Digital signage continues to evolve quickly allowing for way more than the “wow factor” of flashy images on your screens. Staying ahead of this trajectory can give you a competitive advantage as you look to separate yourself from your competition. Let’s look at 5 trends to be on the lookout for.
1. Smart Menus That Update in Real-Time
Nowadays, a USB stick with an image that is inserted into a TV should not be considered a “digital signage solution.” Digital menu boards can do so much more than meet the customer’s eyes. With ability to integrate with one’s POS system, you can control inventory, drive specials and change pricing based on the time of day. This ability allows you to promote high margin items, test items and spontaneously run specials to eliminate waste without the need of a long design process, printing or shipping. This all results in less product waste, quicker menu accuracy and overall greater experience for your customers.
2. Dynamic Content Driven by AI
Of AI’s many strengths are the ability to learn and collect data and react to it accordingly. This is prevalent with digital signage. Adapting these capabilities to your menu boards inside and out at the drive-thru can allow for tailored menu content that reacts to who is looking at the menu, what their previous behaviors have been, the time of day, environmental factors, etc.
A few examples of what this could look like:
- “Family packs” when the “Smiths” arrive to the drive-thru in their mini van
- “Baja Blast” sprinkled all over the Taco Bell boards on a hot summer’s day
- Suggesting slight savings on an item a returning customer ordered last time
3. Interactive Ordering Techniques
There are several reasons why more restaurants are moving towards more interactive ordering options. To name a few, employee cost (reduction), nutritional information, stressless / convenient ordering and less waste. Digital solutions that offer QR codes, self-ordering kiosks and load full menus with gesture-based navigation make it easy for most that have operated a tablet or phone for any period of time.
This allows customers to review the menu on their phone to see what all the options are and learn about the ingredients and nutritional information at their pace. The result with be less “well I didn’t see it on the menu board” complaints along with a streamlined order taking flow and a more productive process with less errors overall.
4. Simpler, Cleaner Displays
Restaurants are turning the corner on the mindset of having to list all their offerings. The more you add, the more clutter which will slow decisions, elicit errors and stress out customers. By switching to a minimalist look it makes it easy for customers to quickly peruse the options which will increase throughput.
Utilizing not only day-part capabilities but also channel-based features can allow you to project a lot of information while only when it is most applicable. This decreases the customer’s ordering fatigue and accelerates the whole ordering procedure.
5. Signage Solutions That Will Last
“Sustainability” can land differently with different groups of people. However, I think we can all agree that making more money isn’t a bad thing. Whether it is tablets on a table, digital signage or other energy efficient displays, the shift usually comes with long terms savings. Lower energy bills, no printing and less carbon footprint to deliver the old school alternatives will resonate with a large customer base and express some of your company values.
More practically, going this route allows for much quicker response times as outlined above. There is no need to rely on other parties to make the adjustments for you.
Summary
Embracing these trends sooner that later can help you if you’re a single unit outfit or a multi-location chain. Once you’ve integrated your menus with the POS, ordering processes and inventory control, the “system” becomes a driver of sales for you. It promotes your restaurant. It sells for you. It reduces waste for you. It increases customer satisfaction for you. It makes you more money! Get ahead and stay ahead and only look back to see who is chasing you.
Do you need help making these determinations for your business? Give us a call today at 888-235-2579, email us at info@origindisplays.com or contact us here to speak with a solutions specialist.
