In a shop, a shopping mall or even a window, if space allows it, it is possible to opt for multi-screen broadcasting. This makes it possible to discover the same content simultaneously on several screens installed in several places, or even to share the image on several screens side by side in order to create an even wider distribution. However, there is the question of synchronization in order to obtain the desired result. So why opt for digital signage? What content to broadcast there? What does multi-screen broadcasting consist of? How to manage synchronization with Cenareo?
Why choose dynamic signage?
Digital signage is a very good way for a business to gain visibility. It is the use of screens of varying sizes to convey messages to customers and passers-by. You can thus opt for dynamic signage in a store, in a shopping mall, on the street, etc. The screen generally broadcasts content in a loop, whether images or videos. In this way, the passer-by is attracted to the brightness and movement on the screen and will be all the more likely to read the content offered to them.
What's more, digital signage is a very good way to opt for modern equipment and therefore to give a completely different look to your business. We can thus modernize the space offered to customers and be constantly renewed thanks to the distribution of different content depending on the offers offered, the period, etc.
Digital signage is therefore a very interesting solution if you want to highlight your products, services and offers. According to a study conducted by Nielsen among 120 retailers using a digital signage solution, 80% of them saw their sales increase by 33% compared to those made with traditional printed posters.
What content to broadcast?
The content that will be broadcast through digital signage can be very varied. Indeed, some businesses will opt to broadcast promotional videos showcasing their products. We sometimes find videos with a simulation of the product or videos for purely aesthetic purposes simply to create an atmosphere and inspire buyers.
There is also promotional content that will make it possible to highlight a novelty or to let the public know that a promotion is in progress. You can also use this content to announce upcoming events such as sales or Black Friday for example.
The content broadcast through dynamic signage can be very varied with what you want to offer to your customers. Some companies create their content themselves and others will prefer to use photographers and videographers to benefit from an even more professional result.
Cenareo facilitates the creation of content thanks to its customizable templates adapted to your graphic charter. The platform offers thematic communication flows for points of sale, adapted to the seasonality of sales. These templates allow you to create and update your campaigns in a few clicks, in an intuitive, simple and fast way. You can also retrieve online content from YouTube or your social networks, or create your messages directly from the management platform.
What is multi-screen broadcasting?
Multi-screen broadcasting is a way that allows content to be broadcast on several screens at the same time. We talk about multi-screen broadcasting in particular to offer the same content on several screens in several places at the same time. As a result, there is consistency in its communication and the public can benefit from the same message wherever they are. We also talk about multi-screen broadcasting when several screens work together to recreate a complete image. You can thus choose to broadcast something using all these screens, or opt for one content per screen according to your needs.
Multi-screen broadcasting is increasingly used since businesses often add several screens to their sales spaces in order to be even more visible. It is therefore not uncommon for the question of synchronization for multi-screen broadcasting to arise.
Screen synchronization occurs in the context of the distribution of multimedia content via dedicated software. It refers to the possibility of broadcasting content on several screens that share a common time scale. The content can be the same or different depending on the needs, but the contents are broadcast at the same time thanks to intelligent digital signage software.
What equipment is used for digital signage?
To understand this synchronization problem, you need to know that dynamic signage does not work like a simple screen. In fact, the screen itself is installed by the merchant at the desired location and is connected to what is called a broadcast player. The broadcast player is directly connected to the screen and is equipped to receive a signal in order to know what to broadcast through the screen.
Cenareo has developed a plug and play player that allows you to connect any screen in a few seconds. The Cenareo player is based on a Raspberry Pi that required two years of research and development to transform it into a “plug & play magic box that never breaks down”. Simply plug it into the screen to connect it to the Internet, and once plugged in, it starts up by itself and displays your content without interruption, even if the connection is lost.
The Cenareo solution also offers options without an external player for certain ranges of screens. The technology is natively embedded and preconfigured on Samsung screens (Tizen range), Sharp/NEC and Philips. In this case, the System on Chip is natively present in the display screens by means of a motherboard. All you have to do is connect your screen to the internet, WiFi, wired or even 3G/4G. This approach has several advantages, reduced energy consumption, one less potential source of failure, simplified logistics and faster and therefore less expensive installation.
The control of the screens through the players is done from a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. The content is created and then uploaded to the dedicated interface accessible from any device. You can then select on which screens you want to share this content and how it should be broadcast. The player then receives the corresponding signal and will take care of the broadcast. It is thus possible to intervene from a single computer and it is not necessary to directly access the screens to configure their distribution.
How to ensure a good synchronization between the screens?
The issue of synchronization between screens is very important. Indeed, it is important to ensure that the content broadcast is broadcast on time. If you decide to use sound, the image on all screens must be able to be consistent with the sound distribution. It is therefore a question of precision if we want to obtain the desired result.
Cenareo integrates an interactive synchronization system developed specifically to coordinate all screens. This technology makes it possible to trigger synchronized content on a screen wall instantly and on demand. A temperature sensor, a connected button, or a QR Code scan can trigger the broadcast of content on a fleet of screens in less than a few seconds.
There are several types of synchronization depending on your goals:
Synchronization in replicated mode : all screens show the same content simultaneously. This configuration is frequently used in train stations and shopping centers where multi-sided totems are present. The faces of the totem, or even all the screens in an area, are synchronized identically and broadcast the same content at the same time, for example the cash register lines of a supermarket. This configuration makes it possible to share the broadcast player between several screens and thus increase the areas of expression without increasing the number of players required.
Fragmented synchronization : in this installation, content is fragmented into as many parts as there are equipped screens. Each fragment is broadcast simultaneously on the screens which, together, reform the initial content. This installation is mainly used for screen walls. The content is then broadcast over a large area, which increases visibility and creates a spectacular effect.
Sequential synchronization : several different contents, generally of the same duration, are broadcast simultaneously on the equipped screens. This configuration can be used to attract attention using giant content displayed on all screens, which follows multiple contents each displayed on a separate screen. This installation is particularly popular in stations to broadcast promotional content on all screens, then in a second step, the departures, arrivals or delays of the next trains.
The advantages of the Cenareo solution for multi-screen broadcasting
Cenareo offers a scalable and intuitive SaaS solution, particularly suited to the management of large screen fleets. The platform allows centralized and remote management of all your screens with an overview of the fleet and users. Thanks to dashboards, you keep visibility on all your screens, wherever they are.
Cenareo's intelligent algorithms broadcast your content according to your criteria (hours, days, distribution rate) or external parameters (weather, stock status). This intelligent programming allows you to communicate the right message at the right time without having to manually program each playlist.
The Cenareo platform also offers a real-time monitoring system that is essential to effectively manage a large fleet. The software automatically alerts you in case of screen disconnection, player failure or broadcast problem. In the event of a network outage or errors, content stored locally on players continues to be broadcast, thus avoiding black screens. A default campaign can be predefined and delivered if no content is scheduled.
The SaaS architecture allows Cenareo to react quickly in the event of an incident. The team can intervene remotely on players hosted at your home and connected to the Internet. Cenareo supervises the equipment and prevents possible malfunctions. In the event of a major incident preventing remote intervention, a standard exchange per package is included in the subscription.
For successful synchronization, it is therefore recommended to opt for quality equipment for multi-screen broadcasting, but also to turn to a qualified professional. The support of experts will be invaluable in order to be able to obtain the desired result as part of its multi-screen distribution. Cenareo offers personalized support with a team of experts for the deployment, installation and daily monitoring of your screen fleet. Players are preconfigured before shipping for a quick and easy set-up service, with online installation and verification tools and real-time access to data to track the fleet installation.
