Rich Ventura, Vice President of B2B Division at Sony, joins Nancy Lussier in The Collaboration Space to discuss ways you can drive value with digital signage in the workplace. Rich also shares insights into how you can overcome challenges to get your digital signage system up and running.

 

If a digital signage system is difficult to use or isn’t updated regularly, no one will take advantage of it.

Digital signage in the workplace drives employee engagement

As you calculate the ROI on a digital signage system, you need to ask, “Who is the audience?” This question is appropriate for any vertical, including corporate, government, and higher education. The value of your digital signage system will be driven by the users who are most engaged with it.

As a communications platform, digital signage should be easy to use and deliver timely messages, the right message to the right audience, and the right message to the correct locations. If a system is difficult to use or isn’t updated regularly, no one will take advantage of it.

5 key components of a digital signage system

Before you choose a system that will be easy to use, it helps to understand how digital signage works. Digital signage systems pull data from multiple sources and then distribute it to many locations. The system is made up of these components: 

  1. Hardware. Displays like those in Sony’s line of flat panels provide a dynamic experience.
  2. Software. The user interface needs to be simple and easy to use. Sony works with companies like Korbyt to run software natively on their displays.
  3. Installation and services. AVI-SPL can help you design, install, and provide end-user training for your digital signage system.
  4. Content creation. Effective digital signage relies on fresh content. Keeping your content updated will help keep your audience engaged.
  5. Maintenance. To make sure your digital signage system is operating smoothly, you need to maintain the displays, the content, and your network.

For a successful digital signage deployment, make sure you have the right hardware, content strategy, and software partner.

Digital signage solutions–from basic to complex

Once you’ve determined who your key audience is and understand the kinds of technology you need, you’ll be ready to consider specific digital signage options.  Sony views digital signage in three ways:

  • Good: Sony designed the Pro Bravia display with SOC (system on a chip) to enable you to deploy a digital signage system quickly. This scenario can include a Pro Bravia display with Korbyt software that connects to the network. 
  • Better: When you need a digital signage system to be a little more powerful, you can pair a Sony display with a management solution like BrightSign. This scenario will provide more robust signage capabilities.
  • Best: Large corporations often prefer on-premise digital signage. Typically, these organizations have the resources to install, deploy, and maintain their own digital signage network. 

In your research, you may be hearing a lot about SOC–system on a chip. It is essentially an embedded computer in a display. You can think of the display as a big smartphone with an easy-to-use interface.

Help with deploying your digital signage system

Digital signage is one of the easiest and most engaging ways to connect with your audience to share information. If you’re interested in boosting employee engagement with Sony digital signage solutions, contact AVI-SPL today.