Following the Navori acquisition of Carousel, invidis Senior Partners Florian Rotberg and Stefan Schieker break down the acquisition, analyze its impact on the software landscape, and discuss the trends driving the next wave of platform strategies and vertical specialization.

In addition, there are exclusive interviews in the video that invidis conducted with Jeffrey Weitzman, CEO of Navori Labs, John Reilly, Managing Director of Carousel, and Jason Cremins, Chief Product Officer of Navori.

You can watch the video here:

From M&A strategy and future growth plans to AI, Qompose, and the role Carousel will play in Navori’s expanding software portfolio, this is a deep dive into the acquisition.

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Following the acquisitions of Signagelive and now Carousel, Navori is executing a clear international expansion strategy. Under the management of CEO Jeff Weitzman, COO Thierry Meouchy, and CPO Jason Cremins, the company has strengthened its presence across Europe, APAC, and North America in less than two years.

The timing is notable. The acquisition comes only days after Navori introduced Qompose, its next-generation platform designed as the successor to Navori QL. Built on a modular architecture, Qompose reflects the increasing technological complexity of digital signage software, where cybersecurity, cloud-native architectures, AI integration, workflow automation, and compliance requirements are becoming critical differentiators.

The broader digital signage software market continues to consolidate. Recent transactions include Vertiseit’s acquisition of Scala, Uniguest’s acquisition of Visix, and now Navori’s acquisition of Carousel. The trend highlights a growing reality: significant investments are required to maintain competitive platforms.

Cybersecurity certifications, accessibility compliance, AI-powered functionality, and increasingly sophisticated integrations demand larger development teams and faster innovation cycles. Global vendors benefit from economies of scale that smaller software providers struggle to match.

At the same time, customer demand is shifting toward industry-specific solutions. Rather than deploying generic CMS platforms, organizations increasingly expect verticalized offerings tailored to education, healthcare, retail, workplace, or government environments. Large vendors with hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of connected endpoints are in a stronger position to develop these industry packages on top of modular software architectures.

For smaller CMS providers, competitive pressure is likely to intensify. Global software companies are increasingly able to support multinational customers, invest in compliance and security, and provide channel partners with broader product portfolios.

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Navori continues its expansion strategy with the acquisition of Carousel Digital Signage, a carve-out transaction that includes the platform’s technology, customer base, and team. The deal fortifies the Swiss CMS provider‘s significant operational footprint in the United States while expanding its installed base and strengthening its position among the world’s largest digital signage software vendors.

1,100 customers and accessibility credentials

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Carousel Digital Signage serves more than 1,100 organizations across higher education, public administration, and corporate environments. While the platform is less well known outside North America, it has established a strong market position by focusing on the specific requirements of US institutions.

One of Carousel’s differentiating features is its commitment to accessibility. The platform is among the few digital signage CMS solutions that are fully compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. These accessibility requirements are increasingly important for US public institutions, particularly as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) places stricter obligations on state and local government entities.

For municipalities, public colleges, universities, and healthcare providers, this ensures that digital signage systems can be operated more effectively by people with disabilities while helping organizations meet evolving regulatory requirements.

Strategic value beyond technology

The acquisition delivers more than additional software capabilities. Carousel provides Navori with fully established US operations and direct access to customer segments where local presence is increasingly important, particularly in higher education and government.

Carousel also brings a second CMS platform to the Navori portfolio. The platform is known for its ease of use and broad hardware compatibility, supporting virtually all major digital signage player platforms. Its particularly strong support for Apple’s ecosystem, including Apple TV, iPad, MacOS and deep integration with Apple mobile device management (MDM) environments, has made it a preferred choice for many North American organizations that operate standardized Apple infrastructures.

Ease of use remains a key differentiator. Many Carousel customers manage digital signage networks through hundreds of decentralized content contributors who publish content independently. The platform’s user experience has been designed for these large-scale multi-user deployments, a requirement commonly found in universities, healthcare systems, and government organizations.

Like Navori, Carousel has also built its business through channel partners, creating additional synergies between the two companies.

Expanding Navori’s global scale

With Carousel joining the group, Navori further strengthens its position among the industry’s leading software providers. The company now combines its traditional channel strengths with Carousel’s footprint in North America and Signagelive’s established presence across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Carousel Signage operates as a cloud-first SaaS digital signage platform with an installed base exceeding 45,000 displays. Combined with Navori’s global deployments, the acquisition significantly increases the company’s market reach and reinforces its standing as one of the largest independent digital signage CMS providers worldwide.

Watch also the invidis deep-dive on Youtube and read Florian Rotberg’s analysis of the deal.

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French artists Joanie Lemercier and Juliette Bibasse have been confirmed as keynote speakers for Spark 2027, taking place February 3–4 at Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc.

The Brussels-based duo will speak on February 3, just days after unveiling a large-scale projection mapping installation on the façade of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona.

Scheduled for January 30–31, the installation is the sixth edition of Casa Batlló’s annual free public mapping event. Lemercier and Bibasse are collaborating with Catalan singer and composer Maria Arnal, who will contribute an original musical composition and live vocal performance.

The project will combine architectural projection, light and music to reinterpret the building’s distinctive façade.

Exploring art and technology

Lemercier and Bibasse have collaborated for over 15 years, creating installations that use light, geometry and digital technology to transform physical spaces.

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Lemercier co-founded the AntiVJ collective in 2006 and is known for his work in architectural projection mapping. Bibasse brings expertise in artistic direction and curatorial practice, connecting artists and creative disciplines.

Their Spark keynote will explore the relationship between artistic expression and technology, reflecting the event’s 2027 theme, “The Art of And.”

“The creative industries are evolving rapidly, with technology opening up new ways to tell stories, engage audiences and bring ideas to life,” said Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events. “Spark provides a platform for these communities to connect, exchange ideas and inspire one another.”

Spark expands for 2027

Spark 2027 is moving into Hall 8 at Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc, with more than 2,500 square meters of exhibition space.

The event debuted in 2026, attracting 2,086 visitors from 79 countries, with reportedly 39% holding senior decision-making roles.

The expanded 2027 edition will feature two content stages. Spark Arena will host keynotes and discussions on creativity and technology, while Spark Forum will offer free sessions focused on practical applications, emerging tools and production techniques.

Integrated Systems Europe is also a principal sponsor of the Casa Batlló mapping initiative, which has previously featured artists including Refik Anadol, Sofia Crespo and United Visual Artists.

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Dynamo LED Displays has completed a 360-degree LED installation at British American Tobacco’s (BAT) London headquarters, creating a corporate environment surrounded by a continuous, nearly 23-million-pixel display surface.

The installation measures 34.72 meters (113.9 feet) wide and 2.48 meters (8.1 feet) high, wrapping around the room to create an immersive visual environment. Unlike conventional corporate video walls, the display was incorporated into the room’s original design, with structural support, electrical infrastructure, and thermal requirements planned around the installation.

The result is a single LED canvas with a resolution of 17,920 by 1,280 pixels, allowing content to extend across the room rather than being divided among separate display surfaces.

A walkthrough of the 360-degree LED installation at BAT’s London headquarters can be seen in a YouTube video.

350 cabinets, one continuous canvas

The installation uses 350 Dynamo DRE Series fine-pitch LED cabinets with a 1.93 mm pixel pitch. The cabinets are arranged in a 70-by-5 configuration, covering a total display area of approximately 86.1 square meters.

A NovaStar H5 processing system manages the full 17,920-by-1,280-pixel canvas, enabling the display to operate as one continuous visual surface.

Power distribution was another important consideration with the system having a maximum electrical load of 59.5 kW, distributed across 30 circuits. Since the room was designed around the LED installation, the team could accommodate these requirements during construction rather than address them through later modifications.

Integrating LED into the building

One of the BAT project’s distinguishing features is its approach to integrating the display into the architecture.

Large LED installations introduce structural, electrical, and thermal considerations that may be challenging to accommodate when displays are retrofitted into existing rooms.

In this case, however, the building infrastructure was developed to support the installation from the outset, allowing the LED surface to become a defining element of the interior.

The project also required coordination between the display engineering, processing and creative content systems to deliver a consistent experience across the entire room.

Beyond the Formula 1 content, there is already something for the holidays: At Christmastime, the room transforms into a festively decorated setting.

For the professional AV industry, the installation provides another example of how fine-pitch LED is moving beyond conventional presentation walls into fully integrated corporate environments.

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Cybersecurity is still treated as a peripheral IT issue in many digital signage projects. However, a recent incident in Germany demonstrates how quickly what appears to be a minor security gap can become a serious business risk.

According to information obtained by invidis, the digital signage system of a German franchisee of a well-known QSR chain was compromised earlier this week. Attackers reportedly managed to guess a weak default password and gain access to the CMS. The manipulation initially went unnoticed. The breach was only discovered when customers noticed unexpectedly higher prices displayed on digital menu boards.

The incident is reminiscent of recent cyberattacks targeting supermarkets, where connected refrigeration systems were compromised. In those cases, attackers manipulated cooling controls with significant consequences: cold chains were disrupted, products became unusable, and entire inventories had to be discarded.

Weak credentials remain the biggest risk

The common denominator in both cases is obvious: poorly protected IT endpoints.

While unpatched systems and insecure remote access were the primary vulnerabilities in the supermarket attacks, the digital signage incident appears to have been caused by inadequately secured credentials.

Default passwords, weak login credentials, and reused passwords remain among the most common entry points for cybercriminals. The challenge is that by the time an attack is detected, the damage has often already been done. Content may have been manipulated, systems compromised, or business operations disrupted.

In this particular QSR case, the consequences were likely limited to customer complaints, reputational damage, and potential revenue loss. In other sectors, however, comparable security weaknesses could lead to significantly more severe outcomes.

Digital signage has become critical infrastructure

Particularly in the QSR industry, digital signage has evolved from a marketing tool into business-critical infrastructure.

Digital menu boards, self-order kiosks, and drive-thru systems manage pricing and product communication in real time and are directly connected to operational processes.

Yet IT security is still too often treated as a secondary consideration. While businesses increasingly secure their POS systems, payment platforms, and corporate networks, digital signage networks frequently remain a blind spot.

Screen networks need security by default

As AI-powered applications and integrations with backend systems become more widespread, the attack surface of digital signage networks continues to expand. At the same time, their importance to day-to-day business operations is growing rapidly.

For network operators, the conclusion is clear: cybersecurity can no longer be treated as an optional add-on. Like remote device management, it must become a standard requirement from the very beginning of every digital signage deployment.

Cyberattacks on Supermarkets Attract Intelligence Agency Attention

Following cyberattacks on refrigeration systems in German and European supermarkets, Germany’s intelligence and security agencies have become involved in the investigations.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BFV) and the Joint Counter-Hybrid Threat Centre (GAZ Hybrid), which includes representatives from agencies such as the BND and MAD, are examining the incidents. Authorities are seeking to determine whether the attacks were more than ordinary cybercrime and whether they may represent coordinated sabotage targeting critical supply infrastructure.

The attacks affected supermarkets across Germany and several other European countries, as well as refrigeration systems used for blood reserves in healthcare environments.

Attackers reportedly exploited known vulnerabilities, outdated software, and unchanged default passwords to gain access to connected refrigeration controls. In some cases, systems were deliberately switched into heating or defrost mode, causing temperatures to rise to as much as 50°C (122°F). The result was spoiled inventory and substantial economic losses for operators.

These incidents underscore the risks associated with inadequately protected IoT and control systems. Both German and US authorities have urged operators not to connect industrial control systems directly to the public internet, to apply security updates promptly, and to eliminate default credentials as a matter of standard practice.

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Leyard Europe and rental specialist Universal Pixels are teaming up again to provide the LED stage installation for the AV Awards, taking place November 6 at Battersea Evolution in London.

The centerpiece will be a 14-meter-wide, 4-meter-high (46-foot-wide, 13-foot-high) LED backdrop using Leyard Carbonlight Series displays with a 3.9mm pixel pitch, 4,000 nits brightness and a 4,000:1 contrast ratio.

The installation will extend beyond the main stage screen, with additional LED banners, stage fascia and displays at the venue’s bars. These elements will use Planar Carbonlight CLM Series lightweight mesh LED panels, featuring a 5.95mm pixel pitch, 5,000 nits brightness and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio.

A decade of collaboration

Universal Pixels and Leyard Europe have worked together for 10 years, supplying LED display technology for concerts, corporate events, touring productions and award ceremonies across Europe.

Over the past two years, Universal Pixels has deployed Leyard’s CarbonLight Series on several major concert tours, where weight, durability and installation speed are important considerations.

James Morden, technical specialist at Universal Pixels, highlighted the technology’s practical advantages for touring applications, describing it as lightweight, transparent, quick to install, and robust.

For the AV Awards, the companies are using a combination of conventional LED displays and lightweight mesh panels to cover different areas of the venue, from the main stage to supporting displays.

Guy Phelps, Territory Head UK at Leyard Europe, said the longstanding relationship with Universal Pixels has been central to the company’s involvement in the event.

“Every year, we pull out all the stops to make the AV Awards stage look spectacular, and our strategic partnership with Universal Pixels is fundamental to that. Their team knows our LED technology inside out, and their expertise in the rental market is second to none,” he said.

Leyard Europe is also sponsoring an award category and is shortlisted in several project and company categories at this year’s event.

The annual AV Awards recognize achievements across the professional audiovisual industry, bringing together manufacturers, integrators, technology providers and other industry professionals.

The post AV Awards 2026: Leyard And Universal Pixels Build 14-Meter LED Backdrop For AV Awards first appeared on invidis.

On November 3, Viooh and JC Decaux announced the start of a strategic partnership in the Baltic region. This means that the global supply-side programmatic platform will gain access to JC Decaux’s 254 premium digital screens across the region’s capital cities – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. This is set to yield over 163 million monthly impressions.

According to the official announcement, JC Decaux’s Estonian contingent includes 61 digital screens generating more than 75 million impressions. This includes urban panels bus shelters and large-format billboards. In Latvia, 83 digital screens will deliver more than 47 million impressions. Among various billboards, urban panels and bus shelters, this would include the Origo Premium 3D screen at Latvian capital’s central station. JC Decaux’s largest Baltic network is in Lithuania, with 110 digital screens generating over 41 million monthly impressions.

A single point for programmatic DooH

Gavin Wilson, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Viooh described the three Baltic states as “increasingly sophisticated advertising markets.” He said that the partnership between Viooh and JC Decaux will “give brands a single point for programmatic DooH to all of JCDecaux’s premium inventory.”

Øyvind Markussen, Regional Director Baltics, JC Decaux, said that the partnership opens up access to screens in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius “for a global marketplace of buyers, bringing advanced targeting capabilities to our roads, city centers and retail environments.”

VIOOH believes that the programmatic buying capabilities it can now provide in the Baltics will help advertisers enhance their targeting capabilities, real-time campaign optimization and integration with global DooH strategies.

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Vitec will bring Datapath’s product portfolio under its own brand in 2027, completing the next stage of integration following its acquisition of the UK-based video processing specialist.

The move will see the Datapath corporate name retired, although existing product names, technologies and customer support arrangements will remain unchanged. Datapath’s offices will also stay open, with its employees continuing as part of the wider Vitec organization.

The two companies have spent 2026 aligning their operations and systems following the acquisition. The combined portfolio now covers video processing, video walls, AV-over-IP, IPTV distribution, encoding and decoding, KVM systems and control room applications.

Combining complementary technologies

Founded in 1982, Datapath has developed technologies for real-time video processing, large-scale video walls and mission-critical control rooms. Its products are also used in commercial AV installations and creative environments.

Vitec’s existing capabilities in video distribution and streaming complement Datapath’s expertise in video wall processing and control systems, giving the combined company a broader offering for professional AV customers.

“Both businesses have strong engineering foundations and highly complementary expertise,” says Nicolas Quesne, Deputy CEO of Vitec. “Bringing these strengths together creates a broader, more connected portfolio of solutions and services, supported by Vitec’s global presence and customer support capabilities.”

David Griffiths, VP Global Sales at Datapath, says the company will maintain its existing customer relationships and support standards as the transition progresses.

Transition continues into 2027

A new Vitec website is scheduled to launch before the end of 2026, bringing the Datapath portfolio together with Vitec’s existing products and services.

Datapath-branded product materials will be progressively replaced throughout the transition into 2027, rather than withdrawn immediately.

For customers and integrators, the principal change will therefore be the corporate identity, with established Datapath products and support arrangements continuing under the Vitec name.

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US consumers expect to spend more time driving and running errands during the holiday shopping season, creating additional opportunities for advertisers to reach them outside the home, according to new research from GSTV.

The company’s latest Consumer Pulse survey found that 69% of respondents run more errands than usual during the holidays, while 61% report increased driving. Thanksgiving week is particularly busy, with 55% expecting additional trips, primarily for grocery shopping (52%) and holiday or Black Friday purchases (48%).

For GSTV, which operates a video advertising network at fuel stations across the US, the findings highlight opportunities to reach consumers while they are already on the move.

Purchase decisions remain open

The survey suggests that many purchasing decisions are made after consumers leave home. Some 69% of respondents reported buying an unplanned item during their most recent errand trip, while 78% said they add stops when a retailer is conveniently located along their route.

Convenience stores are among the beneficiaries of this behavior. According to GSTV, 77% of its viewers regularly make purchases at convenience stores while running errands.

Cold beverages were the most common recent convenience-store purchase, cited by 49% of respondents, followed by snacks (36%), fountain or frozen drinks (28%) and lottery products (22%).

More than half (52%) reported adding at least one unplanned item during a convenience-store visit, with half of those shoppers attributing the purchase to simply seeing something they wanted.

Opportunities for advertisers

The findings point to the potential role of digital out-of-home advertising in influencing purchasing decisions at fuel stations and other locations along consumers’ shopping routes.

GSTV operates across more than 29,000 US locations and reports reaching 115 million unique adults monthly.

Research firm MFour conducted the Consumer Pulse survey among GSTV viewers in August 2026.

The post GSTV Survey: Holiday Shoppers Make More Unplanned Purchases first appeared on invidis.