and updating content. It should also provide options for creating and editing content, such as templates and design tools.
4. Content scheduling
Scheduling is an essential feature for companies when selecting digital screen management software. The software should allow for easy content scheduling, including setting start and end dates and times, frequency of display, and targeting specific screens or locations.
This ensures that content is displayed at the right time and to the right audience.
5. Data analytics
Analytics is a valuable tool that can help companies track the effectiveness of their digital screen advertising campaigns. Digital screen management software should provide analytics features that offer insights into audience engagement, reach, and other metrics.
The software should also allow for the creation of custom reports, dashboards, and visualizations to help companies track their progress and make data-driven decisions.
6. Remote management
Remote management is a crucial feature that companies should consider when choosing digital signage management software. The software should enable users to manage and update content from a centralized location, reducing the need for manual updates and minimizing downtime.
This feature is significant for companies with multiple screens or locations.
7. Solution scalability
Scalability is another vital factor to consider when choosing digital screen management software. The software should be able to scale with the company’s growth and provide options for adding new screens and locations.
This ensures that the software can meet the company’s changing needs and adapt to new business requirements.
8. Support and maintenance
The software should have an active support team to assist users when they need help. Companies should also look for software that is easy to maintain and update, with regular updates and security patches.
9. Security
The software should provide high-level security for data and content, protecting against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber-attacks. The software should also have data backup and disaster recovery options in case of unexpected downtime.
10. Cost of purchase and maintenance
Companies should evaluate the total cost of ownership, including licensing fees, support and maintenance charges, and any additional features they may need. They should also consider the software’s return on investment and ability to generate revenue and improve business outcomes.
These recommendations may apply to different types of digital signages. The key is the goal you want to achieve for your business. From there, each of the factors should be evaluated accordingly.
List of digital display software providers
Here are some of the top software solutions for digital screen advertising, along with a brief description of what they offer.
SCALA
Scala is a digital signage solution provider focusing on building strategic partnerships with the world’s leading brands. They apply a wide array of technology — including digital signs, mobile sensors, audience intelligence, virtual reality, and computer vision technology — in the physical space. Scala is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA, and operates globally.
Digital signage software provider Scala is part of the STRATACACHE family of marketing technology companies, acquired in August 2016. The company has wide-ranging in-house software, hardware, services, and support with an unmatched global delivery capability.
SCALA software product offer
Scala has been developing digital signage solutions for over 30 years. It offers a range of digital signage software products such as Scala Designer Cloud, Scala Designer, Scala Player and Scala Content Manager.
- Scala Designer Cloud is a cloud-based design tool that allows users to create and manage content from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Scala Designer is a desktop application that allows users to create and manage content locally on a user’s computer.
- Scala Player is a software application that runs on a media player device and displays content on a screen.
- Scala Content Manager is a web-based application that allows users to manage content across multiple media players and locations.
Scala has worked with well-known brands such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, IKEA, Verizon Wireless, and more. One case study involves McDonald’s, where they used Scala’s digital signage solution to create an immersive customer experience. Digital signages displayed dynamic menu boards that change based on the time of day and weather conditions.
SCALA software pricing
Scala offers different pricing options for its software products depending on the customer’s needs. The pricing information is not publicly available on their website, so it’s best to contact them directly for more details.
In addition to software products, Scala also offers related services such as installation, training, and support.
Scala provides several in-house digital signage hardware solutions and third-party solutions — necessary hardware to improve content generation and roll-out. Hardware includes playback, large-scale player hardware, and content accelerators.
Scala does not offer digital signage hardware, but they do have partnerships with hardware manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.
Why choose SCALA
Scala’s competitive advantages include its wide range of digital signage software products that cater to different customer needs. They have strategic partnerships with leading brands around the world. They also have over 30 years of experience developing digital signage solutions, making them a reliable choice for businesses looking for digital signage solutions.
Scala’s corporate values include innovation, collaboration, customer focus, and accountability.
OnSign TV
OnSign TV is a cloud-based digital signage CMS platform provider that offers a professional CMS platform fully packed with necessary features. It is designed to manage all types of signage screens. The company is located in Brazil and operates globally in over 100 countries.
Company was founded in 2010 by CEO Denison Benevides and CTO Ricardo Pinho. The company’s digital signage software includes a drag-and-drop timeline interface for users to add digital content and a campaign scheduling feature. It allows users to publish their messages, videos, and images at a particular time and play on multiple display screens.
OnSign TV has extensive experience in cloud-based digital signage CMS platform development. Their cloud-based digital signage CMS platform products incorporate Windows 32 and 64 bit, Android 4.4 and above, MacOS 10.14.6 and above, Chrome OS all versions, and Linux.
Some of the well-known brands that choose digital signage software by OnSign TV include McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Samsung, LG, and many more. McDonald’s uses OnSign TV’s digital signage software to create a unique customer experience by displaying dynamic content on their screens.
OnSign TV pricing offer
OnSign TV offers three editions of pricing – monthly per player: $14.99 per month (for 1-24 users), $12.99 per month (for 25-99 users), and $9.99 per month (for 100 or more users). You can also try their service for free for 14 days without providing your credit card information.
There is also a white-label service with extensive platform customization for featuring your brand, colors, and domain name. The goal is to provide all the tools to sell and manage several accounts under your brand.
OnSign.tv also offer app development services and customizations. At the same time, OnSign TV provides a complete framework (SDK) and even examples for you to develop your own Apps. They also offer more than 100 free Apps to amaze your audience. For custom solutions you should contact sales.
OnSign TV does not offer hardware, but they have partnerships with hardware manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, Philips, Sharp, NEC, among others.
Why choose OnSign TV
OnSign TV’s competitive advantages include its ease of use, reliability, flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. You might choose this manufacturer for cloud-based digital signage CMS platform because it offers a professional CMS platform fully packed with features and designed to manage all types of signage screens.
OnSign TV’s corporate values include innovation, collaboration, customer focus, and accountability.
DigitalSignage.com
DigitalSignage.com is a subsidiary of Postano, a social media software company based in the United States. The company has a global customer base, with clients in the retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare industries.
DigitalSignage as it clearly presents in its name is a digital signage software company that provides a cloud-based platform for businesses of all sizes. The company offers a range of features, including content creation, scheduling, real-time data integration, and remote management tools. This software makes it easy for users to create and manage engaging digital signage content across multiple screens and locations.
Digital signage management platform supports various media formats, including images, videos, and HTML5 content. It also includes a range of pre-designed templates and widgets, making it easy for users to create eye-catching content for their displays. Additionally, the platform offers advanced features such as custom branding, multi-zone layouts, and analytics, providing businesses with high customization and control over their digital signage displays.
DigitalSignage pricing
DigitalSignage.com offers three diverse pricing plans, each designed to accommodate unique needs, ensuring the maximum versatility of their digital signage Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.
- mediaCLOUD always FREE edition – As the name suggests, this is a free-of-charge edition. It allows the management of an unlimited number of screens and the installation of as many SignagePlayers as you want, regardless of the operating system. This plan includes around 90% of the feature set available on the platform. Storage is limited to 1GB per account, and each account corresponds to one login email.
- mediaCLOUD Enterprise edition – This is a subscription-based pricing plan with costs varying based on the number of screens used, starting from $49 per month for one screen and going up to $299 per month for unlimited screens. It provides access to all advanced features of the platform, like branding, proof of play reports, collection, XML, JSON loader, access control lists, interactive digital signage, kiosk, animation, remote touch, smart components and more. The plan also offers business advantages like phone support and hardware discounts. It comes with unlimited cloud storage and supports an unlimited number of accounts.
- mediaSERVER Privately hosted – This one-time payment plan costs $895, plus additional screen licenses ranging from $125 to $195 per license. It provides all the same benefits and features as the Enterprise edition, but the software is hosted on your own Windows server. It gives you full control over your security and software roll outs, and the storage size depends on the disk installed on your server. Like the Enterprise Edition, it also supports an unlimited number of accounts.
The company has a global customer base and serves clients in retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare industries. Overall, DigitalSignage is known for its affordable and easy-to-use digital signage software that provides businesses with advanced features for creating and managing engaging content.
DigitalSignage hardware offer
The company does also offer digital signage hardware as part of their complete solution. The company provides a wide range of hardware options, including media players, commercial displays, and interactive kiosks, that are optimized to work seamlessly with their software.
Companies hardware offerings and software provide businesses with a complete solution for managing and delivering dynamic and engaging digital signage experiences. Their hardware is optimized to work seamlessly with their software, providing businesses with an easy-to-use and reliable solution for managing their digital displays.
Navori
Navori is a Swiss-based company with its headquarters located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1997 and has since become a leading provider of digital signage software. It has a global customer base that includes businesses in various industries. Navori has regional offices and partners in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Their software helps businesses in over 100 countries worldwide.
Navori is a leading digital signage software provider offering a comprehensive solution for managing digital displays. The platform provides businesses with tools for content creation, scheduling, and remote management and is highly customizable to fit the unique needs of each business.
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Navori has become a trusted partner for companies in various industries, including retail, hospitality, and transportation.
One of the key features that sets Navori apart is its content management system. Their platform provides an intuitive interface that makes creating and managing content easy for businesses. Navori’s content management system is highly customizable, allowing companies to create schedules that target specific displays, audiences, and time periods.
Navori pricing
According to Navori’s website, they offer two pricing plans:
- QL Essential $20 per player is accessible to everyone and is designed for small-scale projects.
- QL Professional $44 per player is designed for enterprise users’ sophisticated, large scale and critical digital signage projects.
Navori offers a cloud-based subscription model, which provides businesses with access to their software on a monthly basis. This model suits businesses requiring a more flexible and scalable solution and not wanting to invest in hardware or software licenses. The subscription cost will depend on the number of displays, the required support level, and any additional customization needs.
Overall, Navori’s pricing is competitive and transparent, and its flexible pricing options allow businesses to choose a plan that meets their specific needs and budget. They also offer a range of support and maintenance options to ensure their customers’ digital displays are always running smoothly.
Navori hardware offer
Navori also offers hardware for digital signage as part of its complete solution. They have partnered with various hardware providers to offer a wide range of media players, commercial displays, and interactive kiosks that are optimized to work seamlessly with their software. Navori’s hardware offerings are designed to provide businesses with a reliable and flexible solution for managing their digital displays.
Their hardware options include a range of media players, from entry-level devices to high-performance models that support 4K and beyond. These media players are optimized to work with Navori’s software, providing businesses with an easy-to-use and reliable solution for managing their digital signage.
Additionally, Navori offers commercial displays designed for 24/7 use and feature high brightness levels and narrow bezels, making them ideal for digital signage applications. They also offer interactive kiosks that can be used for interactive wayfinding, self-service applications, and other digital signage use cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right digital signage software is a critical decision for businesses looking to enhance their customer experience and improve their branding efforts. With so many options available, it’s important to consider factors. Those are: user interface, compatibility, content management, scheduling, analytics, remote management, scalability, support and maintenance, security, and cost.
By considering these factors and carefully evaluating the available options, businesses can select a digital signage solution that meets their unique needs and budget. The top digital signage software providers, including ScreenCloud, Signagelive, Navori, ONELAN, and more, offer a range of solutions that cater to different industries, budgets, and display needs.
It’s important to choose a provider that not only offers great software, but also reliable hardware. Also customer support, an ongoing maintenance and updates are crucial. Ultimately, a well-implemented digital signage solution can help businesses stand out from the competition, drive customer engagement, and increase revenue, making it a worthwhile investment for any business looking to enhance their marketing and branding efforts.
If you are looking for a reliable partner for touchscreen digital signage, it may be worth considering buying direct from manufacturers. In a separate article we have compiled the Touch Screen Kiosk Suppliers. It lists manufacturers of interactive kiosks and digital signage, many of whom also offer standard digital screen solutions.