A common pitfall that we are seeing more colleges and universities run into is having multiple digital signage software platforms deployed simultaneously across campus. This happens for a multitude of reasons, but primarily when departments devote budget individually to purchase digital signage for their building and then deploy it without understanding the ramifications for IT and marketing staff.

Regardless of the reason, here are a few of the major pitfalls of operating multiple software solutions on campus:

• The ability of IT staff to control and manage network – Campus IT staff are continually overburdened as the technology needs on campus grow each year. Having multiple software platforms deployed simultaneously only increases this burden and causes the devotion of more time than should be allotted to managing signage networks.
• Consistency of digital signage content across the networks – When individual departments purchase, manage and deploy digital signage, there is usually very little consistency with the content displayed. It is important to display consistent messaging and content layouts across campus for marketing/branding purposes, as well as to ensure that the right information is displayed across campus simultaneously.
• Efficiency of pushing out emergency messaging – Multiple signage software solutions means that there are multiple platforms that must be used to push out emergency messaging. Immediacy and reach are of utmost importance when pushing emergency alerts, which cannot happen with multiple systems in place.
• Setting and managing permission levels – It is important to understand who has access to the domain management, network management, moderation, and content development on any signage network. If several software platforms are utilized across campus, then it becomes very difficult to manage the security of the network as a whole.
• Using independent desktops to control software – One of the most annoying challenges to managing these multiples software systems is when they each require independent, hardwired desktop computers to manage the digital screens. Obviously this leads to a lot of extra walking around and time burden for the IT staff designated to control the signage network.
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But, there is hope. Many universities are now making the switch to Cloud-based digital signage software that can control every display on campus no matter if the display is LG, Samsung, NEC or any other brand. With one software system deployed campus-wide, the university IT staff are able to keep all the screens under one domain, set varying levels of user/network permission, and ensure that all network endpoints are secure. Also, the efficiencies brought about for pushing consistent messaging across campus will result in a more successful digital signage execution on your campus.

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Article first appeared at – https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/blogs/multiple-digital-signage-platform-cause-headaches-in-higher-ed/