If you’re looking at digital signage software, chances are that you already have a pretty good idea of its benefits. If not, consider the findings of a research study published in the Journal of Advertising Research that states, “shoppers are most responsive to messages that relate to the task at hand and their current need state, and least responsive to traditional brand messages.”
What does that mean for you as you choose your digital signage solutions? It proves that your customers aren’t that interested in the same old signs and bulletin boards, but instead gravitate to the customization and relevancy of digital signs. Kitсast.tv can help you find the right solutions for your business. In the meantime, take a look at the data that tells you why it’s such a good choice.
What is Digital Signage Software?
Digital signage is a powerful way to reach your target audience in a new and modern way. There are a variety of ways to do this, including the following:
- Displays
- Video walls
- Kiosks
- Interactive touchscreens
- LED displays
- Menu boards
While choosing the right version is a vital part of making digital signage work for your business, it’s just as imperative that you select the appropriate software to get the most out of it. This is the software you use that manages the content on the screen of each of your digital signs. This allows you to do many things with your signs.
- Create playlists
- Organize screens into groups
- Create text, video and animation to display on the screen
- Manage the display remotely
- Diagnose and fix playback issues
As there are lots of choices out there, it makes sense to spend some time doing your research and evaluating your options so that you can choose what works best for your digital signage needs. With that in mind, keep reading to discover what features you should prioritize.
Desirable Features of Digital Signage Software
There are lots of features available with the different digital signage software programs on the market. So how do you choose the one that’s best for your needs? Understanding the most desirable features can help. Evaluating what you need from your software is another vital consideration as you research the available programs.
In general, you should prioritize assurance, quality and security. That’s because these are the features that are linked to reliability. When you want and need a highly reliable software program to operate your digital signage, you need one that you can count on, that is of high quality and that has the security you need to protect important data as it relates to your digital signage.
- Assurance – be sure the program is compatible with your digital signs. You also want assurance of usability so that the software won’t require a ton of maintenance and updates or advanced expertise to install and run.
- Quality – a cheap and low-quality software program won’t serve you well. Focus on quality, in addition to the features you need. Look at reviews to find out more about the success of the program for other users.
- Security – it’s important that your software program is able to protect important data, as well as perform updates and authorization to prevent security attacks and breaches.
In addition, you also might want to consider other features as you choose software. When used in conjunction with assurance, quality and security, you can get the most out of the program so that your digital signage is useful and helps increase your target audience, customer base and bottom line.
- Size and quality of digital screens
- Indoor/outdoor capabilities
- Media players
- Content management
- Content creation tools
- Sensors
- Multimedia
- Scheduling
- Interactive touch screen
- Data collection
- Point of sale advertising
- Easy installation
- Mounting hardware
- Viewing angles
- Lighting
- Artificial intelligence
- Integration with Internet of Things (IoT)
- Personalized messaging
- Mobile integration
- Sustainability
As you can see, there are loads of features you can mix and match to create the ideal digital signage for your business. Keep in mind that your industry plays a role in which features you might need. For example, the features of a healthcare facility will differ from a retail setting. Likewise, a school needs different features than a restaurant. Keep this in mind as you make your choice.
How to Evaluate Your Features
Once you’ve chosen the important features for your needs, it’s time to evaluate them to ensure that you are getting the most out of them. In other words, do they offer the reliability you need? Doing this regularly ensures that you stay on top of the software and can make modifications or changes, as necessary. Consider the following:
- Testing for function – test the features, compatibility, performance and usability of your digital signage software to be sure it’s working as it should.
- Testing for security – you should also consistently test the configuration of your security system, as well as run a vulnerability assessment periodically. Additionally, check the authentication and authorization mechanisms often. Finally, be sure you run all system updates when prompted.
- Testing for content management – this involves testing content security, validation and access controls, which ensures that your digital signs can handle the various images, text and publishing content.
- Testing for network security – this is slightly different than the security measures above and involves testing the encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection, and segmentation to make sure that data is protected and there isn’t a risk of a security breach.
- Testing for compliance – make sure your digital signage software stays compliant with industry and accessibility regulations.
A comprehensive approach to testing your signage software translates to an assurance of quality and function of your digital signs. It’s also the best way to stay on top of security and keep your software safe and compliant. In the end, this allows for the reliability you are looking for when you choose the software you’re going to use.