As more and more people are cooking at home, and taking advantage of take-out and delivery services, restaurants are looking to increasingly offer a more unique dining experience that attracts customers into their restaurants and cafes. Signage is playing a major part in that transformation as restaurants incorporate indoor digital signage into their business. Now it seems everyone from boba tea shops to high-end fine dining restaurants incorporate some level of digital signage, whether it’s a kiosk to order from, a digital menu board to highlight pictures, video, and text of food items, or even just screens for atmosphere, digital signage has changed how many restaurants do business.
What types of Digital Display Signs are used in restaurants?
There are a variety of digital signs that can be used in restaurants from traditional display screens (TV monitors) to cloud based digital signage such as Electronic Message Centers.
One provider of Digital Displays, Vantage, offers two types of LED displays SMD (Surface Mount Diodes) and COP (Chip on Board) LEDs. SMDs can be stacked, wall-mounted or hung, while COBs are stacked or wall-mounted. SMDs are built for a wide-range of viewing distances, while COBs are preferred options for close viewing.
Vantage also offers cloud-based solutions for digital signage as well which allows for more dynamic offerings with regards to updating your sign.
How can I use these Digital Signs in my restaurant?
These types of signs can be incorporated into traditional displays or as indoor digital restaurant menu boards.
Digital Displays can help with branding. By incorporating branded videos, logos, or other graphics, they can help provide a sense of place.
Digital Displays can provide atmosphere. If you’re looking to provide a fun atmosphere you may want to use these displays to play music, or even music videos, or other such fun videos.
Digital Displays can help sell food or upsell food. Digital Sigs can be a part of your digital menu board solution, but they can also be placed in the restaurant to showcase additional food items such as desserts that customers may consider during or after their meal. Cafes and diners for instance often will showcase cake selection through digital displays.
How are kiosks incorporated into a restaurant or café?
Kiosks increasingly serve as the front-line for businesses, whether its to reserve your spot, or to order food, you may be greeted by a host or more often a kiosk. Depending on your preferred use of a kiosk, it may supplement your existing staff, or perhaps even relieve them of some duties in the same way that apps now increasingly have alleviated wait time notifications by providing them via text.
How pricey are digital display signs or kiosks?
Digital Display signs range from thousands to several thousand dollars, which is why the initial investment may scare away some potential buyers. However when integrated into your business model effectively, they can help enhance revenue and attract more customers.
I’ve seen more and more robot waiters at restaurants. Are they considered signs?
Not strictly no; however, robot waiters do often have digital displays that can provide a happy face – often literally – for the customer, or they even display your order, or your meal item, especially when they bring it around. Cat robots have become increasingly popular and they’ll often have cat-like faces along with robotic ears.
Future of Digital Signage in the Restaurant Industry
Though it’s hard to say how the restaurant industry may change in the future, we can say that right now its trending increasingly towards a more digital experience. As you look for more ways to ramp up your restaurant or cafe’s experience, consider digital signage and all its benefits. Then you can talk with us at Ortwein Sign and we can see if it’d be a boon to your business, and if so how best to implement it to help your restaurant thrive for years to come!