The term “Digital Signage” has come to encompass and wide range of hardware and software solutions to display and manage digital media content onto displays such as LCD and plasma screens, projectors, video walls and kiosks.

These days you would be hard-pressed to have not encountered digital signage in some form or other, whether by digital advertising screens in airports and train stations, public information kiosks, promotional screen in retail stores and supermarkets or digital displays in company reception areas.

It is however essential to distinguish between what most people refer to as “Digital Signage” (i.e. a simple promotional screen) and a “Digital Content Management System” (i.e. a comprehensive solution to manage digital media across multiple screen and locations).

If you’re considering investing in a digital media system, it is important to thoroughly assess what you are trying to achieve and use this information to determine the best solution and provider for your requirements. There are a myriad or companies claiming to be the latest and greatest digital signage experts, but few have the tangible knowledge, experience or capability to deliver what is required.

Ask yourself:

• Why do you want a digital media system?
• What do you expect it to ‘operationally’ do (not only today but for the foreseeable future)?
• Who will manage the IT and Network requirements?
• Who will administrate the day-to-day management of the content?

• How long have they been providing digital media solutions?
• Are the solutions their own, or are they re-selling someone else’s?
• What tangible experience do they have in delivering solutions similar to yours?
• Does their solution require any proprietary hardware to operate?
• Does their solution require any proprietary network to operate?
• How does their system effectively manage bandwidth usage on your network?
• What on-going costs are associated with running their system?
• Are they financially stable? (you don’t want them to disappear after investing in their system)
• What services do they provide to install, configure and maintain their system?

Operating thousands of channels world-wide, we like to think that Netpractise is the class-leading solution provider for multi-channel digital media management applications. If you would like any help in working out a suitable solution for your requirements, please contact us today and we’ll be pleased to help.