Deploying high-bright digital menu displays with enclosures takes research and strategizing.

Static menu boards, at the drive-thru, are not as prevalent as they once were, as Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) revamp their strategy to include digital signage solutions (both outdoors and indoors). As technology improves, restaurants are adding innovative, easy-to-update digital displays (with all-weather enclosures) to present eye-catching animations and videos.

Outdoor digital menu boards make it simple for a restaurant to change prices, promote special food items or drinks, remove a sold-out product, boost sales, improve overall service, and increase the restaurant’s brand. Several factors must be considered when researching outdoor digital menu boards, including trustworthiness, how easy is it to use, and can the digital boards achieve long-term sales goals?

“It starts with a strong digital signage content strategy!”

 

While this statement is very true, there is more to an LCD enclosure project than most people realize. During the planning phase, you must consider not only the marketing message, but also the network, design, content, and above all – the hardware. Digital signage lives through the hardware, and the hardware cannot function without quality content.

When enclosing LCDs outdoors, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution.

Millions and millions of people visit quick service restaurants each and every day.

For example, did you know that McDonald’s feeds 68 million people every day, and sells more than 75 burgers every second? That is a lot of people and sandwiches! We are not even counting Arby’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, KFC, In-N-Out Burger, Taco Bell, and Hardy’s. These staggering stats are even more reason to consider installing digital menu boards at quick service restaurants. Digital signage provides a platform to deliver compelling content to entice customers to purchase specific items. This process is beneficial to the restaurant owner/operator, because sales of higher profit margin menu items and limited time offers (LTO’s) can dramatically increase profits. Quick service restaurants (QSR) can deliver unique content and make changes to the existing menu items - with the click of a button - from a regional or national operations center. Digital menus are an invaluable tool for the trendy, relevant QSR operator. According to the article, ‘The digital signage market grows exponentially as expansion activities edges up according to new research report‘, digital signage is an important tool for all QSRs to use, “Digital signage is changing the way businesses and organizations communicate in public places. It satisfies the demand for immediacy & relevance. it offers significant advantages over conventional signage & posters, which have to be designed and printed well in advance.”

An effective and smart content strategy plays a major role in the success of digital signage. 

When the layers of the onion are peeled away, how does one accomplish this task? A plan begins to take form when the end user can answer several questions related to the overall project objective.

Take the time to ask the following 7 questions to all possible team members including IT, marketing, sales, facilities, and any others that may be involved in a portion of the project. It will be surprising how each department may answer the questions differently.

Deploying outdoor digital signage presents a set of unique challenges.

Challenges can be overcome with proper preparation and can maximize the user’s return on investment. Ryan Kh, in his article, ‘3 Case Studies That Prove Digital Signs Work,’ explains how digital can be a valuable resource for any company’s marketing strategy, “Digital signage is becoming a notable trend in marketing. Both local and multinational companies are using digital signs to reach and engage with their customers, and if you’ve been paying attention, they’re working…Digital signs have been proven to be very engaging.”

When planning for a signage project, be sure to research the various options available to make an informed decision. Compared to an indoor solution, outdoor digital signage installations require more robust enclosures, electronics, and thermal management systems. Do not make the mistake of using the same budget as indoors, because the environments are simply not the same.

When planning an outdoor digital signage project, there are a number of considerations that need to be addressed.

It is common for customers to overlook pertinent questions, because they simply do not know the answers. By ignoring some of the basic fundamentals of outdoor digital signs, necessary building blocks can be left behind. These blocks are often the vital elements that lead to a successful digital project.

When deciding on the perfect outdoor LCD enclosure, a good bit of emphasis is put onto the outdoor environment.

Will the LCD be exposed to direct sunlight? What are the high and low temperatures? What electronics will be used inside of the enclosure? What type of thermal management is needed? These are all common questions an enclosure company will ask to make an appropriate recommendation. With that being said, preparing to install digital signage outdoors includes a number of risks and hazards. The installation should be well planned to prevent potential problems. Installing digital signage that is heavy and in an area it was not originally intended can pose a risk to the public.

Looking to deploy outdoor digital signage for your company or client? 

 

When considering a digital signage solution, there are many items to consider, including screen size, enclosure material, and thermal management. However, one of the main topics of concern is the location of the digital sign. Like retail space, real estate, and restaurants, when installing digital signage, location is everything! Location, Location, Location. You simply cannot purchase and install digital signage without first considering the various factors that may hinder visibility and longevity. The sun plays a large role in whether the digital signage will be a success or failure. There are a few things that, when prepared and planned properly, will create the perfect environment for any outdoor digital deployment.

When visiting a college campus, large healthcare/hospital facility, or amusement park, using digital signage, in the form of wayfinding kiosks, to figure out your current location or destination is extremely important.

When planning a large outdoor wayfinding project, it is critical to keep the message simple. With the rise in outdoor digital signage, it may be tempting ‘to make a big splash’ by incorporating fancy technology or overloading the signage with flashy and stimulating content. However, including too many elements can be overwhelming to those who are just trying to find their way around an unfamiliar place. According to Irfan Khan’s blog, ‘7 Digital Signage Trends for 2016,’ digital offers a better experience for the end user, “Digital signs are inherently more attention-grabbing than a traditional static sign. Thanks to recent technologies, digital signs can be even more engaging to customers and viewers—in fact, they can be interactive, turning viewing them into a personal experience.”