In the restaurant industry, how you present your menu, interact with guests, and create an inviting atmosphere can significantly impact how you attract and retain customers. Restaurant digital signage or video walls have become one of the most effective upgrades for modern dining spaces, offering a dynamic way to enhance engagement, boost sales, and simplify your restaurant’s daily tasks.
If you’re considering integrating AV displays into your restaurant but are unsure where to start, this blog will guide you through the practical applications, trends, and benefits of digital displays for restaurants.
How Restaurants Are Using Digital Signage Today
Restaurant digital signage is transforming the dining experience, embracing AV displays to modernize their spaces and improve service. Here’s how digital displays for restaurants are being utilized:
Restaurant Menu Display Screens
One of the best ways to use a restaurant's digital signage is to replace static, outdated menus. Traditional printed menus can be limiting as they’re hard to constantly update and don’t fully capture the appeal of your products. With digital displays for restaurants, you can instantly update prices, daily specials, and seasonal promotions.
These restaurant menu display screens also allow for high-quality visuals, motion graphics, and interactive elements that bring your menu items to life. Picture a restaurant menu display screen showing slow-motion footage of a sizzling burger or a café cycling through its best-selling pastries. These visuals don’t just look great but also make the food more enticing, often leading to increased sales as customers are more likely to order when they see images of food. Based on a report, 19% of customers made impulse purchases due to digital signage.
Beyond the visuals, restaurant digital signage makes real-time adjustments easy. If you run out of an item, it can be removed instantly instead of frustrating customers with unavailable options. Plus, digital displays for restaurants allow menus to shift automatically throughout the day, seamlessly switching from breakfast to lunch and dinner.
This also extends to drive-thru menus, as restaurant menu display screens allow the customers to view offerings before they reach the order point, reducing the pressure of making quick decisions. With clear visuals and easy-to-read text, customers can take their time choosing without holding up the line.
Self Service Kiosks
The demand for self-service kiosks is growing as restaurants aim to improve customer flow, reduce labor costs, and minimize order errors. These digital displays for restaurants allow customers to browse menus, customize their orders, and pay without waiting in line.
This setup benefits both customers and businesses. Guests appreciate the convenience of managing their own orders, while restaurants see increased revenue because customers tend to spend more when ordering from a screen.
Studies have shown that self-ordering kiosks often lead to larger ticket sizes, as guests feel less pressured and take their time exploring additional options. For example, McDonald’s saw a 5-6% sales increase with kiosks, while Chili’s experienced a 20% jump in dessert sales after adding self-ordering kiosks.
Promotional Digital Displays
Strategically placed digital displays for restaurants can significantly generate revenue by drawing attention to high-profit items. Many restaurants use restaurant digital signage to highlight:
- Limited-time menu items
- Seasonal promotions
- Loyalty programs and rewards
- Happy hour specials
These digital signage for restaurants can be placed at entrances, waiting areas, or above-order counters, ensuring maximum visibility. These AV solutions work like digital billboards, engaging customers at just the right moment to influence their purchasing decisions. Digital signage also has a higher recall rate, as 83% of people can remember at least one ad they saw on a digital billboard within the past 30 days.
Entertainment and Social Media Integration
Waiting for food can feel long, but digital displays for restaurants can help keep your guests entertained. Many food chains use restaurant digital signage to stream live sports, display trivia games, or showcase customer-generated social media content.
Many modern restaurants also use their AV display to showcase live Instagram photos, tweets, or TikTok videos from happy customers. This engages customers and encourages more social media sharing, which acts as free advertising. Some establishments also use digital signage for restaurants to display behind-the-scenes content, such as chefs preparing meals, which adds an extra layer of engagement.
Real-Time Order Updates
Restaurant digital signage can also enhance communication with customers by informing them about their orders' status. For example, a restaurant's digital signage can show when an order is being prepared, with a message like “Your Order is Being Prepared,” or display real-time updates such as “Now Serving: Order #25” to let customers know when their food is ready. This reduces confusion and wait time, keeping things organized while adding a professional touch to your service.
What Are the Benefits of Restaurant Digital Signage?
Incorporating restaurant digital signage into your dining space offers numerous advantages, such as:
Increased Sales Through Smart Promotions
One of the biggest advantages of restaurant digital signage is its ability to increase revenue by influencing customer choices. Around 80% of brands using digital communication systems have reported increased sales, with many seeing growth of up to 33%. This is largely due to digital displays for restaurants promoting add-ons like extra toppings, specialty drinks, or combo upgrades.
Additionally, restaurant menu display screens featuring high-quality food images often encourage customers to order more than they initially planned. According to a survey, 61.6% of consumers reported buying an item displayed in an in-store retail media format, such as digital screens on cooler doors or TV signage.
Better Customer Experience
With digital signage for restaurants, customers can quickly scan menu options, see real-time updates on availability, and place orders with ease. When paired with self-service kiosks, these AV solutions reduce wait times and improve order accuracy.
Digital signage for restaurants is also easier to read, making them more accessible to customers with visual impairments. Some restaurant menu display screens even feature multiple language options, ensuring a smoother ordering experience for diverse customer bases.
Branding and Aesthetic Appeal
Beyond functionality, restaurant digital signage enhances the visual appeal of a dining space. A well-designed digital display for a restaurant can reinforce branding through custom colors, logos, and animations. Whether you want a high-tech, modern feel or a warm, inviting atmosphere, AV solutions can be tailored to match your brand identity.
3 Emerging Trends in Restaurant Digital Signage
Restaurant digital signage is always advancing to meet the changing needs of the industry. With new innovations, these displays are offering more interactive and personalized experiences for customers. Here are three emerging trends in restaurant digital signage:
- AI-Powered Menu Recommendations: Artificial intelligence is making its way into restaurant digital signage, allowing dynamic menu boards to suggest items based on weather conditions, time of day, or sales trends. For example, a restaurant menu display screen might highlight cold drinks on a hot day or showcase warm soups in the winter. AI-driven digital displays can increase sales by 10-15% by delivering the most relevant content to the right customer at the perfect moment.
- Augmented Reality (AR) Menus: Some restaurants are experimenting with AR-enhanced digital signage that allows customers to scan a QR code and see a 3D preview of their meal before ordering. This adds an interactive element that can increase engagement and reduce uncertainty about menu choices. Although 1 in 10 people prefer QR codes, 95% of Americans surveyed believe restaurants should continue to provide in-person menus.
- Eco-Friendly Energy-Efficient Displays: As sustainability becomes a growing priority, many restaurants are switching to ENERGY STAR-certified digital displays that consume less power while maintaining high-quality visuals.
The ROI of Restaurant Digital Signage: Is It Worth It?
If you're wondering whether digital signage is worth it for your restaurant, the short answer is yes. It grabs attention, makes ordering easier, and boosts sales. Although the upfront cost might seem high, reducing the use of printed menus and signs will save you money in the long run.
To ensure a good return on your investment, track your sales increases, customer engagement, and ad revenue. Tools like audience analytics can show how many people are actually looking at your restaurant's digital signage and what content grabs their attention. In this way, you can tweak your content for better results.
The key to making digital displays for restaurant payoff is keeping it fresh. Update menus and specials regularly, match content to busy hours, and test different styles to see what grabs attention. Over time, your restaurant's digital signage will do more than just look good; it’ll help grow your business.
Upgrade to a Restaurant Digital Signage with Pulse Technology Today!
At Pulse Technology, we specialize in tailored A/V solutions to elevate your business. From digital signage for restaurants to interactive whiteboards and advanced projectors, we offer everything you need to captivate your audience and enhance communication. Whether you're looking to upgrade your menu displays or install a stunning video wall, our experts handle everything from installation to maintenance.
Let’s explore how these innovative tools can transform your business and drive success. Contact us today!
