In the ever-evolving food and beverage industry, standing out from the competition requires more than just great food—smart, customer-focused innovations. With businesses attempting to do everything they can to draw in customers and improve operations and sales, the commercial menu board has been a silver bullet. No matter what works like a bustling restaurant, a cozy café, a trendy coffee shop, a mobile food truck, or a vibrant ice cream parlor, a menu board is not just a list of offers, but that is not to say that the storyteller visual, a marketing tool, and a customer engagement driver.
With a well-designed menu board, customers make faster decisions. In contrast, the menu board helps enrich the brand’s perception, promotes order items that earn the highest margin, and offers a better overall dining experience. Today, businesses have many options to create an attractive and effective ordering system, from static printed boards to dynamic digital menu displays.
This article will cover commercial menu boards from head to toe, including different types, benefits, and design tips. Additionally, we’ll talk about specialized menu board solutions like digital menu boards, restaurant digital signage, drive-thru menu displays, and outdoor menu setups. At the end of this article, you will have a concrete plan for using menu boards to fasten and grow your category.
What is a Commercial Menu Board?
A commercial menu board is a display tool used by food and beverage businesses to display their offerings, prices, promotions, and other relevant information. Static boards are the traditional printed boards, and dynamic boards are the digital menu boards. The goal of the designs is to attract customers, make the process of ordering more manageable, and increase sales.
Your menu boards give off your brand as much as they are functional. An essential part of your marketing strategy is a well-designed menu board that can communicate your business’s personality, values, and professionalism.
Types of Commercial Menu Boards
Different forms of commercial menu boards are designed to meet a particular business need. Some of the most common typestyles are as follows.
Digital Menu Boards
Digital Menu Boards are electronic displays using LCD or LED screens to display menu items. Such widgets are highly customizable and can be updated remotely, which makes them extremely suitable for businesses that offer frequent changes, run promotions, etc.
Restaurant Digital Menu Board
A particular type of restaurant digital signage comprises a static menu board displayed on an electronic screen.
Cafe Menu Boards
Designed for cafes, Cafe Menu Boards have a cozy artistic design that suits the cafe’s ambiance. Usually, they feature products such as coffee, tea, and pastries.
Coffee Shop Menu Boards
These focus on beverages like coffee, tea, and pastries, often with a minimalist and modern design. They also could be seasonal specials or limited-time offers.
Food Truck Menu Boards
Compact and durable, these boards are designed for the food trucks’ mobile nature. They have to be readable and not subject to wear and tear.
Kitchen Menu Boards
This is where they would be used in the kitchen to display specials or orders for staff reference. These boards help to centralize communication between the front and back of the house.
Drive-Thru Menu Boards
These boards are placed on the drive-thru lanes and are made for quick readability. Most of the time, they include speakers to communicate. They have to be very visible, even in full sunlight.
Outdoor Menu Boards
These are made to withstand the weather but are designed for places with outdoor seating or walk-up windows. Usually, they are made of durable materials like aluminum or weather-resistant acrylic.
Ice Cream Menu Boards
Colorful and enticing in their color, you add flavors, various toppings, and special deals on these ice cream menu boards that can be placed on the walls or inside the displays. Usually, they are filled with bright designs to lure customers, especially children.
Bar Snacks Menu Boards
Bar menu boards are intended for bars and pubs and focus on drinks, cocktails, and bar snacks. The bar also has a sleek and sophisticated design to match the ambiance of the bar.
Benefits of Commercial Menu Boards
There are many benefits to investing in a high-quality commercial menu board for your business.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Clear and visually appealing menu boards help enhance the customers’ experience by eliminating the need to wait and assisting them in placing an order quickly, thus improving satisfaction.
Increased Sales
Being able to increase sales, highlighting high-margin items or a promotion. There are several ways to use digital menu boards to upsell or cross-sell items.
Customizable designs
The designs can be customized so that your menu board matches your brand identity and keeps your image in the minds of your customers.
Operational Efficiency
Digital menu boards are operationally efficient as they can be updated instantly, reducing time and errors. They can plug into your POS system for immediate updates as well.
Cost Effective
Although these boards may be higher initially, there is no more reprinting cost.
Versatility
Digital boards can be used for more than just menus, such as social media feeds, weather updates, or promotional videos, making them a multi-functional tool.
Adaptability
Digital menu boards are adaptable; changes according to changing trends, seasons, or customer preferences are easy.
Eco-Friendly Options
Several businesses now choose energy-efficient digital menu boards or printed boards of eco-friendly materials to help the environment.
Trends in Commercial Menu Boards
The commercial menu board world is constantly changing. Some of the latest trends are as follows:
- Made of touchscreen displays, customers can browse the menu, customize orders, or play games while waiting.
- Digital menu boards that use AI to recommend goods based on clients’ preferences or past orders.
- Eco-Friendly Materials and Energy-Efficient Displays: This has been mainly rising.
- Some digital menu boards can be integrated with mobile apps for seamless ordering and payment.
- Digital boards that change prices based on demand, time of day, or based on inventory levels.
- AR-enabled menu boards help customers visualize the menu items in 3D or interact with the menu in unconventional ways.
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High-resolution digital displays – Indoor, outdoor, and drive-thru options.
Templates & Branding Customizable – Customize a seller’s profile to match your restaurant’s style.
Engage with customers and offer visuals as well as upselling opportunities.
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FAQs About Commercial Menu Boards
How is a digital menu board different from a traditional menu board?
A static, printed display, a traditional menu board is as opposed to an electronic screen (digital menu board) that can be updated remotely. With digital boards, you can change the content in real-time, show animations, or even link to your POS system.
How much does a commercial menu board cost?
There are different types and sizes of boards, and thus the cost varies. Printed boards traditionally come in:
✔ Traditional printed boards: $50 – $500
✔ Digital menu boards: Appropriate for sizes ranging between $500 – $5,000+ (screen size, software, etc).
Is it worth investing in the digital menu boards?
Although, yes, digital menu boards are worthwhile for many businesses. Long-term savings can be achieved by removing reprints, and due to their dynamic nature, they can lead to increased sales and customer engagement.
Can I use a digital menu board for outdoor settings?
Yes, but you will need an outdoor digital menu board to withstand weather such as rain, heat, and UV exposure. These boards are manufactured with high-brightness screens for visibility in sunlight and are made of durable materials.
What is the right menu board for my business?
Think about your business type, where it’s located, your company’s budget, and precisely what you want the bookkeeper for. A platform like a food truck might find a compact and durable menu board helpful, and a coffee shop might need a stylish, modern digital display.
Can I update my digital menu board remotely?
Almost all digital menu boards have software that allows users to change content remotely through a computer or mobile device. This is particularly helpful for enterprises with several offices.
What content should I display on my menu board?
From this point, your menu board should contain your menu items, prices, promotions, and specials. In addition, you can add high-quality images of your offerings, nutritional info, or even fun facts about your biz.
How do I maintain a digital menu board?
Maintenance includes cleaning the screen, updating software, and confirming that the hardware runs well. Most digital menu boards are low maintenance, but you should always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Can a digital menu board be used in the drive-thru?
Absolutely! Specifically, drive-thru digital menu boards are built for this purpose. Features often included are high-brightness screens for use in daylight and built-in speakers for good communication.
Are there any eco-friendly menu board options?
Indeed, some businesses are going green using energy-efficient digital menu boards or printed boards made from green sources.
How do I design an effective menu board?
The menu board must be appealing enough for the consumer, easy to read, and organized. The color contrast should be high, the fonts legible, and images of high quality. Cluster like goods and emphasize your leading selling or margin goods.
Can I integrate my menu board with my POS system?
Indeed, yes, many digital menu boards can be integrated with your POS system so that prices can be automatically updated or inventory levels can be shown in real time.
What size should my menu board be?
The size of your menu board will depend on the type of business and the location. For instance, menus in a drive-thru should be large enough to be read far away, and menus in a cafe can be smaller and more detailed.
How much time does it take to install a digital menu board?
The setup time depends on the complexity of the setup. Less complex installations can take a few hours, while more complex installations, such as outdoor or drive-through boards, may take a day or two.
Can a menu board be used for nonfood businesses?
Menu boards can be customized to fit other businesses, such as retail stores, salons, or fitness centers, to feature services, prices, and promotions.
