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Integrations

Integrations add dynamic, real-time content to your displays by connecting to external services and data sources.

Understanding Integrations vs. Content Import​

Integration Flow

Integrations = Live Data Feeds

Integrations continuously sync data from external services with automatic updates:

  • 🔄 Auto-refresh on schedule
  • 📡 Real-time data sync
  • ⏱️ System-controlled updates
  • 🔗 External service dependency

Examples: RSS Feeds, Weather, Calendar (iCal), Google Slides, Stock Market, Social Media

Content Import = Add to Library

Import capabilities let you add content once to your Media Library:

  • 📥 Manual import process
  • 💾 Stored in your library
  • 👤 You control updates
  • 🎨 One-time process

Examples: Direct Upload, Canva Import (Premium), URL Import, Google Photos (FamilyCast)

Learn more about Content Import →

Overview​

BrandCast supports a wide range of integrations to enhance your displays:

Content & Presentations:

  • Google Slides - Display presentations with live sync

Calendars & Events:

  • iCal Calendar - Universal calendar integration (works with Google, Apple, Outlook, Cozi, and any iCal source)

Business Operations:

  • ZoomShift - Employee scheduling
  • Inventory System - Stock levels and inventory
  • Scheduling System - Custom scheduling data

Information & Data:

  • Weather - Local weather forecasts
  • Stock Market - Real-time stock prices and charts
  • RSS Feeds - News, blogs, and content feeds
  • Quotes - Inspirational and motivational quotes

Entertainment:

  • Dad Jokes - Daily humor content

Social & Reviews:

  • Social Media Embeds - Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok posts

Tasks & Productivity:

  • Google Tasks - Task list integration
  • Cozi Lists - Shared family task lists (FamilyCast)

Available Integrations​

Google Slides​

Display Google Slides presentations on your screens with automatic updates.

Use Cases:

  • Product catalogs
  • Training materials
  • Marketing presentations
  • Menu boards

Setup:

  1. Navigate to Content Sources in your dashboard
  2. Click Add Integration
  3. Select Google Slides
  4. Authenticate with Google:
    • Click Connect Google Account
    • Grant BrandCast permission to access your presentations
  5. Select your presentation:
    • Choose from your Google Drive
    • Or paste a shareable link
  6. Configure settings:
    • Auto-advance: Slide duration (5-30 seconds recommended)
    • Refresh interval: How often to check for updates (15 minutes default)
    • Name: Descriptive name for your content source
  7. Click Save

Configuration Options:

  • Slide Duration: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 seconds, or custom
  • Loop: Enable continuous loop of presentation
  • Refresh Interval: 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes
  • Auto-update: Sync changes from Google Slides automatically

Tips:

  • Keep presentations under 20 slides for best performance
  • Use high-contrast designs for readability from distance
  • Avoid animations - they may not render on all devices
  • Update the original file in Google - changes sync automatically

Weather​

Display current weather conditions and forecasts for your location.

Use Cases:

  • Retail stores - Help customers plan shopping
  • Break rooms - Help employees plan their day
  • Reception areas - Useful information for visitors
  • Outdoor businesses - Show relevant weather alerts

Setup:

  1. Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
  2. Select Weather
  3. Configure location:
    • City/ZIP: Enter your location
    • Units: Fahrenheit or Celsius
    • Format: Current, forecast, or both
  4. Customize display:
    • Show conditions: Temperature, humidity, wind
    • Forecast days: 3, 5, or 7 days
    • Refresh interval: 15 minutes (recommended)
  5. Click Save

Display Options:

  • Current only: Current temp and conditions
  • Forecast only: Multi-day forecast
  • Current + Forecast: Both current and upcoming weather
  • Compact: Minimal display (temp + icon)
  • Detailed: Full conditions with wind, humidity, etc.

Tips:

  • 15-minute refresh interval balances freshness with API usage
  • Choose units based on your region (F for US, C for most others)
  • Show 3-day forecast for break rooms, current-only for customer displays
  • Position weather widgets in corners or footers

RSS Feeds​

Display news, blog posts, and updates from any RSS-compatible source.

Use Cases:

  • Company news and announcements
  • Industry news for your business
  • Social media updates
  • Blog content
  • Event updates
  • Product announcements

Setup:

  1. Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
  2. Select RSS Feed
  3. Enter feed details:
    • Feed URL: The RSS feed URL (e.g., https://example.com/feed)
    • Name: Descriptive name
    • Priority: Display order (0 = highest)
  4. Configure display:
    • Max Items: Number of items to show (default: 20)
    • Update Interval: How often to fetch (5 minutes default)
    • Display Style: Ticker, list, or cards
  5. Click Save

Configuration:

  • Update Interval: 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes (5 min default)
  • Max Items: 5-50 items to cache
  • Priority: 0-100 (lower = higher priority)
  • Active: Enable/disable feed

Finding RSS Feeds:

  • Company blogs: Look for RSS icon or /feed URL
  • News sites: Check footer or "Subscribe" sections
  • Social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook offer RSS alternatives
  • Create custom: Services like RSS.app can create feeds from websites

Display Styles:

  • Ticker: Scrolling text across bottom or side
  • List: Vertical list of headlines
  • Cards: Individual cards with image + headline
  • Full Content: Show article excerpts

Tips:

  • Test feed URL before adding (should return XML when visited)
  • Use multiple feeds for variety (combine company + industry news)
  • Set priority to control order when mixing multiple feeds
  • 5-minute refresh keeps content fresh without excessive API calls
  • Include images for visual appeal (not all feeds provide images)

Troubleshooting:

  • Feed not updating: Check that feed URL is valid and accessible
  • No items showing: Verify feed has published content
  • Images missing: Not all RSS feeds include images
  • Slow loading: Reduce max items or increase update interval

Calendar Integrations​

Display upcoming events and schedules from calendar systems.

iCal Calendar​

Display events from any iCal-compatible calendar (Google, Apple, Outlook, etc.).

Use Cases:

  • Meeting room schedules
  • Event calendars
  • Store hours and closings
  • Company events

Setup:

  1. Get your calendar's iCal URL:
    • Google Calendar: Settings → Integrate → Secret address in iCal format
    • Apple Calendar: Share calendar and copy webcal:// link
    • Outlook: Calendar settings → Shared calendars → Publish
  2. In BrandCast:
    • Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
    • Select iCal Calendar
    • Paste iCal URL
    • Name your calendar feed
  3. Configure display:
    • Days to show: 1, 7, 14, 30 days ahead
    • Event limit: Max events to display
    • Color: Assign color for this calendar
  4. Click Save

Tips:

  • Use "Secret address" from Google Calendar (not public URL)
  • You can add multiple calendar feeds (work, personal, company)
  • Assign different colors to distinguish calendar sources
  • Show 7 days for weekly planning, 1 day for today's schedule

Employee Scheduling - ZoomShift​

Display employee schedules from your ZoomShift account.

Use Cases:

  • Break room displays - Show who's working today
  • Manager displays - Quick schedule overview
  • Reception - Know who's available
  • Employee check-in - See your shifts

Setup:

  1. Get ZoomShift API credentials:
    • Log into ZoomShift
    • Go to Settings → API
    • Generate API token
    • Copy token (you won't see it again!)
  2. In BrandCast:
    • Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
    • Select ZoomShift
    • Enter API token
    • Name your integration
  3. Configure display:
    • Locations: Select which locations to show
    • Departments: Filter by departments
    • Days: Today only, or next 7 days
    • Refresh: 15-30 minutes recommended
  4. Click Save

Display Options:

  • Today's schedule: Who's working today
  • Week view: Full week schedule
  • By department: Filter by department
  • By location: Multi-location schedule view

Security Notes:

  • API token grants full access - keep it secure
  • Tokens can be revoked in ZoomShift settings
  • Only share schedules on internal displays (not customer-facing)

Tips:

  • 30-minute refresh balances freshness with API rate limits
  • Filter by location for multi-location businesses
  • Use in break rooms - not customer-facing areas (privacy)
  • Show "Today's Schedule" for simple daily view

Stock Market Data​

Display real-time stock prices, charts, and market data.

Use Cases:

  • Financial services offices
  • Corporate lobbies
  • Break rooms for employees with stock options
  • Investment firms

Setup:

  1. Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
  2. Select Stock Market
  3. Create a watchlist:
    • Name: Watchlist name (e.g., "Tech Stocks")
    • Symbols: Add stock symbols (AAPL, GOOGL, MSFT)
    • Display Mode: Ticker, chart, grid, or fullscreen
  4. Configure refresh:
    • Update Interval: 60 seconds (default), 30 seconds, or 5 minutes
    • Market hours only: Only update during trading hours
  5. Click Save

Display Modes:

  • Ticker: Scrolling ticker across bottom (classic style)
  • Chart: Price chart for selected stock
  • Grid: Multiple stocks in grid layout
  • Fullscreen: Large display of single stock

Data Shown:

  • Current price
  • Change amount and percentage
  • Volume
  • Day high/low
  • Market cap
  • Previous close

Configuration:

  • Symbols: Add up to 20 stocks per watchlist
  • Update Interval: 30-60 seconds (1 minute recommended)
  • Display Mode: Choose based on layout space
  • Active: Enable/disable without deleting

Tips:

  • 60-second refresh is optimal (real-time without excessive API calls)
  • Use ticker mode for minimal space usage
  • Grid mode works well for multiple stocks
  • Chart mode best for single-stock focus
  • Disable updates outside market hours to save API quota

Market Data Timing:

  • Updates only during market hours (9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET)
  • 15-minute delay for free tier (instant for premium)
  • After-hours trading not included in free tier

Inspirational Quotes​

Display motivational and inspirational quotes on your screens.

Use Cases:

  • Break rooms - Employee motivation
  • Reception areas - Positive atmosphere
  • Retail stores - Customer inspiration
  • Corporate offices - Company culture

Setup:

  1. Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
  2. Select Quotes
  3. Configure source:
    • Category: Inspirational, motivational, leadership, etc.
    • Refresh Rate: Daily, hourly, every 30 minutes
    • Display Style: Simple text, card with author, image background
  4. Click Save

Quote Categories:

  • Inspirational - General motivation
  • Leadership - Business and leadership
  • Success - Achievement and goals
  • Wisdom - Philosophical insights
  • Humor - Light and funny quotes

Display Styles:

  • Simple: Quote text only
  • With Author: Quote + attribution
  • Card: Styled card with background
  • Large Format: Full-screen quote display

Refresh Options:

  • Every 5 minutes: Constant variety
  • Every 30 minutes: Moderate rotation
  • Hourly: Slower rotation
  • Daily: One quote per day

Tips:

  • Daily refresh works well for break rooms (same quote all day)
  • Hourly refresh for customer-facing displays (keeps fresh)
  • Choose category that matches your company culture
  • Use "With Author" style for professionalism
  • Position in footers or side panels

Dad Jokes​

Add daily humor to your displays.

Use Cases:

  • Break rooms - Lighten the mood
  • Retail stores - Engage customers
  • Reception areas - Create friendly atmosphere
  • Casual office environments

Setup:

  1. Go to Content Sources → Add Integration
  2. Select Dad Jokes
  3. Configure:
    • Refresh: Daily or hourly
    • Display: Text style and positioning
  4. Click Save

Display Options:

  • Full joke: Question and punchline together
  • Reveal animation: Question, then answer after delay
  • Card style: Styled card with joke text

Tips:

  • Daily refresh keeps it fresh without overdoing it
  • Position in corners or footers (subtle placement)
  • Use reveal animation for engagement
  • Best for casual, fun environments

Integration Management​

Viewing All Integrations​

  1. Go to Content Sources
  2. Filter by Type → Integration
  3. See all active integrations with status:
    • 🟢 Active and updating
    • 🟡 Warning (check configuration)
    • 🔴 Error (needs attention)

Editing Integrations​

  1. Click on any integration
  2. Update settings:
    • Change refresh intervals
    • Update credentials
    • Modify display options
  3. Click Save Changes

Changes apply immediately to all displays using this integration.

Deactivating Integrations​

  1. Go to integration settings
  2. Toggle Is Active to off
  3. Click Save

The integration stops updating but remains configured. Re-enable anytime without reconfiguring.

Deleting Integrations​

  1. Click on integration
  2. Click Delete Integration
  3. Confirm deletion

Warning: This removes the integration from all layouts using it. Ensure you have a replacement or update your layouts first.

Integration Performance​

Caching​

BrandCast caches integration data to improve performance:

  • Stock Market: 60-second cache
  • Weather: 15-minute cache
  • RSS Feeds: 5-minute cache
  • Calendars: 15-minute cache
  • ZoomShift: 30-minute cache
  • Quotes: Based on refresh rate

Cached data displays instantly while fresh data fetches in background.

Refresh Intervals​

Recommended Settings:

  • Real-time data (stocks): 60 seconds
  • Dynamic content (RSS, weather): 5-15 minutes
  • Scheduled content (calendars, ZoomShift): 15-30 minutes
  • Static content (quotes, slides): 30-60 minutes

Why it matters:

  • Shorter intervals = More API calls = Higher cost
  • Longer intervals = Less fresh data = Better performance
  • Balance freshness needs with efficiency

API Rate Limits​

Some integrations have API rate limits:

  • Stock Market: 500 calls/day (free), unlimited (premium)
  • Weather: 1000 calls/day
  • ZoomShift: Per your ZoomShift plan
  • Google APIs: Per your Google quota

Managing Limits:

  • Use appropriate refresh intervals
  • Disable integrations during off-hours
  • Monitor usage in integration settings
  • Upgrade plans if consistently hitting limits

Error Handling​

When integrations fail:

  1. First failure: Displays cached data (if available)
  2. Repeated failures: Shows error message
  3. Error logged: Check integration status for details

Common Errors:

  • Authentication failed: Reauthorize integration
  • Rate limit exceeded: Increase refresh interval
  • Network timeout: Check internet connection
  • Invalid configuration: Review integration settings

Best Practices​

Security​

Do:

  • Use API keys and tokens securely
  • Don't share credentials
  • Revoke unused tokens
  • Use read-only permissions when possible

Don't:

  • Display sensitive data on public screens
  • Share employee PII on customer-facing displays
  • Use personal accounts for business integrations
  • Store credentials in shared documents

Content Strategy​

Mixing Integrations:

  • Combine static + dynamic content for balance
  • Use 2-3 integrations per layout (avoid overcrowding)
  • Group related content (weather + calendar together)
  • Reserve space for critical integrations

Layout Design:

  • Main content: 60-70% of screen
  • Integrations: 30-40% of screen
  • Dynamic content in sidebars or footers
  • Static branding in headers

Refresh Strategy:

  • Critical data: Short refresh (60 seconds)
  • Important data: Medium refresh (15 minutes)
  • Nice-to-have data: Long refresh (60 minutes)
  • Don't refresh everything simultaneously

Troubleshooting​

Integration not updating:

  1. Check integration status (green/yellow/red indicator)
  2. Verify refresh interval isn't too long
  3. Check API credentials are valid
  4. Review error logs in integration settings
  5. Test API connection (click "Test Connection")

Data showing incorrectly:

  1. Verify integration configuration
  2. Check data source (RSS feed, calendar, etc.)
  3. Review display settings (format, style)
  4. Test in preview mode before deploying

Performance issues:

  1. Reduce number of integrations per layout
  2. Increase refresh intervals
  3. Check internet speed at display location
  4. Review cache settings

Integration Limits​

Limits vary by subscription plan:

Starter Plan:

  • 3 active integrations
  • Standard refresh rates only
  • Community support

Professional Plan:

  • 10 active integrations
  • Custom refresh rates
  • Email support
  • API access

Enterprise Plan:

  • Unlimited integrations
  • Real-time updates
  • Priority support
  • Dedicated success manager
  • Custom integrations available

View your current usage: Settings → Billing → Integration Usage

Content Import (Not Integrations)​

Looking to add static content to your displays? These are not integrations - they're content import methods:

Slideshow Content​

Want to display images and presentations? Slideshow Content accepts content from any source:

  • Live: Google Slides integration
  • Imported: Canva designs (Premium)
  • Uploaded: Your own media
  • Linked: External URLs

Next Steps​