Sign companies have always helped businesses communicate visually. Digital signage serves many of the same purposes, but the message can change without manufacturing and installing another physical sign.
For a traditional sign company, digital signage does not have to be a competitor. It can be another product to sell. The company already has relationships with businesses that regularly spend money communicating through signs.
Digital Signage Is Still Signage
A restaurant needs to display a menu. A retailer needs to promote a sale. A medical office needs patient information. A company needs a welcome screen. A school needs announcements. A property manager needs tenant communications.
Sign companies already solve these problems. Digital signage changes the delivery method.
Traditional and Digital Signage Can Work Together
Digital signage does not eliminate storefront identification, permanent wayfinding, vehicle wraps, ADA signage, window graphics or printed displays. Screens are better suited to information that changes frequently or benefits from movement, scheduling or remote updates.
A project can combine exterior signs, window graphics, wayfinding and digital promotional displays.
Your Existing Customers Are the First Opportunity
Review customers who already purchase menu boards, promotional signs, posters, lobby signage, retail graphics, directories, event signage, point-of-purchase materials and frequently replaced printed signs. Identify which messages change regularly.
See how to add signage to an existing product portfolio.
Start With the Customer's Communication Problem
Ask how often information changes, who updates it, how many locations need it, whether locations show identical content, how quickly changes need to appear, whether someone physically replaces signs and whether advance scheduling would help.
Digital Signage Adds More Than Screen Revenue
A project can include displays, media players, mounting and installation, digital signage software, setup and configuration, content services and ongoing management.
Turn Graphic Design Into an Ongoing Digital Service
Existing designers can adapt logos, graphics, menus, promotional materials and branded environments for screens. Promotional posters can become digital rotations, menus can become editable screen layouts and lobby graphics can become rotating branded content.
Read how agencies develop screen-based content.
Digital Signage Can Create Recurring Revenue
Offer software only, signage software plus support, managed digital signage, or a full signage package combining traditional signs, digital displays, installation, software and ongoing services.
A Sign Company Digital Signage Example
A sign company serving a 12-location restaurant group already provides exterior signs, window graphics and printed menus. Converting three menu boards per location creates a 36-screen network and opportunities for screens, mounts, players, installation, software, menu design, support and future location expansion.
Multi-Location Businesses Are Strong Prospects
Centralized signage can distribute corporate content across every location while still allowing local information. Each new location can create additional hardware, installation and software opportunities.
Do Sign Companies Need to Develop Digital Signage Software?
No. A sign company can partner with an existing software provider just as it sources other components used in signage projects. The provider maintains the platform; the sign company defines its service package and customer relationship under the agreed terms.
What Sign Companies Should Look for in Digital Signage Software
Look for multiple customer management, user permissions, flexible content, scheduling, remote administration, hardware options and partner-friendly billing.
Hardware Flexibility Matters for Sign Companies
One customer may need everything; another may already own compatible equipment. Zoney supports Android, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, WebOS, Tizen, Apple TV and Amazon Digital Signage Stick. Confirm the actual hardware models and versions with Zoney before deployment.
Digital Signage Can Help Protect Existing Customer Relationships
If customers buy digital signage elsewhere, another vendor enters the account and may also sell displays, installation or content design. Offering signage helps the existing sign provider keep more of the project.
How to Add Digital Signage to a Sign Business
- Choose a software platform.
- Select preferred hardware configurations.
- Train salespeople on digital use cases.
- Train designers for screen-based content.
- Review current customers.
- Create simple packages.
- Add digital signage to new project discussions.
Where Zoney Fits for Sign Companies
Zoney Enterprise Solutions gives sign companies a platform they can incorporate into their own customer offerings. It supports multi-user environments, granular user controls, security tokens, flexible hardware and dynamic monthly billing, and runs on AWS-hosted cloud infrastructure.
Sell More of the Signage Solution
A business that needs a sign today may need a screen tomorrow. In many cases, it needs both. Digital signage lets sign companies extend customer relationships into screens, software, digital content and ongoing services.