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Digital signage has been proven to be better than print for advertising and signage (see, four reasons why digital signage beats print for more details). But, digital signage isn’t quite as straightforward to get started with. If you’re looking for the best way to kick off your company’s digital signage strategy, the simple way is to use smart displays. Just as with smart TVs, which have built-in apps for displaying content, smart displays have everything you need for digital signage in a simple unit. They have media playback tools, built-in speakers and can work alone or be connected to work in concert with each other (by daisy-chaining them together using their DisplayPort connections). This means your digital display can be up and working in minutes, with a clutter-free environment and a direct interface to change the content it’s showing whenever you need to. What to look for in smart displays When choosing you smart display, remember that these systems are likely to be on pretty much all the time. You need a monitor that can provide razor-sharp images without being prone to screen burn-in, which can lead to non-moving images or text being permanently shown on the screen over time, making a poor customer-viewing experience. This means you need to buy monitors which are designed to last. This can mean a higher outlay at the start, but if you are after a display signage solution you won't need to think about replacing after a year or so, it's a sensible investment. Look for terms like 'Industrial grade panel' and 'Anti-burn-in technology' to ensure the smart monitor you are investing in is up to the 24-hour, 365-day use it is likely to be put to. You also need to choose models with wide viewing angles. Some monitors are designed to be viewed directly from the front, so you need to ensure that customers can view your signs from whatever angle they are looking at them from.  

 

Complete control When it comes to controlling what appears on your smart displays, particularly if you are planning on creating the content yourself, look out for models like the ASUS SA monitor range, which have media management software built in. These monitors come with a content management system called SignArrange, which enables you to organise your content and its playback using an easy-to-use template-led design. This makes it simple to display and schedule product demonstrations or ads for various scenarios without extra cost. You just save your content to a USB drive or SD card, plugging either directly into the smart monitor. The software can also auto-detect which way around the monitor is being displayed. Its built-in G-sensor helps it sense the display's orientation and automatically switches between landscape and portrait modes accordingly. It will also autoplay content when the monitor is switched on, making it hassle-free to run. This fully integrated approach to digital signage makes smart monitors a great way to get started: on the same day of purchase, you could be showcasing your stunning visuals with barely any technical set up. The digital sign revolution is here and now, so don't miss out.