Meet Amped Digital 💙
Ever noticed those digital menu boards in restaurants? They're not just for show – they're impactful game-changers. These digital boards do more than just display the menu. They assist with queues, provide entertainment, run killer marketing campaigns to boost sales, and allow business owners to manage updates with ease. This is why 74% of QSRs ranked digital menu boards as a top priority.
a little history lesson (fun!)
Menu boards (both instore and drive thru) started over 45 years ago – simply listing items and prices on paper or plastic in a lightbox. They were much smaller and any changes required dexterous fingers. Over the next decade, operators realised that photos boosted sales – but limited space became an issue as menus expanded.
By the '90s, dayparting and changing menus required manual adjustments or turning the panels around. Then, running with the stress and excitement of Y2K - the 2000s spurted out digital menu boards (what a time to be alive!). This digitisation expanded capabilities – sky-rocketing revenues and finally giving those nimble fingers a rest.
fast forward to 2020
Post-pandemic, the way restaurants operate have completely flipped. Face-to-face chats with customers aren't as common and as-contactless-as-possible is expected. A recent survey found that 100% of food-service operators felt a sense of intense urgency to adopt transformational technology in their establishment. As the industry faces challenges with staff and an increasing demand for touchless options – digital signage integration is becoming a must-have.
Restaurants are on the lookout for ways to boost revenue and give customers a next-level experience. That's where digital signage steps in. Turning ordinary visits into something extraordinary. Cool, right?
pos integration
Think about the drive-thru, for instance. The unsung hero of QSR is rapidly changing thanks to digital signage. And we’ve seen this firsthand working with Grill’d! We were approached by Grill'd looking for a solution for their new drive-thru concept. Something that had never been done before. They wanted to be able to display a live order being placed on their digital screens - in real-time.
We met with their POS provider, Redcat, and built an integration that was able to achieve exactly what they wanted. We also built a menu widget to display pricing, descriptions, headers, and nutritional info on the screen - updating when a change was made in their POS. This whole project allowed Grill'd to design a menu within Fusion Signage – linking key fields (which are constantly changing) to their POS. This means minimal content updates and the ability to run different pricing around the country - all while keeping the same design. Cue a sigh of relief!
three rules of importance
A restaurant menu board isn't just about listing what's on offer. It should be like a brand ambassador – working to connect with customers and turn them into loyal fans. Traditionally, there are three big reasons why menu boards matter:
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The appeal factor. Think of the menu board as part of the interior design. Where you put it and how it looks should mesh seamlessly and create a welcoming atmosphere.
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The informational element. With a solid marketing and branding plan, the menu board becomes a supporting player for the complete customer experience. They’ve come this far, they’re in your beautiful establishment - now it’s time to sway them with all you have to offer.
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The key to engagement. A top-notch menu board is more than just a list – it's the foundation for value and interaction. Adding a touch of pizazz and a sprinkle of animation (to pair with your menu items) will have viewer’s eyes locked on your screen.
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Put it all together, and you've got the recipe for a fool-proof customer journey. Boosting loyalty, increasing sales, and ultimately growing your business. How good is that?
it's in the details
Customers love sharp graphics. It enhances their overall dining experience. Digital menus (with their dynamic capabilities) are gaining popularity for being user-friendly and offering a personalised touch.
In an era of frequent menu changes, menu boards are having their moment in the spotlight. Allowing easy updates on the fly. This is especially handy for sold-out items - ensuring a consistently up-to-date menu and zero disappointed customers.
Now, the cool part. Interactive and visually stunning digital signage. Customers can check out prices, promotions, ingredients, and nutritional data in crystal-clear visuals. Restaurants can tweak menus in real-time for cross-selling and timed specials. This translates to an enhanced customer experience - building loyalty, bigger bills, and more repeat visits. It's a slam-dunk for flavour and finance.
must have features
Let’s take a look at the ‘must-have’ checklist of a successful menu board: 
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Seamless updates with pro software. Imagine a world where every display in your restaurant is effortlessly updated and synchronised with one another. That's the magic of the Fusion Signage platform. It not only allows self-management at the large or small business level, but is also seamlessly connected to your POS system (enabling remote changes in prices and menus).
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Weather resistance for outdoor signage. No need to fret about the weather when it comes to outdoor digital signage. All our trusted Resellers know the hardware you need for anything Mother Nature can throw your way. Don’t have a Reseller yet? Drop us a line and we’ll match you with one nearby.
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Automatic dayparting for a customised experience. Want to provide more tailored encounters and efficiently manage assets? The solution lies in automatic dayparting. Program your digital signage menu boards to match the time of day (without any staff intervention) - reducing the need for constant monitoring. How nice! Kick your feet up!
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Dynamic content management. Given the ever-changing nature of menu items, technology should empower swift changes in displayed information. Whether it's updating ingredients, preparation details, or nutritional info – digital menu boards make it easy. Out-of-stock items? Quickly remove or replace them without disrupting the overall menu appearance.
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Consistency across multiple locations. With Fusion Signage, maintaining uniformity and consistency across all locations becomes easy-peasy. Update menus effortlessly, ensuring that content remains the same across your stores.
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Reliable support. We have a close relationship with our Resellers. This means we’re a team – here to support you. Keeping your systems up-to-date and operational with minimal hassle.
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Incorporating these features not only streamlines your operations, but also transforms the way your customers interact with your menu. Here’s to increased revenue and customer satisfaction. 🍻
wrap it up 🎁
Digital menu boards revolutionised the restaurant industry (offering more than menu listings). They boost sales, enhance customer experience, and adapt to the post-pandemic landscape. Supported by platforms like Fusion Signage, these boards promise visually stunning, interactive tools for culinary success.
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