The average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds.
The average attention span of a human is less than that - 8.25 seconds - and it continues to decrease each year1.
With attention spans shrinking and thousands of brands competing for visibility, handing out flyers or catalogues to your customers just does not seem like a good idea anymore.
That is where digital signage solutions come in. Platforms like MagicINFO make it easy to grab attention with dynamic, real-time content on bright, eye-catching screens.
The bad news? Implementing MagicINFO does cost some money.
The good news? It is probably way less than you think.
Another good news is that your digital signage return on investment (ROI) will happen faster than you might believe - and we are not running on guesswork here. We have real data to back it up:
Content:
Before we start explaining ROI on your MagicINFO investment, we will first briefly recap the solution. What is MagicINFO - and What Can You Do With It?
If you are using Samsung displays, chances are you have heard of MagicINFO. It is a content and device management platform for digital signage. In short, it helps you keep control of what is playing on your screens - and when, where and how it plays.
1. Manage content remotely
You can upload, schedule and publish content from one place, without needing to be near the screens. This includes images, videos, tickers and even web content.
2. Monitor and control devices
You can check if a screen is online, what it is showing, and control basic settings like volume or power. You can also get alerts if something goes wrong, so you are not the last to know.
3. Smarter scheduling
MagicINFO lets you create complex schedules (think: specific days, times or conditions) without extra tools. This means less manual work and more relevant content, all managed from one interface. With MagicINFO Premium Plus Scheduling service, you could even outsource it. This means that you create and provide the content you want displayed, a dedicated team schedules your content for the specified players, and your digital signage stays fresh and relevant with regular updates.
4. Grouping and tagging
You can group screens and tag content to keep things organised. This is especially helpful if you are managing many displays across various locations.
5. Real-time data integration (DataLink)
Want to show live KPIs, weather or pricing? MagicINFO can pull in external data so your screens update automatically - no need to edit content each time.
6. Playback reporting
Need proof that something played? MagicINFO tracks it. Useful for campaigns, compliance, and making sure things run as planned.
Whether you are working in retail, corporate, education or hospitality, MagicINFO gives you the tools to manage your signage with less effort and more control. It can run on the cloud or be installed on-premises. Some versions have fewer functionalities than others, but the MagicINFO Premium Cloud has everything that any big or small business needs, and everything that you can probably think of.
Now, let us dive deeper into what happens after you invest in MagicINFO, and how you can justify that investment.
The basic ROI formula helps us understand the potential profitability of any investment, and you will need that if you spend some money on digital signage solutions. Here is our detailed analysis.
We know that plans and budgets usually do not go according to the Excel sheet but it is still better to be prepared. Here is a breakdown of the costs you can expect when implementing a MagicINFO digital signage solution:
These initial costs are required to get the system up and running:
1. Hardware Procurement & Installation
Digital display screens, mounts and installation services - depending on screen size, type (indoor/outdoor) and quantity.
2. MagicINFO Software Licensing
Initial purchase or subscription to MagicINFO software, depending on features and subscription tiers. For on-premise installations, you can use a limited number of free Lite licenses.
3. Cloud Hosting or On-Premise Setup
Hosting fees if you choose Cloud Hosting, or local server infrastructure if you opt for On-Premise Setup.
4. Content Creation Setup
Design of templates, multimedia assets and campaigns. If you have an in-house marketing team and designers, this cost will be far lower than hiring external collaborators.
5. Training & Talent Acquisition
Depending on your current setup, you might need new staff or initial training for your existing team.
These are recurring costs required to maintain the system:
1. Software Subscription Fees (for Cloud)
Yearly subscription fees for the MagicINFO cloud solutions.
2. Maintenance & Technical Support
Routine hardware & software maintenance.
3. Energy Consumption
Electricity for running displays.
4. Insurance (Optional)
While not mandatory, insurance might be wise in case screens get damaged.
Why would you take on all these costs when you can stick to the “good, old” print? Well, it no longer grabs attention or allows for fast updates - leading to lost revenue.
Here is something that sounds counterintuitive. Digital signage is actually cheaper than traditional print in the long run.
While upfront costs are higher, it eliminates recurring print and distribution costs. Displays are durable and long-lasting. Costs like electricity and CMS subscriptions are often lower than the recurring costs of printed materials. And: updates can be made remotely in real-time, saving labour and logistics, and enabling real-time communication with your customers.
We have covered cost - now let’s talk profit and how to maximise digital signage ROI.
1. Goals, targets, desired outcomes. Yes: set clear objectives.
Define your primary, secondary and other business objectives. Whether it is increasing sales, improving customer experience, or enhancing brand awareness, set measurable goals. Test, iterate and adjust.
2. Trust Data Over Opinions
When you distribute print materials, you are mostly guessing what your customers want. With digital tools, data speaks louder than opinions. MagicINFO provides advanced analytics, offering insights into your customers’ thought processes so you can tailor content to their needs. Personalised content drives engagement – and an engaged customer is a happy customer who buys.
3. Use MagicINFO’s Advanced Features
Use MagicINFO DataLink to update content in real-time based on inventory, weather or customer behaviour.
Track performance, measure engagement and refine strategies. MagicINFO Statistics show content ROI with custom performance reports. Focus on what works.
4. Make Your Content Engaging
Use high-resolution, colourful and interesting images.
Add touchscreens, QR codes or augmented reality (AR) experiences to increase interaction and gather data.
5. Integrate with Omnichannel Marketing
Align your messaging by ensuring consistency and real-time interactivity across all customer touchpoints. Consistency across all platforms improves the customer journey and drives sales.
6. React Quickly with Real-Time Updates
Need to implement urgent changes?
Digital signage lets you make updates in minutes - no stress, no panic.
7. Test and Adjust
Regularly test how your system performs and make improvements to maximise digital signage ROI.
8. Reduce Costs Through Centralised Management
Use MagicINFO’s cloud platform to manage displays from one location.
This cuts operational inefficiencies, ensures brand consistency, and lowers maintenance costs.
9. Focus on Scalability
Start small. As you see results, scale up. MagicINFO works for both small businesses and large enterprises.
For digital signage, you can calculate ROI by comparing revenue during the signage campaign to similar periods without it. Subtract the total costs (hardware, software and content) from the revenue increase and divide by total costs:
For example, if a signage campaign generates 10,000 EUR in additional revenue with 4,000 EUR in costs, their ROI calculation would look like this:
We all know that the best-performing brands are those which become a part of customers' identities. While we all love our customers, we also know that for them to love us, we need to give them a seamless customer experience. This means delivering the latest information in real-time – and, if possible, on colourful screens. With just a few clicks, MagicINFO makes sure that the right person gets the right message at the right time.
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