In an era of Instagram-worthy and speedy services, a menu letter board is a long-lasting symbol of cafe culture. However, to keep up with the contemporary demands, most places have complemented the classic menu letter board displays with state-of-the-art digital menu board systems, which are operated by digital signage software. The digital signage solution by Nento combines the feel-good warmth of a physical menu letter board with the flexibility of digital signage systems, so your brand message will be as authentic as it is nimble.
Classic Menu Letter Boards: Timeless Appeal
- Tactile Experience: Customers enjoy the physical ceremony of pushing letters on a menu letter board, the heft of each plastic letter as they announce in spirit the specials of the day on a digital menu board. Menu letter board units made of wood frame contribute to artisanal decor.
- Low-Tech Dependability: The menu letter board does not need electricity or the internet to operate, and thus, it remains illuminated during power cuts or when the network is down, unlike digital restaurant signage screens, which turn off.
- Low Cost of Implementation: The price of a standalone menu letter board plus the cost of letters is a small fraction of the cost of a complete digital signage solution; this makes it a perfect fit for startups looking to put their toes in the water before switching to digital signage software.
- Artisanal Branding: Hand-made menu letter board messages are a perfect fit with farm-to-table restaurants and can support a brand promise of quality. Combined with Free templates for restaurants, you can harmonize your online and offline branding.
- Manual Control: Personnel can rearrange the letters on the menu letter board in seconds; there is no requirement for IT support or training on digital signage player software dashboards.
Digital Menu Boards: Modern Flexibility
- Remote Content Management: Using the Nento cloud-based digital signage software, your digital menu board can be updated in real-time and simultaneously on all screens, much quicker than manually changing the letters on a menu letter board.
- Interactive Digital Signage Software: Populate your menu letter board atmosphere with high-definition images, short video loops, scrolling text, and more with interactive digital signage software, and turn it into an immersive brand experience.
- Interactive Engagement: Touch-screen digital menu board kiosks enable customers to filter by dietary restriction or browse promotions and use digital signage for restaurants‘ interactivity in ways that a physical menu letter board cannot approach.
- Scalable Menus: Have one menu letter board in a local cafe or hundreds of digital menu board screens across a franchise? Nento digital signage services scale to any size, in any location, across any chain.
- Free Templates: Use Nento’s restaurant Free template library to create professional-looking digital menu board designs within minutes and keep the same look and feel as your menu letter board.
Comparison Table: Menu Letter Board vs. Digital Menu Board
Feature | Menu Letter Board | Digital Menu Board |
Manual updates required | ✔️ | ❌ Remote via digital signage software |
Limited space | ✔️ | ❌ Scrollable, rotating digital menu board content |
Interactivity | ❌ | ✔️ Interactive digital signage software |
| Real-time pricing updates | ❌ | ✔️ Instant syncing with digital signage solution |
| Visual media | ❌ | ✔️ Videos, images, and animations via digital signage player software |
| Branding flexibility | Limited | Unlimited with reseller digital signage options |
Hybrid Displays: The Best of Both Worlds
- Balanced Aesthetics: Balance a rustic menu letter board against a more modern digital menu board, being sure to utilize Nento digital signage software to make sure the two menu boards feature brand colors and fonts.
- Priority Messaging: Use your menu letter board to display core items only and utilize a digital menu board to show promotions or nutritional facts through digital signage restaurant feeds.
- Planned Content Mix: Schedule specials of the morning on your digital menu board and let your menu letter board be a permanent structure, all controlled by the digital signage solution provided by Nento.
- Customer Interaction: Challenge patrons to figure out what the special of the day is by rearranging letters on the menu letter board, then show the answer in a video loop on the digital menu board with digital signage player software.
- Storytelling Opportunities: Take advantage of interactive digital signage software on your digital display to share the story of how your artisanal latte came to be to match the handcrafted aesthetic of your menu letter board.
Nento’s All-in-One Digital Signage Solution
Nento digital signage product is a turnkey hardware/software/service solution that is used to upgrade any menu letter board-focused establishment. Begin with digital signage freeware software as a proof of concept and grow to enterprise-level digital signage services with multi-screen control and advanced analytics. Our reseller digital signage program allows agencies to white-label the Nento suite, providing turnkey digital signage solutions for restaurants and interactive digital signage software solutions as their own.
Maintenance & Upkeep of Menu Display Systems
- Regular Cleaning: Dust and grease may dull the effect of both your menu letter board and digital menu board- clean the surfaces once a week.
- Software Updates: Maintain your digital signage software to get new Free templates for restaurants and ensure security.
- Hardware Tests: Testing your digital signage player software-powered screens and menu letter board frames every three months will help stabilize hardware.
- Letter Inventory: Have a supply of spare plastic letters to your physical menu letter board- worn or lost letters may interfere with your branding.
Measuring Impact & Optimization
- Engagement Analytics: Use your digital signage software dashboard to measure the dwell time on your digital menu board and cross-reference with foot traffic in front of your menu letterboard.
- Sales Correlation: Determine the upsell performance during an animated promotion on your digital menu board compared to static menu letter board specials.
- Operational Efficiency: Measure time saved through remote updates using da igital signage solution as compared to manual change of menu letter boards.
- Content A/B Testing: Alternate various Free templates for restaurants on digital screens and track which design results in more orders being placed; hold your menu letter board constant as a baseline.
Take the Next Step: Elevate Your Menu Displays
Revamp your space using the Nento hybrid digital signage. Get the retro feel of a menu letter board but with the efficiency of a digital menu board supported by the best digital signage software and digital signage player software in the business. Whether it is through interactive digital signage software engagements or the entire digital signage services, Nento has it all. Get in touch with us now to arrange a demonstration and see why our restaurant digital signage is the ultimate solution used by progressive restaurants.
FAQs
What is a menu letter board?
A traditional marquee that has replaceable letters to manually change the menu is renowned for having a retro look.
How do digital menu boards differ?
They update automatically with digital signage software and support rich media and interaction as opposed to the analog menu letter board.
Can small cafés use digital signage freeware software?
Yes- with Nento digital signage freeware software, you can trial digital screens at a low cost before committing to the full digital signage services.
Is a hybrid display difficult to manage?
With Nento digital signage solution- manage the contents of your menu letter board and digital menu board using the same interface.
What are the benefits of reseller digital signage?
Resell white-label digital signage for restaurants, get volume pricing, and provide your customers with end-to-end interactive digital signage software.
