Preparing for digital signage 7: Use and scalability

19/4/2019

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This article is the seventh in a series concerning the choice of the network architecture of its digital signage system, if you do not fully understand the concept of digital signage, or are not familiar with the various existing architectures, start with this article: Digital signage: be well prepared. If you missed the previous article, check out: Preparing #6: Safety

Digital signage is a communication tool intended to simplify communication on a fleet of screens. In addition to replacing print posters and the possibility of broadcasting animated messages on screens, it must offer tools to vary communication, to expand your screen network, if adapted to existing tools in the company, while guaranteeing a maximum comfort of use. Here are some examples of how to compare the different models of digital signage architecture.

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Accessibility

As a reminder, all the equipment of a dynamic signage system in hosted model (on-premise) is located on the company's local network. As a general rule, The system management interface is only available on a computer on the local network or on the company's local network and sometimes on all company sites (in the case where VPNs are set up for example). Few solutions offer remote (and non-corporate) access to management software (although this choice actually belongs to the company that equips itself).

In the case of a SaaS model, the management interface is generally a web platform. This one is accessible wherever internet is available via an authentication system. SaaS solutions that offer management software allow management from a workstation located anywhere provided that the software is installed. In this model, on the other hand, it is complex to restrict access to the platform management to a single network, or a single site.

Updates

In the case of a SaaS architecture, the management interface, as well as the display players are updated remotely, on an ongoing basis and often in a way that is transparent to the user. They allow to fixfix some bugs, to do evolving services used and embedded and contribute to maintaining high levels of safety. In addition, the service provider's technical teams are constantly working to improve the solution. These updates therefore also often bring new features and improvements that contribute to enriching the solution. These changes happen gradually and are often accompanied by short explanations. So, additional training is rarely required. Finally, these updates are often included in the subscription.

In the case of an on-premise architecture, remote updates are impossible. When there are, they often come in the form of an annual intervention by the service provider. Sometimes they can be carried out by the technical team installed on site. They are often re-invoiced and, in the event that they bring several new features at once, they require additional training.

Third-party applications, personalization, and APIs

Connecting third-party services to their display system is a necessity for companies that want to adapt their communication tool to their business and guarantee rich, varied and constantly updated content.

In the case of on-premise and hybrid architectures, management software can often be customized, and enriched internally, by the client company, to perfectly match the needs of the company, in cases where the software code is free, or when APIs are available. This requires a technical team capable of developing these new services. In particular, these APIs allow the integration of new services, updated in real time and based on data provided by the company. However, without internet access, these new services will only be able to use internal resources.

In the case of a SaaS architecture, the management software (or platform) can rarely be enriched or even modified, without going through the service provider. Some solutions offer a white label version to customize the interface. They also set up APIs for technical teams who can thus develop additional services and applications integrated into the system. These new external services can be connected to third party applications. (weather, public transport schedules, cultural diaries...), or to internal company data.

Magasin équipé d'affichage dynamique personnalisé

Scalability and remote sites

In the case of a SaaS architecture, the new players are directly connected, via internet, to the service provider's server. Adding a screen, locally or on a remote site, is simple and requires no effort.

In the case hosted (on-premise) and hybrid architectures, interconnect several remote sites generally requires more preparation and a complex configuration. In the case where the company already interconnects its remote sites (for example via a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the implementation is simplified, although this introduces other problems, such as the bandwidth consumption, shared with users at local and remote sites. Often, a second independent digital signage system will be deployed on the second site, thus losing the possibility of interaction between the various sites.

Content creation

Regardless of the architecture of the model chosen, some solutions propose, in addition to the management software, A software (or a platform) of content creation. It can be a tool specially developed by the service provider and often integrated into the management interface. It can also be an external tool, to be installed on the workstation or to be used via the internet. These creation software come in the form of models prepared in advance that you just have to personalize with its texts, colors and visuals or blank pages to be completed with texts, images or visuals.

In the case of a hosted architecture (on-premise), if the system does not offer content creation, it will be necessary to install additional software on one or more workstations (it may sometimes be charged). The models to be customized (if applicable) are frozen and are only renewed when the system is updated.

In the case of a SaaS architecture, solutions that offer models to be customized can make them evolve continuously. In addition, the Internet is full of free content creation solutions that allow content to be fed and which are also constantly fed with new models.

Conclusion

Thus, an architecture based on a SaaS model offers more services and more opportunities for development than a hosted solution (on-premise). In a SaaS solution, the management interface is accessible from anywhere. Plus, it's always up to date. It can be integrated with an infinite number of external services. It simply makes it possible to extend the screen fleet and it is often accompanied by content creation tools that are more complete and efficient than a hosted solution (on-premise). On these parameters alone, a digital signage solution based on a SaaS model seems the most suitable for projects with the possibility of evolution (in terms of number of screens, integration of services...), not having a technical team to devote to the project, or having several remote sites.

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Cenareo offers you an intuitive, scalable Saas solution and perfectly adapted to the needs of communication professionals in all sectors of activity: Points of sale, Internal communication, Hotels and restaurants but also DOOH.