Getting started with digital signage isn’t really the easiest of tasks. It requires a lot of planning and a lot of technical knowledge. There are many different solutions on the market, and the prices vary.

The fact is that digital signage should be treated as an investment and not as an expense. The goal is to get the most ROI out of that investment, so the initial one-time cost should not be the priority.

Initial Investment

The digital signage market is still rapidly growing. Each year there are more signage providers. Solutions are getting more technologically advanced and at the same time easier to operate – plug-and-play solutions. However, a well-known statement is still true: “Outdoor digital signs are not just TVs in a metal box”.

They are expensive pieces of electronics, intended for 24/7/365 operation, installed in public spaces in which conditions are constantly changing and based on the LCD technology, which was developed to operate in temperature-regulated conditions. Things can go wrong!

It's not all in datasheets, IP, IK rating, operational temperature etcetera.

For a long lifetime, outdoor digital signs must provide:

• Regulated thermal management

• Remote technical supervision; automatic alarms and general system health.

• Emergency system shut down; a critical measure that shuts down heat-generating elements (LCD panel…).

• Vandal-proof enclosure (Plastic or aluminum structural elements are not well suited for outdoor use in public places.).

Digital Signage Operational Costs

Servicing external outdoor LCD displays presents far too often an unanticipated rising cost. Outdoor digital signs are deployed in public areas, which can be located far away from service personnel, making every intervention costly. Due to the nature of the product type, it is not possible to simply wait for service for days in a non-operational state. Costs can reach thousands of euros per unit a year.

To minimize the risk of high after-purchase costs it’s best to trust experienced manufacturers with successful reference cases.

Outdoor digital signs must have:

• Automatic self-diagnostics – take away the need for constant system surveillance, as automatic reporting is available.

• Remote system analysis functionality – lowers down the need to go on-site, especially in case of simpler system failures (e.g. player issues – Frozen OS, etc.)

Get Costs For Your Project

Digital signage costs are generally hard to quantify. Every deployment is different and as we explained costs can expand beyond the initial purchase of digital signs. The best practice would be to get in touch with digital signage experts.