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And according to vendors like NEC, digital signage and its value is not clearly understood even by some of the larger companies.
Digital Signage, by definition, is an electronic billboard system, used to present dynamic information electronically, on flat panel displays such as LCD, Plasma or DLP Projectors and is helping to merge the industries of advertising networks, point of purchase display merchandising and information signage.
However, the various digital signage solutions out there for small to medium concerns not only vary in cost from the cheap to the very expensive, but also in the type of service that is delivered.
The three current options include:
1. Digital signage using the now popular Software as a Service (SaaS) model, which cuts out the buying of any hardware or software. So if the SMB has access to the web, they can find and advertise on third party digital signage displays through a reciprocal advertising program. This so-called free digital signage solutions was launched almost two years ago and is common overseas.
2. The Application Service Provider (ASP) model requires the SMB to have a PC and/or LAN with the required number of display monitors. The ASP model then gets the SMB to access a digital signage application via the Internet for a monthly fee.
3.The complete managed digital signage solution where a network operator/systems integrator brings together all the required hardware, software, technologies and services, including the managing of the day-to-day operation of the SMB's digital signage network. This is the preferred option of many government departments, however it is not so poular within the SMB sector.
