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New days digital signage technology

Extended Features For your eyes only !

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Interactivity

In the digitally-fueled, smart phone-led society today, expectations of interactivity have touched new heights. Consumers today expect all relevant information relating to products, services, and brands to be on their mobile phones whenever they seek for it. This would enable them to make informed purchase decisions. Quite often, an adhoc, yet effective interaction by an advertiser through the mobile digital screen does result in impulse purchase decisions by the consumer.

On the other hand, the digital advertiser would also be eager to have a database of the consumer in terms of psychographics, demographics, consumer needs & preferences, and feedback. All this information will be later collated and presented to the numerous manufacturers and marketers for ideation of new products and updation of exixting ones..

Personalisation

Today, we live in the world of Brands in almost all product categories which provide a distictive personality to the product. And the consumer wants to be associated with the brand and all that it personifies. Here, Digital signage  provides the consumer effective ways to ensure a personal identification with his favourite brand. By flashing the brand on it’s digital screen, audio-visual video presentations, pricing offers, discounts and loyalty programs – digital signage presents a symbiotic connect between the brand and it’s consumer. This also enhances the over-all retailing experience of the consumer.

Social Media Integration

While the latest trends indicate that imemberships of  social media ( Facebook,Twitter,Instagram and others ) have been growing exponentially, the number of  brands who have adapted to Digital Signage have also been growing as much concurrently. It is the retailers who have brought this consumer-brand connect closer by facilitating and encouraging customers to engage in twitting, blogging, commenting, or even uploading a YouTube Video on their favourite brand. Accordingly, the retailer too showcases the brand on his digital screen in-store and the customers are actively engaged on what is being displayed while they wait to see their own content displayed in real-time. Hence, the retaler today can facilitate social media integration with digital signage.  

Digital Display Screens

We have come long way from the days of electronic billboards. A customer of a Quick Service Restaurant may not know what a Ultra-High Definition display screen is but he would anyways expect the best visual experience when it comes to digital signage. Thanks to the advancement of digital technology, digital signage users have a variety of options . Ultra-HD Scrrens, LED Screens and LCD Screens come in diffrent sizes and prices, all of which are known for their energy efficiency and durability.

Then again, different types of screens are required for different businesses. For instance, a digital menu board placed indoors of a restaurant will have a set of dimensions quite different from a digital signage of a hotel which could be placed atop it’s premises. The goal however, remains the same for both businesses –  to attract potential customers by way of  maximum impact by the best possible visual appeal.

Mobile Integration

Another marvel of  digital technology makes possible dgital signage integration with mobile phones. Already, with the rapid increase of smartphones with touch-screen usage, advertisers today have access to, and a database of potential customers whom they wish to communicate through the cell phone.

Likewise, if the retailer or a restaurant owner has the contact number of his existing customers he can send his digital signage content and advertising messages through the mobile appps. This form of communication will be personalized as well as effective. The customer can be kept informed of a restaurants latest offerings, special menus, pricing offers and so on.

Beacon integration

Beacon integration provides a good synergy with digital signage in providing targeted marketed content for specific customers From deluxe hotels to swanky restaurants, from retail shops and sports stadiums, and from railway stations to airports,, there are a variety of industries that have successfully implemented beacon technology and are beginning to include it in their wider marketing strategies. While the technology for beacons has been around for a few years, it is gaining rapid momentum as it provides retailers with the mind-set of their customers, their behavior in-store as well as past behavior online. Beacon technology provides a holistic approach to customer orientation from which vital inputs go into product differentiation and positioning.

How to install a digital signage

Application Options If your business needs it, go for it !

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Update menu board anytime and remotely

Update menu board anytime and remotely

For Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) Menu boards generally project a dynamic business. Items, services and graphics may need to be added or edited on a daily basis. Digital signage software helps you to do the needful. If , for example, you are away for a holiday  with your family in the Bahamas and your restaurant menu board in New York needs to be updated – this can easily be done through your computer .

Manage menu from multiple location

Manage multiple location

Another marvel of digital signage software. Multi-location  menu boards of shops/stores/restaurants can  be monitored by a single admin system . Assuming that you have done the modifications on the template saved in your computer, the single admin system updates the incremental change and uploads the same onto the display screen. In fact, Sign Menu’s ‘cloud based programme’ enables you to monitor & manage your multi-location digital screens without you even being physically present at the business sites.

Use video menu without internet

Tv screen or a Digital screen can run content / video even without internet access

Ideally, when you use the basic hardwares comprising  of a computer and a Tv Screen, an internet connection is neccesary. However, if it so happens that your internet connection blanks out in the middle of a digital run, you need not worry. The URL’s stored on the computer’s brower will enable the Tv or a digital screen to continue running. In case of a digital screen, a memory stick or pendrive will do just fine.

Digital signage with no hardware, no startup cost

No Hardware, No startup cost !   

The best part of digital signage technology is that it obviates the need for any additional hardware, save the computer and a digital screen, one or both of which you possibly already have. Recent software advancements have facilitated addtional features on the digital screen and the computer whereby, most of the funtions of the media player have been distributed among the two. Hence, while the importance of the media player cannot be discounted, for small and medium sized businesses who have shoe-string advertisemnt budgets, purchase of a media player is not mandatory for digital signage advertising.Complete digital signage solutions from SignMenu

How to install a digital signage

Complete digital signage solutions from SignMenu

Minimum requirements:
SignMenu + Signage screen / TV + Memory stick

  • Create your menu board design from SignMenu
  • Copy the menu board to a memory stick
  • Place the memory stick onto screen/TV
  • Display the content

Benefits:

  • Cost effective: Only screen and a memory stick needed.
  • Low maintenance: Any non technical person can design and handle this application without any hassle.
  • Huge template gallery and designer support provided by SignMenu. For more please log on to www.signmenu.com

SignMenu cloud solutions:
SignMenu + Smart TV with browser + Internet connection

  • Create your menu board design from SignMenu
  • Copy the URL and paste the URL to the browser
  • Display the content

Benefits: 

  • Instant content update
  • You do not need to download
  • Physical presence on business site not mandatory. Can  be operated from anywhere. For more please log on to www.signmenu.com
Best Digital Signage Installation

Installation & Technology A must know-how for you !

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Digital signage technology has come along way. The era of digital billboards and electronic kiosks in the fifties and sixties usherd in digital technology which in the present times have evolved to the extent of facilitating Interactivity, Personalised content,  Social media and Mobile phone integration.

Digital signages are best placed where there are maximum footfalls, a captive audience or on a transit site where-in motorists and passerbys can notice for optimum impact.

Installation of digital Signage technology involves a choice of  hardware options

  • A computer, a media player and a  large digital screen ie, an LED Screen or a Plasma screen. This invoves heavy investment and so the business owner should assess the  Return-On –Investment or the Cost-Revenue parameters
  • A  Computer, a Media Player and a Tv Screen
  • A  Computer and a Tv Screen
  • A  Computer and a  Digital Screen or a Digital Board ( any size )

All the above four options provide for videos, static and moving images, content schedules, updation, edition and alteration of content, playlists, and connectivity with local tv networks. 

HOW IT WORKS

How to install a digital signage

Operations from a computer to a media player and onto a digital screen

Digital content is created and stored in the computer : the content is then transfered to the Signage Player which in-turn delivers the content onto the digital screen. The media player in this instance has an important role to play mainly in scheduling of the content, real-time transitions, and automatic updation of content. It can also run on a variety of operating systems including Windows, Linux, Android ans IOS. One computer may support many media players and one media player may support multiple screens. Today, a stand-alone device such as the computer can combine the function of all the three devices

Operations from a computer to a media player and onto a TV screen

Digital content is first created and stored in the computer : the content is tranferred to the media player : the media player delivers the content onto the Tv screen. The Tv screen should have an internet connection and a USB port. 

Operations from a computer to a TV screen

Digital content for the Tv Screen stored in the computer : an Internet dongle connects the computer with the Tv : when the computer is turned on the URL’s stored there-in will flash the content onto the Tv screen : inbuilt flexibility for content update, edit or modification. For more on this log on to www.signmenu.com

Operations from a computer to a digital screen or a menu board

Digital content for the digital screen stored by way of URL’s in the computer :  A  network to be attached to an USB port on the Screen . Alternatively, a pen drive or a memory stick inserted into the digital screen will connect the computer with the screen and display the content. For more please log onto www.signmenu.com

Digital Signage without a Media Player

As explained above the digital screens of today have evolved to an extent that it obviates the neccessity of the media player.With in-built ports for pen drives and memory sticks content on-screen can be delivered by the computer alone. Concurrently, web-based technology has facilitated the ‘cloud –based program’ whereby content can be updated and displayed on the digital screens and Tv screens without the services of a media player, and the advertiser without even being present on his business site.

One of the most exciting new developments in the digital signage world is System-on-Chip, or “player-less” signage. The recent developments of the technology mean that digital signage can be deployed in much the same way that Netflix or iPlayers work on a Smart TV, i.e through an application.

Using mostly the same chips that can be found inside smartphones and tablets, digital signage systems can be deployed from a “smart panel,” meaning there’s no need for additional hardware. This means that companies investing in digital signage can have more flexible systems that can be tailored to fit the hardware they already have. For more please log onto www.signmenu.com

What is digital Signage?

What is digital Signage? It’ll blow your mind.

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Digital signage is essentially a point of purchase electronic display placed indoors or outdoors of a business premise, where-in the products, brands, and services of the business are conveyed through a marketing message. However, digital signage displays today encompass the entire spectrum of government and non-government enterprises which  include Health Care, Education and Public Transit systems.

Which businesses can use digital signage?

Digital Signage Solutions are for the following:

  • Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) : Fast Food restaurants, Multi-cuisine Restaurants, Snack bars, Beverages Restaurant, Confectionery & Bakeries : these businesses use digital signage to maximum effect. Mostly placed indoors, the menu board facilitates dynamic dimensions of content update and alterations
  • A Salon, Spa or a Beauty parlor : Ideally, the service offerings can be showcased on a digital screen or Menu Board with images & graphics
  • Gymnasiums : the logo or brand name of the company can be displayed on a digital board along with a summary of their services
  • Car Repair or a Garage : Branding the name of the garage through digital signage have proved to be most effective. Provides good impact on brand recall and retention.
  • The Hospitality industry including Hotels, Resorts & Motels: Hotels  usually have multiple digital signage boards. One atop their property and one or many indoors. The signage boards are used both as advertisement of their services as well as ‘destination specific’ indicators indoors.
  • Public Transit Systems ie, Airports, Railway stations & Bus Terminals, where-in the touch screens display transit points and schedules of flights, trains & busses. Also, a menu board at their Food Court / Canteen premises.
  • Multiplexes & Malls : the giant plasma screens with bold letterings light up the premises indoors and outdoors . Added to this videos and moving images induce a spectacular effect. The impact of which is increased footfalls and sales.
  • Corporate Offices and Government properties : Wayfinding and Navigation facilities by digital signage has evolved ensuring better viewing facilities by employees and customers.
  • Educational Institutes: Faculties and students utilise digital signage to make education more convenient and motivating
  • Health Care : digital signage helps in providing better information to the medical fraternity and the patients on  – schedules, medicine availability and diagnostics.
  • Any Retail shop wishing to convey a marketing message to entice and draw in customers.

Today, there are hardly any businesses which have not adapted to digital signage advertising and display in some form. In fact, businesses not having a digital signage is perceived as quaint and old-fashioned. The days of digital billboards and kiosks have given way to digital advertising on the premises signalling the shift from ‘nice-to-have’ to ‘must-have’. The primary objective of deploying digital signage by a business is to increase sales by way of delightful engagement with customers.