What is digital signage?

Digital signage - the definition

So what is digital signage in general? Simply, digital signage is a form of electronic signage. Digital signage means digital content is displayed on a digital display, in contrast to traditional signage on static displays. This can go various ways. Digital signage allows you to display any type of information, in any preferred format (videos, images, text, etc.). It makes use of technologies such as LED, LCD and e-paper. This digital form of signage allows you to remotely manage your displays and share relevant information with your audience. Digital signage’s synonym “narrowcasting” refers to the fact that the alternating, informative content on the screens can be tailored to specific audiences. You can narrow down your audience to specific target groups and adjust your digital signage content accordingly. Different content, relevant for different target audiences, can be scheduled and shown at different moments in time.

If you’re not yet familiar with digital signage, you may need some examples. Imagine you’re taking public transport, walking around the hospital or trying to find the menu of your favorite restaurant. You will turn to digital displays to find the information you need. Digital signage is deployed in more and more industries and the digital signage market itself is growing rapidly. It is a modern replacement for traditional, static signage.

Digital signage software

What is digital signage software then? Digital signage software is a content management system that enables businesses to create, schedule, and distribute multimedia content to one or multiple screens. It is a cloud-based or on-premise solution that allows users to manage displays from anywhere, at any time. Digital signage software supports various media formats, including images, videos, web pages, social media feeds, and more. The content management system allows you to creatively format your content and adjust it to your specific audience and target groups. It is a central point where you set up everything for your digital displays, so you don’t have to worry about it afterwards. On this page you”ll find more information about digital signage software and the most important features, benefits and options of digital signage systems.

Digital signage displays

Digital signage and audiovisual displays go hand in hand. Audiovisual solutions combine visual and sound aspects, ideal for digital signs displaying content, and optionally playing sounds. Simply put, it is hardware with a touch of sound. Audiovisual hardware has far reaching options, and most modern-day digital signage hardware such as screens, kiosks and tv’s contain this sound option. This allows your to provide your audience with an interactive, engaging experience. By choosing audiovisual hardware, you can use your digital sign to elevate your visitor experience or even be more inclusive by offering read-aloud functions.

Digital signage player

Besides a screen, there is another digital signage hardware component that is key in the process of broadcasting content. The digital signage player is the link between the digital signage software and the digital signage display. Software and screen communicate through this player device. You create and schedule content in the content management system (software), and the player makes sure that this is eventually visible on the digital displays. It is simply the messenger.

Digital signage solutions as a replacement of traditional signage

Digital signage is a modern version of traditional, static signage and is a logical consequence of the rapidly digitizing world. Digital signage can save a lot of time and resources compared to analogue signage. Purchasing, replacing and renewing analog signs can take a lot of time and effort. Moreover, analog signs cannot keep up with rapid and inevitable changes. This takes at least a couple of days. Electronic signage poses a solution for this. The content management system allows you to make changes within a couple of minutes; updates will be visible immediately. This prevents you from displaying outdated and incorrect information, and additionally allows you to anticipate certain developments. Last but not least - research shows that analog information is transferred to the audience to a limited extent. With digital signage as a communication tool, you make a lasting impression.

Interactive digital signage

You can give your signage an interactive touch by running the digital sign software on a touchscreen. Besides viewing and reading, your audience can now also interact with the screen and go through information themselves. People can click and play videos, view images, read more, look up things, and do much more on the interactive digital signage screen. This interactive aspect leads to increased engagement and attractiveness of the digital signage solution. Some bussinesses choose to give their touch app a digital signage layer. When left untouched, the screen shows content like a normal digital signage digital sign would. Once touched, the touch app is activated and people can look up their desired information. Interactive screens also work great in combination with sensors that detect motion and activate certain content accordingly.

The purpose of digital signage

Digital signage for clients and visitors

Digital signage allows you to provide a large audience with information at the same time, while keeping everyone satisfied. This information comes in all shapes and sizes, and can be adjusted to your target audience. Using text, images and animated or video messages, content can be formatted uniquely, engaging your audience and attracting attention. The content management system allows you to alternate between and schedule different digital signage content so it reaches the right people at the right moment. A lot of companies use digital signage to advertise and promote their products. However, the type of content on digital signage screens depends on your clients and visitors. Digital signage can serve all kinds of purposes, whether you want to promote your company, entertain your clients, inform your visitors, etcetera. Digital signage is multifunctional and has unlimited possibilities.

A digital signage solution for internal communication

Besides external communication, digital signage is often deployed for improving internal communication within companies. Businesses are looking for effective ways to communicate with their employees and inform them about in-company developments, work ethics, work schedules, etcetera. Digital signage is an easy way to keep employees up-to-date about important issues in companies. This digital communication strategy improves internal communication and increases employee engagement.

Castit digital signage software

Castit provides digital signage software solutions for bussinesses of all sizes. We have been active in the digital signage industry for over decades and have strenghtened our knowledge and expertise throughout the years. By offering a free version of our software that can be used unlimitedlessly, we stand out from other digital signage providers.

The user-friendly Castit system enables users to create and schedule dynamic digital content, manage multiple displays, and monitor performance analytics in real time. The free digital signage software offers a wide range of media-items to format your content with, including images, videos, apps and real-time web content. A user-friendly and extensive toolkit in the system allows you to create attractive and engaging digital signage content.

Besides the free version, Castit offers paid plans for those needing additional functions. The pricing for these plans start at €19 per month per screen. In addition to the basic functions, the paid version of this digital signage platform allows users to manage multiple digital signs, display video on all popular operating systems, and combine it with all popular digital signage applications for fully immersive interactive digital experiences.