Image: McDonald's Digital Menu Board
Last year, McDonald's introduced a groundbreaking $6 billion redesign plan for its U.S. restaurants, known as the "Experience of the Future redesign." As part of this transformation, over 7,000 McDonald's locations nationwide have successfully implemented digital menu boards. In this article, we will uncover the reasons behind McDonald's adoption of electronic menus and explore how this innovative approach can give smaller restaurant owners a competitive edge, leading to increased revenue.
The Shift to Digital Menus: McDonald's Vision
Image: McDonald's Digital Menu Board
QSR digital menu boards, deployed at in-store and drive-thru locations, boast automation capabilities that allow dynamic menu changes based on the time of day, season, local weather, and traffic patterns. Research indicates that McDonald's digital menu boards have contributed to a remarkable 20% increase in sales and garnered highly positive customer feedback. According to McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook, their motive for transitioning to digital displays is to "leverage technology to improve and modernize the way we connect with customers."
Image: McDonald's Digital Menu Board
With over half of McDonald's restaurants adopting the new digital menu boards and experiencing positive customer feedback, the significance of these numbers cannot be overlooked. McDonald's serves an astonishing 68 million customers daily, which is almost 1% of the global population.
7 Significant Benefits of Digital Menu Boards
The benefits of elevated digital menu boards extend beyond industry giants like McDonald's and are equally accessible to smaller restaurant owners. Studies indicate that implementing digital signage can potentially increase drive-thru sales by up to 8% and overall sales by 3-5%. Here are the key advantages of using digital menu boards:
1. Captivating Advertising Tools
Dynamic animations and vibrant graphics on digital menu boards instantly capture and retain customers' attention when they enter your restaurant.
2. Cost Savings And Simplified Menu Scheduling
Eliminate the expenses associated with menu reprints. With digital menu boards, you can effortlessly update prices, add new items, or correct errors from any internet-connected device. Easily adapt different menus to cater to different times of the day, seasonal changes, or special events with simple scheduling options.
3. Streamlined Ordering And Economic Long-Term Solution
Automating menu changes ensures that customers only see available items, simplifying the ordering process and enhancing service efficiency.
Contrary to traditional static menus, digital menu boards provide a cost-effective option with an upfront investment. Additionally, 30% of restaurants recoup the cost of digital boards within the first year.
4. Real-Time Updates
McDonald's and other restaurants are going digital with AI-powered menu displays, resulting in sales boosts. Even smaller restaurants can benefit from simple digital boards, which automate tasks and offer real-time updates, making the customer experience more convenient.
5. Contact-Less & Covid-Safe
In the wake of COVID-19, customers are concerned about physical contact in restaurants. Restaurant kiosks and digital menu QR codes provide a contactless solution. Customers can order and pay with a touch or from their phones, ensuring safety and hygiene during the pandemic.
6. Data Collection
Digital menu boards and self-service kiosks provide valuable data for restaurants. Through analytics and tracking, they can learn about customer behavior like popular items and preferred languages. This data helps in making informed decisions about product offerings, pricing, and promotions.
7. Personalized Experience
McDonald's self-service kiosks offer a personalized experience by allowing customers to customize their orders with extra cheese, more sauce, or additional toppings. This personal touch can lead to higher sales and increased customer satisfaction.
The Future of Digital Signage Technology With AIScreen
Image: AIScreen Login
AIScreen is an innovative cloud-based digital signage software solution, installation, and support services provider that transforms regular TVs into dynamic displays. Whether you own a restaurant, retail store, corporation, or any other business, AIScreen can elevate your customer experience with interactive content. As the sole CMS provider, AIScreen offers user-friendly plug-and-play hardware that seamlessly installs in minutes by connecting to the back of any TV. Some key features of AIScreen include:
Content Variety
AIScreen supports diverse digital file formats, including graphics, animations, videos, and more, empowering businesses to create captivating displays. The software app also provides 1500+ pre-made templates that can be customized.
Customizable Playlists
Create and play custom playlists, granting you full control over the content displayed on your screens.
Dynamic Menu Scheduling
With AIScreen, effortlessly schedule digital boards to change automatically based on the time of day, season, or special promotions.
Intuitive User Interface
AIScreen's user-friendly interface is accessible via the internet on all your devices, allowing easy and swift content management.
Conclusion
Digital menus have proven to be a game-changer for the restaurant industry, enhancing customer engagement and driving revenue growth. Following McDonald's successful transition to digital menus, smaller restaurant owners can harness the same advantages to gain a competitive edge. AIScreen's cutting-edge technology allows businesses to unlock the full potential of digital signage, making it easier to attract more customers, increase ROI, and streamline the ordering process. Embrace the future of digital signage with AIScreen and elevate your restaurant experience to new heights. Try AIScreen today and witness the transformation firsthand.
