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Digital Signage

What is digital signage?

Everything you need to know about digital signage, also known as narrowcasting: what it is, how it works, and how to use it effectively.

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The basics

Definition of digital signage

Digital signage is a powerful way to inform and activate a specific target audience. With digital displays and digital signage software like Lumicast, you can easily show relevant content to the right people. In Dutch, the practice is usually called narrowcasting.

Broadcasting targets a broad audience (think TV and radio). Digital signage and narrowcasting serve a specific audience with tailored content, which makes them ideal for internal communication, customer experience, and marketing.

Why digital signage

The benefits of digital signage

A poster gets printed once and ages from day one. A display is never finished: it grabs attention with motion, stays current, and serves a different purpose at nine in the morning than at five in the afternoon.

And because the software does the managing, one person can keep dozens of displays across multiple locations up to date without leaving their desk.

  • Grabs attention: moving content gets noticed where static posters are ignored.
  • Always up to date: change content in seconds, no printing and no USB sticks.
  • Centrally managed: control every display in every location from one place.
  • One display, many purposes: rotate news, promotions, and practical information.
  • Live content: data, schedules, and feeds update themselves.
  • Professional appearance: a polished first impression for visitors and staff.
Applications

Where digital signage works

Digital signage is used in many sectors. From waiting rooms to retail stores: wherever targeted communication is needed, narrowcasting offers a solution.

A reception lobby, a typical location for digital signage displays

Healthcare

  • Display important health information
  • Give staff real-time updates
  • Use digital wayfinding

Retail

  • Create urgency and increase revenue
  • Improve customer experience
  • Manage displays across multiple locations

Transport & Logistics

  • Show current departure and arrival times
  • Motivate employees with internal updates
  • Give travellers real-time traffic and weather information

Education

  • Display school schedules (e.g. via Zermelo)
  • Share news and events
  • Use digital boards during open days
Zermelo on displays →
Content

What do you show on the displays?

Anything your audience needs to see, in any mix. These are the things our customers put on their displays every day:

Menus & price listsWelcome messagesKPI dashboardsWayfindingSchedule changesNews tickersWeatherSocial media wallsJob openingsSafety instructionsEvents & announcementsProduct promotions

Most of it updates itself: apps and datasources pull live information straight onto your displays, so nobody has to maintain it by hand.

Software

Digital signage software: how does it work?

Good digital signage software offers flexibility in content and management. With Lumicast you can:

Photos & videos

Upload photos and videos to your content library and show them on your displays for visual impact.

Apps & integrations

Integrate apps, like social media feeds, to show existing content directly on your displays.

Websites

Embed websites to show real-time information from external sources.

Dynamic pages

Create dynamic pages with Lumicast’s intuitive drag-and-drop page editor. Always live, no preview step.

The Lumicast page editor

The Lumicast page editor: drag, drop, and what you see is live on your displays.

Technical

The technical side, kept simple

Choosing the right hardware

Digital signage works with two components: the software (like Lumicast) and the hardware, meaning the display plus a player. You can choose from:

  • SoC displays (like Samsung and LG): cheaper and easy to install, the player is built into the display.
  • External players (e.g. a Raspberry Pi or Windows PC): more powerful and flexible.

Installing the software

  1. 1 Download the Lumicast Player
  2. 2 Enter the pairing code via the web app
  3. 3 Manage and schedule your content remotely
Get the player for your platform →
Costs

What does digital signage cost?

Two cost components: hardware (one-time) and software (monthly). Both are smaller than most people expect, especially if you already have displays hanging.

Hardware one-time
  • You already have a display? Add a Raspberry Pi for about €70 and it becomes a signage display.
  • Buying new? A SoC display (Samsung, LG) has the player built in, so there's nothing extra to buy or mount.
  • Something in between? Any spare Windows, Mac, Linux or Android device can be the player.
Software per month
€17/mo per display

Every plan includes the full platform: unlimited storage, scheduling, the page editor, and remote fleet management. Start free, upgrade when your network grows.

See full pricing →
Step-by-step

Getting started with digital signage

From nothing to content on a display in four steps.

1

Create a free account

Sign up at app.lumicast.com. No payment details required.

2

Connect a display

Install the Lumicast Player on your display or player device and enter the pairing code.

3

Add your content

Upload media, connect apps, embed websites, or build pages in the editor.

4

Schedule and go live

Put content in playlists and campaigns. Changes appear on your displays instantly.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Talk to our team →
What is the difference between digital signage and narrowcasting?
They largely overlap. Digital signage refers to the displays and the technology behind them, while narrowcasting (the common term in the Netherlands) emphasises communicating a targeted message to a specific audience through those displays.
What does digital signage software cost?
Lumicast is priced per display, starting at €17 per display per month, and you can start free without payment details. See the pricing page for the full comparison.
What hardware do I need?
Any modern display works. Use a SoC display (Samsung, LG) with the player built in, or pair an existing display with an external player like a Raspberry Pi. The Lumicast Player runs on all major platforms.
Can I show live data, news, or schedules?
Yes. Apps and datasources pull in live content automatically: news, weather, social media, dashboards, and school schedules via Zermelo.
Does digital signage need a permanent internet connection?
No. Displays cache their content locally and keep playing while offline. You only need a connection to push new content, and displays sync automatically the moment they reconnect.
Can I use displays in portrait mode?
Yes. Mount the display vertically and set the orientation in Lumicast; content and pages adapt to the portrait format. Useful for menus, wayfinding, and posters.
How long does it take to set up?
Minutes, not days. Create a free account, install the player on your display or device, enter the pairing code, and publish your first content. No technical knowledge needed.
Can I manage displays across multiple locations?
Yes, that's exactly what digital signage software is for. Group displays per location or purpose, update them all from one place, and see the status of your whole fleet at a glance.

Start with digital signage today

Internal communication, marketing, or customer experience: Lumicast has everything you need to run your displays.

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