Every business has a dedicated team and framework designed for the advertisement and marketing of its products and services. Traditionally all the advertising processes were carried out by distributing pamphlets, leaflets, billboard ads, television ads, etc. But, with emerging trends and developing technologies, communication through traditional methods has become challenging. New age media and target audience can be approached for marketing communication by using free and open-source digital signage software.
Table of Contents
What is digital signage software?
Digital signage is the technique of creative, effective symbolic designs or signs that can project the purpose of a product or service and catch the eyes of a viewer. Digital signage is a primary form of communication between a business and the public. Business and government authorities use digital signage to educate and pass instructions to the public on various important issues. One of the primary examples of digital signage is the digital signboards on public roads.
Preparing digital signage is not a very easy task. Factors such as brand colors, brand identity, etc., must be kept in mind while designing signage. To ease up the technical aspects of digital signage, we have plenty of digital signage software for free. This software must be used to create signages, but the primary features that define a perfect digital signage software are –
- Content scheduling – One of the significant features of any digital signage software is content scheduling. When businesses deal with a lot of clients and marketing activities, it is not always possible to interact at the right time. Time plays an important factor in marketing communication; thus, the right content must reach the right customer at the right time.
- Content management – Any digital signage open-source software must be efficient with the principles of content management. The software is used to prepare and send a huge amount of content. All the content is not necessarily of the same type and is categorized into different sections. Thus, a proper interface for content management must be present.
- Multi-user access – It is obvious that a digital signage software will be used by multiple team members to create, schedule, and manage content. Thus, it is necessary to have this feature. Besides, the administrator will hold control over the software by assigning exact tasks and limited interface to the team members making productivity higher and security stronger.
- Multi-screen support – Content campaigning is done for multimedia platforms that have different formats. A good digital signage software must have the feature of multi-screen support and must be accessible with a single login.
- Commercial grade display – As digital signage software has the potential to be used for more than 15 hours regularly, it is important to have a commercial-grade display. A commercial-grade display not only works better than a consumer-grade display but is also compatible with external inputs such as VGA.
- Product placement – A digital signage software must be optimized so that it automatically places the products and services to the target timeline of users. Content engagement through signage software is important and must be one of the primary features.
5 best free and open-source digital signage software
1. Screenly OSE
Screenly OSE is the most popular and widely used digital signage software. This is an open-source edition and can be accessed by anyone. The open-source factor makes the software super easy and customizable according to needs and requirements. The software is widely popular as a raspberry pi digital signage open-source software. This is web-based software, and upgrades can be purchased through a monthly subscription.
Features
- It is a cloud-hosted software and can be accessed with any device on the web using the correct credentials.
- It supports small, large, and independent businesses efficiently.
- It has a stable interface for content management.
- It supports all types of multimedia with a dedicated media library.
- Content scheduling feature to ease up campaign management.
- It has multi-screen support and gives automatic player updates.
- A user-friendly interface and customizable dashboard make it easy to use.
- Advance features of visual editor and layout management to make perfect campaigns.
2. DigitalSignage.com
DigitalSignage.com is a web-based software that is free and can be accessed from anywhere with the help of correct credentials. This is a software that is best suitable for small and medium enterprises. The software has all the advanced features that a digital signage software must possess and gives a broad outlook on the controlling features of multiple screens and users. This is a great software for long-term usage. It also features advanced content management factors.
Features
- It has a good user interface providing advanced features.
- It can be used to manage and schedule content efficiently.
- The parental control feature lets the administrator control a large number of screens and users.
- It has an efficient media library that can be used to create various content for multimedia-based platforms.
- It has a range of templates to choose from, making the task easier.
- It has 24/7 customer service to guide through challenges.
3. Xibo
Xibo is one of the most inexpensive digital signage software that is cloud-based. It was started as a university project in 2004 but unexpectedly became quite popular and the first choice for many. Xibo initially allowed fewer features, including fixing images, but now has advanced features such as content scheduling and collaboration with third-party content to personalize campaigns and designs. Xibo has a simple layout with accessible features in the web as well as Windows, Ubuntu, WebOS, and Android.
Features
- It has advanced content scheduling features in a free and open-source version that helps you design and schedule content for the right time.
- It supports all kinds of multimedia and has multiple screen support.
- The free and open-source version offers advanced features that can help design campaigns without any difficulties.
- It has a very simple user interface that can help you customize features and offers an interactive dashboard.
- It supports all devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS.
- It is compatible with all kinds of businesses.
4. Concerto
One of the most widely used and reviewed software, Concerto is a web-based and Linux-compatible software. It was created in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by some technical graduates and is still being modified as per needs and requirements. Concerto has advanced features of content scheduling and content management that help create the best campaigns. The software is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses.
Features
- This is a free digital signage open-source software made in Github.
- It offers advanced features of content management and content scheduling.
- It has a simple layout and easy-to-understand dashboard.
- It supports multiple screens and different screen formats.
- It is deployed on-premise and is compatible with any device with a browser and internet.
- It can support email and online tickets.
5. Rise Vision
Rise Vision is a web-based digital signage software that is used widely for visual communication. It is also one of the oldest software operating systems since 1992. It has a simple interface with all major features of a digital signage software that makes it a preferable choice for many. One of the unique features of Rise Vision, among others, is its ability to create HTML presentations and slideshows. It is quite simple to use and can be customized according to needs.
Features
- It has excellent content management features allowing users to manage and schedule campaigns for later.
- It has a good interface on engagement management, and all data can be found in the customizable dashboard.
- It has a sufficient media library and supports multi-screen formats.
- It can be used for classroom management, curriculum management, enrollment management, financial management, parent portal, progress reports, skill testing, student information/records.
- It is web-based and supports downloads in Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Conclusion
Digital signage is as important for a business as a customer management program. A wise businessperson will know that a paid or digital signage software with no subscription is important for their business’ success. Thus, find the best open-source or free digital signage software and set your business on track.
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