Ulster University Modernises Digital Signage with NowSignage’s Advanced Solutions
Background
Ulster University is a complex and large Higher Education institution based in Northern Ireland. It maintains a dual focus on research and teaching while actively driving exemplary social mobility and civic engagement. Ulster University’s highly secure signage system is used across their multi-campus estate, including within lecture theatres, university halls, libraries, gyms, receptions, and cafes. Broadcasting advertisements, cultural information and events using landscape and portrait video and stills across dozens of screens using the NowSignage CMS platform.
Challenges
The university faced significant challenges with its incumbent digital signage system, which operated across three campuses, including the need for frequent manual resets of multiple Android media players and signage systems. This led to inefficiencies and dissatisfaction among university staff and students and unreliability. Legacy technical debt and concerns around Cyber Security prompted the Digital Services team to seek an alternative solution.
Project
Audio Visual and Unified Communication solutions experts Pure AV secured the tender for providing technologies at Ulster University, recommending NowSignage’s digital signage CMS. Security, service quality and reliability were identified as key factors in the selection process. NowSignage and Amino offered a simple but flexible set of products to meet the technical requirements and their reputation for security, quality and remote management provided Ulster University the confidence that the solution was the right fit for deployment within their new flagship campus in Belfast, and campuses in Derry~Londonderry, and Coleraine. After successful on-site demos Ulster University selected Amino’s H200 media players running the NowSignage Android Application.
The Deployment Included;
// Cloud-based content management via the NowSignage CMS
// Amino H200 Media Players for digital signage playback
// Orchestrate Cloud-Based Remote Management Platform
Implementation
The implementation process was fast and seamless, facilitated by direct collaboration with the NowSignage technical support team. Extensive demos and training sessions were provided to the university’s team, ensuring they were well-equipped to manage the new system. The ‘exemplary support team’ played a crucial role, offering prompt responses and remotely registering devices via Orchestrate and NowSignage to streamline the installation.
Results
Post-installation, the reliability of the digital signage system improved dramatically. Outages, which were previously a frequent occurrence, were virtually eliminated and easily monitored through the NowSignage dashboard. The remote management capabilities allowed for efficient support across all three campuses, reducing the need for dedicated on-site technical staff.
Key Benefits
// Live Timetabling & Real-Time Updates: NowSignage displays live timetables across lecture theatres and study spaces ensuring students and staff always have access to up-to-date room availability, class schedules, and last-minute changes.
// Enhanced Engagement in Sporting Facilities: Screens in university gyms and sports halls display class schedules, event promotions, and updates on fixtures and results.
// Centralised Campus Communication: The cloud-based CMS allows administrators to update digital signage across multiple campuses instantly, ensuring content reaches the right audiences.
// Enhanced Security: NowSignage provides a stable, cyber-secure platform with automated updates and remote management, reducing IT workload and ensuring screens remain operational without the risk of outages or security vulnerabilities
Customer Feedback
The university valued the direct access to NowSignage’s technical support team, which provided reassurance and confidence in the solution. The ability to test the system with demo hardware before purchase was particularly appreciated. The technical expertise and responsive support were highlighted as key factors in the project’s success.
Norman Blair, Project Manager and Head of Digital Services, Greater Belfast Development Programme Said;
“It’s massively flexible. In fact, it is so multi-functional and easy to use, the university is considering how else to use NowSignage and Amino’s technology for marketing and event support. It’s been a real gamechanger for us. Once you start using it you think, ‘Oh, I wonder if it can do that?’ And you know what, it probably can!”
Conclusion
Ulster University modernised its digital signage infrastructure by selecting NowSignage as its content management platform, ensuring a reliable and scalable solution for campus-wide communication. The deployment has demonstrated the strength of NowSignage’s intuitive and flexible CMS, allowing seamless content management across multiple locations. With growing interest from administrative and teaching departments, the university plans to expand its digital signage network further.
Rowan Brunger, Sales Director, Amino said;
“This higher education deployment shows that our customers value the adaptability, security and manageability of Amino/NowSignage solutions; these are fundamental to our products. The first phase replaced players in Ulster University’s campus totems, but they were so satisfied with the quality and service, that they have standardised on this solution for new digital signage deployments, enabled by the adaptability of our products. We are looking forward to helping them expand this technology across the campuses.”
Rebecca Benson, Customer Success Manager, NowSignage said
“Ulster University’s adoption of NowSignage has transformed the way they communicate across campus, delivering real-time updates, engaging content, and critical information to students and staff with ease. The flexibility of our platform has not only streamlined digital signage management but also unlocked new opportunities for enhancing the student experience. We’re excited to support the university as they continue expanding their network and exploring innovative new use cases.”
Download PDF: https://cdn.nowsignage.com/docs/marketing/case-studies/NowSignage_CaseStudy_UlsterUniversity.pdf