Today you can interact with the sign, checking the menu and perhaps going through the weather updates. You might use the sign to make a reservation or even order a bouquet from the florist. It’s the interactivity that is driving the need for ubiquitous connectivity and sound remote management.

Depending on your project, this kind of functionality can be used to change advertisements, upgrade interactive applications and provide customized informational or marketing messages. Remote management can offset the ongoing cost of distributing content and can often be used to troubleshoot problem devices without ever having to resort to an on-site visit. When looking into remote management options for your digital signage or interactive kiosk network, you should check for three things:

1. The remote management system should be able to work with kiosks and signage players behind firewalls and/or using network address translation (NAT). It should not require an externally visible or static IP address or require open ports.

Wow, that was a mouth full of technical jargons. Basically, depending on who you are and what your project is, you might need to deploy your devices into networks that you don’t own or operate. In fact, you might be counting on your host location(s) to provide the broadband connectivity, even though they might not be able to provide what you need. Your remote management software should be able to work with even the most limited and restrictive network setups.

2. The remote management system should be able to transmit content and schedules ahead of time, preferably during specific times of day.

It depends on how much content you want to display and what kinds of files you would be using. Nobody can deny that even transferring a small amount of changes could take some donkey hours. That’s why it’s important to use a remote management system that will let you schedule changes ahead of time. So your units will have a chance to get all the necessary content. Also, if you’re using your host’s network or sharing it with other service providers, it’s useful to have a remote management platform that will also let you specify when you can download files. That way, you can pin point that your ‘a mammoth size’ content file should only get downloaded in the wee hours of the morning, and not during business hours when the network might be needed to process credit card payments.

3. The remote management system should be capable of upgrading the system software and adding features, not just moving content around.

These days, considering the staggering number of critical system updates that MNCs like Microsoft has been supplying for Windows systems, it only makes sense to use a management system that will help keep your systems safe. Also, as new video formats come out or new features are added, being able to download them to the kiosks or players remotely will save you the time and agony of physically deploying new software.

The rapid progress of the digital signage era suggests that there isn’t really any reason to go with a traditional DVD-based system. Take advantage of remote management as a way to reduce operating expenses, offer exciting features to your clients, thereby making you a smart and sensible investor.