Introduction
Yodeck is a digital signage company that started in 2014. It grew from a previous business that focused on digital displays using PCs. Based in Athens, Yodeck now has about 60 employees, with offices in Cyprus and the US, and they serve customers in 135 countries.
The digital signage market is booming and is expected to reach $45 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
The company was founded by CEO Vangelis Mihalopoulos, who is a software engineer with an interest in business, and his co-founder, Dimitris Tsingos.
After seeing a market niche for themselves in digital signage, they developed their first PC-based device. They eventually found success in Greece with a product that was too specialized for widespread use, but this tactic did not work out.
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Key Challenges Faced by Yodeck
Mihalopoulos and his team soon noticed that their early digital signage products faced two major challenges: cost and scalability.
Their existing solution wasn’t appealing enough to grow in the market, and the high production and maintenance costs of a PC-based system made it too expensive for many businesses.
Back then, a lot of companies stored photos and videos on USB drives, which they then linked to desktop or laptop computers to show promotional material.
This approach lacked both security and reliability. USB devices require manual updates when they get full and are easily modified, hacked, or malfunctioned.
Mihalopoulos recognized the need for a more efficient approach, one that could send content to devices automatically, delivering a consistent message across several screens and locations.
His goal was to create a service that could easily manage multiple displays.
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How Yodeck Developed an Innovative Solution
Yodeck took a smart approach by starting with screens. They teamed up with a startup called Flipnode in San Francisco to create an easy-to-use interface for their cloud-based service.
They quickly realized that the Raspberry Pi would be the perfect hardware for their digital signage solution. It allowed them to build an affordable yet powerful platform.
To make this happen, Yodeck created a Python-based application that worked with Raspberry Pi, handling everything from playing content and scheduling to managing devices and other important features.
Mihalopoulos remembers that moment well, saying, “We actually built the business after we saw Raspberry Pi. We were inspired by the power and flexibility of Raspberry Pi, and we decided that it was a perfect match for what we were considering.
We realized it would be a great opportunity for the global market.” The goal was clear: to offer a managed digital signage service for all types of customers, from large companies to small local shops.
Yodeck wanted to do this reliably and cost-effectively, making sure they didn’t have to give up on performance. With Raspberry Pi at the center of their solution, Yodeck aimed to change how digital signage was used and managed all over the world.
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Why Yodeck Chose Raspberry Pi?
Yodeck chose Raspberry Pi for several excellent reasons. First, it is inexpensive, powerful, and dependable, which makes it an ideal fit for their requirements. Raspberry Pi provides great quality in a tiny package, which is critical for digital signage, and it is widely available worldwide, which aligns with Yodeck's international expansion objectives.
A big part of Yodeck's success is being able to provide remote support and troubleshooting for their digital signage displays. Raspberry Pi’s Linux operating system allows easy access to the code, which means Yodeck can monitor each device’s screen status and hardware health remotely.
Mihalopoulos shared that from the start, they wanted to create a service that was easy to use and affordable. They even have a dedicated team of five working on software specifically for Raspberry Pi.
Another important reason for Yodeck’s growth is that they sell a product based on a well-known and respected single-board computer that customers can easily find in their own countries. For instance, Yodeck has around 2,000 business customers in South Africa, which shows how effective their approach has been in reaching international markets.
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Key Outcomes and Achievements
Customers appreciate using Yodeck's content management system to create playlists and screen layouts using photographs, drawings, and movies that they submit. They can schedule playback and update layouts and messaging all from an online dashboard.
Even if there's no internet, they can play content locally from an SD card. This flexible model has proven resilient during tough times, like the global pandemic and economic downturns, as well as changes in how people consume digital content.
Yodeck offers various hardware options. Many long-term customers start with a single, free-to-use installation and then add more screens as their needs grow. They offer the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with a 16GB SD card and an Argon40 Neo case for free with a year-long subscription.
However, Yodeck supports all models of Raspberry Pi, including NEC displays fitted with Raspberry Pi Compute Modules. Approved resellers can purchase Raspberry Pi hardware locally and assemble Yodeck Players themselves, adding to the flexibility of not needing specialized hardware.
The performance improvements of Raspberry Pi have allowed Yodeck to enhance its offerings. They began development in 2014 with the Raspberry Pi 1 Model B and launched in 2016 using the more powerful Raspberry Pi 2.
"Performance has steadily increased, allowing us to build more complex features, thus growing along with Raspberry Pi," Mihalopoulos says. Key factors driving Yodeck's enthusiasm for Raspberry Pi include its backwards compatibility, active community, and excellent software support.
Mihalopoulos highlights Raspberry Pi’s "amazing balance between computing/graphics power and total cost." By late 2022, Yodeck had shipped nearly 50,000 Raspberry Pi-based units, with a remarkably low failure rate. They have 80,000 active units in 135 countries and have experienced only "a handful" of returns.
This reliability is reflected in Yodeck’s story: while other companies faced cutbacks, Yodeck's affordable, modular payment model kept most customers from canceling their service during the pandemic.
Those who did take a break quickly returned, recognizing the value and on-demand updates that Yodeck provided. Retail and healthcare are significant areas for growth in digital signage, and Mihalopoulos sees opportunities to explore AI and customized messaging—like sharing information about childcare and pediatric health in waiting areas.
With a rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 660 online reviews, Mihalopoulos proudly states, "Our customers love us. We absolutely love the Raspberry Pi."
Source: “Yodeck” https://www.raspberrypi.com/success-stories/yodeck/ Raspberry Pi, Accessed 27 September 2024.
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Conclusion
Yodeck’s story with Raspberry Pi shows how smart decisions can lead to big success in a growing industry. By using Raspberry Pi’s power and affordability, they created a great digital signage solution for all kinds of customers around the world.
Their focus on making things easy to use and reliable has helped them grow and keep their customers happy.
As Yodeck looks to the future and explores new ideas like AI and personalized messaging, they are well-positioned to keep succeeding in the digital signage market. This shows that with the right tools and a clear plan, even a small company can do well in a big market!
