These days, more and more companies tend to use dynamic digital signage to engage clients, convey critical information, and make the environment more interactive. However, as the need for digital sign increases, interested organizations face a choice between two main options: the custom manufacturer that supplies signs directly from the factory or a local turnkey franchise.
This comparison guide reviews leading digital signage providers and analyzes their main differences so businesses can choose a preferred vendor. Below are the key distinctions between Cosun Sign and FASTSIGNS that may affect the final choice.
Overview of Cosun Sign
With over 20 years of experience in industrial sign fabrication and smart display engineering, Cosun Sign has successfully completed over 10,000 projects for clients worldwide in the retail, transportation, healthcare, hospitality and public sectors. We are a direct OEM/ODM manufacturer, with extensive in-house research, development and large-scale production capabilities.
As a premier manufacturer, Cosun Sign offers an extensive catalog of hardware, including:
- Indoor Digital Signage: Sleek screens optimized for close-range viewing.
- Outdoor Digital Signage: Weatherproof, high-brightness displays built for the elements.
- LED Displays and Video Walls: Seamless, large-scale visual installations for high-impact visual displays in venues.
- Interactive Digital Signage: Touch-enabled screens, including the versatile digital kiosk.
- Custom Digital Signage Solutions: Purpose-built enclosures, unique screen shapes, and specialized architectural integrations.
Core Strengths
- Extensive Customization: Unparalleled ability to engineer custom hardware from the ground up.
- Direct Manufacturer Pricing: By cutting out the middleman, they offer highly competitive rates, significantly lowering the overall digital signage cost for bulk orders.
- Production Scalability: Capable of handling massive, enterprise-level rollouts simultaneously.
- OEM/ODM Capabilities: Ideal for brands that want proprietary designs manufactured under their own label.
Overview of FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS has more than 780+ centers worldwide, most of which are located in North America, with a growing presence in the UK and other international markets. Unlike manufacturers of trade fixtures, the company provides complete local visual communication solutions and serves as a business development resource for organizations that want to improve their physical space.
As one of the most visible digital signage companies, its offerings are heavily service-oriented instead of manufacturing:
- Digital Displays and Signage: Sourcing and providing standard, high-quality screens.
- Hardware Sourcing: Acting as a distributor for major technology brands to find the right screen for the job.
- Content & Graphic Services: In-house design teams that help create the visuals playing on the screens.
- Installation and Project Services: Comprehensive site surveys, permitting, and physical installation.
Core Strengths
- Localized Service: A brick-and-mortar presence in hundreds of communities means you can speak to a rep in person.
- Turnkey Project Management: They handle everything from the initial design consultation to the final plug-in.
- Installation & Support: On-site technical support and guaranteed professional installation.
- Multi-Location Coordination: The ability to execute brand-compliant updates across various regions by utilizing their vast network of franchise locations.
Head-to-Head Comparison
1. Customization
This is where the two models diverge most sharply. Cosun Sign’s factory-direct approach means that virtually every physical aspect of a digital display unit—enclosure shape, material alloy, finish color, screen size, mounting method, ventilation design—can be engineered to specification.
FASTSIGNS, by contrast, works within its hardware suppliers’ product catalogs. While franchisees can recommend specific display sizes, mounting options, and media player configurations, they typically cannot modify the physical enclosure at a structural level. Their customization strength lies in personalized content creation and integrating a standard digital display into an existing localized marketing campaign.
2. Pricing & ROI
Cosun Sign’s factory-direct pricing eliminates distributor and reseller margins, lowering per-unit hardware costs, especially at scale.
However, FASTSIGNS bundles project management, local installation, content design, and ongoing support into its pricing. The initial hardware price point will be higher, but they provide a comprehensive ROI.
3. Software & Content Ecosystem
Cosun Sign integrates high-quality displays with intuitive content management software (CMS) and reliable media players to deliver systems that broadcast dynamic content across multiple screens and locations out of the box. That said, Cosun Sign’s content services focus less on bespoke graphic design or motion-content production. Businesses typically supply their own branded creative assets or engage a content agency for that layer.
FASTSIGNS is a provider that employs content-certified specialists to create static images, motion graphics, and interactive HTML5 content to meet the message-specific objectives of its clients. This way, companies without in-house design capabilities do not need to hire a separate agency for this production. FASTSIGNS is the stronger choice when custom content creation is a primary need.
4. Installation & Local Support
Both companies offer installation services, but their delivery models differ.
Cosun Sign provides installation services as part of its turnkey project delivery. For international projects, Cosun Sign typically deploys its own project management team and partners with vetted local installation crews in the destination market, ensuring that its factory-quality standards are maintained through final handover. This model gives buyers a single point of accountability from manufacturing through installation, while still tapping into local labor for on-the-ground execution.
FASTSIGNS leverages its 780+ franchised centers in North America to give customers a local presence they can rely on. The company offers a fast response to the client’s request and may send an installation team to the site for a survey, to erect signs, handle the permits, electrical work, and address any issues after installation.
5. Turnaround Time & Logistics
Cosun Sign’s manufacturing lead times typically range from 4–8 weeks depending on complexity and order volume, plus international shipping (2–5 weeks by sea, 1–2 weeks by air). For large-scale projects with adequate planning horizons, this timeline is standard and predictable.
FASTSIGNS, sourcing from domestic or regional suppliers, can often deliver and install simpler digital sign systems within 1–3 weeks. For urgent deployments in America—a new store opening, a last-minute event—this speed advantage is significant.
Which One Fits Different Project Scenarios?
To help you instantly self-identify the best path, consider these concrete business scenarios:
Scenario A: The Multi-Location QSR / Retail Brand Expansion
- Best Fit: Cosun Sign (for the hardware)
- Why: When rolling out standard retail digital signage across hundreds of new stores, the direct-manufacturer pricing of Cosun Sign will save hundreds of thousands of dollars. The brand’s corporate IT team can then manage the standardized deployment.
Scenario B: The Independent Local Business / Single Clinic
- Best Fit: FASTSIGNS
- Why: A local dentist or boutique shop just needs one or two screens, and they need them installed without hassle. FASTSIGNS provides the perfect turnkey, localized service for this.
Scenario C: The Luxury Mixed-Use Development or Commercial Mall
- Best Fit: Cosun Sign
- Why: High-end commercial digital signage requires unique architectural integration. Cosun Sign can manufacture bespoke digital wayfinding signage and stunning custom shopping mall digital signage enclosures that match the luxury aesthetic of the development.
Scenario D: Rapid Corporate Office Upgrade with Tight Deadlines
- Best Fit: FASTSIGNS
- Why: The nearest FASTSIGNS center can conduct a same-week site survey, source commercial displays from domestic inventory, design content for the lobby and conference-room screens, and install everything within the renovation timeline. The bundled service model means the company doesn’t need to separately engage a content designer, an AV integrator, and an installation crew.
Summary
Ultimately, choosing between Cosun Sign and FASTSIGNS comes down to whether your project prioritizes customized hardware at scale or turnkey localized service.
Cosun Sign is the optimal choice for enterprise brands, large-scale developers, and businesses seeking bespoke hardware and factory-direct pricing for their commercial digital signage. Conversely, FASTSIGNS is the ideal partner for localized businesses, rapid deployments, and organizations that prefer a hands-off approach. By aligning your project’s specific logistical needs with the strengths of these two distinct providers, you can ensure a successful and impactful digital signage deployment.
粤公网安备44030702001648号