But building sustainable digital communications at scale can be complex, particularly for districts with limited IT staffing. A new partnership between Carousel, which makes software for digital signage, and IT endpoint management company FileWave aims to address this challenge by making device management and digital communications for K-12 schools and higher-education institutions accessible through one platform, according to a recent news release.
Unlike printed posters or bulletin boards, digital signage content — screens used to display information in shared or public spaces, like television monitors in school lobbies, displays outside classrooms or auditoriums, or lunch menus in cafeterias — can be updated remotely and scheduled in advance. Under this partnership, Carousel’s software controls what appears on digital signage, and FileWave manages the devices displaying the content.
“Schools and enterprises are asking for smarter, simpler ways to control their devices and communicate clearly,” Lisa Carter, global vice president of sales at FileWave, said in a public statement. “Our collaboration with Carousel allows customers to unify their device management and digital messaging strategies, delivering both control and communication through solutions they already trust.”
The news release said Carousel’s platform allows districts to create and publish daily announcements, bell schedules and emergency alerts, in addition to sending updates to multiple screens at once. For districts operating multiple schools, those systems can scale to hundreds of devices.
By partnering, the companies propose to reduce the number of tools their clients need in order to centralize oversight of digital displays and simplify updates across campuses.
“By working alongside FileWave, we’re ensuring that digital communications reach the right screens at the right time on secure, well-managed devices ... enabling IT and communications teams to work smarter, faster and more efficiently,” Chris Barma, senior vice president of strategic partnerships at Carousel, said in a public statement.
