When businesses think of digital signage, dynamic playback using eye-catching transitions with animation and video comes to mind. Behind that content and “under the hood” is a content management system (CMS) that controls the playback. Debate still exists over whether cloud-based systems are the way to go. That said, we are here to explain why operating your digital signage in the cloud isn’t only a good thing, it’s the only logical choice. Why? Let us explain.
1. Remote Access from Anywhere, Anytime
One of the biggest advantages of a cloud-based CMS is the ability to access your system from anywhere with an internet connection. Travelling for business and in a hotel? Pulled over on the side of the road to deal with a “5 alarm” content issue? Drifting off the Atlantic coast on a cruise? It doesn’t matter, you can log in to change, update, or schedule content at any time and in real-time.
Imagine for a moment, a restaurant chain updates pricing on their digital menu boards for a flash sale across 300 locations from one dashboard. A franchisee pushes emergency messaging to all screens during a weather alert in seconds. No VPNs. No office-bound servers. Just simple access.
2. Centralized Management for Multi-Site Deployments
Whether you’re managing a menu board system or drive-thru screens in five locations or 500, a cloud-based CMS makes it painless. All your content can be deployed, scheduled, and monitored from one place. You can provide as many or as little permissions to users, by region, or departments, giving teams only the access they need.
3. Lower Upfront Costs
Investing in expensive servers, hardware licenses, and IT staff just to keep your CMS running should be left in your rearview mirror. Cloud solutions typically operate on a subscription model that encompasses most of this. Which means:
- Lower startup costs due to less hardware requirements
- Much easier installation and setup
- Predictable monthly expenses that you can plan on
- Minimal maintenance overhead upfront and on-going
This changing landscape has made digital signage and menu boards more affordable for all companies, not just multi-million-dollar enterprises.
4. Automatic Software Updates
With cloud-based CMS, your software is always up to date. These updates are pushed quite often without you even realizing it. You may wake up one day and notice a new feature or widget. Perhaps, a problematic tool has suddenly become more user friendly. In any event, there is no more waiting on IT to debug or upgrade your version. Security improvements, feature enhancements, and performance upgrades are automatically rolled out, so your system is always running optimally and securely.
5. Ease of Scalability Without the Headaches
Do you need to add 10 drive-thru screens? Or 1,000 menu board screens? A cloud-based system scales effortlessly with your needs. There’s no need to worry about hardware limits or infrastructure as the system will grow alongside you.
This flexibility is essential in fast-moving industries like QSR’s, retail, hospitality, and corporate communications.
6. Dashboards for Analytics & Metrics
Many cloud CMS platforms come with dashboards that track playback, uptime, engagement, and more. You get real-time insights into how your content is performing. And given the flexibility you can remedy underwhelming campaigns immediately or “double-down” on well performing promotions or specials without sending a technician on-site or calling for help.
7. Security You Can Trust
Trustworthy cloud platforms adhere to industry-leading security standards. Between encrypted connections, access controls, and regular audits, your content and your network will be safeguarded.
Cloud providers’ investment in security is paramount because without it, they do not have a viable option for companies or a sustainable business. They spend more in security than a typical business ever could on its own.
8. Future-Proofing Your Investment
Technology changes fast. With cloud-based CMS, you’re always at the forefront of what’s possible. Integrate new apps, automate content based on data feeds, connect with social media or even adopt AI-driven personalization.
To summarize, on-site servers and systems often lag due to complex upgrade paths and compatibility issues. If your digital signage strategy is still rooted in local servers and clunky manual updates, it’s time to rethink it. Put succinctly, cloud-based digital drive-thru / menu board platforms are:
- More efficient
- More scalable
- More affordable
- More secure
So, no, cloud-based digital signage isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s a smarter, better way forward.
