Enterprise digital signage is a must for large-scale businesses, but which solution can offer the most help and value? If you’re looking to manage and scale your network – without the technical headache, then digital cloud signage is definitely worth considering.
Hosted in the cloud, it offers a centralised platform – a content management system (CMS) from which you can remotely manage and deliver your signage across screens in multiple locations.
In this article, we break down the key features that make cloud digital signage the most user-friendly, cost-efficient and future-proof way to scale your network. We highlight what sets cloud-based models apart, touching on everything from enterprise-grade security to time-saving automation for content management and scheduling.
Read on to find out how you can securely scale your network and content management team, as well as streamline workflows, boost operational efficiency AND increase engagement.
The Foundational Pillars of a Scalable Digital Cloud Signage Solution
One of the fastest-growing enterprise tools, digital cloud signage is designed to serve as the backbone and de facto nerve centre of today’s most scalable networks.
Centralised Control and Remote Management: the Core of Enterprise Digital Signage
Often referred to as a content management system (CMS), it offers a centralised dashboard that allows for the remote management of every screen across multiple locations.
Ideal for large-scale enterprises, this digital signage software maximises reach, while streamlining day-to-day content management.
With cloud-based solutions, you can remotely:
- Upload instant on-screen messaging
- Schedule content for one, some or all your screens
- Select campaign end times, so content never over-runs
- Deliver updates simultaneously to groups of screens, categorised by location, campaign etc
Cloud-based digital signage is also more cost-effective to deploy and scale than on-premise solutions, requiring no dedicated servers, storage devices and networking equipment.
Everything is included in a monthly subscription:
- On-going maintenance and updates
- Security checks
- Content apps – free and subscription-based content creation tools
To scale up and/or achieve multi-location scalability, you only have to add screens to your network and update your licence subscription.
Hardware Independence – a Key to Scalable Digital Signage Software
Cloud-based digital signage is entirely future-proof, giving your business the flexibility to evolve and grow.
If your hardware requirements change, you won’t have to scrap your entire digital signage infrastructure. Scalable digital signage solutions work with a wide range of hardware, allowing you to switch brands if your requirements change or a screen or player becomes unavailable.
Enterprises looking to switch from on-premise to cloud-based solutions can also do so cost-effectively by using their existing hardware.
Businesses new to digital signage can cost- effectively trial a cloud-based solution. Brands like Yodeck offer a Raspberry Pi media player for free with any annual licence subscription, but the platform will also work with existing screens and media players.
Signagelive offers a free software trial, upon registration to its website, as well as a free plan for a new or existing single display.
Robust Security and Reliability
In addition to offering multi-location scalability, digital cloud signage is built with a key enterprise concern in mind – data security.
It comes with numerous enterprise-grade security features, including:
- Boot loaders – to ensure only trusted software runs when the system starts
- Data encryption – to scramble passwords and customer data etc so only authorised people can see them
- Updates – regular patches to close newly discovered security holes
This level of security is a must for any enterprise dealing in government, finance or healthcare-related industries.
Solving Enterprise-Level Challenges with Cloud Digital Signage
Securely scaling out enterprise digital signage is one challenge, but ensuring a worthwhile return on investment is quite another. Even the most cutting-edge networks can only deliver value, if the on-screen content is fresh and dynamic enough to engage the target audience.
Streamlining Content Management at Scale with a Centralised Platform
One of the greatest risks in managing digital signage is that there is no viable, long-term content strategy – no resource to regularly update content.
The worst case scenario is if businesses run out of content and display blank screens, or the same, out-of-date, irrelevant content is repeatedly played on a loop.
This is why cloud digital signage, with its centralised platform, has become such a popular option, making it quick and easy for authorised staff to regularly create, edit and schedule content.
Scalable CMS solutions offer a number of intuitive content creation features, such as:
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interfaces
- Professionally designed and editable templates
- Subscription-based tools, like no-code HTML content app, Screenfeed Connect
- Stand-alone or multi-zone layouts to experiment with style and presentation
As networks grow, it’s easy to distribute the workload across larger teams. Additional enterprise level features, like Granular User Permissions (GUP) enable staff to securely roll out customised user permissions, so everyone only has the level of access required for their job. Content authorisation features also strengthen security, ensuring that only authorised content can ever go live.
Harnessing Real-Time Data and Automation
Scalable cloud digital signage can also deliver personalised content, integrating with existing enterprise systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and point of sale (POS) software and live data feeds.
This can be transformative for internal communications, enabling enterprises to build a data-led corporate culture and facilitate employees’ day-to-day decision-making.
Constantly evolving, cloud-based digital signage is at the forefront of AI innovation, integrating with partner solutions to personalise the audience experience. On-screen content can now be hyper-focused and targeted, based on vision-AI generated and anonymous customer analytics.
Campaigns can also automatically change to reflect weather updates. This makes AI-driven signage ideal for the outdoor leisure and hospitality industries.
Furthermore, AI-driven digital signage helps automate content management, including rendering, uploading, and scheduling videos.
Navigating Hybrid Developments
Additionally, cloud digital signage can add value to on-premise solutions. Offering a hybrid approach, it enables businesses to blend the multi-location scalability of the cloud with the control and security of an on-premise infrastructure, which is essential for government and healthcare industries.
Real-world Scalability with Multi-location Signage
Cloud digital signage can have a real-world tangible impact, enabling enterprises in every sector to scale and boost their digital communications.
How to Improve Internal Communications with Enterprise Digital Signage
In the UK, global real estate group, Lendlease transformed its employee communications, using a cloud-based digital signage system. According to the Lendlease team, this centralised system enabled them to roll out a uniform, easy-to-manage network, and create a “true office of the future” across all its sites in Europe.
One of the UK’s largest housing associations, Beyond Housing has also turned to a cloud-based platform to boost its internal communications and operational efficiency.
The solution has enabled the company to engage both customers and staff, with real-time corporate story-telling and updates. The business has also been able to support employee decision-making, allowing them to view live Power BI KPIs, which refresh every sixty minutes.
In the U.S, University Hospitals rolled out a cloud-based digital signage network spanning 21 hospitals in Ohio. The solution has provided a vital, centralised platform for employee communications, enabling University Hospitals to deliver up-to-the-minute updates on initiatives, events and health-related policies, as well as motivational and inspiring patient stories.
How Signagelive Delivers a Scalable Digital Signage Solution
A player in the cloud digital signage space, Signagelive offers an award-winning and enterprise-grade solution that’s built to scale.
Since 2007, the platform has grown and evolved to empower thousands of enterprises around the globe, providing cutting-edge solutions to securely scale networks and simplify the management process.
Market-leading features include:
- Hierarchies – the fastest and most secure way for I.T teams to delegate customised user roles, based on complex hierarchies
- ISO-27001 accreditation, verifying the company’s ability to protect large volumes of data
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign-on (SSO) for secure and convenient team logins
- Data integrations – securely display live data from any business intelligence platform
- Proactive Monitoring to receive remote real-time network updates
This platform provides flexible, enterprise-grade solutions that allow teams to manage multiple screens and user roles securely across locations, supporting digital signage networks without limitations. The platform is also designed to boost operational efficiency by reducing downtime and simplifying large-scale workflows.
Conclusion: Why a Digital Signage Solution is a Strategic Investment
Digital cloud signage offers the ultimate enterprise solution, making it easy and convenient to scale and manage multi-location networks. Future-proof and cost-effective, it offers centralised remote management, enabling a streamlined team to schedule posts and make real-time edits from absolutely anywhere. It’s compatible with most hardware, giving companies the freedom to use existing digital displays and media players and/or switch brands at a later date.
Ever-evolving, this software offers powerful integrations and AI-driven automation, along with cloud-first technology and 24/7 support, essential for multinational operations.
Designed for complex enterprise challenges, it maximises reach, improves internal communications, enhances efficiency, and boosts security while simplifying content management.
Ready to experience truly scalable and enterprise-grade digital cloud signage? Reach out today to find out what Signagelive can do for your business.
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