A Scary Tale of the Headless CMS

Once upon a time in a dark digital signage network, there was a terrifying system where you could only deploy content locally … AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Don’t be scared, while that scary local CMS used to be the norm for web development, YCD’s headless CMS software solutions are now in demand because of their greater flexibility and scalability.

What is a Headless CMS?

You may think that this is a Halloween character, the “Headless Horseman”. But of course, it is not. A “headless” CMS is any type of back-end content management system where the content or information is kept and created or called the “body,” is separated or decoupled from the presentation layer or the “head”. It essentially means that you can manage content in one location and deploy that content across any front end you choose.

A headless CMS gives you the freedom to choose which heads or outputs your material is sent to, which may seem a little unusual at first. The point is not that you don’t want or need a head, but you can choose the way you integrate your content into any system, piece of software, or website by simply contacting the APIs of a headless CMS.

The Cnario Difference

Legends tell of a digital signage platform called Cnario that enables creation, management, monitoring and control of digital signage networks through easy-to-follow workflows all at a low total cost of ownership.

Here’s another spooky notion… what if you could set up your digital signage platform once – then forget it? With Cnario, that’s completely possible. We like to say that Cnario has a lot of abilities – flexibility, capabilities, adaptability, and possibilities. The choice is yours with Cnario – go “headless”, or opt for a more traditional CMS, or a combination of both. You choose!

Myth, Legend, and Lore

This may sound melancholy, but the legend of the headless horseman represents a past that never dies, but always haunts the living. Cnario is similar in that your directory of assets never dies, but continues to haunt people, but only in the best way possible.

It’s shocking to think that you could set up the Cnario digital signage platform to update content without any human interactions. Cnario is highly intuitive and can generate RSS feeds based on presets.

In addition to enhancing the digital signage experience, the headless-CMS can also streamline and automate a lot of the backend work, from uploading, scheduling, tagging, deploying and more, making the solution more scalable, stable, and reliable.

Deliver powerful customer experiences built in today’s interactive platforms – HTML5, WebGL and more. Utilize the Cnario visualization engine to display generative and responsive content in real time across multiple displays, and in locations around the globe. With the Cnario API you can integrate with external data sources as well.

Wicked Imaginations

Building memorable experiences is simple using Cnario. Museum interactives, transportation hubs, enterprise installations, higher education facilities, themed entertainment venues, retail banking, and more, are looking for ways to improve their experiences with content. Cnario allows for triggered events to transpire when activated.

Imagine an interactive museum exhibit that when motion is sensed it plays and audio and/or video content. Or what if you want to engage the lighting to change or enhance the experience? Yes, Cnario can do that too! Triggered events and using beacons for interactives is all part of the show control provided by Cnario. Let your wicked imagination run wild!

The Disruptive Benefits of a headless CMS

• Headless CMS is faster, easier, and more flexible. It is API driven where you can build your “head” or presentation layer end to end.
• Cnario is cost-effective. Operational costs are lower because the system is automated eliminating the day-to-day work. You can start with smaller solutions and then scale up rather than starting with one BIG install, which lowers your upfront costs as well. You can start modestly and then scale up as necessary.
• Helps measure the effectiveness of digital installations. Using a CMS allows any installation to be measured to gauge its effectiveness among its audience with powerful analytics.

The Moral of the legendary YCD Multimedia

Don’t be afraid of controlling your content, with over 20 years of combined leadership experience in the digital signage industry and a diverse partner network, we can provide you with the best solution for all your multimedia requirements. No matter how big or small your project, we can find the best solutions.