What are the top digital signage software features for cloud-based platforms?

The top digital signage software features for cloud-based platforms are those that enable remote, scalable management, centralized control, content flexibility, and system reliability, as the cloud architecture is defined by accessibility and ease of use across multiple locations.

Here are the essential cloud-based features, focusing on basic elements and simple examples:

1. Centralized Control and Remote Management

A cloud CMS (Content Management System) is hosted online, allowing users to manage their digital signage content from anywhere with an internet connection.

• Informative Dashboard: This central feature provides an overview of the entire signage network, showing the Total Screen Count, Online screen Status, and Offline Screen Status.

  • Basic Example: A store manager can quickly log in from their phone (or any location) to see if all their digital menu boards are currently running without having to be physically present in the restaurant.

• Live Screenshots Remotely: The ability to fetch a Live Screenshot of content currently playing on any screen for real-time playback verification.

  • Basic Example: A headquarters team can verify that the new weekend promotion graphic is correctly displayed on a specific screen in a remote city just by clicking a button in the CMS.

• Bulk-screen Actions: Offers the option to send configurations, restart applications, or add playlists to a large bulk unit of screens with just a few clicks.

  • Basic Example: If the application crashes on several screens, a manager can send a command to Restart the Signage Application Remotely on all affected devices simultaneously.

• Remote Hardware and Network Details Overview: Allows viewing technical details remotely, such as RAM (In Use / Total), Storage, IP, MAC, Model, and Network Signal Strength.

  • Basic Example: Support staff can check the Network Signal Strength of a display to troubleshoot slow content downloads before escalating the issue.

2. Content Flexibility and Deployment

Cloud platforms excel at ensuring the right content reaches the right screen at the right time, irrespective of the physical display hardware.

• Custom Layout Builder with Zone Flexibility: A tool to create custom screen layouts with multiple zones, enabling the simultaneous display of mixed content.

  • Basic Example: A screen can be divided to show a live weather update in one small zone and a dynamic video advertisement in the main zone.

• Advanced Scheduling Features: Includes scheduling based on playlists, layouts, and single file time conditions for proper playback as per specified time. The system supports Day-part and Flexible Trigger Schedules.

  • Basic Example: A retail store schedules a layout showing "Morning Coffee Deals" to automatically switch to the "Lunch Sandwich Specials" layout at 11:30 AM every weekday.

• Live Data Widgets: Offers a variety of widgets suitable for business environments, including Scrolling Ticker and Static Text, Time, Weather, YouTube, live streams, and RSS Feeds.

  • Basic Example: Corporate screens display a Scrolling Ticker (RSS feed) of current news headlines alongside internal announcements to keep employees informed and engaged.

• Offline Media Playback: Screens can continue to play scheduled content even without an active internet connection (internet is only needed for content updates).

  • Basic Example: If the Wi-Fi temporarily drops in a coffee shop, the digital menu board continues displaying the full menu and pricing without interruption.

• Multi-OS Player Compatibility: The software supports various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Android, SoC Devices (LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen), RaspberryPi, Amazon FireStick, and ChromeCast.

  • Basic Example: A multi-national company can use the same cloud CMS to manage screens running on inexpensive Android media players in one region and professional Samsung Tizen screens in another.

3. Organizational Structure and Accountability

These features allow large teams and multi-location businesses to manage access and track content performance effectively within the cloud structure.

• Team Access Management with Granular Permissions: Allows for the creation of different user roles (viewer, editor, manager) with specific permissions, assigning them to screen groups for delegation and control.

  • Basic Example: A marketing department can grant a local store supervisor "Viewer" access so they can confirm content is playing, but prevent them from making any changes to the core playlist ("Editor" permissions).

• Screen Grouping (Groups-in-Group): Enables organizing screens into a nested hierarchy (e.g., Country > State > City) for faster content pushing and controlled access.

  • Basic Example: A regional manager needs to deploy a specific regional sales ad. They push the content directly to the "Western Region" group, ensuring only screens in that geographical group receive the update.

• Proof of Play Reporting: Generates detailed reports (in Excel or charts) that confirm the playback of content for verification and client transparency.

  • Basic Example: An advertiser selling space on the screens can download a Media file playback report to show a client exactly how many times their advertisement played and on which screens.

The digital signage software system is comprehensive, comprising features designed for performance at the player level, flexibility in content delivery, efficiency in remote management, and accountability in reporting.

The features can be grouped into the following categories: