Introduction
In a store, a shopping mall, a window, if space allows it, you can choose multi-screen broadcasting. This makes it possible to see the same content at the same time on several screens placed in different places, or to divide the image on several screens side by side for an even wider distribution. It remains to know the synchronization to get the desired result. So why choose digital signage? What to publish? What is multi-screen broadcasting? How do I manage synchronization?
Why digital signage?
Digital signage is a great way for a business to make itself known. It is the use of larger or smaller screens to broadcast messages to customers and passers-by. You can therefore choose dynamic signage in a store, in a shopping mall, on the street, etc. The screen often loops images or videos. Thus, the eye of the passer-by is attracted to the light and movement on the screen and will be more likely to read the message presented to them.
In addition, digital signage makes it possible to choose modern equipment and therefore to give another aspect to your store. We can therefore rejuvenate the customer area and constantly renew ourselves by broadcasting different content depending on the offers, the period, etc.
Digital signage is therefore a very interesting solution if you want to promote your products, services and offers.
What to publish?
The content that will be broadcast via digital signage can be very diverse. Indeed, some businesses will choose to broadcast advertising videos of their products. We can have videos with a simulation of the product or purely aesthetic videos to create an atmosphere and make customers want.
There is also promotional content that will make it possible to promote a novelty or to inform that a promotion is in progress. It can also be used to announce upcoming events such as sales or Black Friday for example.
The content distributed by dynamic signage can be very diverse depending on what you want to offer to your customers. For example, Cenareo offers an integrated content creation tool to create and personalize videos online with templates that match your graphic charter. Some companies produce their content themselves and others will use photographers and/or videographers for an even more professional result.
What is multi-screen broadcasting?
Multi-screen broadcasting is a method that allows content to be broadcast on several screens simultaneously. We talk about multi-screen broadcasting in particular to broadcast the same content on several screens in several places at the same time. So there is consistency in its communication and the public can benefit from the same message wherever they are. We also speak of multi-screen broadcasting when several screens are used together to reconstitute an image. You can therefore decide to broadcast something by using all these screens, or one content per screen according to your needs.
Multi-screen broadcasting is becoming more and more widespread because businesses often add several screens in their points of sale to be even more visible. It is therefore not uncommon to wonder how to synchronize for multi-screen broadcasting.
What hardware for dynamic signage?
To understand this synchronization problem, you need to know that digital signage is not a screen. There is therefore the screen that the merchant places in the desired location and it is connected to a player (or broadcast box). The player is connected directly to the screen and is set up to receive a signal to know what to show on the screen.
Cenareo offers a compact and lightweight plug and play player for an ultra-simplified installation. It connects to the screen with an HDMI cable and to the network with an Ethernet cable or WiFi. The advantage of this system is that it requires no knowledge for installation. The Cenareo solution also works in System on Chip mode (embedded player) on certain ranges of Samsung, Sharp/NEC and Philips screens, which further limits hardware constraints.
The control of the screens via the players is carried out from a web platform accessible from any device. The content is generated and uploaded to the interface. You can then choose on which screens you want to broadcast this content and how. The player receives the signal and is responsible for the broadcast. Cenareo therefore allows you to control all your screens remotely and centrally with a global vision of the fleet and users. We can therefore act from a single computer and we do not need to go to the screens to adjust their distribution.
The types of screen synchronization
Screen synchronization is the ability to broadcast content on several screens that share the same time scale. The content may be the same or different. Cenareo has developed several synchronization technologies to adapt to needs:
Synchronization the same
In this case, the same content is duplicated as many times as there are equipped screens. Each content is shown at the same time on the screens. This application is common in train stations and shopping centers where multi-sided totems display the same content simultaneously. The advantage is to share the broadcast player between several screens and therefore to increase the areas of expression.
Expanded sync
Content is divided into as many pieces as there are screens installed Each piece of content is broadcast simultaneously on the screens. All screens recreate the original content, forming a wall of screens. This configuration is widely used to create large-scale visual installations that impress with the gigantism of the images projected and the resulting animation of the place.
Hybrid sync (multi-way)
Several different contents, generally of the same duration, are broadcast simultaneously on the equipped screens. This configuration makes it possible to attract attention with giant content on all screens that follow numerous contents on each screen.
Interactive sync
Cenareo's interactive synchronization technology makes it possible to trigger synchronized content on a screen wall on the fly. Screens broadcast content normally, and on request (connected button, smartphone, QR Code, API), content can be broadcast on all or some of the equipped screens. A temperature sensor, a connected button or a QR Code scan can launch the broadcast on a fleet of screens in a few seconds. This installation makes it possible to engage an audience who, as an actor in the launch of the broadcast, will be more attentive to the messages broadcast.
How do I synchronize the screens?
Synchronizing screens is essential. Indeed, it is necessary to ensure that the content is published at the right time. If sound is used, the image on all screens must be able to match the sound distribution. It is therefore a matter of precision if you want the result.
Cenareo offers a simple and scalable SaaS solution for professionals in all sectors of activity (points of sale, internal communication, hotel-restaurant, DOOH...). The platform makes it possible to intelligently plan content thanks to an algorithm and numerous criteria for contextualizing campaigns (schedules, days, weather, stocks, audience, etc.).
With Cenareo, collaborative management is simple thanks to different levels of access for team members. In a “glocal” approach (global and local), a manager can regain control of his screens to broadcast information to his teams. National corporate messages can be broadcast from the head office and local messages can be broadcast on a department, a city, a site.
Technical synchronization equipment
Several technical architectures make it possible to achieve synchronous broadcasting:
- A player with several video outputs: All screens are connected directly to the player. Easy to set up, this solution is limited by the number of video outputs.
- A splitter plugged into the player: All screens are connected to a splitter, which is itself connected to the player. The splitter reproduces the player in several video outputs and can be linked.
- A chain of screens: All the screens are cascaded, the first is connected to the player. The screens must be the same and have this function.
- One player per screen: Each screen is linked to a different player. It is the players who, by talking to each other, synchronize the content on the screens. This solution offers maximum flexibility.
The technical choice must be made according to the rendering objectives and the type of sync sought.
Professional support for a successful synchronization
In this case, it is advisable to choose multi-screen broadcasting with quality hardware and efficient software. Cenareo ensures efficient and effective communication on screens thanks to its intelligent content programming and its centralized remote management.
For successful synchronization, it is therefore advisable to choose good equipment for multi-screen broadcasting, but also to call on a professional. The support of Cenareo is an asset in order to be able to achieve the desired result in its multi-screen distribution. In addition, Cenareo has a proactive alert system that automatically reports failures and makes it possible to troubleshoot most problems remotely thanks to its cloud solution. This preventive maintenance will be very useful to ensure the proper functioning of your equipment and to avoid black screens, the pet peeve of a screen fleet manager.
Companies like VanDB synchronized 110 screens with Cenareo for the surprise announcement of their Music Festival, or SNCF, which deployed 95 screens for its internal communication in Grand Est. These cases illustrate Cenareo's ability to manage massive screen fleets with seamless synchronization.
