Author-it
Author-it is a component content management system that helps you create, manage, and publish high-quality technical documentation and localized content across multiple channels from a single source.
Look Digital Signage
Look Digital Signage is a cloud-based software solution that allows you to manage content on any number of screens remotely through a simple and intuitive web interface.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Author-it | Look Digital Signage |
|---|---|---|
| Website | author-it.com | lookdigitalsignage.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $15/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1996 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Newport Beach, USA | Warsaw, Poland |
Overview
Author-it
Author-it provides a centralized platform for managing complex documentation through component-based authoring. Instead of managing massive, static documents, you create small components of content that you can reuse across different manuals, help guides, and websites. This approach ensures that when you update a single piece of information, the change reflects everywhere that component is used, significantly reducing manual editing time and errors.
You can streamline your entire documentation lifecycle from initial drafting to multi-channel publishing and translation. The platform is particularly effective for highly regulated industries like life sciences and manufacturing where precision and compliance are non-negotiable. By moving away from traditional word processing to a structured database environment, you gain complete control over your content's consistency and accuracy.
Look Digital Signage
Look Digital Signage provides you with a straightforward way to manage digital screens from anywhere in the world. You can turn any TV or monitor into a professional digital sign by simply connecting a media player and using the web-based dashboard to upload videos, images, or live streams. It eliminates the need for manual updates via USB drives, allowing you to change your display content instantly across multiple locations.
The platform is designed for businesses of all sizes, from single-screen retail shops to massive digital out-of-home networks. You can schedule content in advance, create multi-zone layouts, and monitor the status of your screens in real-time. Whether you are running a restaurant menu board or a corporate communication screen, the software ensures your displays stay active and updated with minimal effort.
Overview
Author-it Features
- Component Authoring Create small pieces of reusable content once and use them across multiple documents to ensure total consistency.
- Multi-Channel Publishing Publish your content to PDF, HTML5, Word, and mobile formats simultaneously from a single source of truth.
- Variant Management Manage different versions of your products easily by using variables to swap out specific details automatically.
- Translation Management Reduce localization costs by only sending new or changed content components to your translation providers.
- Workflow Automation Track your document progress with built-in review and approval cycles that keep your team on schedule.
- Release Management Control exactly which versions of your content are live and maintain historical records for audit compliance.
Look Digital Signage Features
- Remote Content Management. Update your screens instantly from any web browser without needing to visit the physical location of your displays.
- Screen Layout Designer. Divide your screen into multiple zones to show videos, weather widgets, and social media feeds simultaneously.
- Automated Scheduling. Set your content to play at specific times or dates so your displays always show relevant information.
- Offline Playback. Keep your content running smoothly even if your internet connection drops, thanks to local storage caching.
- Interactive Scenarios. Create touch-screen experiences or trigger specific content based on external sensors and user interactions.
- Real-time Monitoring. Check the online status of your screens and view live screenshots to ensure everything is playing correctly.
Pricing Comparison
Author-it Pricing
Look Digital Signage Pricing
- Full cloud CMS access
- Unlimited storage
- All apps and widgets
- Layout designer
- Social media plugins
- Email support
- Everything in Monthly, plus:
- 20% discount on total cost
- Priority technical support
- Advanced scheduling tools
- Multi-user access control
- Detailed playback reports
Pros & Cons
Author-it
Pros
- Excellent content reuse capabilities save significant time
- Centralized database ensures high levels of content consistency
- Powerful multi-channel publishing handles complex formatting well
- Strong support for regulated industry compliance requirements
Cons
- Significant learning curve for users new to CCMS
- Initial setup and configuration requires careful planning
- Interface can feel dated compared to modern web apps
Look Digital Signage
Pros
- Extremely easy setup process for beginners
- Reliable offline performance during internet outages
- Wide variety of free integrated apps
- Responsive customer support team
- Clean and modern user interface
Cons
- Limited advanced video editing tools
- No forever-free plan available
- Occasional lag with very large files