Digital signage and restaurant menu board are now crucial elements in the restaurant business as they help to grab the customers’ attention, manage the restaurant operations and increase sales. Currently, due to the changes in technology, restaurants, including QSRs and high end, have adopted digital menus instead of the traditional printed ones. This paper aims to analyze the advantages, characteristics, and guidelines for the use of restaurant digital signage in 2025.
The Advantages of Digital Menu Boards to Restaurants
1. Dynamic & Real-Time Updates
Digital menu boards can be updated frequently with the price, promotions, and the menu without incurring the cost of printing new menus. For instance, a restaurant can easily transition from the morning to lunch menu or eliminate items not available in stock at the table side.
2. Enhanced Visual Appeal
The use of high resolution that makes the images, videos, and animations pop brings out the appetite for the food items. According to the research, 30% of the customers are influenced by the digital menus and this results in higher order values.
3. Improved Order Accuracy & Speed
The use of digital displays is also important in minimizing confusion and mistakes since it displays the available options for the customers. McDonalds used digital boards and found that there was a 15% increase in the accuracy of orders.
4. Cost Efficiency & Sustainability
The initial cost of implementing digital signage is higher than that of print media but it is environmentally friendly since it does not use paper thus saving costs in the long run.
Key Features of Modern Digital Menu Boards
1. Cloud-Based Management
Restaurants can edit and change the content to reflect the information presented to customers at different locations. Connection with POS systems, for instance, Square, ensures that the pricing and inventory information are updated simultaneously.
2. AI & Personalization
Digital signage also has the capability of recommending foods based on the weather, time, or the customer’s choice. For instance, a board may focus on selling cold drinks during summer, thus boosting the sales by 10-15%.
3. Interactive & Self-Service Options
The use of touch screen kiosks enables the customers to order food, make modifications and even make payments without having to wait much. Tacobell’s, the famous burger chain and Chili’s have witnessed an increase in sales between 5-20% by the use of self-service kiosks.
4. Drive-Thru Optimization
Outdoor digital menu boards with brightness of 2000+ nits and weather proofing help to enhance visibility in drive throughs. Wendy’s spent $53 million on drive-through technology to improve the overall experience of the customers.
Best Practices for Implementing Digital Signage
1. Choose the Right Hardware
• Budget-friendly options: For example, you can use Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Raspberry Pi, which costs at least
• 40–
• 40–128).
• Commercial-grade displays: Samsung QBC Series or Sony BZ35L (designed for 24/7 usage).
2. Design Engaging Content
• Ensure the use of quality food images and short textual descriptions.
• Ensure to emphasize the best-selling products and those with high-profit margins.
• When designing, ensure to include minor animations that can help in capturing the attention of the viewers.
3. Optimize for Customer Experience
• Include calorie information, allergens and preparation time to ensure that the customers are aware of the information.
• For instance, use of QR codes for ordering food through mobiles and integration of social media in the restaurants.
Conclusion
Restaurant digital signage is no longer a luxury but a necessity for any restaurant business in the year 2025. These solutions include real-time updates and personalization using AI that increases efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. No matter the size of the café or the QSR chain, the use of digital menu boards can turn around operations.
