Traditional Signage vs Digital Signage

Factors

Traditional Signage

Digital Signage

Power

No power, no problem
Unlike a digital signage which requires a power supply to operate, a traditional signage does not. It will continue to advertise your brand and message without any power.
Power is required
Power is required for the digital signage to function.

Reliability

Highly reliable
A traditional signage is very reliable because it doesn’t have multiple moving parts like a digital signage. Once the signage is installed (properly), it will continue to advertise your message until it is taken down.
Multiple moving parts involved
There are a lot of components involved in making sure the digital signage works such as TVs, media players, routers, internet connection, and CMS software. If one of these components breaks down, the digital signage will stop functioning.Here is an example of what goes on behind the scenes for digital signage to operate.

Setup location

Setup anywhere
A traditional signage can be setup anywhere. You can setup a signage at the top of Mt Everest or in the Great Barrier Reef and it will do fine.
Limited setup location
A digital signage can only be setup at a location where there is a power source. However, with the advancement of battery technology and the reduction of its costs, the location where a digital signage can be setup will continue to increase over time.

Upfront cost

Minimal upfront cost
With the advancement of digital printing technology, the prices of any print-related signage have gone down dramatically. As a comparison, a 55″ digital signage screen will cost you approximately $2,200. This is excluding installation, media players, and software licensing fees. A vinyl banner of a similar size will cost you just $100. A digital signage is 22x more expensive than a vinyl banner.
High upfront cost
Here are some rough numbers on the upfront costs of a digital signage:

  • Signage set – $1,000 to $6,000.
  • Media players – $0 to $500.
  • Software licensing fee – $0 to $1,000.
  • Installation – $300 to $1,000.

There are also ongoing and maintenance costs involved in making sure the digital signage works.

Maintenance cost

Little to no maintenance cost
Once the signage is up, it is up and requires little to no maintenance.
Ongoing maintenance costs
There are multiple recurring maintenance costs associated with digital signage such as software licensing fees, electricity costs, maintenance, and repairs. Most customers overlook this cost and do not account for this in their signage budget.

Changing the graphic

Manually change it over
To change the graphic on the signage, someone has to be on-site to change it over. In most cases, an installer is hired to do the job.
Instantly with a few clicks
Changing the graphic on your digital signage requires just a few clicks of a button.

Interactiveness

Limited interactivity
The graphic on the signage is static. There are some creative things you can do with the graphic such as making it look 3D but that’s about it.
High level of interactiveness
You have the option to do almost anything with your digital signage such as adding touch capabilities, video, and audio. You can also add as many graphics to your digital signage as possible. Each digital signage can also be customised to show a unique graphic for that specific location.

Exposure

Dollar for dollar, traditional signage wins
With $2000, you can get a 55″ digital signage screen.

With that same $2000, you can get a 100m mesh banner. Dollar for dollar, traditional signage will grab more attention than digital signage.

Better in an indoor setting
If money isn’t an issue then digital signage of a similar size will grab more attention than traditional signage because of its interactive capabilities. However, in most cases, the budget is always the top or one of the top priorities when it comes to signage.

Summary

Pros of traditional signage

  • No power, no problem
  • Highly reliable
  • Setup anywhere
  • Minimal upfront cost
  • Little to no maintenance cost
  • Dollar for dollar, traditional signage will grab more exposure

Cons of traditional signage

  • Graphics have to be manually changed over
  • Limited interactivity

Pros of digital signage

  • Graphics can be changed instantly with a few clicks
  • High level of interactiveness

Cons of digital signage

  • Power is required
  • Multiple moving parts involved
  • Limited setup location
  • High upfront cost
  • Ongoing maintenance costs
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