How to Evaluate Digital Signage Display Suppliers for Your Business

Choosing the right supplier is key to digital signage success. To effectively evaluate digital signage options, it's important to select good displays that fit your business, as they can increase sales and attract customers. Digital signs have helped stores sell 31.8% more products, and outdoor signs can raise income by 15% or more. These facts show why picking the right supplier matters.

Love’s Travel Stops demonstrated how digital signs can pay off. In 2015, they worked with ComQi to add digital signs, which improved customer experience and made running stores easier. This also boosted sales and attracted more interest from customers.

When choosing a supplier, be sure to evaluate digital signage quality, results, and growth. These factors will help your investment work effectively and grow your business over time.

Key Takeaways

• Know your business goals before picking a digital sign supplier. Clear goals help you pick the right signs and check if they work well.

• Look at the supplier's experience and reputation. Pick suppliers with good reviews and a history of doing great work. This ensures quality and trust.

• Check how good the displays are and their features. Compare different displays to find what fits best. Focus on brightness, strength, and if they work with your current systems.

• Understand costs and long-term benefits. Look for clear prices and think about how signs can save money by cutting printing costs.

• Make sure there’s good support and maintenance. Pick suppliers with strong warranties and tech help to keep your signs working well.

Know What Your Business Needs for Digital Signs

Before picking a supplier, figure out what your business needs. Knowing your goals, audience, and content will help you choose the right digital signs.

Set Your Goals

Think about what you want digital signs to do. Do you want to boost sales, connect with customers, or improve employee communication? Each goal affects the type of signs you need. For example:

• Digital ads can raise sales by up to 30%.

• Good employee communication through signs can increase productivity by 25%.

Clear goals help you check if your signs are working. If you want to engage employees, track their feedback or work results. For customer signs, watch sales or store visits. Setting goals makes sure your signs give real benefits.

Know Your Audience and How Signs Will Be Used

Understanding your audience is key to making signs work. Think about who will see your signs and how they’ll use them. Studies show personalized messages make people 5.3 times more likely to act than general ads. Also, 71% of customers expect businesses to personalize their experience.

Consider how your signs will be used. Stores might show ads for products, restaurants could display menus, and schools might share news. Knowing your audience and uses helps you create content that works well.

Plan Content and Make Sure Systems Work Together

Content is the heart of digital signs. Decide what you’ll show, like videos, pictures, or interactive features. For example, stores might use videos to promote sales, while offices may show slides with information.

Your signs should work smoothly with tools you already use, like scheduling apps or content systems. Check your network to make sure it can handle the signs. You might need rules to keep sign traffic running smoothly.

Also, think about your team’s skills. If they’re new to creating content, you may need training or easy-to-use software. Picking the right tools makes your signs effective and simple to manage.

Evaluate Digital Signage Supplier Credentials

Look at Their Experience

Check how long the supplier has worked in digital signage. Suppliers with more experience often provide better displays and software. Find out if they have helped businesses like yours before. For example, a supplier with retail experience will know what stores need.

Ask about their past projects and problems they’ve solved. Suppliers with many projects often have creative ideas. Their knowledge can help you avoid mistakes and make sure your signs work well.

Review Reputation and Customer Opinions

A supplier’s reputation shows how trustworthy they are. Read online reviews, customer stories, and case studies to learn more. Reviews can show how happy people are with their products. For example, products with reviews sell 20% better than those without. A clothing brand saw a 30% rise in trust by showing reviews.

Here’s how reviews help businesses:

Good reviews mean the supplier offers quality signs and software. Pick suppliers with high ratings and happy customers.

Check Certifications and Standards

Certifications prove the supplier meets quality rules. Look for certifications like ISO 9001 for good management or UL for safety. These show the supplier follows top practices in making and delivering products.

Also, see if the supplier uses industry standards for digital signage. This ensures their signs work with your current systems. Certified suppliers lower risks and make your investment safer.

Check Displays for Quality and Features

When picking digital signage suppliers, display quality is very important. Good displays make sure your investment works well. Here’s how to check them.

Compare Display Types and Technologies

Different displays have different benefits. Compare their features to pick the best one. For example:

• LCD displays are bright and clear.

• LED displays save energy and show bright colors.

• Touchscreens let users interact with the display.

Here’s a table comparing some LCD displays:

Think about brightness, power use, and lifespan. Keyser LCD displays are bright and save energy. They work well in busy places.

Check Durability and Reliability

Displays should last long and work well. Broken displays can cost more to fix. Edge-lit LCDs often break because of heat problems. They may warp or burn out faster. Direct-lit displays spread heat evenly and last longer.

Here’s what to know about durability:

Choose displays with good heat systems. Direct-lit displays are better for long-term use.

Make Sure Displays Work with Your Systems

Displays should work with tools you already use. This avoids extra costs and keeps things running smoothly. Many software options, like Yodeck and Novisign, are cloud-based. They work on many platforms and are easy to use.

Here’s a table of software options:

Pick displays that work with your current tools. Flexible systems make it easier to manage content and adapt to new tech.

Think About Pricing and ROI for Digital Signs

Check Costs and Clear Pricing

When choosing digital sign suppliers, know the costs clearly. Clear pricing helps you avoid surprises and stick to your budget. Digital signs include hardware, software, setup, and upkeep. Here’s a list of common costs:

Compare these costs to find options that fit your budget. Pick suppliers with clear prices and no hidden fees. This way, you get the most for your money.

Look at Long-Term Value and Savings

Digital signs can boost sales and attract customers. Studies show they increase sales by 318% and bring back 32.8% more customers. People also think digital ads work better than old-style ads.

You’ll spend on hardware, software, and setup first. But over time, you save money by printing less and needing fewer repairs. Digital signs last long and are easy to maintain. With fun and useful content, you can get great results and keep people interested.

Match Budget to Business Goals

Make sure your spending fits your business plans. For example:

• Coffee shops can show deals like “Half-Price Lattes from 2-4 PM.”

• Stores can highlight popular items or quick sales to excite buyers.

• Gyms can share class times or inspiring messages for members.

• Service businesses can display reviews or “before and after” photos to gain trust.

Digital signs improve customer experience with eye-catching displays. A bakery used signs to show daily specials and increased weekend sales by 20%. Track things like foot traffic, customer actions, and earnings to see if your signs are working and meeting your goals.

Pick the Best Digital Signage Support and Maintenance

Choosing a good supplier means getting great support and care. Keeping your signs in good shape helps them work well and last longer. This also protects the money you’ve spent. Here’s how to check support and maintenance options.

Check Warranty and Repair Plans

A good warranty and repair plan is very important. Look for suppliers that cover both hardware and software problems. This way, you’re ready for any unexpected issues. For example, strong warranties often include quick repairs to avoid long downtimes. This keeps your signs working without interruptions.

A strong warranty saves money and keeps your business looking professional with working signs.

Look at Technical Support Options

Technical help is another big thing to think about. Suppliers should fix both system and user-side problems. System-side help checks the main setup, while user-side help finds issues like slow loading or broken features.

Pick suppliers with 24/7 support so your signs stay active, even during busy times.

Look for Uptime Promises and Service Deals

Uptime promises are key in service deals. Many suppliers promise 99.9% or better uptime, with some saying 99.999%. These numbers sound great, but check the details. If there’s downtime, they may only offer service credits, which might not cover all your losses.

• Regular care keeps signs working their best and lasting longer.

• Fixing small problems early stops bigger issues like frozen screens.

• Broken signs can upset customers and hurt your business’s image.

Choose a supplier with strong uptime promises and clear service terms. This ensures your signs stay engaging and reliable for your audience.

Check for Customization and Scalability in Digital Signage

Explore Customization Options for Your Needs

Customization helps your signs match your business goals. It also makes them more appealing to your audience. Custom signs can include your brand, making them stand out.

Digital signage offers many ways to customize:

• Demographic-Based Customization: Show content based on age or income.

• Time-Based Customization: Change messages by time of day or week.

• Behavior-Based Customization: Adjust content based on what customers do, like purchases.

Here’s a table with more customization ideas:

Examples show how customization works. McDonald’s used interactive signs to improve service. Sephora combined online and in-store shopping to boost sales. These show how custom signs can make customers happy and grow sales.

Plan for Growth with Scalable Signs

Scalability means your signs can grow with your business. Flexible systems work for small or big setups. You can expand without big changes. For example, one system can manage all your screens, no matter how many you have.

Here’s how scalable signs help businesses grow:

• Start small and add features later to save money.

• Manage screens in different places and adjust content for each.

• Add more screens and new media as your business grows.

This table shows scalability benefits:

Scalable signs keep your investment useful as your business expands.

Choose Flexible and Adaptable Systems

Adaptable signs work well in changing situations. They adjust to new needs and keep your content fresh. For example, you can add AI or interactive features to stay updated.

Track performance to see how adaptable your signs are:

• Audience Engagement: See how often people interact with your signs.

• Interaction Frequency: Count how many times people engage over time.

• Conversion Rates: Check how many viewers take action after seeing your signs.

• Content Reach: Measure how many people your signs reach.

Flexible systems make updates easy. You can quickly change content for new sales or seasons. This keeps your signs useful and exciting for your audience.

Evaluating digital signage suppliers helps your business get great results. Good displays update quickly, unlike printed signs that take longer. Digital signs grab attention and share information better with interactive features. Flexible systems let you change content easily when needed. Real-time data makes communication faster and clearer. Focus on quality, savings, and growth to pick signs that improve over time. Smart choices help your business grow and keep people interested in what you offer.

FAQ

What matters most when picking a digital signage supplier?

Choose quality and dependability. Make sure the supplier provides sturdy displays, good warranties, and quick support. These things protect your money and keep your signs working well.

How does digital signage help my business?

Digital signs increase sales, grab customer attention, and make communication easier. They use moving content to catch eyes and share updates fast, helping your business run better and look more appealing.

Are digital signs costly to take care of?

Costs vary by supplier and system. Pick suppliers with clear prices and strong warranties to avoid surprise bills. Over time, digital signs save money by cutting printing costs.

Can I make digital signs fit my business?

Yes, many suppliers let you customize signs. You can adjust content to match your brand, audience, and goals. Features like smart tools and audience targeting make signs work better for you.

How can my digital signs grow with my business?

Choose systems that can expand. Look for setups that let you add screens, tools, and content easily. Centralized controls and flexible software help your signs grow as your business grows.

See Also

Using Digital Signage to Effectively Share Information