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Digital Signage Best Practices - ScreenCloud

Digital signage installation often feels like a daunting IT project, but in reality, it doesn't require an engineering degree or weeks of planning. Whether you are installing a digital menu board in a coffee shop or a communication network in a corporate office, the core mechanics are actually pretty simple.

At its heart, a digital signage setup consists of just three things: a screen to show the content, a media player to power it, and software to manage it.

If you're looking for the essential steps to get your digital signage installation process started, our guide will get you there. And, as an aside, while this guide does focus on setting up ScreenCloud, it can apply to any digital signage software solutions.

Before you drill any holes, you need to decide on your display hardware. You might already have some TV screens or other digital displays you're working with, or you might need to do some strategic planning to pick the best displays. 

Whatever screens you are choosing, there will be two paths to consider: System-on-Chip (SoC) or an External Media Player setup.

There are pros and cons for both, and some larger digital signage installations might actually include both.

If you are buying new hardware specifically for this project, you might look at commercial-grade screens from brands like Samsung (Tizen) or LG (WebOS). These "System-on-Chip" displays have a computer built right inside them meaning that you don't have to use an external media player.

These are the cleanest to install because you don’t need any external cables or boxes. You simply turn on the TV, connect to Wi-Fi, and download the ScreenCloud app directly onto the TV’s operating system.

While this might sound ideal for your usage, there are some pros and cons of system on chip screens to consider.

Option B: Other screens (with a Media Player)

If you are using a standard TV you bought from a retailer, repurposing an old screen you already own, or connecting to a professional display such as a video wall, you might need to use a media player - even if it is a 'smart TV'. 

While consumer grade smart TVs can be a cheap option for your digital signage solutions, they are not designed to power all day displays and the internal streaming features might not perform in the long term.

Some also prefer to use a media player with their digital signage screens - regardless whether they're smart TVs or not. This is because an external media player tends to be more powerful and designed to handle high data streaming, all day displays and deliver more professional features such as Remote Device Management or better security.

We recommend purchasing an external media player (like a ScreenCloud PIXI/Station P1 Pro, the Amazon Signage Stick or a Chromebox). You simply plug it into the HDMI port and connect to the power source.

If you want a wire-free look with minimal additional hardware, go for a professional-grade SoC display. 

If you're looking for enterprise grade features, or you value the flexibility to upgrade your hardware later without buying new screens, go with a your choice of TV and an external player.

For those who are more budget conscious, choose a professional grade smart TV/SoC display, or use our PIXI media player.

Note: If you chose a System-on-Chip display in Step 1, you can skip this section.

The media player is the most important part of your setup, it’s the engine that renders your images and videos. The choice of media players can be as overwhelming as the choice of content management system, with options such as Android players and Chrome OS boxes, Windows players, Raspberry Pi and more. 

There has long been a focus on using affordable consumer grade media players (Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV etc), but we strongly recommend using a digital signage specific player such as our own PIXI or Station P1 Pro, the Amazon Signage Stick or one of the Brightsign player line-up.

HDMI Connection: Plug your device into the TV’s HDMI port. If the space behind the TV is tight, use a HDMI extender cable to prevent the stick from bending or snapping.

Power: Connect the USB power cable. Crucial Tip: Plug the power cable into a wall outlet, not the USB port on the back of the TV. TV USB ports often don't provide consistent power, which can cause the device to crash or reboot unexpectedly.

Network: While Wi-Fi works well for many, we always recommend using an Ethernet cable if possible. A hardwired connection ensures your content keeps playing smoothly, even if the office Wi-Fi gets crowded.

For the physical part of the digital signage installation, where you place your screen is just as important as what is on it. 

If you're managing a network of multiple screens then it often makes sense to hire a professional digital signage installation services provider. They will normally be able to advise you of the best placements (if it hasn't already been decided) and of course make sure all your signage screens are secured.

Some of the most important factors to consider when it comes to the installation process:

A common mistake is mounting screens too high. If you mount a display near the ceiling (the "Billboard Effect"), people have to crane their necks to see it, which can make it easy to ignore

For reading: Mount the screen so the center is roughly 60–65 inches from the floor.

For ambience: If the screen is just for high-level branding, you can go higher, but tilt it downward using a tilting wall mount.

Screens are usually installed within the eye-line of the viewer or customers, so in a fast food restaurant this might be behind the counter, in a retail store it might be as part of a product display. 

But in an office or manufacturing plant, you might need more careful planning to decide on the best placement for your specific audiences.

One of the most common challenges can be knowing where to put your cables - after all a messy installation ruins the illusion. Before you hang the TV, check your VESA mount (the square hole pattern on the back of the TV). If you are using an external media player, we recommend using a tilt mount rather than a flush "slim" mount.

A tilt mount adds a few inches of clearance between the TV and the wall, giving you just enough space to hide the media player and excess cabling behind the screen. Use zip ties or velcro strips to secure the player to the mount arms so nothing dangles below the bezel.

Once your screens are all installed, it's time to connect to your content management software. ScreenCloud is designed to connect to your choice of screen or media player in minutes, meaning you can speed up your installation process.

Launch the App: Turn on your TV. If you are using ScreenCloud device, it will boot straight into ScreenCloud OS. If you are using an Android TV, head to the app store, search for "ScreenCloud," and launch the app.

Get the Code: You will see a pairing code on the TV screen (e.g., X Y Z A B C).

Pair: Open your laptop, log in to your ScreenCloud Dashboard, and click "New Screen." Enter the code displayed on your TV.

In a matter of seconds, your dashboard will sync with the TV, and the status will flip to "Online." You have just successfully set up your digital signage network and you're ready to start publishing content.

Once you're all set with the technology, it's time to get into the software and start sharing your digital signage content.

You don't need to be a graphic designer to get started creating dynamic content. In your ScreenCloud dashboard, you can upload your own images and videos, or use our App Store to pull in content you already have, from sources such as Canva, your Google Slides, Instagram feed, or Microsoft Power BI dashboards.

Simply drag your assets into a Playlist, assign that Playlist to your newly paired screen, and hit publish. 

Your screen will download the content locally (so it keeps playing even if the internet flickers) and begin playback immediately.

Professional tips for a smooth digital signage installation

Whether you choose a professional installation, or you're setting up with our own team, there are a few little things to keep in mind. These are: 

Disable "Eco Mode" Consumer TVs are designed for living rooms, not lobbies. They often have settings like "Auto Standby" or "Eco Mode" enabled, which turn the TV off after 4 hours of inactivity. Dig into your TV’s picture settings and make sure these are turned off to avoid an unfortunate outage.

Secure your remote Once your digital signage is set up, you shouldn't need the physical remote control often. So make sure to put it in a labeled drawer or safe place. There is nothing worse than a screen going down and realizing the only remote that can change the input source is lost...

Planning a larger rollout? If you have successfully set up your first screen and are looking to deploy this across 50, 100, or 1,000 locations, the strategy changes. You’ll need to think about network security, remote device management, and user permissions.

For the big picture, check out our IT Manager’s Guide to Rolling Out Digital Signage.

ScreenCloud offers one of the most powerful and user-friendly digital signage solutions available. Built for enterprise, ScreenCloud offers near 99% glitch-free operation, easy setup and scaling, unique content integrations and best-in-class professional support.

Whatever your industry or the business requirements for your digital signage, try ScreenCloud FREE for 14 days, or book a demo today.

Yes, you can use a regular TV from a retailer like Best Buy or Amazon, especially for lighter use (~6-10 hours a day). However, be aware that consumer warranties often don't cover commercial use. For 24/7 operation, we recommend a commercial-grade display (System-on-Chip), which is built to withstand constant heat and usage without screen burn-in.

Can I used a standard consumer-grade TV for digital signage?

Ideally, yes, but it isn't strictly necessary for playback. Good digital signage software (like ScreenCloud) "caches" your content locally on the media player. This means if your Wi-Fi goes down, your content will keep playing from the device's storage. You only need the internet connection to download new updates or change the playlist.

Does digital signage need to be connected to the internet 24/7?

Yes, you can, but it is not a scalable solution. A USB stick requires you to physically walk to the TV every time you want to change an image, and it doesn't allow for scheduling (e.g., showing a breakfast menu in the morning and lunch in the afternoon). Digital signage software allows you to update content remotely from your laptop, set schedules, and manage multiple screens instantly.

Can’t I just plug a USB stick with images into the TV?

It depends. For simple wall-mounted screens (under 65 inches), most businesses can handle the installation with a basic facilities team or a handyman. However, if you are installing complex video walls, ceiling-mounted displays, outdoor signage or a large network of screens, we highly recommend hiring a professional AV integrator to ensure safety and proper cable management.

Do I need a professional installer for digital signage networks?

Ready to get your screens live? Here is your complete guide to digital signage installation, from choosing hardware and mounting your display to setting up ScreenCloud.

How to Set Up Digital Signage: An Installation Guide

If your team operates from multiple locations around the world, you likely have to juggle multiple calendars. Notion, Google, Microsoft, Outlook, and many others have calendar options, that often exist separate from each other.

That means having to juggle them, and inevitably, some team members will miss some key events. 

This is one of the reasons why your office needs a digital wall calendar: your team needs a way to see what’s coming up at a glance. 

Here’s how to turn your existing digital signage or a spare TV into a digital calendar display that works with Outlook, Google Calendar, or an iCalendar feed.

How to Set Up a Digital Wall Calendar (Top 3 options)

Before setup, you need to choose your software for display. We recommend ScreenCloud because it lets you easily display almost anything on your screens, from powerpoint presentations to digital menus,and of course, your shared calendars. 

Specifically, it comes with a handful of built-in calendar tools to show the current date and upcoming meetings, countdown the days to a launch, and build smart conference rooms that show when a meeting will be finished.

Next is deciding what you want to display on your signage. Just the date and month? Want a list of upcoming events? Or a combined feed of everything happening across your company? There’s a ScreenCloud app for each.

<center><font size="-1"><em>ScreenCloud’s Date app is the easiest way to build a simple digital wall calendar</em></center></font></p>

You can start out with the simplest wall calendar replacement: ScreenCloud’s Date app, shown above. Search for Date in the ScreenCloud Apps pane, and add a new instance. Choose to start the week on Sunday (American style) or Monday (European style), pick your language, and that’s it. The current date is as easy to read as the time on a clock.

This calendar is great for simply visualizing the date and day on the calendar. 

<center><font size="-1"><em>Show how much time is left before the next big thing happens</em></center></font></p>

Another simple option is ScreenCloud’s countdown timer app to see the time remaining before a product launch or event (with a companion count-up app to show the days since a launch or incident). 

Add the app from ScreenCloud’s app pane, enter the launch date, time, and title, and choose date and timer settings. ScreenCloud can show a flip board counting down the days, or a more minimal screen showing how many days are left until launch.

It’s not a calendar, per se, but it does give your team a bit of actionable calendar data.

Option 3: Display a fully integrated calendar

<center><font size="-1"><em>Show the whole month, or a day’s events, on a digital wall calendar</em></center></font></p>

If you’re looking for a full-featured calendar, this is the option for you. With it, you can visualize upcoming events, shared team tasks and much more. This is much more elaborate, so we’ll cover it in the next section. 

Displaying Google and Outlook Calendars on a digital wall screen

Here’s how you display your shared Google or Outlook Calendar on screen.

Step 1: Connect Calendar in your digital display

Depending on what your team uses, install the Google Calendar app or Outlook calendar in your ScreenCloud studio. (Both apps work the same.)

In the ScreenCloud app settings, click the Login button to connect to Outlook or Google Calendar. Sign into your account and select the calendar you want to put on your signage.

<center><font size="-1"><em>Choose the calendar you want to add to your signage</em></center></font></p>

You can only display one calendar feed at a time. If you need to display more calendars, you can add as many instances of ScreenCloud’s Outlook or Google Calendar apps as you need, each with their own dedicated slide. 

Or, you could build a merged calendar feed; we’ll show you how to create that below.

Now that you’ve added your calendar, it’s time to tweak how it looks. 

Week view shows an overview of what’s happening every hour of the day

Month view is closer to a paper wall calendar and it gives you a top-level overview. (The month view is pictured in the “Option 3” section above).

The Upcoming calendar view (pictured below) shows the next four to six events over the next few days, before shuffling to the next screen to show what’s coming up after that. 

<center><font size="-1"><em>ScreenCloud’s Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar Upcoming view shows a list of upcoming events</em></center></font></p>

Pick the calendar that fits your team’s needs and set the calendar options (including language, day to start the week, and event color). You’ll likely also want to choose the Large font size to make your calendar readable at a distance.

And that’s it. You’ve now got a digital calendar for your office wall that shows every upcoming Outlook and Google Calendar event. Every new event you add to that calendar, back in your Outlook or Google Calendar apps, will show up on your signage automatically.

Advanced digital calendar features for offices

If you have a standalone calendar that you’d like to put on your signage (could be a public iCal calendar feed with local events or a calendar file you exported from an app?

<center><font size="-1"><em>Import a calendar file or feed to Google Calendar, then add it to your signage</em></center></font></p>

The easiest way to add that to your signage is with Outlook or Google Calendar. First, import the calendar feed or file to your Google Calendar or Outlook account. In Google Calendar, click the + button beside Other Calendars, choose From URL for a calendar link or Import for a .ics file, and add your calendar.

Then, in ScreenCloud, add a new instance of your calendar app, this time choosing the newly imported calendar to add it to your signage.

Merging multiple calendars into one display

<center><font size="-1"><em>Build a single merged calendar with Zapier</em></center></font></p>

You could also pull all of your events together into a single calendar—something that’s a bit more complicated.

App automation tools like Zapier are great for this. Start your automation with Google Calendar, Outlook, or any other supported Calendar app including Zoho Calendar, CalendarHero, and more. 

Select your calendar, and have Zapier watch for any new event. Then, in the action step, select either Google or Outlook Calendar, select the calendar you want to use to show all events together, and have Zapier add a new event.

Repeat that for every calendar. You could add Outlook events to a Google Calendar, and vice versa. Once you’re finished, add your merged calendar to ScreenCloud, and you’ll have every event in one view.

You can also customize your calendar’s design in ScreenCloud? Instead of adding each event to a calendar, you could add them to an RSS feed. Then, you could use ScreenCloud’s RSS app to show a feed of events, or use ScreenCloud Playgrounds to build a custom event ticker. Check our guide to consolidating company notifications into a single feed for the steps, including ideas like turning your events into a news ticker.

Displaying calendars from other business apps

<center><font size="-1"><em>ScreenCloud Dashboards can embed most online calendars into your digital signage</em></center></font></p>

Maybe you have a calendar inside an app that you’d like to share with your team. This could be a Trello calendar to show project milestones, a Salesforce calendar to show important sales calls, a Notion or Airtable’s calendars for team-focused events, or even a public events page on a local website to keep track of civic events.

There are a few ways to get those on your signage. You could import an iCalendar feed from the app into Google or Outlook calendar. Or, if the app’s calendar includes an embed code, copy it and add it to ScreenCloud’s Embed app.

<center><font size="-1"><em>A Basecamp calendar on ScreenCloud digital signage</em></center></font></p>

Or, you could scrape the website and grab the calendar widget for your signage, with ScreenCloud Dashboards. Click Dashboards in ScreenCloud’s sidebar, add a new Dashboard, then enter the link to the site with your calendar. 

ScreenCloud will open that site in a new window. Login to your app, if needed, and navigate to the calendar widget. Then click ScreenCloud’s yellow Finish Journey & Take Snapshot button, select the calendar widget from your app, and tap Finish Journey.

Save your Dashboard and add it to a Channel or Playlist to display any in-app calendar widget on your digital signage.

How to customize your digital wall calendar display

<center><font size="-1"><em>Three calendar widgets on one digital signage screen</em></center></font></p>

Show the date, upcoming events, and a countdown timer together

You can bring it all together, with an oversized date and month overview, a list of what’s happening, and a countdown timer for your next big event.

All you need is a ScreenCloud channel that can turn your Google Calendar into a widget. Click the Channels tab, add a new one, and choose a layout with multiple widgets. Then click each section of the screen and add the calendar app you want. The Date and Calendar apps both require large widgets; the Count Down Timer app can run as a news-style ticker along the bottom of your screen.

With that done, you’ll have a heads-up display for your team’s schedule with everything date-related together. Or, if you’d rather keep info separate—or have too many calendar widgets for one display—add your calendars to a ScreenCloud playlist and your signage will rotate through them on the schedule you set.

Build smart conference rooms with digital calendars

<center><font size="-1"><em>ScreenCloud’s Meeting Room app is perfect to build smart conference rooms</em></center></font></p>

Calendars aren’t all general purpose. Some events, like the times a specific meeting room is booked, aren’t exactly private data, but they’re also something you only need to know if you need that meeting room.

That makes meeting rooms perfect for custom digital signage calendars.

ScreenCloud’s built-in Meeting Room signage app is custom-built for that use case. It shows a list of upcoming meetings that will be held in that room, along with a QR code to book the room for your next meeting. And if a meeting is in progress, the sign will turn orange and show when the room will be available.

And if you want, you could add the Meeting Room app to a playlist, so your signage will show other company-wide events and calendar details along with room availability.

Read More: The Guide to Conference Room Digital Signage.

Create automated calendar-based signage updates

You could also use ScreenCloud’s GraphQL API to build smart digital signage that updates based on company-wide events.

Say you’d like to greet office visitors with your signage, or want to have holiday-themed playlists show up on the correct dates. You’d need an automation that watches your calendar for events—another place where Zapier comes in handy. Have it watch your Google or Outlook calendar for new events, and consider adding a search term to have it watch for specific functions.

Then add a JavaScript code action to run your ScreenCloud GraphQL mutation, perhaps using castStart to temporarily cast an app or playlist, or setScreenContent to switch a screen’s playlist. Check our full GraphQL guide for more details on setting that up.

Build the smart office wall calendar that fits your team

Now it’s time to start tweaking your calendar signage to show the event data your team needs most.

Need a quick digital calendar? ScreenCloud’s date and Google Calendar apps are perfect.

Want a smart conference room? Throw in ScreenCloud’s meeting room app.

Or, get fancy with Zapier-powered calendar feeds and some GraphQL automations to dress your signage up for special days.

And while you’re at it, build more dashboards to show display numbers and spreadsheets on your tv (stats, sales figures and other data) alongside your dates. 

You can start a free 14-day ScreenCloud trial to start building out your team’s first digital wall calendar.

Image Credit: Calendar photo by Gaining Visuals via Unsplash

You need a smart calendar on your office walls to show the date, upcoming events, availibility, and more. Here's how to build a digital calendar display with ScreenCloud.

How to Create a Unified Digital Wall Calendar for Your Business

A smart calendar on your office walls can be used to show the date, upcoming events, availability, and more. Here's how to build a digital calendar display with ScreenCloud.

For any organization serving a diverse audience; whether a global corporation, a local hospital, or an international airport, language barriers can be a challenge...  In more ways than one. The use of multilingual digital signage can be a powerful and strategic asset and one of the best ways to effectively communicate with a diverse audience (besides actually talking to them).

In addition to this, legislation often mandates more support for physical and sensory impairments. But multilingual communication is the next frontier of inclusion - and one that can be easy to miss. 

Sometimes offering multi lingual support can be an afterthought, or totally ignored. But for businesses pivoting towards using digital signage, or with a display network already in place, adding different languages to your screens can be a relatively quick process. 

Let's dig in and find out how and why to use digital signage to communicate with your entire audience, including those that speak other languages...

When it comes to navigating the modern world, signs are obviously one of the most important beacons. Whether this is in the workplace or a busy transport hub, signs help us to easily navigate or find information when we need it. 

And using digital screens to display signage means you can better manage content, including sharing multiple languages - especially in the following cases:

In high-risk or high-traffic environments, missing an important emergency message can have catastrophic consequences. So, providing real-time alerts and instructions in multiple languages means you can ensure that every individual receives and comprehends critical information immediately. 

This moves an organization beyond basic legal compliance toward a comprehensive standard of duty of care for all.

Read more: OSHA Compliance with digital signage.

2. Universal inclusion and improved experience

A multilingual display helps to make more visitors feel seen and respected. This is especially the case for international travelers - but is equally important for non-native speaking employees, site visitors, students or patients.

As anyone who has ever arrived in a new place being unable to speak the language knows, encountering information in our primary language massively reduces anxiety and frustration. Whether in the workplace or a customer facing environment, this leads to a more positive overall experience, and strengthens the perceived quality of service.

When staff and visitors can find what they need or understand an announcement without asking for assistance, it frees up employee time. For example, multilingual wayfinding screens can reduce the burden on front-desk staff, receptionists, and nurses who might otherwise spend valuable time translating basic directions or announcements. 

And this is just one example of where streamlined communication contributes directly to smoother daily operations - and by extension better productivity.

In a diverse workplace, communicating company news, motivational messages, or HR updates in multiple languages ensures that all employees are equally engaged and informed. While this is obviously great for internal communication, it's also an excellent way to improve your general company culture and inclusivity.

How to make multi lingual signage easier with digital signage

Digital signage allows you to create dynamic content for screens. This means you can take one sign and translate it into multiple languages, or even display videos in sign language. You might have seen versions of these type of signs in airports, often around the security area - where an animated screen streams animated videos of how to prepare for inspections. 

A powerful system like ScreenCloud provides the tools to create and deploy these types of compelling multilingual sign displays. Here's how: 

Content Creation Flexibility: Content managers can easily create images, slide decks, or video assets for the same message (e.g., an evacuation map) in different languages. These distinct assets can then be scheduled to play sequentially or targeted to specific screens where a particular language demographic is dominant.

Built-in App Localization: Beyond custom content, many of ScreenCloud's core apps and integrations offer dedicated language support. Apps like the Calendar for Google, Outlook Calendar, Clock, Date, Countdown Timer, and Weather all support five key European languages: English, Spanish, French, German, and Dutch. This ensures that essential live data, like local time or the schedule for a meeting room, is automatically displayed in the required language format.

Emergency Overrides with Language Cycling: Crucially, emergency alerts can be pre-designed in these multiple languages. The system can be set up to display the emergency message (e.g., "This is not a drill! Evacuate calmly and safely!") in English, Spanish, French, German, and Dutch, cycling through the different language slides on safety signage. This instant, multi-language capability is vital for comprehensive safety and compliance during a crisis.

Where to use multilingual digital signage

The strategic use of digital signage in different languages differs significantly across sectors. But the core objective remains the same: ensuring clarity and inclusion for every audience member.

1. Factories and Workplaces: Safety, HR, and Training

Modern manufacturing, logistics, and corporate environments often rely on diverse workforces. These can comprise employees whose primary language is not the company's official tongue - meaning extra needs to be taken to communicate especially when it comes to internal communications.

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                <th>Emergency Alerts & Safety Protocols</th>
                <td>Displaying mandatory PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) requirements, machine safety warnings, and live emergency instructions (e.g., lockdown or evacuation directions) in multiple languages.</td>
                <td>Reduces workplace accidents by ensuring better comprehension of critical warnings; ensures legal compliance (e.g., OSHA compliance) with safety regulations for all employees.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>Internal Communications & HR</th>
                <td>Displaying company news, shift schedules, HR deadlines, and employee-of-the-month announcements in the native languages of the team.</td>
                <td>Boosts employee engagement and morale by making all team members feel valued and included in the company dialogue.</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <th>Training & Onboarding</th>
                <td>Using video content with subtitles, translated text overlays or sign language for quick, bite-sized training modules on quality control or new machinery operation.</td>
                <td>Accelerates onboarding and minimizes errors by overcoming language-based training barriers.</td>
            </tr>
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                <th>Wayfinding</th>
                <td>Directing delivery drivers, temporary staff, and visitors to specific loading docks, meeting rooms, or offices in their preferred language.</td>
                <td>Increases operational flow by reducing bottlenecks caused by confusion or misdirection.</td>
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2. Hospitals and Healthcare Centers: Patient Anxiety and Critical Instructions

Healthcare facilities such as hospitals are often high-stress environments where communication clarity is non-negotiable. Patients and visitors may be anxious, medically compromised, or facing cultural barriers, making single-language signage insufficient.

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      <td><strong>Wayfinding and Waiting Room Status</strong></td>
      <td>Providing interactive maps and directions to clinics, wards, and labs in multiple languages. Displaying patient queue or appointment status updates (using anonymous numbers) alongside waiting time estimates in the appropriate language.</td>
      <td>Reduces patient anxiety and stress by providing clear, independent navigation and managing expectations effectively.</td>
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      <td><strong>Public Health Information</strong></td>
      <td>Displaying critical health campaigns, like hand-washing guides, infectious disease protocols, or vaccination clinic details, in various languages.</td>
      <td>Improves public health outcomes by disseminating information that reaches all community demographics effectively.</td>
    </tr>
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      <td><strong>Patient Rights and Forms</strong></td>
      <td>Displaying summarized patient rights, visitation policies, and instructions for check-in/check-out in multiple languages.</td>
      <td>Ensures equitable access to information regarding medical treatment and patient autonomy.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Staff Coordination</strong></td>
      <td>Using back-of-house screens at nurses' stations to display shift changes or policy updates in the languages spoken by nursing and support staff.</td>
      <td>Streamlines internal workflows and reduces errors caused by miscommunication among diverse staff members.</td>
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3. Educational Facilities: Inclusion and Campus Safety

Universities and large school districts host international students, exchange programs, and diverse faculty, making multilingual support an inclusionary necessity. Translations for your key announcements can help to bridge those cultural divides. 

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      <th>Use Case</th>
      <th>Multilingual Application</th>
      <th>Impact</th>
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      <td><strong>International Student Support</strong></td>
      <td>Displaying information on visa procedures, campus housing, and student services targeted at specific language groups. College and university settings can utilize ScreenCloud's localized Calendar and Date apps for event promotion.</td>
      <td>Improves the experience and retention of international students by easing their transition into a new academic environment.</td>
    </tr>
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      <td><strong>Timetables and Announcements</strong></td>
      <td>Displaying class schedules, exam schedules, and library hours in languages common among the student body.</td>
      <td>Reduces administrative friction and confusion, ensuring students arrive on time for critical academic activities.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Campus-Wide Safety Alerts</strong></td>
      <td>Quickly broadcasting shelter-in-place or campus closure warnings in multiple languages.</td>
      <td>Enhances campus safety and ensures quick action from all students and faculty during emergency situations.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

4. Transport Facilities (Airports, Train Stations, Ports): Seamless Global Travel

Transport hubs are the quintessential multilingual environment. Here, success is measured in efficiency and passenger flow. Multilingual signs here are not just a benefit, but an operational requirement. Whether you're managing an airport or a cruise ship terminal, making information accessible to all users is key to smooth operation.

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Use Case</th>
      <th>Multilingual Application</th>
      <th>Impact</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Flight/Train Information Displays (FIDS/TIDS)</strong></td>
      <td>While primary data feeds are often coded, secondary, explanatory information—like "Proceed to Gate" or "Baggage Claim Area"—can be presented in multiple languages simultaneously or cycled.</td>
      <td>Reduces stress and missed connections for international travelers, enabling quick, independent understanding of their status.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Customs, Immigration, and Security Instructions</strong></td>
      <td>Displaying step-by-step procedures for security screening (e.g., "Remove liquids and laptops") and customs declarations in multiple world languages.</td>
      <td>Increases throughput and efficiency at checkpoints by ensuring all passengers are prepared.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td><strong>Emergency Notifications</strong></td>
      <td>Utilizing the dynamic override feature to broadcast clear, time-sensitive emergency information in the key European languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch) and others as needed, during disruptive events.</td>
      <td>Ensures maximum passenger safety and organizational efficiency during an evacuation or security incident.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Multilingual digital signage is a powerful evolution of communication. Moving forward, the global standard for any public-facing organization will not simply be to inform, but to inform everyone, in a language they can readily understand.

ScreenCloud makes it easier to create and manage your content and control screens remotely, across multiple locations. Whether you're managing a global enterprise, a hospital site or a chain of hotel or resorts, multilingual signage on digital signage is a low friction and engaging method of customer and employee communication. 

Find out how easy it is to create professional digital signage with our FREE 14 day trial, or book a demo today.

Unlock universal communication! Learn how multilingual digital signage boosts safety, inclusion, and efficiency in factories, hospitals, schools, and transport hubs globally.

Offering support in other languages is a feature in places such as airports. But more businesses are adopting digital signage to display multilingual communication from healthcare facilities to hotels and retail.

Using Multilingual Digital Signage for Better Communication

Digital Out of Home (DOOH) advertising has seen huge growth in recent years and is forecast to continue growing. 

But digital out of home isn't just a buzzword; it's a huge shift in how brands communicate in the physical world. It takes the power of traditional outdoor advertising and injects it with the flexibility, targeting, and measurable insights of digital media. 

Creating DOOH ads isn't about slapping a poster on a digital screen and walking away...it's about creating dynamic, contextually relevant connections with consumers as they move through their day. And with the opportunities to manage your own DOOH advertising network using affordable software such as digital signage, the world of billboard and digital OOH media is more accessible than ever.

Let's dig into the world of digital out of home and look at how it's used and how you can use it to benefit your business.

DOOH stands for Digital Out of Home. The 'out of home' refers to any form of advertising or content displayed on a digital screen in a public place.

It's an evolution of traditional Out of Home (OOH) media, such as static billboards, transit posters, and bus shelter ads - even those 'Golf Sale' signs that you still sometimes spot. The key difference is the transition from a static, printed message to a dynamic, remotely managed digital display.

The market for this innovation is substantial and growing quickly. The global DOOH advertising market size was estimated at $20.74 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $39.12 billion by 2030, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7% from 2025 to 2030 (Grand View Research). 

This growth is fueled by increasing demand for engaging, interactive displays, and the ability to combine OOH's mass reach with digital precision.

Dynamic Content: Screens can show full-motion video, animation, or a rotation of multiple advertisements, keeping the display fresh and captivating.

Remote Management: Content can be updated instantly from a central control system, often via a digital signage software platform.

Contextual Relevance: Ads can be triggered by real-time data or scheduled to match time of day, making the message significantly more relevant to the viewer. For example, a fast food brand could display their lunch options throughout the day, and then switch to meal deal specials to hit the evening rush hour.

Measurability: Unlike static print, DOOH can leverage technologies like mobile location data, QR codes and proof-of-play to provide real-time metrics on impressions, engagement, and even post-exposure actions like store visits or web searches. Studies show that 65% of consumers take an action (search, store visit, social post) after seeing a DOOH ad (Eskimi).

How does DOOH differ from billboard advertising?

While a digital billboard is a prime example of DOOH, the shift from a traditional, static printed billboard to a digital display fundamentally changes the medium's capabilities.

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                <tr>
                    <th>Feature</th>
                    <th>Traditional (Static) Billboard</th>
                    <th>Digital Out of Home (DOOH)</th>
                </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
                <tr>
                    <th>Content</th>
                    <td>Static, printed image or message.</td>
                    <td>Dynamic, including video, animation, and rotating ad slots.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Updates</th>
                    <td>Manual, requires physical printing, installation, and crew, which can take days or weeks.</td>
                    <td>Remote, instantaneous updates via central software, allowing for real-time pivots.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Flexibility</th>
                    <td>Extremely low. One design for the entire campaign duration.</td>
                    <td>High. Multiple creatives can run on a single screen, and change based on external triggers (weather, time, stock price).</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Targeting</th>
                    <td>Broad reach, based solely on the physical location.</td>
                    <td>Precision targeting based on time of day and external data to reach specific audiences or mindsets.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Interactivity</th>
                    <td>None. A one-way message.</td>
                    <td>High. Can incorporate QR codes, touchscreens, augmented reality (AR), and social media integration.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Measurement</th>
                    <td>Limited to estimated traffic counts and demographic data.</td>
                    <td>Data-driven with metrics on impressions, engagement rate (e.g., QR scans), and attribution (e.g., store visits via mobile data).</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <th>Cost Structure</th>
                    <td>Typically a lower up-front cost for long-term, exclusive placement, plus recurring printing/installation fees.</td>
                    <td>Higher initial tech investment, but lower long-term operational costs; offers flexible, shorter-term, programmatic ad buys.</td>
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The most significant difference is agility. A traditional billboard is a monolith, fixed, unmoving, and costly to change. DOOH is a fluid platform that allows advertisers to be hyper-responsive, running a campaign in the morning, switching to a different one at lunchtime, and responding to a current news event an hour later. 

This dynamic capacity is why 80% of consumers find DOOH ads on digital billboards more engaging than static billboards (WifiTalents).

DOOH is the future of public advertising. Learn how Digital Out of Home differs from static billboards, its dynamic uses, key placements, and market growth.

Digital Out of Home (DOOH) is revolutionizing public space advertising. Discover how this dynamic, data-driven medium delivers real-time, contextually relevant messages, leaving static billboards in the past. Get the key figures.

How it works:

Digital Signage Best Practices - Page 15

A Marketer's Guide To Simple Digital Signage

How it works:

Digital Signage Best Practices - Page 15

How To Get Your Videos, Social Media and Images Onto Any TV Screen

A Marketer's Guide To Simple Digital Signage