Understanding Analytics

Think of the Analytics dashboard as your network's report card—but one you'll actually want to show off! It's not just about proving your content played; it's about learning exactly how your strategy is performing in the real world.

Whether you need to dazzle stakeholders with concrete ROI data or simply want to geek out on playback trends to see what’s capturing attention, this tool turns raw numbers into actionable insights. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to smarter, data-backed decisions.

Analytics Overview

1. Dashboard Overview

Navigate to the Analytics tab in the main menu. The dashboard is divided into two primary sections: Screen Status Overview and Playback Reports.

Screen Status Overview

The top section provides an immediate snapshot of your network's connectivity.

• Total Screens: Displays the total count of devices in your network - their status and count across statuses

• Status Distribution: A visual breakdown of your screens categorized by their current state:

  • Online: Screens currently connected and actively communicating with the server.

  • Offline: Screens that have lost internet connection or are powered down.

  • Pending: Newly added screens waiting for approval or provisioning.

  • Paused: Screens effectively stopped by an administrator. Note: These screens do not count towards your total license count
    
    

2. Playback Reporting

The Playback Report section allows you to track exactly how often your content is being displayed. This is essential for ad-based networks or verifying critical internal messaging.

• Play Count & Duration: Toggle between viewing data by the number of times an asset played (Play Count) or the total time it appeared on screen (Duration).

• Time Visualization: The graph visualizes performance over time, allowing you to spot trends or gaps in playback.

3. Filtering and Customizing Reports

To find specific data points or analyze a specific campaign, use the filtering tools located above the reports:

1. Date Range: Select a specific start and end date (e.g., Feb 01 - Feb 08) to narrow down your reporting window.

2. Run Report: After selecting your dates, click the Run button (often represented by a refresh icon or "Run" text) to load the analytics for that period.

3. Search: Use the Search... bar to quickly isolate specific assets, playlists, or screen names within the report data.

Pro Tip: Effective reporting starts with organization. Use the Tags feature (found in the Administration menu) to label your screens by location or assets by campaign. This makes "slicing and dicing" your analytics significantly easier later on.

4. Exporting Data

For deeper analysis or to share results with stakeholders, you can export your analytics data out of Citadel.

• Screen Status Export: Click the [Export] button at the top right of the page to download a comprehensive report of your screen statuses.

• Report Export: Click the [Export] button specifically within the Playback Report section to download raw data (CSV/Excel) containing detailed timestamps and play counts for your assets.

This raw data is compatible with third-party tools (like Excel or PowerBI), allowing you to build custom pivot tables or proof-of-play presentations for advertisers.