It is an eternal battle to decide what is more important: digital signage hardware or the software and by extension content?
Dangers of considering hardware sans software
You will find that in majority of the places where digital signage has been or is awaiting installation, end-users are more interested in the hardware: selecting and installing the digital signage players and monitors before even considering how and what content to display in them.
Naturally, environmental factors, economic constraints and personal preferences will play a part in the decision to choose the hardware components for digital signage solutions in your restaurant. However, completely disregarding the content you intend to display as well as how you intend to do so will limit the level of efficacy of your signage solutions.
Remember that age-old adage, “Content is King”? Well, it is still true here as it was in the other digital marketing solutions implemented in other places. You can have state of the art video walls, but if you used inappropriate or wrong displays for the content that you wish to display, you will still not get the full attention you desired.
However, simply having outstanding content displayed using the right software on the most basic screens (provided they are the correct type) will fully engage your viewer and give that lasting impression you want for your restaurant.
Considerations to make before you choose the hardware to buy or software to use, you need to consider the following content and software needs:
1. Touch-enabled – not all digital signage media players have touch capability. In addition, it is not automatic that any touch-screen monitor will be compatible with every DIS player.
2. Portrait vs. landscape – monitors can work in portrait while some in landscape mode. Digital signage software is far more versatile however, and can be used in both ways
3. Open vs. Closed Architecture – does the digital signage appliance you will use prevent unauthorized users from making changes to the display for instance? The software should also have the correct configurations.
4. Scalability – will you use the signage hardware and software in just one place or across multiple locations? How far apart are these locations? The software you use should also be able to handle these parameters.
5. Audio – if your content includes audio messages, then your hardware must have the appropriate audio capabilities with a sound system that is loud enough to be audible from the required distance.
6. Resolution – this is of course a hardware only factor and it will depend on the kind of display that you want to have.
7. File sizes – if you will be displaying very elaborate content using complex software, you need to ensure that the DS media player has adequate memory to run the content seamlessly.
8. RSS vs. Live TV vs. Data streams – not every DS hardware and software platform has the capability to handle such features.
9. Full-screen vs. multi-zone – this is a hardware only consideration also, and some DS applications do not offer these choices.
As you can see there is no more or less important aspect when it comes to digital signage, the hardware relies on the software and vice versa for great overall content. Before making any purchases, ensure that you visit our professional graphic designers and digital signage experts so that we can make the best recommendations for exactly what you need.
