Digital signage is evolving. Businesses are looking for ways to communicate information on screens while reducing energy consumption, simplifying infrastructure, and maintaining clear visibility in different environments. One technology that addresses these needs is e-paper displays.
In response to this growing demand, we added native e-paper display support directly inside the Castit CMS. This integration allows businesses to manage battery-powered e-paper devices in the same platform they already use for digital signage.
This article explains what e-paper displays are, how they work, why businesses use them, and how the new Castit e-paper feature works from setup to content publishing.
What Are E-Paper Displays?
E-paper displays (also known as electronic paper displays) are screens designed to replicate the appearance of printed paper. Unlike LCD or LED displays, they do not rely on constant backlighting. Instead, they use microcapsule technology that rearranges particles to form text and images. Once content is displayed, no power is required to keep it visible.
Because of this technology, e-paper displays offer several advantages:
- Extremely low power consumption
- Clear visibility in bright light and sunlight
- No glare or backlighting
- Long battery life
- Minimal heat generation
These characteristics make e-paper displays particularly useful for price labels, information signs, room booking panels, logistics labels, and wayfinding displays.
Why Businesses Use E-Paper Displays
Many companies need screens that display information continuously but do not require constant video playback. In these cases, traditional displays may consume unnecessary power or require more infrastructure. E-paper displays solve this problem. Businesses commonly use them in environments such as:
- Retail stores for electronic shelf labels and product information
- Corporate offices for room signage and door displays
- Healthcare facilities for patient room identification and schedules
- Hotels and hospitality for room numbers or event schedules
- Logistics and warehouses for inventory labels and location markers
Because the image remains visible even when the device is disconnected from power, e-paper screens can operate for long periods on battery power. This makes them ideal for locations where running power cables or installing full digital signage displays would be impractical.
Bringing E-Paper Displays into Castit
To support these use cases, we added direct e-paper display integration inside the Castit CMS. Instead of using a separate platform, businesses can now manage e-paper devices in the same environment where they manage their digital signage screens.
The integration works with e-paper devices provided through Castit, so the hardware and CMS communicate seamlessly.
This setup provides several advantages:
- Devices are pre-integrated with the Castit CMS
- No additional software or middleware is required
- Content creation and scheduling happen inside the same platform
- Device monitoring is built into the interface
The result is a simple workflow where e-paper devices become another managed display type within Castit.
How E-Paper Displays Work in Castit
Once you enable the feature, you can manage e-paper displays through a simple process in the CMS. The workflow includes:
- Enabling the e-paper feature
- Adding a device
- Creating and publishing content
- Scheduling content updates
- Managing device settings
You complete each step inside the Castit interface.
Enabling the E-Paper Feature
After logging into the Castit CMS, you can enable the e-paper feature in Settings.
In the left-hand navigation menu, open Settings. Below the sections for personal information and two-factor authentication, a new option appears called E-papers feature.
Here you will find a simple enable/disable toggle.
Once you enable the feature, a new section called E-papers appears in the main navigation menu, located below the Screens section. Here you can manage all e-paper devices.
Managing E-Paper Devices
Opening the E-papers section displays all registered devices in the system. Devices appear in card view by default, but you can switch to list view.
Each device card displays key information, including:
- MAC address
- Online or offline status
- Battery percentage
This overview lets you quickly see the status of all connected e-paper devices.
Each device card also includes a three-dot menu in the top right corner, where you can:
- Edit the device
- Delete the device
Click a device to open its management view.
Device Management Interface
When you open an e-paper device, the interface shows three main tabs:
- Contents
- Schedule
- Settings
Each tab controls a different aspect of the device.
Creating Content for the Display
The Contents tab is where you create content for the e-paper display.
If the device is offline, the system displays a message in the center of the screen: “Device is offline! Please turn on the device to edit your content.”
Once the device is online, the full content editor becomes available. This editor is based on the Castit Slide Creator, which provides a visual canvas for designing the content that will appear on the display.
You can add elements such as:
- Text
- Shapes
- Drawn elements
- Media from the library
- Stock photos
- QR codes
- Templates
- Graphic objects
Next to the canvas, you can configure the layout, including:
- Canvas width and height
- Background color
- Fill and opacity
- Background images
Once the design is ready, click Publish Template to send the content directly to the e-paper display.
Because e-paper technology only refreshes when content changes, the device updates only when a new template is published.
Scheduling Content Updates
The Schedule tab lets you define when specific content appears on the display.
When the device is online, the interface shows a weekly calendar view, which you can switch to:
- Monthly view
- Daily view
- List view
To create a schedule, click on the calendar to open the configuration window.
Here you can define:
- Schedule name
- Start date
- End date
- Time range
- Event details
Once saved, the schedule determines when the content appears on the device.
On the right side of the interface, a list of screen events provides a quick overview of all scheduled content changes.
Device Controls and Information
The Settings tab provides both device controls and technical information. The interface has two sections.
Device Controls
On the left side, you can perform actions such as:
- Changing the LED color
- Waking up the device
- Refreshing the device
These controls allow you to manage the device without physical access.
Device Information
On the right side, the interface displays device details including:
- MAC address
- Manufacturer
- Online status
- Battery level
- Screen size
- Display information
- Last update time
This information helps you monitor device status and connectivity.
Adding a New E-Paper Device
Adding a new device to the system is simple. In the top-right corner of the E-papers page, click Add New Device.
This opens a dialog where you enter the device’s MAC address.
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned to a device’s network interface by the manufacturer. It works like a permanent ID that allows the system to recognize and communicate with that specific device on the network.
The MAC address is printed on the front or back of the device, depending on the model.
After entering the address, click Add to register the device in the Castit CMS. Once added, the device appears in the device overview and can be configured immediately.
Get Started with Castit E-Paper Displays
With Castit, e-paper displays are managed directly inside the same CMS you already use for your digital signage. Content creation, device management, and scheduling all happen in one platform, giving you a simple and unified way to control both traditional screens and e-paper displays.
For organizations looking for sustainable, energy-efficient ways to display information, e-paper technology offers a practical alternative to traditional screens. It consumes minimal power, remains clearly visible in bright environments, and requires very little maintenance, making it suitable for a wide range of use cases across different industries.
The e-paper devices we provide are fully integrated with the Castit CMS, meaning there is no need for additional systems or complicated setup. Once the device is added, you can design content, publish updates, and schedule changes directly from the platform.
If you are exploring e-paper displays as part of your communication or signage strategy, now is the right time. This technology is gaining strong momentum as more organizations look for sustainable and low-power display solutions. Get in touch with us to see how e-paper displays can work in your environment. Our team will help you choose the right devices and set up a solution that fits your needs.