what is digital signage software?

Digital signage software makes sharing designs to digital screens easy-peasy.

It’s a content management system (CMS) you can access from any web browser to design, manage and deploy content to any screen connected to your Fusion Signage account.

The alternatives to digital signage software are USB or internal screen applications. However, this means you have to update each sign manually. It almost always requires designs to be completed by a professional designer, and changing content at a moment’s notice isn’t possible.

With a digital signage software like Fusion Signage, you can instantly send new images, videos and other content to one or all of your screens, instantly.

Makes your life easy-peasy.

A good digital signage software should make it simple to create, manage and deploy all your digital signage content.

It should also offer a test drive, like a free trial, to see if it's the right fit for you.

It’s one thing to answer the question ‘what is digital signage?’. It’s another to know which features to look out for.

Here are our top 10 rated features and benefits.

• intuitive interface: a clean, simple and user-friendly interface with everything you need and nothing you don’t is ideal. Your interface should feel familiar. Like a welcome home hug.
• hardware options: your digital signage software should run on all major brands of media players and commercial-grade screens. When your platform doesn’t require proprietary hardware, this allows you more flexibility and removes media player costs.
• cloud-based: this means you can access your digital signage from any web browser. This makes sending signage live easy-peasy, instead of using individual USBs.
• scheduling: the option to schedule content ahead of time is one of the most sought after digital signage software features. This makes updating content easier than ever before.
• cost-effective: this one’s simple. Avoid overspending on features you won’t use.
• media types: what will you actually be sending to your screens? Chances are, that’ll be images, videos and websites at a minimum. Simple is often better.
• grouping and tagging: updating a large number of screens? You’ll want to be able to update all screens at the same time. Either by grouping them together or tagging to align with different content types like promotions, celebrations or new offerings. We recommend asking your digital signage software for a demo on how this works.
• content creation: content templates to drag and drop your way to beautiful designs make updating signage simple. Design from scratch or with ready-made layouts to create your own head-turning signage.
• flexibility: ideally, your software provider will work with you. So that if you have feedback, need a new feature or custom branding, they can make it happen. Chat with the software company to see if this is possible. At Fusion Signage, this is a priority!
• support: you’ll want to have someone who will quickly answer your questions. Check out reviews or speak to other users about their experiences.

Like a humble washcloth, facewasher or flannel. Digital signage has a few different names.

• Content management software (CMS)
• Content management system (CMS)
• Cloud-based software
• Signage software
• Advertising software

Though, the most common term today is digital signage software.

If you want to send digital signage content live in minutes, yes.

If you prefer a manual process, like having designs created by a designer, playing content from a USB or inbuilt system then uploading content to each individual screen, no.

Often USB or inbuilt system options are tricky, time-consuming and result in minimal changes to content, which reduces relevance to your customers.

If you’d prefer to inform and engage your audience with targeted signage updated quickly and easily, digital signage software is your perfect match.

A basic digital signage setup is made up of:

1. Hardware like your screen, media player (usually built into the screen), mounting, installation and internet
2. Content to display on your screen
3. Digital signage software

Your software is the glue that hold your entire system together!

To look at these components in more detail, click here.

It can, but it will be tricky.

In the past, people plugged USBs into their screens, and allowed content to run on a loop.

Though, this doesn’t allow for any control over your signs.

Like:

• Content creation
• Updating content in minutes
• Creating saved sequences of content
• Scheduling content for different days and times

This also relies on sending your USBs to each location every time you want to display new content. If your screen doesn’t have a USB port, or the port is difficult to reach? This causes more issues.

Digital signage software takes away these physical limits and adds oodles of benefits.

Yes, oodles!

With so many digital signage software options, it can be overwhelming to know which one’s your perfect fit.

To help with this decision, check out this handy guide:

How to choose the right cloud-based software for your digital signage.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

• Do I already have a designer or do I want to easily put together content myself?
• What type of content do I want to show on my screens?
• How many screens do I want to show content on?

This will give you a starting point for which functions you’ll need.

It may also mean you can skip paying for features you won’t use.

If you are managing one to a few screens, a Basic or Advanced licence could work for you. If you’re managing many, across a wide range of locations and in hundreds to thousands of locations, features included in a Pro licence would be best for you.

The best way to know for sure is to test the platform yourself.

Fusion Signage offers:

• 21-day free trial to try it on for size (no credit card required)
• Free demo to see if it's the right fit for your business

Empowered tip: Most customers work with Integrators who manage digital signage hardware. Speak to them to see if they recommend a digital signage software to suit your needs. Don’t have an Integrator? Get in touch and we’ll connect you with one.

Digital signage software is generally as a B2B transaction sold by Integrators and Resellers.

Integrators and Resellers are the clever people who provide you with hardware or installation.

If you don’t have an Integrator, we can connect you with one of our reputable Resellers.

If you already have your own hardware and don’t need assistance from an Integrator or Reseller, you can buy licences directly through the digital signage software company. Like right here.

The risk with this is not having installation support from Integrators. It’s always best to have an Integrator since they can double-check the software will work with your hardware.

Here at Fusion Signage, we offer annual, three-year or five-year subscriptions.

Our most popular payment duration is three years since it coincides with most commercial-grade warranties on digital signage screens.

Yes, this is a one-off cost for three whole years!

Check out subscription options here.

One licence for each screen.

The exception here at Fusion Signage is that if you’re displaying one media player across a 2x2 video wall (4 screens total), this is considered one screen – just larger!

Get in touch with us for more information on multiscreen licences for menu boards.

These days, you can find a software platform to run on almost any brand of commercial-grade screen.

Fusion Signage, for example, is tested and compatible across all the major brands such as Philips, LG, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and JVL, plus all major platforms including Windows, ChromeOS, Mac, Linux, Android (APK download and Google Play), WebOS, Tizen and BrightSign.

We always recommend testing the screen to ensure you can install the application prior to purchasing any licences.

Smart TVs aren’t usually designed to display digital signage. So we generally don’t recommend using a Smart TV for commercial applications.

Smart TVs usually restrict which applications can be installed on them.

If your Smart TV has Google Play access, or the ability to install an Android APK (installation file), then Fusion Signage should be compatible. We highly recommend testing your specific TV using our free trial licence, as these are the only devices we don't provide support for. We do, however, offer software support for commercial-grade screens compatible with Fusion Signage.

While they may seem the same, commercial-grade screens are specifically designed for business environments.

Just like you wouldn’t install a home oven in a restaurant kitchen, commercial-grade screens come with:

• 16/7 or 24/7 warranted use
• A wider variety of size options
• Higher brightness and viewing angle
• Scheduled on and off times each day
• Portrait and landscape orientation mounting options
• The ability to automatically open digital signage software
• A commercial warranty to cover faults during the lifespan of the product