The Strategic Upgrade: PCL Construction and PIXI

Leading contracting organization PCL Construction faced numerous challenges managing its extensive digital signage network. With multiple offices and project sites throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Australia, PCL completes more than $7 billion USD in work annually. 

With such a huge footprint, reliance on consumer-grade digital signage devices, such as Fire TV Sticks, was proving cumbersome, inefficient, and increasingly insecure.

The introduction of ScreenCloud's purpose-built PIXI digital signage player offered a path forward. Built as a cost-effective and robust digital signage media player, PCL has been an enthusiastic early adopter of the PIXI device.

The challenges of distributed management

PCL’s vast and diverse operational footprint demanded a digital signage solution that could handle rapid deployment and consistent oversight— capabilities their previous hardware lacked.

The primary demands for the PCL digital signage network were:

• Remote management of screens
• Less reliance on power sockets for media players
• Easy setup for both launching and scaling digital signage
• Secure
• Cost-effective

A big challenge is that troubleshooting issues often requires costly and time-consuming on-site visits, something that directly impacts operational uptime. Furthermore, many temporary construction locations suffered from power scarcity, making the deployment of power-intensive devices problematic.

Relying on a consumer-grade device also introduced unnecessary friction; the need to navigate app stores and conduct multiple account setups complicated large-scale rollouts.

And, to add to these logistical headaches, there were serious security considerations arising from using non-commercial hardware with less controlled software environments. While budget was a constant consideration, finding a commercial-grade device that matched the low baseline cost of consumer options remained a major stumbling block.

Embracing a simple, purpose-built solution

The integration of ScreenCloud’s PIXI device addressed these  pain points. As Antonio Cacciacarro, Implementation Manager at PCL, noted, the compact size and straightforward packaging made the initial transition notably simpler than expected.

PIXI’s design directly solved PCL’s core operational weaknesses:

Remote device management emerged as the standout feature, earning  endorsement from the PCL cybersecurity team. The ability to monitor status, push updates, and schedule reboots remotely drastically cut down on necessary physical interventions.

A practical advantage discovered during deployment was the device’s ability to draw power directly from a television’s USB port, effectively eliminating the need for an external power adapter — a major benefit in power-constrained job sites.

Deployment velocity increased significantly because PIXI bypassed the complex software setup associated with consumer devices; it was essentially plug-and-play, register, and deploy.

Crucially, PIXI also matched the low baseline cost of the previous consumer-grade hardware, making a wide-scale commercial upgrade financially feasible where previous purpose-built options had been prohibitively expensive.

This purpose-built nature, featuring stripped-down software, inherently fortified the platform against the vulnerabilities present in more open consumer systems.

Tangible results across the organization

The shift to using PIXI devices has redefined digital signage management at PCL, resulting in improvements to efficiency, deployment, and security.

Enhanced remote capabilities have greatly conserved IT resources previously dedicated to routine maintenance.  Installation, even in demanding field environments, has become markedly simpler due to the plug-and-play nature and flexible power consumption.

Long-term costs improved significantly, combining the device’s competitive purchase price with the substantial reduction in operational overhead from minimized site visits. Device reliability has also improved, as scheduled remote interventions ensure consistent up time. Ultimately, PCL has achieved a higher security standard without sacrificing affordability.

“The solution is a game changer because it successfully marries enterprise-level remote management functionality with an accessible, cost-effective hardware profile," Antonio Cacciacarro, Implementation Manager, PCL.

PCL’s ongoing expansion of PIXI devices confirms the strategic value of the hardware integration.

Find out more about PIXI here.