Real time digital signage content: What is it & 5 best examples

What would you like to read— newspaper that brings you today’s or yesterday’s news or one that informs on something that happened a week ago?

Fresh content, right?

That’s exactly what you should strive to deliver on your commercial screens as well. Nobody likes stale, monotonous “Monologues” from a digital tool.

That’s where live content comes in.

What is meant by real-time digital signage content?

Real-time or live content on digital signage means that the viewers can see, hear and experience something as it happens, without any delay between the time of occurrence and the time of transmission.

Examples of live media include showing the current weather or the time on a digital signage display or streaming live events like sports matches on giant billboards inside the stadium.

Real-time content works by continuously updating the screen content in the background. Often, multiple sources generate and update this content, creating a dynamic, constantly evolving stream of information.

Interactive content is also an example of live content. For instance, we frequently see digital information booths at museums, art galleries, airports, and libraries.

This form of content is made possible through digital signage content automation, which enables the system to fetch and display real-time data from multiple sources – APIs, sensors, databases, or live feeds, without manual input. Real-time signage powered by automation keeps content fresh, contextual, and responsive to audience needs.

5 best examples of live digital signage content

With the demand for broadcast streaming on the rise, real-time signage is becoming indispensable for brands aiming to connect meaningfully with their audience. One of the most effective ways to boost engagement is by showcasing dynamic digital signage content that offers both value and immediacy.

Here are seven examples of live content businesses can display on digital screens to captivate audiences and enhance the viewing experience:

1. Live audio-visual streaming

Streaming live videos on digital signage requires components such as:

• A streaming platform: The streaming platform is the source of your content. If you live-stream a virtual Zoom call on your meeting room digital signage, then Zoom is the streaming platform.

• A digital signage content management system: The digital signage CMS helps you publish the content to your screens. Most cloud based digital signage software will have one or more apps and streaming platform integrations. For example, Pickcel’s live-streaming app lets you quickly publish real-time streams using just the source URL.

• A strong internet connection: Pre-baked images and videos, once downloaded locally, can continue the uninterrupted playback. But for a steady live transmission, each frame must be downloaded continuously and rapidly. That is only possible if the internet connectivity is robust.

With Pickcel’s all-in-one digital signage software solution, you can show live videos, virtual calls, real-time business dashboards & more on your signage screens.

You can sign up for a free trial (no, we don’t ask for any credit card details) and start publishing any form of live or static content on your LCD, LED, or tablet screens.

Alternatively, you can get into quick call with one of our experts to learn how Pickcel makes your life easier!

2. Live social media walls

Many platforms like Pickcel’s social wall app (free with the Pickcel CMS), Taggbox, and Walls.io allow you to create social media walls. Social walls are digital signage screens displaying live feeds from social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. These are great tools that connect your online presence to your offline audience.

Off late, many retail stores and shopping malls are deploying live social media walls for on-premise retailtainment.

3. Live dashboards

One of the biggest perks of using digital signage software is that it can be integrated with an organization’s internal tools, such as CRMs, ERPs, HRMS, and other KPI tracking & business intelligence platforms.

That means real-time business information like the number of leads, sales closed, project progress, customer insights, etc., can be brought directly to the screens.

Live dashboards are fantastic as they help boost the workforce’s productivity and make information sharing easier.

If real-time dashboards are part of your digital signage strategy, you must ensure your software vendor has adequate capabilities for delivering API integrations.

4. Live traffic update signage

Digital signage screens showing live traffic updates or conveyance arrival or departure are an everyday sight at bus stops, airports, and subways. A familiar example is a flight information display system (FIDs) at any airport. Showing such real time traffic updates is essential in certain industries.

But even in sectors such as the corporate or hospitality sector, showing live traffic on the lobby screens, near the exit gates, or in the parking lots can serve an excellent experience for the visitors and employees.

Instead of showing irrelevant and unwelcome promotional stuff, showing live google traffic maps of the area and the vicinities will actually help people plan their departures.

5. Live weather & clock

The need to check the weather and time…well, that’s like an everyday thing.

Nowadays, these two widgets are available on every tech gadget― televisions, mobile phones, PCs, and whatnot! So, why should your digital signage be any exception?

Live weather and a ticking clock are the most basic examples of infotainment. And the best part is that you can have these widgets on the peripherals of your screen even when running other primary content like presentations, promotions, or audio-visual entertainment.

In fact, it might surprise you that of all the apps in the Pickcel app store, the simple live weather and the world clock app are the most popular among our users.

Parting Words

In today’s fast-paced world, real-time content is crucial for businesses to communicate relevant, timely, and engaging information to their audiences. Besides, live content enables organizations to align their digital communications to the latest digital signage trends and events.