Vsign Software vs USB Drive: Which is The Best For Digital Signage Content Management?
Businesses need to stay relevant as customer preferences change. The choice of marketing tools and approaches can affect how well a business can perform. Traditional display tools such as banners, posters, and buntings are no longer able to attract customers’ attention effectively. Businesses are turning to using digital signages to deliver meaningful and engaging messages.
While the transition to digital signage presents unlimited opportunities for a business, the way how it operates the signage can affect the effectiveness of the digital campaign. One of the struggles is to choose whether to use Vsign software or a USB drive to run content on the screen. In this article, we will discuss the differences between using Vsign software and a USB drive in managing and updating content.
1. Supported Media File Formats
Both USB drives and Vsign software can support a wide range of digital file formats. Most digital signages in the market can support common media file formats, such as JPEG, PNG, MP3, and MP4.
However, if you want to do something more than display a series of video or image files, a USB drive might not be able to provide the flexibility needed. For example, there could be times when you want to display both videos and images on the screen at the same time. You can never do this with a USB drive because it can only display one file at a time.
2. Pre-designed Templates
Most Vsign software or content management systems (CMS) in the market provide pre-designed templates for users to publish their content in styles that match their applications. For example, an F&B operator can use the digital menu template that is provided by the Vsign software to display both the menu and food photos on the screen at the same time.
If you are using a USB drive, you have to get a designer to prepare the digital menu layout from scratch. For example, if you want to display both menu and food photos at the same time, you need to edit and export the content in a video format.
3. Dynamic Content and Scheduling
When you are using a USB drive, most digital signages only support the most basic looping playback mode. The playlist can be continuously looped and repeats itself over and over again. However, beside of adjusting the image duration, there is not much you can do to make your content dynamic or real-time. The playlist can only keep displaying static and passive content.
When you are using Vsign software, you can feel free to schedule not only one but multiple playlists. Dayparting is a commonly used approach in which a business schedules its content for certain periods of a day or certain days of a week.
For example, by using Vsign software, a restaurant owner can upload three different menus for three different dining sessions – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He can schedule the breakfast menu to run from 9 am to 11 am, 11 am to 3 pm for the lunch menu, and 6 pm to 9 pm for the dinner menu.
If the owner is using a USB drive, he needs to manually insert the USB drive whenever he wants to change the menu displayed. Besides, things will get complicated if he owns not only one but many branches in different locations.
4. Remote Management
If a business owner has only a store or a single operating location to attend, using a USB drive can be a cost-effective method especially when he owns only one or two digital signages. Purchasing a license for Vsign software can be a cost burden for a small business.
However, as the number of digital signages and the number of business locations grow, using USB drives is no longer a sustainable way of operating and managing digital signages. This is why using Vsign software is the best solution when it comes to device monitoring, device controlling, content uploading, and content scheduling. All of these processes can be done remotely by an administrator from a single location.
By using Vsign software, the administrator can monitor the health status of every single digital signage. The business does not need to send technicians to every branch or business location to carry out regular checks. If the administrator notices that a digital signage is switched off or has an issue, he can try to diagnose and solve it remotely. The business will only send technicians if the issue is not able to be solved remotely. This can help the business to save a large amount of travel and maintenance expenses.
In addition to device control and monitoring, the administrator can also update and publish new content easily by using Vsign software. With only a few button clicks, the new content can be published to all digital signages no matter where they are located.
5. Real-time Content
You can never display real-time content if you are uploading content by using a USB drive. This is because the read-only image and video files in your USB drive are static in nature.
Some advanced Vsign software or content management systems in the market allow users to integrate with third-party applications such as live traffic applications and social media wall feeds. Some content management systems also have built-in weather widgets. Users can now display this real-time content on their digital signages conveniently.
Real-time content is dynamic as it updates itself constantly. When your audience has access to relevant information, this can lead to more relevant conversations and the audience will be more engaged.
6. Computer Literacy
One of the considerations that a business owner needs to make is whether he has the right person or employee to manage his digital signages. When uploading content using a USB drive, the person involved will only need to be taught to have basic knowledge of operating the digital signages physically.
However, computer literacy is needed to operate a content management system or Vsign software. The administrator needs to be at least able to use a computer or a mobile phone. While most content management systems are designed to provide easy-to-use functionality, the maximum potential of the software can only be realized if the administrator can use more complex commands or have a deeper understanding of topics such as file formats, file compressions, internet security, content scheduling, creativity, and basic scripting.
However, if one is willing to dive deeper into Vsign software, managing your digital signage is a piece of cake. Once you have mastered the software, you can manage and publish your content in any way that suits your application.
7. Cost
The cost is lower if you choose to use a USB drive to publish content. Using a USB drive will not incur any additional charge. However, you will need to purchase a license if you want to use the Vsign software. Besides, most of the vendors in the market will need the user to purchase a license for every single digital signage that he owns. In short, if you own 10 digital signages, you will need to buy 10 licenses.
Although using Vsign software can incur higher costs over the short term, a business owner should also consider the indirect financial benefits that Vsign software can bring. As we mentioned above, using Vsign software can help the business to save time and maintenance expenses especially when it has multiple business locations and a large number of digital signages owned.
You may not need to pay for the license if you are using a USB drive. However, the cost incurred and the time you spend in updating every single content manually in every single location can come back to haunt you over the long term.
Conclusion
While Vsign software can offer ease of monitoring and publishing content, we will never say that it is the best choice for all applications or situations. The best product or solution is always the one that suits your application the most. If you are a small business with only an employee and a digital signage, managing your content using a USB drive is sufficient. However, if you are a business that is looking at factors such as scalability and ease of convenience, digital signage software can be your best choice. Feel free to contact us as we can help to provide the most suitable suggestion based on your business or requirements.
