At Screenly, we believe that digital signage should be a tool for everyone. If you have a message you want to share, technical hurdles and challenges shouldn’t get in the way. In the article below, we explore how complex setups of the past have hindered digital signage rollouts. We then cover how point-and-click digital signage management platforms, such as Screenly, can unleash digital signage creativity within your organization today.
Bottlenecks in past digital signage setups
Digital signage has come a long way. Not too long ago, the very idea of a network of screens displaying dynamic content was squarely in the realm of the technically savvy. It was a world of complex hardware, cryptic software, and a whole lot of manual labor. If you wanted to update a screen, it often meant a physical trip with a USB drive and a keyboard. This reality naturally placed the setup and management of digital signage firmly in the hands of IT departments. Their technical expertise was essential to get things up and running, and it created a bottleneck that often stifled the true potential of an organization’s digital signage deployment.
Fortunately, the digital signage landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation with user–friendly, web-based digital signage management tools. At Screenly, we often say that if you can send an email, you can manage a Screenly digital signage network. Instead of wrestling with complicated video settings for each individual screen, you can now add, schedule, and manage your content across your entire network with just a few clicks from your web browser. This simplicity is a game-changer, and its impact extends far beyond just making things easier.
Take IT-teams out of the loop
One of the most significant benefits of this shift is the relief it provides to often-overburdened IT staff. In many traditional digital signage deployments, the IT team was not only responsible for the initial setup of digital signs, but they also became the de facto content managers. This meant that every request to update a screen, whether it was a new promotional video or a simple announcement, had to go through them. This workflow not only pulled them away from their critical, domain-specific tasks, but it also created a frustrating bottleneck for other departments. The result was often a lose-lose situation: IT professionals were stretched thin and at risk of burnout, and other teams were unable to communicate their messages in a timely and effective manner. In many cases, these constraints either prevented organizations from adopting digital signage altogether or led to deployments that were much smaller and less impactful than they could have been.
Involve team members who are most in tune with the audience
Beyond freeing up IT resources, increased ease-of-use in digital signage management has another, perhaps even more important, impact: it puts the power of communication directly into the hands of the experts. Think about it: who is better equipped to create engaging content for a school’s music department than the music faculty themselves? Who knows what messaging will resonate most with a sales team better than the sales team themselves? When the people with the domain-specific knowledge are empowered to create and manage their own content, the result is a digital signage network that is not just functional but also highly relevant and effective. The content is no longer a filtered-down version of a message that has been passed through multiple hands. Instead, it’s a direct, authentic, and timely piece of communication from the people who know their audience best.
Unleash digital signage creativity at your organization
This newfound accessibility can unleash a wave of creativity that was previously held back by technical and logistical hurdles. With tools like Screenly, every department, every team, and every individual can have a new superpower. Now, at their fingertips, they have a dynamic and engaging medium to communicate with the people who matter most to their work. This not only leads to more creative and compelling content but it also fosters a culture of more frequent and timely updates. When the process of updating a screen is no longer a time-consuming chore for a small IT team, the content remains fresh, relevant, and engaging.
Get started with digital signage today
Ultimately, the best digital signage setup is the one that is used regularly and with ease. It’s the one that effectively communicates its message to its intended audience. By making digital signage content management accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, you can ensure that your team gets the most out of your deployment.
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of digital signage at your business or organization? Sign up for a free 14-day trial of Screenly today and see for yourself how easy it is to get your first digital sign up and running.
