The quick-service restaurant industry has taken a progressive step towards embracing digital menu boards, driven by factors such as customer demands for efficiency, post-pandemic safety norms, and the bolstered utilization of advanced technologies like AI and data analytics.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, quick-service restaurants like McDonald’s and Taco Bell decided to curb human contact without compromising efficiency. They successfully deployed digital menu boards across their drive-thru services, fostering safety alongside enhanced customer experience.
On a similar note, quick-service restaurants are harnessing the power of AI to deliver personalized menu experiences. This personalization concept employs customer data to suggest food items based on prior orders, current weather conditions, or specific time of the day. Following this trend, McDonald’s acquired a decision-logic tech firm, Dynamic Yield, to provide bespoke digital drive-thru experiences across the US.
The integration of Near Field Communication (NFC) and QR codes in digital menu boards has further revolutionized customer engagement. Customers can now access menu details, nutritional facts, and even customized orders via smartphones, drastically limiting touchpoints in the current pandemic times.
Moreover, digital menu boards present a more visually appealing, real-time update capability, offering flexibility regarding stock availability, promotional events, or menu changes. Lastly, the transition to digital menus also promotes an environment-friendly approach, reducing the needs for physical menus, thereby cutting down paper wastage.
In essence, digital menu boards are becoming imperative for quick-service restaurants, shaping their way towards personalization, safety, convenience, and environmental sustainability amidst shifting consumer behavior and technological advancements. It’s clear to say the trend is not merely technology-driven but has a lot to do with evolving consumer expectations and behavioral patterns.
California Fish Grill Case Study
Download the California Fish Grill case study that details how we helped integrate their digital menu boards and Northstar PoS for automatic price updates, 86’ing items off the menu, and streamlining menu rollouts to all of their locations.
