Digital menu boards are must-have devices for restaurants, cafes, and retail facilities that are planning to bring customers’ expectations to the digital level and make updates more frequent and appealing to the eye. Selecting the best digital menu board software can affect the choice of menu, its design, frequency of changes, customers’ interaction with the board, and its costs. In this article, we will be discussing the top digital menu board software and the benefits they offer, their usability, and their costs.
What exactly is digital menu board software?
A digital menu board is software that allows companies to present menus, offers, and other content on screens like televisions, tablets, or public displays. This software helps in the easy management of content updates, price changes, display of images or videos, and remote programming of content changes. The major advantages include the real-time information, use of vibrant graphics, and efficiency in the operations.
Factors to Consider in Digital Menu Board Software
When selecting digital menu board software, it’s essential to consider:
Ease of Use: Ease of use ensures that contents are updated by the staff and they do not require special training to do so.
Customizability: Softwares that allow more customization options allow branding and visuals to have that much more control.
Cost: The pricing is very competitive, with different platforms having different pricing strategies; it is therefore relevant to understand the pricing system of each of these platforms.
Features: These include schedules, templates, real-time updates, and third-party app compatibility.
Compatibility: Be certain that the software works with the hardware you have and your operating system.
The Best Digital Menu Board Software Solution for 2024
Below we take a closer look at some of the most popular types of digital menu board software currently on the market.
Nento
Overview: Nento is a relatively new digital signage solution that aims to offer complete digital menu board solutions for restaurants, cafes, and quick service eateries. Popular for the mobile first strategy, Nento has other notable features, including usability, modern themes, and food industry-specific integrations.
Key Features:
· Mobile first design of the interface where all changes to the menu can be made from the mobile devices.
· Convenient QR code access to the menus, which can be viewed on customers’ smartphones.
· Ability to add content from templates and options for dynamic images, videos, and animations
· Web content updates in relation to time-sensitive information such as new product offerings, daily and happy hour specials.
Pros:
· Feasible mobile administration that enables on the spot modifications.
· QR code features for active engagement with customers
· Easy synchronization with well-known POS software for synchronization
Cons:
· It has minimal options for further configuration in the more extensive and complicated environment.
· Designed for the food and beverage sector, and so might not be very useful in other fields, although nuanced use cases can exist.
Pricing: On request, with affordable price offers depending on the size of the business and its specific requirements.
Best For: Restaurants and cafes seeking an easily portable, responsive, and customer-involving platform.
NoviSign
Overview: NoviSign is an easily accessible cloud-based digital signage solution that is widely used in restaurants and cafes with digital menu boards because of the varied templates and effective content management tools.
Key Features:
· Flexible drag-and-drop editor that allows to choose among more than 150 templates
· It is intended to provide real-time updates and scheduling of the business.
· Control of multiple screens from a distance
· Supports image, video, animation, and many other formats.
Pros:
· A large number of templates for choosing, which are tailored for food service.
· Designed for the least experienced users and at the same time sufficiently adaptable for the most experienced ones
· Offline playback mode in case of disconnect
Cons:
Fewer integrations with other platforms than with other providers
Pricing: Pricing begins at $20 for every screen per month.
Best For: Small businesses that need high customization without extensive integration solutions.
ScreenCloud
Overview: ScreenCloud is one of the most used digital signage players that is easy to use and does not require a lot of configuration for it to work, and because of its compatibility and features, it is well suited for digital menu boards.
Key Features:
· Easy-to-use and versatile content creation through the drag-and-drop option.
· Google Drive integration, Dropbox integration, and integration with other cloud storage.
· Options for timing of content changes that are based on time
· Large selection of templates created with restaurants in mind
Pros:
· Very easy to use, suitable for people who have no computer knowledge
· Friendly support service and engaging user base
· Supports Android, iPhone, Windows, and Smart TV.
Cons:
Certain features are also limited to only the paid versions of the app.
Pricing: Pricing begins at $20 per screen per month with volume discounts if you commit to annual billing.
Best For: The target market for this strategy is small to medium businesses who need an easy-to-implement and easily expandable solution.
Yodeck
Overview: Yodeck is a flexible digital signage solution that is affordable and easy to use. As such, it is a perfect solution for companies with a relatively limited budget but requiring a stable digital menu board.
Key Features:
· Free starter pack consisting of one Yodeck player and one free subscription of one screen.
· Template collection with menu-specific design
· Scheduling of screens and its remote controls
· Compatibility with widgets covering the weather, social networks, and much more
Pros:
· Pricing that is quite reasonable with a free version of the software for businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
· Convenient, easy to install and can be operated even by children
· It can be implemented on the Raspberry Pi as well as on other similar digital signage hardware.
Cons:
· Most of the advanced features are locked and only available for users in the premium package.
· Only a few settings that enable the customization of the template
Pricing: There is a free plan for one screen; paid plans start at $7.99 per month per screen.
Best For: Small businesses and startups seeking a relatively cheap way into the digital signage market.
Raydiant
Overview: Raydiant is a digital signage solution that aims at creating engaging in-store experiences, which is why restaurants love using it for digital menus.
Key Features:
· Design interface that allows users to drag and drop elements with the option of having templates.
· Integration to POS systems and social media feeds
· Remote management for controlling multiple screens at once
· Promotions, coupons, and other messages that change frequently, for example, throughout the day
Pros:
· Customer interface and communications as a key strategic priority
· High-quality support for graphics and multimedia.
· POS integration makes it easy to change the menu for a product based on the stock or sales.
Cons:
· A very slight price premium compared to some of its competitors
· Limited free trial period
Pricing: It starts at $59 per screen per month.
Best For: Any retail outlets or restaurants that wish to provide a very engaging environment.
OptiSigns
Overview: OptiSigns is an adaptable digital signage solution with multiple capabilities for digital menu signs. It is a great solution for restaurants, bars, and cafes that require a stable and highly customizable system.
Key Features:
· Supports videos, images, social media feedsand other forms of dynamic content.
· Sub Scheduling for various time, place or day
· Tablet-based control of multiple displays in a single interface
· Integration with Canva for the purpose of content creation
Pros:
· Pricing with extensive features which are affordable
· They have had strong scheduling and customization functions.
· Suitable for restaurants that call for customized screens.
Cons:
There are only a few predefined templates available for other content that is not specifically created by you.
Pricing: It is available at $10 per month per screen.
Best For: Small business organizations, which require flexible scheduling and dynamic content capabilities in their communications at cheaper rates.
Choosing the Right Digital Menu Board Software
The best digital menu board software for your business depends on factors like budget, customization needs, and the scope of your display network. Here are some tips to consider when making your decision:
Evaluate Your Content Needs: Consider whether or not you require additional features such as dynamic pricing, the ability to have animated graphs and charts, or if the program will be using video support.
Check Compatibility: Ensure that the software will run well with your display hardware and any interfaces that you require.
Factor in Scalability: If your goal is to someday expand, make sure that the chosen solution will be scalable.
Review Customer Support Options: This is specifically so where you are not very computer literate as the support needs to be dependable.
Final Thoughts
The use of digital menu board software has greatly enhanced the manner in which businesses interact with customers, how menus are changed, and how products are advertised. Starting with ScreenCloud and NoviSign up to the mobile-focused Nento, each of the platforms provides different features for businesses. Selecting the right software can help in improving customers’ perception and satisfaction, improving business efficiency, and guaranteeing an eye-catching, always updated menu.
