All-weather outdoor digital menu boards are the perfect means to engage customers and make ordering ‘fast food’ quicker and easier.

As Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) continue to implement vibrant and easy-to-read outdoor digital menu boards at stores across the country, many significant details must be considered before making the final decision to “go digital.” When researching a partner, QSRs should always inquire about three very important aspects, which may be called upon in the unlikely event of an outage: the warranty, the support system, and the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

3 Digital Menu Support Aspects to Consider:

1.    Warranty:

The length of the warranty indicates a manufacturer’s confidence in its own products. As an industry standard, it is recommended that a QSR chooses a solution that is guaranteed to operate properly for at least 3 years, but, if possible, the option to upgrade to 5 years is preferred. A QSR should perform a thorough review of the ‘fine print’ in the warranty documents. It is vital for the QSR to understand what items in the solution are covered under warranty. From media players to LCDs to enclosure parts, there are a number of moving parts that make up an outdoor digital menu board solution. Some parts may not be readily available in the event a replacement is required. Arranging a backup plan to stock popular parts with local service technicians is a smart idea.

2.    Support:

3.    Service Level Agreement (SLA):

Understanding how to report a problem with tech support is only half the battle. A QSR has the ability to negotiate the SLA to understand how fast a service technician will be dispatched to evaluate and fix any issues that may arise. The SLA must be negotiated before the initial installation. Industry standard SLAs require that a technician be sent out within 24 hours, but emergency service might also be available within an 8 hour or less turnaround. With 70% of business coming from a QSR’s drive-thru, it is imperative that the problem is fixed ASAP. As QSR Magazine states, “A high-performing drive thru must work like a fine-tuned machine. The smallest mistakes can quickly multiply and get out of hand with cars stacking up.”

In the end, it is always wise for a QSR with a digital drive-thru to ensure the menu will continue to work, even if one element is not operating properly. Do not make a decision solely based on the cheapest bidder!  If the menu is down, customers will have a difficult time ordering breakfast, lunch or dinner. Without the ability to order in the drive-thru, restaurants will quickly lose money and unhappy, hungry customers.

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