Eight Ways Restaurants Use Digital Signage

When it comes to the world of gastronomy and hospitality, restaurants in particular, digital signage technology feels right at home! With the very many uses available, from practical to visual, it can help showcase daily specials, generate additional profit, lower perceived waiting times, and elevate the overall level of customer satisfaction. From dynamic menu boards to collecting feedback, take a look at common ways restaurants use digital signage!

Dynamic menu boards

At this point, static chalkboard menus are best if you aim for a particular vibe and aesthetic at the restaurant, or more laid back places like bars or coffee shops. Meanwhile, for easy display of information, in also a visually impactful way, digital signage is the way to go. Combine promotions with eye-catching visuals, or list out menu items in a uniform style. Digital signage software offers a ton of possibilities, and this is easily the number one use for this context.

New item launches and promotions

Whenever a new item becomes available, there is no better way to blast that information into the world than via a digital display. It can stick out prominently in the corner of the big menu or be highlighted with a “New!” sticker. You may take it even further and feature the item full-screen, combined with pricing and nutritional information, or any other key selling point.

Even aside from new launches, this can be a great way to balance out demand by pushing certain menu items over others as needed.

On-demand promotions and content

Updating menu boards or limited-time promotions can be done based on the needs of the moment. Rotations of menus and offers across certain days of the week and even certain times of the day can all be done automatically. Whenever a manual update is needed, such as during a sudden item becoming unavailable, your displays can be updated in seconds.

The concept of on-demand content applies in many different contexts. Deploy more content aimed at upselling during big traffic spikes, or push limited offers and discounts when things slow down to bump up the traffic. You may even tie in some content to real-time information, such as displaying content based on information like weather, temperature, and even audience.

Seasonal and holiday transformation

Push pumpkin spice themed visuals in fall, or twinkling lights in winter. Spring is just around the corner, so add some pastel florals to make the atmosphere match the season. These small tweaks add to the immersive vibe of the restaurant.

Furthermore, this paints a clear picture just how easy it is to schedule and push special promotions and offers based on season and holidays throughout the year. The best part, the data will be stored to reuse in future years.

Interactive touchscreens

One of the most popular uses for a digital screen in quick-service restaurants is the self-service kiosk. From highly-sophisticated menus to simple interactive orders for key promotion items, interactive touchscreens add an additional layer to the experience. 

There are other uses for interactive touchscreens, depending on the needs of the customer. For restaurants near tourist hotspots, an interactive display can provide information around local attractions, maps, or even fun games to pass the time as the customers wait to be seated.

Live sports and event viewing

Sports venues typically use big screens to broadcast sport events. Meanwhile, restaurants and bars can do the same, if the context allows for it, of course. This could be a rare occasion for really big events or games which justify big gatherings, think world cups. At other times, rest assured there are plenty of uses for digital displays, even if it’s to simply elevate the ambiance with pleasing visuals.

Feedback collection

Collecting feedback is a fairly straightforward concept. The greatest challenge of all is collecting it, in particular criticism which offers you the greatest amount of information you need to improve your business. Trouble is customers don’t always say it to your face and express their lack of satisfaction with their feet, simply not returning to your business if they find it unsatisfactory. Or worse even, they might leave a bad review influencing others into not even trying out your place.

Digital signage can make the process inviting and local. Set up interactive digital kiosks at exits, for example, to ask customers about their experience. This can be as detailed or as simple as you like. A good guideline is to make the process as fast as possible. For example, “How was your meal?” polls, including a set of emojis, can be filled out with a single tap. If you detect a consistent influx of negative votes, that means there’s something there. 

Branding and consistency

The best assets of digital signage software are the ability to manage content quickly, but also to do it in a brand-consistent fashion. Fonts, text sizes, image styles, layouts, and even color combinations can all be done in a template-based format, ensuring everything always looks professional and sleek.

With digital signage software like OnSign, content creation, management, and publishing is as easy as can be. You can schedule and automate content, as well as assign roles and permissions to staff members. Content creation via app templates and compositions is a breeze. Give it a try!