When organisations deploy digital screens in schools stores hospitals or offices they often lump together terms like digital signage software and digital signage CMS But there is a meaningful distinction Understanding it helps you choose wisely and avoid spending on a solution that does not meet your real needs Below we will unpack what each term typically means how they overlap and why for a provider like Rise Vision it matters that you get this right
What we mean by digital signage software
Digital signage software is a broad term At heart it refers to the tools that enable your screens to show content That includes scheduling distributing content remote digital signage display management hardware integration and networked device control On the Rise Vision site you’ll find their software handles a network of displays and media players or just a single display if your use case is modest (risevision.com)
In other words the software is the whole system that makes your screens work
What we mean by digital signage CMS
CMS stands for Content Management System In the context of digital signage a CMS is focused more on the content side creating managing storing scheduling grouping screens user permissions for content analytics and display of what is happening (risevision.com)
It deals with what is shown where and when more than how the display hardware network is managed end to end
So what is the difference
In short
- Digital signage software = the full system (hardware playback remote management content network) needed to run digital signage — essentially, all the digital signage system components that make displays function smoothly.
- Digital signage CMS = the component of that system specialising in the content workflow creation approval scheduling distribution of content across screens
One vendor puts it this way “digital signage software focuses on display and scheduling whereas a CMS is valuable for content creation and organisation” In the case of Rise Vision they present their platform as both a software solution and a content management system (risevision.com)
Why the difference matters
Yes the difference may sound academic and many vendors blur the lines But being clear matters for three main reasons
1. Proper procurement and budgeting
If you think you just need a CMS (for content creation) but you really need full software (to manage screens network remote updates) you will underestimate costs and complexity For example hardware integration and remote device support go beyond typical CMS features On the Rise Vision site they list features like hardware compatibility and control of media players (risevision.com)
Conversely if you already have a system managing hardware and devices you might only need a CMS layer
2. Scalability and network size
If your display network is small say a single store or one campus you might need only basic content posting But if you have dozens or hundreds of screens across locations you need full software that handles players updates scheduling analytics and fault-management The CMS alone might struggle (risevision.com)
The size of your horizon matters
3. Content workflow and roles
Content creation approval scheduling across regions or departments benefits from a strong CMS If your organisation has multiple users (marketing local branches store managers) with different roles CMS features (permissions templates dashboards) become critical That is distinct from the player/display side Rise Vision lists access controls and user-permissions (risevision.com)
How they overlap yes don’t get confused
Even though there is a difference in practice many digital signage solutions bundle both In fact a software offering often includes a CMS module Some CMS platforms may also include player or network management functions So it’s common to use them together rather than treating them as completely separate modules
In the case of Rise Vision you’re actually using a platform that combines content management scheduling and display network control (risevision.com)
Real-World Snapshot: Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 (Illinois) Raises the Bar
In this case study Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 (34 sites over 26 000 students) turned to Rise Vision to streamline communication across their campuses (risevision.com)
Technology Director Brian Grinstead needed a digital signage solution that didn’t burden his team yet could reach students effectively Rise Vision was selected for its ease of deployment and cost-effectiveness (risevision.com)
The district placed screens in key zones—entrances, hallways, locker banks—and used Rise Vision’s platform integrated with LED TVs and Chromeboxes Each school crafted its own messages (clubs, athletics, fine arts, announcements) while leveraging the central system (risevision.com)
Deployment was swift: one site had 25 TVs configured within an hour The template library of 550+ designs saved time on content creation letting schools focus on engagement rather than design from scratch (risevision.com)
This example shows that if you’re evaluating whether you just need content management (CMS) or full network software the “software includes CMS” approach (as with Rise Vision) works well for large distributed environments
How to decide what you need (with Rise Vision in mind)
If you’re evaluating a solution or already using Rise Vision here are questions to ask—helping to map out whether you need just CMS full software or a combination
- How many screens and locations do you manage today and in the next 12-24 months
- How technical is your team do they need an intuitive CMS or can they handle network/player management
- Do you need remote device monitoring error alerts automatic restarts In the Rise Vision case you’ll want to check which of those features are included
- Do you need advanced content workflows multiple users approval paths templated content for different locations
- Do you require real-time updates live feeds data integrations dynamic content
- What hardware and OS are your players using (Tizen WebOS Windows Raspberry Pi etc) Rise Vision supports multiple device types (risevision.com)
- What level of analytics do you need screen uptime content performance locale comparisons
If the answer tends toward many screens multiple locations live updates hardware heterogeneity you’re looking beyond just a CMS Rise Vision is well-positioned for such needs because it offers a full digital signage system built for networks You’ll want to check how much of the “software” vs “CMS” is included in your licence
Examples What a CMS will do vs what full software will do
Whether you’re managing one screen in a storefront or hundreds across multiple sites, understanding the difference between the content-side of digital signage and the system that drives it matters. The table below breaks down what a pure content-management component handles versus what a full digital-signage software suite covers.
CMS tasks
- Uploading videos images for screens across locations
- Setting playlists “From 9 am to 12 pm show this content from 12 to 5 pm a different message”
- Creating user roles “Regional store manager can change menu board in their region but not change global banner”
- Scheduling content to specific screens or groups
- Tracking whether locations’ screens have received the content
- Providing analytics “This message had 80 % play time this one only 30 %”
Full software tasks
- Managing the media player software on each device (Windows Android Tizen) and ensuring compatibility
- Monitoring device health uptime connectivity power status On the Rise Vision enterprise page they talk about monitoring and alerts for offline displays
- Distributing updates to players (software firmware) and screens
- Handling multiple OS/hardware types grouping by location and network segmentation
- Deploying changes remotely across global networks Perhaps rebooting or error recovery Note you’ll want to check with vendor how much of the “rebooting” or “remote error recovery” is included
- Integrating with backend systems (ERP inventory weather feed) for dynamic content Rise Vision supports integrations
The role of Rise Vision in this landscape
Rise Vision offers a cloud-based digital signage platform that supports scalable networks multiple industries content distribution and management If you use Rise Vision you’re looking at a software solution that includes content management as part of the package You therefore don’t need to ask “Do I just need CMS or software” you have an integrated solution The real question becomes how you leverage its capabilities
That means deciding how to structure users what content workflows you implement how you group displays what hardware you deploy and how you scale With Rise Vision you’re positioned to handle larger networks without having to bolt separate CMS and device-management tools
When CMS alone might suffice
If your deployment is modest say a handful of screens in one building showing simple messages you might not need the full power and cost and complexity of full software A CMS-centric system might do the job upload content schedule push to screens done But you’ll want to check whether your CMS supports the device hardware you have remote management and can scale if you expand
Risk of using CMS when you need full software
Misaligned expectations can cause trouble If you think you’re set with a basic CMS but later expand to many screens multiple locations heterogeneous hardware live data feeds you might find limitations no remote device control no health-monitoring no real error recovery limited hardware support That means downtime inconsistent messaging or extra manual overhead
Risk of using software but lacking strong CMS
On the flip side if you pick a digital signage software solution that is strong in hardware and device management but weak in content workflows you’ll see bottlenecks in content creation approval localisation Example thousands of screens each needing region-specific content you’ll struggle without robust CMS functions like templating roles localisation
Summary thoughts
In practice you want both pieces working together the CMS for your team to create schedule and manage content the full digital signage software for your network to deliver that content across screens reliably With Rise Vision you’re working with a solution that offers both sides so you can focus your efforts on content strategy hardware deployment and scaling rather than patching systems together
Choosing between just CMS vs full software isn’t either or it’s about fit Ask the right questions about scale location hardware users workflows Then match those to what your vendor (like Rise Vision) offers
Here’s the revised FAQ section with adjustments based on verifiable facts (yes, I dragged myself out of the code-cave for this):
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the difference between digital signage software and a CMS?
Digital signage software covers the entire system: hardware, media players, network, remote management and content. The CMS (Content Management System) part focuses on content: creation, scheduling, user roles, screen groups. With Rise Vision, both are included in the same platform. (risevision.com)
Q2. Do I need special hardware to use Rise Vision?
No—you don’t need proprietary hardware. Rise Vision supports a wide range of devices and operating systems (Windows, Chrome OS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android). (risevision.com)
However, you should verify specific media player requirements and whether full device-control features are supported with your hardware.
Q3. Can the signage network scale if I start small then grow large?
Yes. Rise Vision claims support both modest setups (single screen) and larger networks. (risevision.com)
If you expect growth in number of screens, locations or complexity (e.g., alerts, user roles), you’ll want to check that your plan supports enterprise features.
Q4. How does pricing work and is there a free trial or free plan?
Rise Vision offers a free version for up to 1 display. (risevision.com)
Publicly listed entry pricing shows “500+ professionally designed templates” and support for any device, but exact monthly cost depends on number of displays and plan. (risevision.com)
Always confirm current pricing and terms—figures you’ve seen may change.
Q5. What types of content can I show and how is it managed?
You can display images, videos, live data feeds (weather, news, spreadsheets) and schedule them using templates. Rise Vision advertises “600+ customizable content templates”. (risevision.com)
Content is created/managed via CMS workflows, and the software handles deployment across your signage network.
Q6. What if I’m only using a couple of screens in one building? Do I still need all the “software” features?
Maybe not. If your use case is simple (few screens, minimal scheduling, basic content), you might be fine with a CMS-centric system.
However, if you plan to scale (more locations, hardware types, multi-user roles, alerts) you should verify network / device management features so you don’t outgrow the system.
Q7. Can this system support emergency alerts or critical communication?
Yes. Rise Vision integrates with third-party emergency alert systems using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to override content and show urgent messages. (help.risevision.com)
You’ll want to check your plan includes the alert features and any required third-party CAP provider.
Q8. What are the main things to look for when selecting a digital signage provider?
Consider: scalability (number of screens/locations), ease of use, hardware flexibility, remote management, content workflows (user permissions, scheduling), analytics, emergency-alert support, and total cost/ROI.
Also check whether the vendor supports non-proprietary hardware and has a free digital solutions or trial plan so you can test without heavy upfront commitment.
