Barcelona | At ISE, Samsung introduced version 3.0 of its digital signage platform, VXT. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, development has advanced further. The retail and QSR management platform, Cielo, is integrating VXT into its AI-powered system, which combines ERP and retail analytics with digital signage.
A modern software architecture, native AI integration, and a world-famous brand – this is Samsung’s formula for expanding digital signage into new industries and customer groups, as Samsung’s Alex Lee explained to invidis. He is the mastermind behind the VXT digital signage solution. While his team unveiled version 3.0 of the platform at ISE in Barcelona, they also introduced another vertical solution partner at the same time.
Cielo, a US provider of AI retail management platforms for franchise businesses, is integrating Samsung VXT into its solution to add digital signage and retail media features. VXT is not only technically integrated into Cielo’s platform but also included in Cielo’s subscription offer, allowing access to all services for a single monthly fee.
Digital signage, such as price displays based on in-store product availability, dayparting campaigns tailored to live target groups, or information displays driven by retail analytics, relies on reliable real-time data from the management system to be effective.
Franchise operations, in particular, rely on menu boards, order kiosks, and drive-thru displays—all of which require real-time data to function. As a leading provider of a management platform that streamlines franchise store operations and marketing automation, Cielo combines ERP with experience management to deliver this valuable data from a single source.
Digital Signage as a Service (DaaS)
As part of its strategic alliance with Samsung, Cielo is launching the Digital Signage as a Service (DaaS) solution, Cielo Smartsigns. This solution, built on Samsung VXT, integrates Samsung’s digital signage technology with Cielo Vision’s KYAI (Know Your Audience Intelligence) for real-time analysis and AI-controlled advertising. Cielo uses computer vision and AI to analyze consumer sentiment, dwell time, and behavior patterns, enabling hyper-targeted advertising campaigns with measurable ROI. Additionally, the tools support staff compliance—features that are generally not permitted in the EU due to data protection regulations.
The centerpiece of this partnership is Cielo Smartsigns Pro, starting at USD 199 per month per display. It includes an AI camera, a VXT Pro license, access to the AI platform, marketing credits, and remote device management. This plug-and-play solution covers the deployment, management, and support of digital signage ecosystems with no upfront costs. It is designed for retailers, QSR operators, and their managed service providers.
invidis comments by Florian Rotberg
The digital signage industry should pay close attention to this new partnership, as it could serve as a blueprint for the future of the sector. It involves deep integration of CMS into established management and marketing/experience platforms—not only technically but also commercially, through a single subscription fee. Customers receive digital signage as a service as part of a vertical solution, with a fixed monthly price, with or without hardware (if they already have it).
The success of certain digital signage providers such as Telelogos (manufacturing) or Heinekingmedia (school planning) lies in the close integration into business critical management platforms. But DaaS goes one step further: digital signage and management platform service are bundled into one price and offered as a monthly service.
Large digital signage integrators and software providers such as Stratacache, Vertiseit (Grassfish, Visualart and Dise), M-Cube, but also Uniguest or Moodmedia consider themselves big enough to offer their own DaaS solutions. But the system integrators are likely too small and lack the necessary credit rating to handle full managed signage subscriptions, including hardware, for hundreds of clients.
It remains to be seen whether current pure-play companies can grow fast enough to meet this demand, or if only very large integrators with billions in revenue, such as Samsung, Econocom, and Diversified, will be able to offer DaaS on a large scale.
For most system integrators and CMS providers, cooperation with industry platforms will be the only realistic option. But this requires an extremely good understanding of the vertical market and the right partner.
For invidis, 2025 is the year of managed signage and AI – managed services, signage as a service in combination with industry-specific AI solutions. Our top topic for DSS Europe 2025 (21-23 May) and our yearbook.
