BUSINESS CHALLENGE
You find them in public spaces and private locations – from airports, train stations, museums and stadiums to malls, hotels, restaurants and corporate buildings. Today, digital signage is transforming how we see, process, and update information such as advertising, weather data and traffic advisories.
According to David Leighton, president and CEO of LEIGHTRONIX, digital signage continues to evolve in sophistication, features, and capabilities. “Connectivity is the key,” he said. “Years ago, when a company had digital signs in remote locations, they’d have to mail out USB drives to update the signs. Of course, one problem is that they required an operator to plug the drive in and manually update the sign information. About half the time, those updates weren’t applied in a timely manner – or at all. And another issue is that those USB updates were sent in a completely insecure way, which presents particular risks in certain market segments.”
Innovation was critical. Efficient management of digital signage required connectivity, and with Ethernet or Wi-Fi network connections available at most locations, centralized management became a reality. Using a network connection, sign owners could efficiently update and manage those remote signs from a centralized location. Unfortunately, that connectivity presented a new set of challenges. “In certain locations, companies, and industries, there are some significant barriers,” Leighton explained. “For instance, retailers need to comply with the PCI (Payment Card Interface) standard, which restricts the traffic they allow onto their networks. Others simply have a policy of not allowing any outside traffic on their Wi-Fi networks. That meant we had to find a way to create our own private network to update and manage signage.”
SOLUTION
Needing easy, reliable, and affordable connectivity, LEIGHTRONIX initially used Digi for cellular routers to provide cost-optimized 4G LTE connections. From there, the company expanded its offerings to feature connectivity driven by the Digi XBee solution. Digi XBee modules accelerate time to market for designers, OEMs, and solution providers by quickly enabling wireless connectivity and easy-to-add functionality.
Building on industry-leading technology, pre-certified Digi XBee modules offer the flexibility to switch between multiple frequencies and wireless protocols as needed. Ideal for moderate bandwidth and low-cost IoT applications, Digi XBee Cellular modules are cost-competitive with legacy 2G/3G standard devices. What’s more, Digi XBee Cellular modules are integrated with Digi Remote Manager®, for easy configuration and control from a simple, central platform.
“Working with Digi has been great because both our companies share the same core values,” Leighton said. “We both treat our customers the way we want to be treated. Every time we engage with Digi, we get answers. They’re very responsive to us and we get what we need. What more could you ask for?”
RESULTS
With the Digi XBee Cellular modules embedded in its digital signs, LEIGHTRONIX can offer a drop-in, end-to-end solution to customers that provides fast, cost-effective cellular updates with complete sign manageability. “The Digi-powered connectivity means our signage is a bidirectional solution,” said Leighton. “We’re gathering data that we’ve never previously seen so we can manage and maintain equipment better and prevent downtime.
“We’ve found that Digi is very cost-competitive. We did our due diligence and explored other solutions. From the reliable products to the responsive service, Digi is bringing tremendous value to our solutions.”