A solid digital signage media player will act as the backbone of your digital signage solution. Digital signage players are the hardware that will connect to your content-management system and stream your content to your chosen screens. Media players come in many forms. Often, they are mini-PCs that can be attached to the back of your screens and are connected to your internet via a wireless connection or PoE (power over ethernet). However, other times, they can be USB dongles such as a Fire Stick or other sort of plug-in connection. With this in mind, it’s apparent there are a wide variety of digital signage hardware options. Having so many products available on the market can make newcomers to the digital signage industry overwhelmed by their options. Additionally, a lack of knowledge can result in digital signage beginners making uneducated choices on their hardware, resulting in compatibility issues and buyer’s remorse.
Fortunately for you, you have found yourself in the right place. REACH Media Network is both a digital signage software and hardware provider. When you begin the installation process with our team, you’ll have the support of multiple industry professionals with years of experience to guide you through each step. If you need hardware to power your signage objectives, our team will work with you to scope out your project and pick an option that suits your needs best. We have even aligned with industry leader BrightSign as a Premier Partner. Their hardware is known as some of the best, most powerful media players in the industry. If you’re looking for a simple solution at an affordable price, we also offer our own REACH Media Network DS3 player that comes preinstalled with REACH Media Network’s software. Regardless of what you’re looking for, our team will find the best fit for your business.
However, before you leap into setting up a meeting and starting your digital signage journey, this guide will give you some basic tenants to make you more confident in your search and knowledgeable about what you want from a digital signage system. Overall, there are 3 key tenants you should keep in mind when searching for a media player: reliability, flexibility, and affordability. By understanding these 3 core tenets, you will have a better idea of what makes a great media player.
SEE DIGITAL SIGNAGE IN ACTION
Want to experience the power of digital signage firsthand? Request a free demo today and explore how REACH Media Network can enhance communication and engagement within your organization.
RELIABILITY
Reliability is one of the simplest but most important tenets to consider when choosing a digital signage player. The reliability of a media player centers around its ability to connect to your internet, integrate with third-party software, and power your displays with content consistently. It may seem like a simple plug-and-play process, but certain player options and brands are not as known for their reliability when it comes to consistent signage performance. For example, an Amazon FireStick is a great cheap option to put on some static displays, but its functionality may be limited in comparison to what your software can offer you. Other players may struggle with connectivity, dropping connection and leaving your screens blank to crucial content for your audience. This is why we usually recommend a BrightSign player, as they encourage plenty of integrations and are known for their reliability over many years of service.
FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility kind of goes hand-in-hand with reliability. As previously mentioned, you want to ensure the media player you choose can integrate with third-party software you wish to utilize with your digital signage platform. However, this extends past software synchronization as well. Some players lack certain features you may want to leverage. For example, if you wanted to implement Live TV into your signage displays, you must find a player capable of connecting with cable networks. BrightSign has some of the market, but not every one is capable of streaming Live TV. You would have to find a compatible player. The same goes for interactive displays. Not every media player on the market will be compatible with touchscreen displays. You must do your research (or contact your REACH Media Network representative) to find a player that can run these functions.
AFFORDABILITY
Of course, the final key is finding a player that fits your digital signage strategy. While many expensive players come with advanced features you could take advantage of, you may not need all of those features depending on your communication strategy. With that in mind, it would be more cost-effective to settle for a cheaper player that still integrates with all your software and provides a reliable performance.
CONCLUSION
With just a few guiding principles, you now have better knowledge and confidence on what to look out for when deciding on a media player for your digital signage solution. While there are other nuances and pieces of information you will continue to learn as you continue on your signage journey, this overview provides a general overview of a few key principles you should look out for when searching for the hardware that will power your signage displays.
READY TO START YOUR DIGITAL JOURNEY?
Discover how digital signage can transform your communication strategy. Reach out to REACH Media Network today to learn more about our solutions, explore custom integrations, and see how we can help you connect with your audience in meaningful ways.
