When launching your business’s first digital signage deployment, it can be overwhelming trying to piece together all the necessary parts. Users have to deal with compatibility issues, inventory issues, and more. One of the best ways to deal with these issues is to use an all-in-one digital signage platform that can provide both the hardware and software you need for your deployment. In the article below, we cover the main components you need for your digital sign and where to get them.
Digital signage players
Digital signage players are small physical devices that render content to your screen. Much like a DVD player renders a movie to a home entertainment system, a digital signage player renders your business’s content to your screens.
Digital signage players come in a variety of sizes and specifications. Screenly offers both the Screenly Player and Screenly Player Max. The Screenly Player is built on open-source Raspberry Pi hardware, and it is ideal for small, cost-sensitive deployments that may only have a few screens.
The Screenly Player Max is a more robust digital signage player that is built on x86 architecture. The Screenly Player Max can handle heavy web pages and 4K image and video content with ease. It is best suited for enterprise-level deployments where screen reliability is key.
Digital signage software
Digital signage software helps users manage what displays on their screens from anywhere. With digital signage software, users can log in to an online account and edit the content on their screens. This editing can include adding new content, removing old content, and creating and scheduling organized content playlists.
Digital signage software then communicates the changes to the user’s digital signage player, and the digital signage player then renders those content changes to the screen. In the past, users would have to visit each screen in person when making content changes. This process was laborious and very time-consuming, especially when deployments had screens across multiple business locations or large corporate campuses.
Selecting a TV screen
The last part that your need to source for your digital signage solution is the actual TV screen. The screen for your digital signs can be anything that accepts HDMI input and can display content at your desired resolution of either 1080p Full HD resolution or 4K. Make sure that the TV accepts VESA-standard mounting - most do - so that you can fix your TV to the desired location.
If your digital signage is outdoors, understand that this may have some challenges. You will need a screen that has enough brightness (measured in nits) to be visible in the daylight. Additionally, if you have a screen enclosure, you will need to sort out issues regarding heat and moisture that may be damaging to your digital displays.
Get started with digital signage today
Screenly provides all necessary hardware and software for a digital signage deployment. To learn more, get started today with a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required.
