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Sharing content in digital displays through the Web

The evolution of Web browsers

The programming languages used to create dynamic websites have been constantly evolving since the year 2000. Back then, web browsers were fairly basic and could only show information in very limited ways. Since the processing power of personal computers was limited, the focus was on transmitting and displaying information, and it was not required to provide quality visuals and medias to increase visibility – a principle that would be unthinkable today.

Figure 1. 1996 version of the Yahoo.com website.

In the beginning of residential Internet, the main focus was solving the problem of sharing information. Today, Web browsers and programming languages offer possibilities that enable an improved management of visual elements and media. Consequently, users now demand quality content that is visually appealing. Websites from 20 years ago were considered engaging if they displayed a large amount of text. Nowadays, this trend is reversed: if there is too much text to read or if the site is not visually appealing, users will not stay on the website for long. Why have users changed their behavior this way? The answer resides in a single element: technological evolution.

The evolution of the HTML5 language and the downfall of Flash

In the information technology jargon, the reason we now use the term “HTML5” instead of simply saying “HTML” is simply due to a version specification in the HTML programming language. In just over 20 years, HTML has known an impressive evolution, which was for the most part driven to achieve goals relating to the user experience. Functions such as the ability to “drag and drop” files, support for mobile devices and management of characters in different languages vastly improved the quality of content and thus created heightened expectations for users.

Figure 2. Adobe Flash icons over time

Functions related to media were the ones that had most impact on the user experience through the support of audio and video that changed the look and feel of the Web. Back when HTML could not be used for media, Flash was usually installed on computers to allow users to watch multimedia content. In today’s age of innovation and evolution of HTML, Flash has become a useless software resource. Therefore, the evolution of possibilities created by Web programming languages was the main factor that made Flash obsolete and useless, and ultimately brought about its downfall.

The evolution of digital and dynamic signage

Although digital and dynamic signage is offered on many different platforms, it enables users to benefit from the technological breakthroughs offered by Web programming languages. Products that just followed the Web’s technological evolution and simply abandoned antiquated and superfluous technologies (such as Flash) cannot claim to be robust and flexible. It is therefore critical to ensure that your Web application provider offers products based on recent and adaptative technologies – such as ITESLIVE.

The need to display content on screens, the evolution of Web programming languages, the portability, and the reduced numbers of employees in the workplace create communication challenges for businesses. Being able to display content simply by sending a URL through an email distribution list is a common ask for businesses who wish to communicate efficiently with their employees and take advantage of the full potential of web browsers without having to install third-party software.

Reducing the need for physical devices: the future of the digital signage sector

A bit of history

Computer science is an integral part of science. Science includes many different fields, and is described as the pooling of knowledge in a particular sector. Some sectors, such as botany, medicine, and astronomy, have been studied for much longer than computer science. Computer science is a new scientific area in rapid and constant evolution. The beginning of computer science is closely linked to the work of mathematician Alan Turing, the inventor of the processor, during World War II. At the time, only a select few could own a “computing machine”.

In 1950, the 1011, one of the first marketed computers of the ERA Company, appeared in an open market environment. Within five years, the computer went from a “secret defense” tool to a marketed machine. The computers’ size was decreased, while their performance improved.

Figure 1. One of the first marketed computers: the ERA Company’s 1101 model.

We would have to wait until 1971 to see the first personal computer on the market: the KENBAK-1. This computer had an educational purpose, as it was designed for students learning how to use a computer and understand programming.

Figure 2. KENBAK-1: The first marketed personal computer

In just over 20 years, computer science evolved from gigantic machines being able to work only through an operator to an acceptably sized item with its many components centralized in a “box” that could be marketed for sale to the public. This technology kept changing, transforming computers into the models we know today, and which are an integral part of our lives.

The evolution of dynamic displays

The digital signage sector’s evolution is similar to the development of the computer in terms of hardware and performance. A few years ago, a digital signage installation would require buying different types of equipment to display content. It was commonplace to see computers using the Windows operating system directly plugged to the screen. The cost of the screen combined with the purchase of its dedicated computer, as well as the installation required to conceal the computer to the audience, meant a significant expense to be able to display content.

Just as the evolution of computers reduced the size of physical equipment while improving their performance, the digital signage sector is in constant evolution and can also decrease the different equipment parts you need to purchase when you choose the best software solution. ITESLIVE, from the ITESMEDIA company, is a great example of a flexible digital display software that can reduce the physical equipment needed for displaying content. With the availability of increasingly performant smart screens, you can install an innovative software solution directly in these screens, therefore eliminating the need to link a computer to the screen.

ITESLIVE can be installed on many different platforms. Digital signage screens from Samsung or LG have the internal features needed to make this magic happen. Screens equipped with the Android operating system are also compatible with software such as ITESLIVE. If you have a BrightSign player, you can keep it and use it with ITESLIVE. The value of being able to use the same software on different platforms to display content (and even synchronize it) is invaluable as it provides quality and versatility, and helps you save on indirect costs. ITESLIVE is a leading example of an innovative and affordable high-quality solution.

Using digital signage to communicate with employees working remotely

In the last months, most of us have been working remotely – some happily, others less so. This change is a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and foreshadows a world where work will likely migrate towards a hybrid model. This is a significant challenge for companies looking for efficient ways to communicate with their employees. Here is a little-known fact: digital signage, which is a popular tool for workplace communications, is also an excellent way to reach employees working remotely.

Read: With COVID-19 and more people working from home, is it still relevant to have digital signage in the workplace?

From the walls to your computers, tablets and mobiles

Digital signage usually means monitors hanging on walls; however, their reach is much greater as it is possible to display the same content on computers, tablets and mobile devices. As such, digital signage is a global internal communication tool that makes it possible to display the same information on screens in the workplace as well as on devices used by employees working at home or on the road.

The solution: web links

Using simple URLs, you can now create unique communication channels and share them with anyone you like. You can therefore manage your message list within your content management software in the same way you manage your message lists for your digital displays. In other words, your content is managed in a fully transparent manner, no matter the end device displaying the information to your audience. Here are some use cases:

Open the URL directly from a browser on your computer, tablet or mobile device.
Integrate the URL to your employee portal or your intranet to display the content in a section in particular.
Display the URL content when the computer is in screensaver mode.

Web links are an easy way to share information you are managing in your digital signage content management software, but it is sometimes preferable to choose options other than URLs. As such, the ideal solution is to choose a multiplatform solution (read: Dynamic signage: The benefits of a multi-platform solution).

More than ever, the concept of “workspace” includes working remotely, and digital signage is a tool that can help companies to adapt to this new reality. After all, we are used to access digital content on different types of devices wherever we are. In the end, any device with a screen can be used for digital signage, whether users are at the office, at home or on the road.

3 benefits of digital signage for retail stores

What differentiates your business from your competitors? Digital signage is a competitive advantage. The goal for all retail stores is to draw the attention of potential customers, to create an atmosphere and to mention promotions.

Generating traffic for your business

The first contact people have with a business is with its windows. One of the main advantages of digital signage is its ability to attract people inside your store. Consumers are naturally drawn towards screens, and their attention is caught by them. Therefore, digital displays in windows engages them with promotions, new arrivals, videos, etc. In short, it’s a great way to stand out from the other neighboring stores.

Crate an atmosphere

The atmosphere in a store is of the utmost importance: customers must feel good when visiting, and everything needs to be pleasing to the eye. Here is a great example of an impressive video for the Victoria’s Secret store in Montreal. This video wall is visible from the entrance, catches the eye of customers, and becomes a source of entertainment for them. This creates an atmosphere which, in this case, expresses femininity. To entertain people, it would even be possible to add the video of the launch of the new collection. In other words, when it’s easy to add and display content, it’s simple to test new ways of creating an atmosphere and entertaining your customers.

Display promotions

In most stores, an employee will greet customers and tell them about current promotions; however, customers will forget about them just a few moments afterwards. To make sure consumers keep your promotions in mind, display them on your screens. For example, frequent promotions are “2 for 1” or “Buy one item, and the second is 50% off” – so why not share your most popular 2 for 1 combinations (e.g. jeans/shirts or jeans/belts) on your screens? It would inspire buyers and increase your sales at the same time. Stand out from the competition by displaying content your customers will enjoy

Whether it’s to draw your customer’s attention, create an atmosphere or share promotions. Use digital signage software to quickly and easily create, manage and display your content. Try it for free right now!

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How ITESLIVE can help you manage a multilingual display

We are launching a new series of articles called How ITESLIVE can help you. The objective of these articles is to let you know more about various options of the ITESLIVE software and help you understand why we have chosen to develop these features as well as how to use them. In the first article of this series, you will learn why we have included a multilingual feature and how to use it. Many people know that ITESLIVE can manage different languages based on various settings, but few are aware of the possibilities this feature can offer.

Why we have created this feature

ITESMEDIA is a company based in Montreal, one of the technology capitals of the world, where multiculturalism and multilingualism are prevalent in corporate and manufacturing sectors. In these environments, some employees are more fluent in English than in French, whereas in others, it’s the other way around. Furthermore, some companies have offices and factories everywhere around the world. As such, it is important to be able to display content in different languages. This way, everyone has access to the important information shared with them.

How to use this feature

There are two ways to define language: for each display reader or for each clip message.

Defining language based on the display reader

Language can be defined based on its location. For example, a company could determine that its factory located in Quebec will display content in French only, and that in its factory in Toronto, content will be displayed in English only. In this case, language is defined in the studio for each display reader.

Display at the Quebec factory

Display at the Toronto factory

Defining language for each clip message

Language can be managed for a same message. The content will first appear in French, then immediately be followed by its English version. The opposite order can also be applied.

In the video above, the selected languages are English and French; however, other languages could be displayed. Both options are provided in the ITESLIVE software.

In short, one of the main features of the ITESLIVE software is the display language. This module meets two different needs depending on what companies wish to do. Which feature do you think is essential for digital display software?

How can you create a successful window display?

Window displays is a marketing channel that has been widely used for many years, and for good reason. Physically, it is the marketing placement closest to your potential customers which can convince them to visit your business. Of course, the location of your business will greatly influence the reach of this channel. As such, businesses located on a busy pedestrian street should make every effort to optimize their windows – and digital signage is an excellent way to make enhance them. How can you create a successful window display?

Choosing screens with high brightness levels

Screens displayed in windows must inevitably “fight” against natural exterior light. Whether your window is exposed to sunlight or in the shade, a display with regular brightness won’t be able to compete with the elements and will scarcely be visible. The unit of measure of a screen’s brightness is called a “nit”. For instance, a standard display screen can have between 300 and 450 nits. In comparison, a digital display for windows usually has around 4,000 nits. As a reference, the new iPhone 12 has a screen brightness of 625 nits. An enlightened choice (pardon the pun) would be a “semi-outdoor” display type offered by important screen manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.

Choosing a discreet, nonintrusive support

Many support types can be used in windows. If possible, a discreet support is a better choice, as it will add more emphasis on the content displayed on the screen. Over the last few years, “floor-to-ceiling” support types used to hang the screens have become increasingly popular. These supports are not very expensive, but usually require installation by a professional.

Purchasing a professional digital software

Acquiring a professional digital signage software allows you to easily manage your displays. There are dozens of providers, and most of them offer a choice of license types at various prices, according to your needs. For example, ITESLIVE offers six different types of licenses, starting at only $19/month for a multi-zone display and many features such as remote management, weather, RSS feeds, display schedule and a model editor. This also includes hosting in Microsoft Azure, updates and technical support. Read also: Why should you try your digital signage software before buying?

Adapting your content to your audience

Who are you trying to reach? Pedestrians? Motorists? Both? Unfortunately, even if everyone can reach pedestrians and motorists, a choice must be made; these two targets are not at the same distance and move at different speeds. As such, the display duration and the font size need to be adapted – which will also impact the display size and the recommended minimal definition.

Landscape or portrait format

In windows, for paper displays, we are used to seeing posters, i.e. signs in portrait format. When using screens, it is recommended to also choose a portrait orientation. However, in some cases, depending on your content or the shape of your windows, it could be preferable to use a landscape format.

LCD or LED

There are two main types of displays for digital signage: LCD and LED. Which type is the best for window displays? The answer is not so simple: both technologies meet different needs, but the demarcation between them is not as clear as it once was. Both technologies can sometimes meet the same need, notably because LCD displays provide much more brightness than before, and LED screens now offer much higher resolutions. Of course, there is always a solution which will be better suited to a given situation, and choosing the right one is important to maximize your investment. As such, although these two display types offer high brightness levels, each of them has an important feature to their advantage. On the one hand, LCD displays still provide today a much higher resolution level. On the other hand, there is no limit to the size of LED displays. In the end, if your audience is near your displays (e.g. pedestrians walking by), it is usually recommended to use LCD displays; if it is far away (e.g. motorists on a highway), LED technology allows you to use oversized displays.

In conclusion, digital signage displayed in windows is a powerful marketing tool – if used properly. It will be interesting to see this type of project evolve, in particular the content adaptation using artificial intelligence and motion detection.

The four types of digital signage

The digital signage sector is divided into different subcategories. Here are a few examples:

Dynamic digital signage

Automated digital signage

Advertising digital signage

Interactive digital signage

Dynamic digital signage

Dynamic digital signage is the display of images and videos in a full-page or multi-area model on interior and exterior displays that mainly rely on LCD and DEL technologies. The content is shown according to a predefined schedule and duration established using best practices for digital displays (audience, objectives and content strategies).

It is commonly used in the retail, healthcare (especially in clinics and hospital centres) and fast food sectors. Recently, important deployments, in McDonald’s and Tim Hortons chains among others, have been launched for menu displays.

Automated digital signage

Automated digital signage is not as widely known, although this type of signage has been around since over 15 years in residential real estate for displaying properties to sale or to rent. Automation is also very popular in public transit with schedules indicating the time when the next trains or buses will arrive. Automated digital signage is increasingly prevalent in factories to communicate performance indicators regarding production indicators, quality metrics and health and safety messages.

Its use has taken off over the last years through an increasing number of urban projects for “smart” cities, among others. A special feature of automated digital signage is its dependence upon innovative digital display technologies built upon the latest standardized HTML5 languages, which integrate open data and interoperability concepts.

Advertising digital signage

Advertising digital signage has a strong presence in larger cities near highways, where we can see striking advertisement panels that use LED-type displays.

These types of displays are quite appreciated in subways, in bus shelters and in some urban installations (usually caller Morris columns). These installations require LCD-type displays with a very high brightness level and specialized software which integrate CRM modules for client and contract management as well as billing features. These systems create advanced display reports (‘Proof of play’) required by advertisers and their agencies who invest considerable amounts to deliver advertisements.

Interactive digital signage

Interactive digital signage goes by many different names. In the early 2000s, they were better known as ‘interactive terminals’, and thereafter as ‘interactive kiosks’. Although interactive kiosks have been around since over 20 years, demand for interactive projects in recent years has brought about the new term, i.e. ‘smart kiosk’.

Smart kiosks for buildings

ITESMEDIA has been chosen by our client, Industrielle Alliance, to deliver the first open data smart kiosk project in in Montreal which integrated our fully interoperable display tool: ITESLIVE. This project was recognized worldwide and contributed to our nomination as finalists of the international Digital Signage Awards 2021, Workplace Environment category, as a tool for improving communications and facilitating circulation in corporate environments.

Smart kiosks for hotels and convention centres

ITESMEDIA had the opportunity to deliver various smart kiosk projects in the hotel and congress centre sectors over the last years. The common goal required by clients was the implementation of a digital display solution which would integrate a centralized event management calendar to be displayed on screens installed near conference room doors. These monitors are used to display events and promotions for the many services offered to the customers of the hotel and the congress centre.

The information displayed for customers is powered through an interactive concierge accessible through terminals in portrait mode (similar to iPhones) and equipped with 55-inch touchscreens. The objective of the smart kiosks is to inform customers in real time about the services and events offered by the hotel. Personalized maps, enriched with a wayfinding system, helps direct customers to the room they are looking for.

2020 has brought its share of innovations that will impact digital signage, mostly in the interactivity and the kiosk sectors due to the new health measures for COVID-19. In the near future, we can expect to see kiosks with features such as reading devices, contactless interactions and concepts leveraging artificial intelligence.

Dynamic signage: The benefits of a multi-platform solution

More and more operating systems and platform types are becoming available in the information technology industry. More specifically, in the dynamic signage sector, available platforms were long limited to Microsoft Windows. As for all scientific domains, information technology is a rapidly evolving sector in constant change. We are beginning to see an increase in new technologies and new platforms, which is a significant challenge for software designers. However, for buyers of these products, this evolution provides a wide variety of interesting options at competitive prices.

The power of choice

Buyers of these types of products can choose between a wide range of products and different solutions to meet the same need. By choosing software with multi-platform support, it is possible to purchase dynamic display screens in the first phase according to the cost of equipment without having to worry about future compatibility issues. At a second phase of implementation, you have the option of purchasing screens from another brand which, at the time, could be less expensive than the ones bought at a previous phase. It therefore becomes possible to use the same software on different platforms and eliminate any concerns about having to manage the purchase of new software during the project management phase. For example, a first phase of dynamic display deployment could be accomplished through technologies from Microsoft, and a second phase could include purchasing monitors from LG, Samsung and Android. Using multi-platform software allows you to use the same content-sharing software for your entire network. Are you are initiating a third phase because you could take advantage of a substantial discount with BrightSign’s products? No problem: your software is multi-platform! You just need to purchase the new equipment and efficiently initiate your deployment using the same software you have been mastering since phase one.

Read: Why should you try your digital signage software before buying?

Managing costs

In a context where we have access to a high number of offers, managing costs becomes easier since manufacturing companies for different platforms face intense competition – which translates into lower costs for buyers. 25 years ago, the main operating system option was Microsoft Windows. When Microsoft Windows 95 was launched in 1995, the license cost 210 US$. In 2020, even after 25 years’ worth of inflation, a Microsoft Windows 10 license is about 140 US$. According to public data on inflation in North America between 1995 and 2020, a Microsoft Windows 10 license “should” cost about 350 US$. The product’s novelty, as well as its near monopoly on the market at the time, warranted its high price compared to its price in 2020.

An important benefit of choosing software with multi-platform compatibility such as ITESLIVE is the ability to manage costs more closely. Important savings are possible both when purchasing equipment and training your users on the content-sharing software. With multi-platform software, you only need to train your staff on a single software product.

The many offers on the market require buyers to do more research to ensure they are buying the best product at the best price. They must keep a sharp eye and take the time to validate that the technology they are purchasing today will not become useless in the short term. Obsolete products (e.g. products based on Flash technology which were not multi-platform compatible) can prove costly in terms of maintenance, and can also double the amount of expenses in a short period in equipment and software replacement (read: Surviving Adobe Flash Player’s end of life). The fast pace of technology turns tools which seemed innovative a few years ago into obsolete artefacts. Multi-platform software won’t stop working overnight; you will always have an alternative solution towards another platform. Therein lies the substantial value that multi-platform software can offer you.

Digital signage: Top 10 best practices in content creation for internal communications

In digital signage projects, content creation is usually the last step. An implementation process will generally follow these steps:

Defining objectives
Selecting software (provider)
Identifying strategic installation sites
Choosing equipment
Developing a content strategy
Creating content

Of course, the order of these steps can change; for instance, the content strategy can significantly impact the identification of strategic sites and the choice of equipment. As such, although these steps are unique, they are also linked and can influence each other. The priority is therefore to remain focused on the objectives to make the right choice for the following steps. An undeniable factor remains: the first step is always to define objectives, and the last is usually to create content. Here are ten elements to consider during content creation.

1. Automate content

For people tasked with managing displays, automation is a vital part of creating continuous content. For example, it allows sharing updated graphics on production results, planned meetings on a calendar and employee birthdays. Automation even makes it possible to automatically display emergency messages according to the different events that could strike. Read: How to present workplace dynamic data.

2. Display duration

Content needs to be adapted to the duration in which it will be displayed. In factories or a corporate environment, screens are usually placed in strategic places where employees will be exposed to the content (such as entrances, cafeterias, hallways and production floors). Display duration can vary considerably depending on the location of the screens. As such, displays located at entrances should have much shorter message lists than the ones in the cafeteria. Employees in the cafeteria are exposed to the content for dozens of minutes, whereas they are exposed to it for just a few seconds when they enter the building. In short: for entrances, displays should focus on one or two important messages, but for the cafeteria, it is possible to show more elaborate content.

3. Location influences content

The location of a screen has a significant influence on the relevant content it will display. In a factory, a digital display monitor located on the production floor will generally not show the same content as the one installed at the employee entrance. On the production floor, it is relevant to display safety guidelines reminders and real-time production data. As for the screen located at the employee entrance, it can display messages from management and HR communications. Read: Five Types of Messages You Can Broadcast to Improve Internal Communications.

4. Graphic guidelines

Digital signage is a tool that is an integral part of your communications ecosystem. As such, it is important to apply your graphic guidelines to your displays. Graphic guidelines are much more than just adding a logo: it’s using the colors that define your brand image.

5. Your display’s aspect ratio

A monitor’s aspect ratio describes the relationship between width and height. The more common ratio is 16:9 (or 9:16 when the screen is in a portrait orientation). It should be noted that some screens can have a different ratio, although it is rare for LCD displays – this ratio is mostly used for LED screens.

Ratio is often mistaken for resolution. Resolution refers to the numbers of pixels on the screen. For displays of the same size, the higher the number of pixels, the better the image quality. Displays can have different amounts of pixels yet have the same ratio. For example, displays with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, of 1920×1080 pixels and of 3840×2160 pixels all have a 16:9 ratio.

You should always ensure that the content you are creating will be efficient for your display’s ratio. Most of the time, that ratio is 16:9 or 9:16.

6. Divide your displays in different zones

Dividing your displays in different zones is an excellent way to maximize space and show different content simultaneously. We recommend using a division model which allows using a primary zone in a 16:9 ratio. The 16:9 zone has the same aspect ratio as the entire monitor, which is also the same as a television screen; your audience is therefore used to seeing content in this format. You can also use the primary zone to display more important content, and the secondary zones for content such as weather and news. You should also ensure to follow guidelines for the orientation and the ratio of the zones. As such, if your primary zone has a 16:9 ratio, avoid displaying content in a 4:3 ratio or, even worse, a 9:16 ratio. Finally, you should not display videos in different zones at the same time.

7. Color and contrast

To make your content easily legible, it is important to use contrasting colors. For example, if the background color is dark, use a light-colored font. If you choose to use a video or an image as a background, we recommend superposing a colored layer with transparency.

8. Use a large font

You can use different font sizes depending on the distance from which your audience is watching your displays; make sure the font is large enough to be easily read. This tip seems obvious, but when you are creating content in your computer (with the screen only a few centimetres from your eyes), it may be difficult to correctly determine the readability of your texts on the displays. If you are unsure at the beginning, move away from the screen to assess the result.

9. Keep safety margins

Your content needs room to breathe. As mentioned above, dividing your display in different zones is an excellent way to maximize the space on your screens. However, ensure you are maintaining safety margins between your zones. These margins enable the segmentation of different types of information, which makes reading easier. For example, in the red zone on the image below, there is a safety margin of 50 pixels around the information displayed in the secondary zone.

10. Stay concise, keep it simple

Usually, by using a large enough font size and keeping safety margins, your messages should be brief. However, sooner or later, you will need to display content that will require you to bypass these best practices. When the situation will arise, there will only be one thing to do: resist the temptation. It is vital that you avoid overloading your display monitors with information within one clip, even if you display the content for a longer period. There is no golden rule on the amount of characters to display, as it depends on the distance between your audience and the screens and on the display duration. In short: stay concise and convey simple messages.

Now that you know the 10 best practices for content creation, the choice is yours. If you need help, ITESMEDIA can provide counselling. We can also give you free templates that follow best practices through our ITESLIVE software.

Digital signage in restaurants

In the digital age, restaurants are increasingly relying on screens to display their menus. Digital signage software such as ITESLIVE facilitate menu management and editing. Digital menus are also a way for restaurants to differentiate themselves from competitors.

Using digital signage to stand out

Competition is fierce for restaurants, especially for fast food restaurants. In rest areas, for example, all restaurants are next to each other and customers can easily go from one counter to the other to make their choice. To increase chances of catching the eye of customers, engaging videos can be played along with the menus. To stand out from the others, having high quality display monitors instead of regular television monitors can be an asset. These monitors’ brightness is much higher than regular televisions, which translates into higher visibility for customers. A menu on a digital display is another great way to differentiate from the others and is much easier to read than a non-digital one.

Using digital signage to automate processes

It can be very disappointing to order a meal displayed on a menu and being told it is not available because it is only served for dinner. Digital display software enables you to manage your menu, as well as to change the content by using data from other systems. On one hand, the displayed menu can be changed automatically according to the selected time of day. For example, at 3 pm, the afternoon menu could change to display the evening menu. On the other hand, the digital display software can be interfaced with other sources from other software (point-of-sale) to create display guidelines. Based on your inventory system, the ads for your gingerbread cookies will no longer be displayed on your screens if you no longer have them in stock. Conversely, the ads for your croissants will appear since you have a large amount left. Another useful feature is the ability to base the displays according to the weather. If it’s rainy and cold outside, ice cream desserts will usually be much less popular, so warm beverages will be predominantly displayed on the menus. Other example: on very hot days, the menu could display mostly cold drinks. In short, many different rules can be implemented based on the data systems available to you. A dynamic display signage solution helps save time in managing menus and the displayed content will always be relevant to your customers.

Digital displays to quickly change menus

Spontaneously offering a promotion is a lot of work, as it entails changing the prices and the visuals. Many different changes (such as price changes or adding or removing a meal) can be made easily through the software. In addition, you can promote a meal or beverage to increase their sales. All these changes are visible in real time, as opposed to non-digital menus which require physical reprints.

After describing all these features, it becomes clear that restaurant operators wishing to have their menus stand out will favor using a digital signage software to manage content. Automation is an important benefit: by applying certain rules, the displays can change automatically to optimize sales and engage customers. Through the software, these changes can also be made quickly and easily, and immediately appear on the displays. After all, the menu is what gives people their first impression of a restaurant.