When the software for digital signboards is chosen correctly, a company gains the ability to create dynamic content, quickly update messages, and manage remote screens from a single platform. This ensures stable operation and increases the effectiveness of how modern digital advertising works in any field — from retail to the corporate environment.

Today, digital solutions are widely used in stores, business centers, medical institutions, and transport infrastructure. An advertising screen can broadcast graphics, live streams, educational materials, or interactive prompts — everything depends on the tasks that the business needs to solve. It is important that the chosen software for digital boards allows working with complex formats, supports flexible scheduling, and does not require unnecessary technical knowledge.

Another important point is stability and scalability. When a company plans to expand its network of screens, it is necessary to make sure in advance that the system is capable of working with a large number of devices without loss of performance. That is why specialists advise choosing a digital signboard solution that supports centralized management, regular updates, and secure content transmission channels.

Statistics relevant to choosing Digital Signage software

– According to research, 33% of Digital Signage system users have from 1 to 24 screens, 15% — from 15 to 99, 12% — 100–149, 8% — 250–999 screens, and only 9% of companies use more than 1000 screens.

  — this means that most users are small or medium installations, where simplicity, stability, and accessibility of the software are critically important to manage the network.

– In 80% of brands that use Digital Signage, an increase in sales was observed — up to +33% compared to the absence of such screens.

  — this emphasizes that correctly configured content management provides a real business effect, and high-quality software plays a key role here.

– According to AI Screen in 2025, Digital Signage solutions provide approximately 47.7% higher effectiveness in increasing brand awareness compared to classic advertising.

  — therefore, if you have a system of centralized video management with the ability to synchronize advertising content, this strengthens the advantages of Digital Signage as a communication channel.

– The market for Digital Signage software is growing: according to Market Research Future, the market value in 2024 was estimated at ~31.45 billion USD; it is forecasted that by 2035 it will grow to ~76.45 billion USD (CAGR ~ 8.4%).

  — the growth of the market indicates that solutions for remote content management and support of large networks are becoming increasingly in demand.

1. Define goals and tasks

The first step is to clearly determine why you need a Digital Signage system and how exactly it should work. Ask yourself several key questions and write down the answers to form the technical task.

How many screens you are going to connect, how they will be located, and what role they will perform? One screen in a store has one set of requirements, and a network of displays in a large shopping mall has completely different ones. It is important to understand whether it will be an information zone, navigation, a menu board, video advertising, or an interactive service.

Also think about the type of content. These may be static images, complex video clips, real-time announcements, or personalized messages for different user groups. If content adaptation is needed, it is worth choosing a system right away that supports audience segmentation and automatic display scenarios.

Clarify whether you plan integration with other systems — for example, POS terminals, CRM, motion sensors, or touch panels. A clear understanding of goals will help narrow down the choice faster and find the optimal solution that meets your tasks now and allows the system to scale in the future.

2. Software functionality

When choosing a Digital Signage platform, it is important to pay attention to the set of functions that determine the convenience of work and the stability of the entire system. A high-quality digital solution must provide simple material management, high performance, and flexible settings. This is what forms the key advantages of digital advertising for business.

– Centralized management. The ability to remotely update materials on all screens at the same time is one of the most important criteria. Thanks to this, an operator can manage campaigns from a single interface, regardless of the number of locations. This is especially convenient for store chains, restaurants, or transport hubs, where synchronization of advertising content and fast response to changes in real time are required.

– Task scheduler. The scheduling function allows creating playback scenarios for a day, a week, or a month in advance. Content can change automatically — for example, morning offers, daytime promotions, and evening special deals are displayed without the operator’s involvement. This significantly optimizes workflows and reduces the need to constantly monitor screens manually.

– Content formats. Support for JPEG, PNG, MP4, HTML5, and other popular formats makes it possible to create more diverse display scenarios. Thanks to this, you can use both simple static banners and dynamic video clips or interactive widgets. The more formats the platform supports, the more creative possibilities the team has.

– Security. Modern solutions include data transmission encryption, authorization, and different access levels. This ensures that unauthorized persons cannot change content or intercept confidential information. Such an approach is especially important in corporate environments, medical institutions, and the banking sector.

– Scalability. The software must withstand the connection of a large number of displays without loss of performance. This is important when a business works with dozens or hundreds of screens and also plans further expansion. A reliable digital signage system must adapt to any scale.

– Autonomy. In case of a network failure, screens must continue showing previously uploaded content. This ensures uninterrupted broadcasting and prevents “blank” screens during peak hours. Autonomous mode is critically important for transport, HoReCa, and retail halls.

– Additional functions. Many platforms support integration with social networks, work with live streams, or adding interactive elements. This allows expanding interaction with the audience and creating richer visual content that strengthens the overall impression of Digital Signage.

3. Hardware compatibility

Before implementation, it is important to make sure that the software works correctly with your hardware. Some companies use monitors of different generations, computers, interactive panels, or devices based on an Android set-top box — and each of these solutions must be supported.

It is desirable that the system works equally well with Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android. This allows freely combining different technical components, including when an Android media player is used for compact installations or budget network screens. Ensuring compatibility helps avoid technical limitations in the future and prevents spending money on replacing equipment.

4. Reliability and stability

To ensure that the system operates continuously, it is important to check its behavior under load and assess long-term stability. Reliable software must have quality certificates, be updated regularly, and support modern security standards.

Pay attention to the possibility of backup and quick data recovery. This provides protection against failures and minimizes the risk of losing media materials. Special attention should be paid to updates — security patches and function improvements must be released regularly so that the system remains effective.

5. Support and documentation

High-quality software should have not only a wide range of functions but also competent technical support. This affects how easily the team will be able to work with the platform every day and how quickly technical issues will be resolved in case of a failure or update.

– Support service. The presence of a hotline, chat, or ticket system allows reacting to problems promptly. This is especially important when a Digital Signage player operates in large networks, where even short downtimes can influence sales indicators or service.

– Documentation. Instructions must be detailed but understandable. Good documentation helps avoid typical mistakes, quickly set up the system, and train new employees to work with the interface.

– Training materials. Webinars, short courses, or video guides allow mastering the platform’s capabilities faster. This helps the team manage advertising content more effectively and use the system’s functions as fully as possible.

6. Price and licenses

The cost of the solution directly depends on the scale of Digital Signage implementation and the required set of functions. It is important to evaluate not only the price but also the ratio of cost to benefit for your project.

– Payment type. Platforms may work on a one-time purchase or on a subscription. A subscription is suitable for companies that regularly update content, and a one-time license is beneficial for long-term stable projects.

– Scaling. Clarify how the price changes when the number of screens increases. This is important if a centralized video management system is planned for store or restaurant networks.

– Popular solutions. Free OpenLP and LibreSignage are suitable for small projects, while BrightSign, Screenly, and other commercial options provide broader functionality and more stable operation.

7. Supplier reputation

Before choosing software, it is important to evaluate the reliability of the company behind the product. This will help avoid technical risks and ensure uninterrupted system operation in the future.

Read reviews, user feedback, and ratings in specialized publications. A reliable supplier with a positive history and stable development guarantees better support, regular updates, and effective real-time advertising. This is especially important when Digital Signage is implemented in large networks or critical locations.

Advision is a content management system for remote control, media planning of video and audio content broadcasting, and a supply-side platform for monetising advertising time. We also implement a Wi-Fi tracking system to measure quantitative indicators of the advertising audience. We help Digital Signage owners and DOOH advertising operators earn money from advertising, automate work processes, and build a reliable media infrastructure using AdTech and MarTech software solutions.

Contact us if you want to increase your profits and implement the latest technologies to solve your problems!