In the past years, a change in thinking has taken place. Not only in society, but also in entrepreneurship. The importance of social aspects and sustainability has increased significantly. The latter is also becoming increasingly important in technology – it is no longer just about productivity and efficiency, but also about environmental aspects and saving resources.

Digital signage meets these requirements and convinces not only with its technical advantages but also with high environmental standards. In the following, we will look at why digital signage is a target-oriented technology for sustainable work processes and how the decisions of companies and legislators ensure resource-saving implementation.  

How sustainable is digital signage? 

First, let’s take a look at the sustainability of digital signage applications. Generally speaking, technologies are becoming more and more environmentally friendly and manufacturers have also recognized that companies are changing their priorities. In addition to good performance, they are also seeking durability in products and resource-saving work processes. Accordingly, digital signage application providers are also aiming to develop sustainable technologies. 

Lifespan

Digital signage is not an application that already needs to be replaced or exchanged after a few years. The software is safe from failure and the high-quality processed hardware promises longevity. Although it can never be ruled out that a display will break, this is rather rarely the case. Even outdoor steles are safe from environmental influences and vandalism. 

Not all companies use digital signage for continuous usage, which is why the load on displays is not very high. However, this does not mean that continuous usage leads to difficulties, because the applications are made for high loads. In both cases, digital signage promises long-lasting and sustainable use.

And should a display fail, there is still maintenance and repair. Repairing hardware presents no difficulties and is a routine task for technicians. This shows a clear advantage over alternatives to digital signage applications in terms of sustainability. A good example is advertising: posters or flyers have to be disposed of after use, but with digital signage you can just change the content. 

Production costs

Since we are already talking about posters or flyers: The production effort for digital signage is low in comparison. Two components are required for use, namely software and hardware. The software does not require any components and the hardware consists of displays for usage and players for the software configuration. This results in lower production costs compared to traditional advertising methods. Flyers and posters are printed in high amounts and then disposed of. That is inefficient and not environmentally friendly.

But the production effort is not only lower compared to advertising methods. Digitizing menus or providing information about upcoming events also saves resources. 

Modern technology

The FRAMR. team is currently converting its product range to ARM-based CPUs / GPUs, which (in addition to cost reduction) have significantly lower energy consumption in comparison to Intel / AMD-based hardware during operation. Most of our players are also fanless because the waste heat is correspondingly low due to the player and CPU architecture.

Resource consumption

When it comes to power consumption, cloud-based solutions are often criticized. But cloud computing is actually better for the environment than on-premise hosting and also promises greater efficiency. 

Cloud computing promises a better infrastructure because content and functions can be accessed more quickly and less wattage needs to be accessed. Cloud-based solutions are also focused on efficient energy use and therefore regulate the temperatures of their servers better. 

An interesting finding about the power consumption of a cloud: the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found in a case study that energy consumption drops by up to 87% when business software runs via a cloud. Sure, depending on the application and the cloud, power consumption varies, but at its core, cloud-based solutions require less power than the on-premise server. 

Companies also have a responsibility

The sustainable features of digital signage are not enough to make the technology resource-efficient. After all, it also depends on how businesses use the applications. Here we recommend the following measures to save electricity when using digital signage:

Switch off displays 

Some companies use digital signage 24 hours a day. This flexibility gives advantages in communication but it is not equally useful for every business. At night, it’s better to turn off applications to save power. It is also possible to turn off some displays during the day, for example, if they are placed in inconvenient locations. 

Dimming displays

Darkening monitors saves power and offers an alternative to turning them off completely. This has no disadvantages for targeting, as the content is still visible. And don’t worry about darkening either – with good room lighting, there are no difficulties and the content remains clearly visible. 

Dark content

Dark content consumes less power because the LEDs are not active. Doing without bright / white content is not a suitable solution for every business but it is definitely an alternative. However, it should be mentioned that this variant probably saves the least amount of electricity.

Recycling

The recycling process is not completely transferable to digital signage displays, but there is the possibility of reuse. Very bright displays lose some of their brightness over the years, these can then be operated in areas with little ambient light for further years without any problems.

But the processing of certain components and parts is also a possible solution. The recycling process is not completely transferable to digital signage displays, but there is the possibility of reuse. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute, valuable raw materials can be recovered from display devices. The goal is to both reduce strategic dependence on raw material imports and avoid the environmental impact of disposing of the devices. 

This approach also assists in reducing current hurdles to capturing end-of-life display devices. This refers to parts or components that are no longer available or manufactured. 

Buying high-quality products 

When buying digital signage, companies ideally make sure that they purchase durable hardware. Low-cost suppliers from China or consumer displays from electronics retailers offer nowhere near the durability of professional displays (e.g. Sanyo).

Can legislative changes ensure more sustainability? 

In the context of digital signage, it is difficult to legislate for resource conservation. But in general, there are several ways to ensure more sustainability in technology beyond the legal route.

Introduce certificates 

Certifications should be viewed critically because large companies use them for a lot of greenwashing. Positive changes are therefore only possible if the requirements change and the legislator sets higher quality standards. A certificate should not serve the image, but be an objective, qualitative proof for environmentally friendly technology and work processes. This is the only way to increase their value again and provide the end customer with more transparency. Certificates should ideally be available to companies of all sizes so that there is no distortion of competition. 

Repair instead of throwaway society

Disposing of displays harms the environment. Repairs, on the other hand, ensure longevity, which also reduces the environmental impact. An obligation to repair is less effective because displays may break down and can no longer be repaired – but the legislator has the option of making companies responsible if they throw away their displays directly and do not carry out the repair. 

Avoid greenwashing

The already mentioned greenwashing has become more relevant in the past years. It’s a negative trend as companies boast about supposedly environmentally friendly ways of working. Digital signage offers a sustainable solution for businesses, but this should not be allowed to mislead them into positioning themselves as environmentally conscious when, in the overall scheme of things, their work processes do not conserve resources. “Green” can only be called by those who manufacture, distribute or use sustainable technologies. 

Create transparency

Digital signage applications from FRAMR. promise both durability and high quality standards. However, there are also providers who do not use high-quality displays and thus promise less performance, but also ensure a poorer environmental balance. Customers should therefore be able to see where the displays come from or how efficient they are. More transparency ensures that sustainable and fairly produced applications have a stronger presence. And in terms of environmental protection, that’s a good thing.

Promoting knowledge

Bans and sanctions alleviate the symptoms, but don’t address the root causes. Transparency and knowledge promotion are essential to achieving sustainable goals. Whether it’s training, education programs or transparency obligations for companies, legislators ideally focus on education rather than sanctions because the impact achieved is greatest. Knowledge is passed on through trusted entities and thus awareness develops equally among all stakeholders involved in the process. 

How digital signage supports sustainable goals

Apart from the resource-saving advantages, digital signage also supports the implementation of sustainable goals. Advertising campaigns are paperless and no printed flyers or posters are necessary. In addition, there is less space available for the content on posters or flyers, which further increases the printing effort.

In gastronomy, at least in small cafés or snack bars, digital signage also largely replaces menus. Image films or digital information material also reduce the amount of printing required for advertising materials at trade fairs. 

It is not possible to replace all business processes with digital signage. But that is not the goal either. Rather, it is about discovering sustainable alternatives and using them. Digital signage offers a good foundation for this and thus reduces power consumption in the business.

Depending on the size of the company and its goals, digital signage also reduces the amount of used paper. An example of this are interactive terminals with digital raffles. Normally, visitors or customers fill out a card and with that they participate in a raffle. However, with digital signage the entry is made via the touchscreen and completely digitally.

In the future, there will be further advances in connection with digital signage. The applications started as advertising boards and information terminals, but now they offer many possible applications. In terms of security, there are no more gaps and the design options are flexible. Digital signage is also developing more and more in terms of sustainable aspects and helps companies to design work processes in a more environmentally friendly way. 

Conclusion

Digital signage is, when used correctly, an environmentally friendly technology that offers a wide range of benefits. Provided one of the company’s goals is to implement sustainable work processes, digital signage offers a good solution regardless of the industry. However, additional actions and measures by buyers and legislators are required to ensure maximum environmental standards. 

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Due to digitalization, companies are growing faster than ever before. This is because it is easier to automate processes and address a cross-regional target group. There are also various ways to make existing processes more efficient. 

The connection between digitization and company growth is also confirmed by a Microsoft study – which states that companies that have taken steps toward digitization at an early stage grow the fastest. 

Software is also indispensable for successful growth. There are solutions for every industry that promise greater efficiency and automate business processes. But apart from that, it is also important that software meets increasing requirements and is scalable. 

In the following, we address the scalability of digital signage solutions. We explain how our software solution, FRAMR. Signage, deals with increasing requirements and supports companies in the long term with digitalization. 

What does scalability mean in the context of digital signage?

Scalability means that an application ensures the same functionality or benefits as requirements increase. In the context of software, scalability refers to being able to handle an increasing number of users or demand without losing performance or limiting functionality. 

Example: let’s say you have a small business and want to digitize your advertising. To achieve this goal, you invest in digital signage software. To implement it, you want to set up three displays to better target potential customers. After a sustained period of growth, your company expands and relocates. You want to set up nine displays instead of three. Also, the scope expands – not just advertising is the focus, but also employee communication and real-time interaction through terminals. A scalable system easily meets these requirements and promises straightforward implementation.

Scalability of FRAMR. Signage

Software requirements increase as companies expand. This is because there is an increased demand in terms of application scenarios or the amount of data consumed. Often the team also grows and it must be ensured that several people use the same software at the same time. 

Digital signage solutions are no exception. As shown in the example, the areas of use may expand and thus the demand for certain functions also increases. Good software must also be able to play out content across multiple monitors at the same time. 

-> As demands increase and growth continues, FRAMR. solutions provide consistent performance. Let’s take a detailed look at scalability and how your business can benefit from it.

Displays

Whether monitor, LED or audio – the FRAMR. Players are designed for versatile use. As your needs grow, you can add another player to the application at any time, allowing you to play on more displays. 

Data volume

More displays also means more queries at the same time. Accordingly, solutions are required that can handle high data volumes to ensure trouble-free operation. Since FRAMR. Signage runs on a cloud and offers maximum performance standards, even the simultaneous operation of ten displays is no problem. 

Application areas

Digital signage promises cross-industry application for various fields of use. You can open up further areas of application at any time, be it in employee communication or in addressing customers. In doing so, you can expand and automate various company processes and areas more efficiently. 

Design possibilities

Let’s say you want to digitize your company’s advertising and reach more potential customers with a combination of images and videos. However, in order to exploit additional advantages in addressing target groups, gamification elements and an interactive experience are also useful. FRAMR. Signage works for all of these application scenarios. And with the sensor-based technology of our players, you can also design the target group approach flexibly. 

-> Learn more about FRAMR. modules and how you can use digital signage. 

Security and support

Regardless of the amount of data retrieved, FRAMR. Signage offers the highest security standards. Your data is safe, and we also take care of updates and monitoring to identify cyber-attacks as well as other threats. It doesn’t matter if you have been using digital signage for a short time or if your company is in the growth phase. You can read more about the security standards of our software here. 

Continuous operation

FRAMR. Signage is designed for 24h/continuous operation. Your company benefits from more performance at constant costs as well as from a time-flexible target group approach. 

Team processing

FRAMR.’s cloud-based service enables decentralized editing of your content. It is possible for several people to use the software and create content at the same time. This saves your company time and makes it more flexible. 

Cost

Our team is aware of the requirements for FRAMR. grow together with the company. Accordingly, we offer our customers advantageous subscription prices that promise financial benefits for additional functions. 

By investing in digital applications, businesses have certain advantages. Especially in terms of efficiency and transparency in communication. However, not every company takes advantage of these benefits, the reason is often inadequate planning.

Digital signage is a good example for this. The applications promise advantages in the area of advertising, but without a content strategy, your business will still not achieve its marketing goals. In fact, digital signage solutions are a regular part of comprehensive planning, which also takes into account issues related to content or locations. Therefore, we present to you the seven most important requirements for the successful use of digital signage.

Overview of the requirements for digital signage

You need to know your objectives

A clear objective is the key factor for the successful use of digital signage. What does your business want to achieve? More sales through advertising? A better user experience? Or are there difficulties with staff communication? 

First of all, define your goals and only then take the following steps. If possible, include KPIs to measure success, such as sales figures or how many people participate in sweepstakes. 

Setting goals also depends on your target audience. While the many design possibilities of digital signage offer your business advantages in content creation, your main goal should be to convince  and not to create for the sake of it. Many companies get lost in the variety of design options but sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. So don’t overdo your options, because it will be perceived as annoying in the worst case. Better to keep it simple, but in line with the desires of your target audience.

Budget planning

A basic budget planning, taking into account the objectives, creates transparency regarding the costs. This is not only about the purchase of digital signage (software and hardware), but also about personnel costs for content creation and potential scaling. Although Digital signage offers you cost advantages compared to traditional advertising methods, the applications are still not a no-brainer. Your team first needs to get familiar with the functions, carry out test runs and try out different formats. This results in additional financial expenses – so you’d better plan your budget a little more generously. 

It’s not possible to give you exact insights into the potential costs. But in our article “How much does digital signage cost?” we give you a general overview of the costs with practical examples. 

Content creation

As already mentioned, digital signage offers your company a wide range of design options. However, the focus is on your target audience and to communicate the right messages. The most important thing is to implement content ideas that are beneficial for your business. In an advertising campaign, the focus is not on the complexity of a design, but on how well it appeals to your target audience. Videos generally work very well, but FRAMR. Signage offers you other modules for a targeted approach. For example, image galleries, countdowns, and text-to-speech.

Our advice: Be creative! Finding the right digital signage content is all about trial and error. Consider your branding and what your target audience wants – and then try multiple variants to see whether a piece of content works or not. Thanks to the monitoring features of digital signage, you can evaluate KPIs to see what your target audience likes. 

Location selection

The location is also crucial for the use of digital signage. The screens should not be placed too high, but also not too unimpressive. They should not block the way either. Ideally, digital signage applications are highly visible, but not distracting or too obtrusive. The following pictures of our customer projects will sharpen your sense for the right location:

It also depends on your industry. In a small store, digital signage applications are well placed in the window as well as behind the counter. In a mall, on the other hand, it is more practical to place info terminals next to the entrance to ensure good navigation. 

Time frame

Digital Signage is quick to get up and running, but you need to get to know the applications first. It may well take a few weeks before you are familiar with all the features. Take enough time to get to know the functions. 

As mentioned earlier, you also need to consider human resources. Your team is unfamiliar with the applications and will need a training period. Marketers don’t yet know the individual software requirements, and it should be noted across departments that information exchange will be done via digital signage in the future. Such processes take time. This is why, for instance, we offer our clients a one hour instruction to understand the basics in content creation and how FRAMR. Signage works. 

Know the individual requirements

Every business is different and so are the requirements. This refers not only to the target audience, but also to the location, the use of resources and the application possibilities. While the requirements mentioned so far apply equally to all companies, even more important are the individual requirements and also possible hurdles.

Example: Digital signage displays are ideally located at eye level and at hotspots (e.g. entrances). This makes them stand out quickly and your target audience is better focused on the content. However, not all businesses are able to place displays at the entrance. In this case, it is difficult to meet the requirements and alternatives must be found. What those are, depends on your business – either make some space or move the displays elsewhere. 

Be aware of all the advantages

Digital signage is a true all-rounder and offers you a lot of advantages. Whether in terms of efficiency, improving communication or expanding organizational structures. You should use this versatility for your business

Example: You plan to create advertising campaigns with digital signage. The goals are clearly defined, namely a better appearance, more reach and higher sales figures. However, after two years you want to expand the scope of digital signage and use it as a presentation medium for in-house training. You can easily scale digital signage by using it in multiple ways and by simultaneously improving communication, marketing and navigation. 

We suggest to first decide on a goal and familiarize yourself with digital signage applications. Then you can expand the areas of application and improve the communication structures in your company holistically. 

-> If you want to know more about the areas of application, we recommend our blog article about the different application areas of digital signage. 

Conclusion

The requirements for digital signage take into account budget planning in particular, but also the choice of location and human resource affairs. Deal with the requirements in advance in order to achieve your goals with digital signage – grant your team a time buffer so that everyone deals with the functions and gets to know the applications.