Why Smart TVs are No Substitute for Commercial Displays
For business owners looking to improve their visual presence, a logical solution is to invest in flat screen displays to showcase corporate information or other content. In many situations, especially for bar and restaurant owners, having high-definition screen capabilities is a necessity for attracting and retaining customers. But as a small business owner with a tight budget, you may be tempted to consider purchasing consumer-grade smart TVs for your facility in place of more expensive commercial displays. Although the cost savings can be substantial, the advantages of commercial displays must be considered for use in any professional environment.
Longer Lifespan
One of the primary reasons for choosing a commercial display over a smart TV for your business is the expected lifespan of each display. Consumer televisions are not designed to run around the clock and will often suffer component fails after a few years of usage. This is because most home televisions are used for eight hours per day or less. On the other hand, commercial displays are expected to be capable of being run 24 hours a day and are manufactured to support consistent performance over extended periods of time.
Warranty and Support
Given the expectation of the lifespan for commercial displays, most models will come with extended warranties from the manufacturer. This will ultimately help you as a business owner save money because instead of replacing the display with a new one every few years, repairs will often be covered under the warranty or a separate service contract. Standard consumer TVs typically only come with a limited warranty for one year or less, which may not cover accidental damage or other issues with hardware. By entering into a service agreement with a commercial display manufacturer, business owners can be assured that their displays will be operational for their full expected lifespan.
More Input Options
Consumer televisions are often available at lower prices due to the limited amount of internal components they have. These devices often only allow for one or two HDMI inputs and few other options for connecting external sources. In contrast, commercial displays offer a wealth of ports in various configurations. Business owners can link their displays to computer displays or other video cables that support high-definition output. Some models of commercial displays even include Wi-Fi functionality, so that they can receive streamed content and be managed remotely. For example, this could allow a bar or restaurant owner to control all of their displays from a single piece of software and set up schedules of content that will rotate and update automatically.
High-Performance Materials
By purchasing a commercial-grade display, you as a business owner will be investing in professional materials that are built for long-lasting, high performance. The physical casing of commercial displays is significantly more secure and robust than the typical consumer home television. These commercial devices are designed to be mounted in all sorts of environments and have internal heating and cooling components to be able to withstand different temperatures. The actual screen materials are also substantially stronger than normal TVs, as they have to be able to handle long hours of usage without burnout or other pixel problems.
Whether you are looking to set up new digital menu boards in your restaurant or simply want a place to display company announcements in your office, the smart choice is to invest in a commercial display rather than trusting a consumer television to do the job. Standard TVs will offer an upfront cost saving, but in the long run, a commercial display will benefit you, your employees, and most importantly your customers.
Commercial displays are great for boardrooms and conference rooms. Classrooms, waiting rooms and lobbies, and work perfectly for digital signage applications.
