What is Digital Signage?

Digital signage solutions are a network of interconnected digital displays that provide targeted information, entertainment, merchandising and advertising. You can manage them all from a central location and adjust messaging to match the needs of any given audience or time frame.

Digital signage is more than just displays, however. It also requires mounting systems, media players, software, services, cabling, and other essentials that optimize your system and keep it functioning at a high level.

You can use digital signage anywhere you currently use static signs. But digital displays are so dynamic, flexible and attention-grabbing, you may discover new settings and applications throughout your organization. Here are some places and ways digital displays can connect with your audience and enhance their experience:

• Self-checkouts
• Virtual receptionist
• Wayfinding
• Emergency messaging
• Control rooms
• Window displays
• Menu boards
• Digital billboards
• Outdoor displays and kiosks
• General information sharing

Today’s technology offers an abundance of different digital signage types, each offering its own exciting possibilities.

• Large-format displays (LFDs) - Large, wall-mounted flat screens (up to about 90 inches) that display messages and presentations.
• Interactive flat panels (IFPs) - Touch-sensitive screens designed for interactive whiteboarding, videoconferencing, screen sharing and more.
• Mobile interaction displays - Interactive panels that can be moved from one location to another.
• Video walls - A grid of monitors arrayed across a large area, offering exciting capabilities for dynamic single or multiple images.
• Kiosk displays - Smaller screens (or clusters of screens) that greet people in a public space with important information, promotional messaging, or commercial interactions.
• Outdoor displays - Large, weather-resistant signs meant to be viewed from open public spaces such as highways or plazas.
• Specialty displays - Custom-assembled sets of screens designed to meet the needs of specific locations, situations and audiences.

Not all displays are equal, and it’s critical to choose the best digital signage displays for your locations, situations and audiences.

From LCD to dvLED, we know the technology can be confusing. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the five major types of digital displays.

With LCD screens, Liquid crystals are sandwiched between two glass sheets. Backlights behind the screen emit white light, and the light can’t pass through the liquid crystals while they’re in a liquid arrangement.

Light-Emitting Diodes produce red, green and blue light. By combining and balancing these three primary colors, the user can produce virtually any color on the spectrum.

OLED is a flat light-emitting technology. “Emissive,” meaning the pixels emit their own light and do not require a backlight.

A variation of LED, adding a quantum dot film to the LCD “sandwich,” which enhances the colors and brightness of images. Screens rely on LED backlight.

Hundreds of tiny LEDs mounted directly to a panel and no liquid crystal or polarized glass is used. “Pixel Pitch” is the distance between LEDs; the lower the pixel pitch, the closer the comfortable viewing distance.

Just as consumer TVs will fall short if used in commercial signage applications, consumer-grade mounting hardware is also insufficient for commercial needs. Here’s why:

• Durability. A commercial-grade mounting solution is designed, tested and proven to meet the wear and tear of public, high-volume applications. Consumer-grade mounts are made with less robust materials to lower costs, and will end up costing more in the long run if used commercially. For outdoor displays, choose an outdoor rated mounting solution that’s designed to live outdoors 24/7.
• Ease of install & maintenance. You never want to get your display mounted on a wall and then have to service it later. Choose a mount that is designed with the installer in mind, with features that will save time and money if servicing is required.
• Secure design. The mount’s design should never take away from the mounted display, nor should it be easy for the public to tamper with and potentially steal. Choose a mounting solution with features such as superior fastener quality, cable management and security options.
• Safety. Make safety your top priority — choose mounts with safety certifications beyond the manufacturer’s testing, such as UL, ADA, and OSHPD. You’ll appreciate the peace of mind.

You’re not just buying a digital sign — you’re investing in a complete digital signage solution. It starts with the hardware, but goes well beyond.

Hardware

• Digital signage displays — the screens that will share your message, connect with your audience and create lasting interactions
• Mounting solutions — professional grade for durability, security and safety
• Media players — the brains and connectivity behind your displays

Content management

• Content delivery software — letting you design, adapt and deliver the messaging and interaction your audience needs
• On premises and/or cloud — your content can live wherever works best for you

Services

• Pre-sales support — get all your questions answered to your satisfaction before you’ve spent a penny
• Bundled solutions — stretch your investment with savings when you combine hardware and other key components for your display system
• Custom configuration — creating the ideal digital signage solution for your unique situation and audience
• Services and delivery — making sure all your system components are where they need to be, when they need to be there
• Hardware setup and staging — expert help to set up your digital signage solution on location and ensure it’s working perfectly
• Hybrid SaaS financing — pay for your content delivery software via subscription to reduce your upfront investment

Only CDW can bring together the services and technologies you need to create your ideal digital signage solution. We have the experience and expertise to recommend the display components that bring your vision to life and the industry-leading partnerships with top brands that make state-of-the-art signage technology available within your budget. We can also keep your digital signage performing at a high level for years to come with end-to-end support.