How to Develop and Use a Digital Menu

Everything’s gone digital, including menus! This may have you considering a digital menu board to bring your juice bar or restaurant menu to life. Let’s dive into the top benefits of upgrading to digital, your top options, and how to develop an engaging layout.

What is a digital menu?

Even if you don’t utilize digital displays in your restaurant, you’re likely to need at least a few digital options.

• Menu boards: Menu boards are a top option for fast-casual food establishments. Most restaurants are upgrading their wall-mounted menu boards to digital displays.
• Tablet menus: Tablets are extremely versatile. You can mount them on your tables or by your register and your servers can use them to input orders. Think beyond your menu to creating an interactive touchscreen experience.
• Online-only: With on-demand delivery on the rise you may need to curate a range of mobile responsive menus.
• QSR code menus: Place your QSR code on your tables and in your digital and print marketing to link directly to your online menu. QR codes can also be used to process payments!
• PDF menus: If you have a takeout menu, you can save it as a PDF to place in various online and social media channels.

What is the benefit of digital menus?

Going digital is an expense, but it’s often one that pays itself back in engagement and flexibility. The top benefits are below.

• Visual appeal: Post mouthwatering images, videos, and motion graphics of your best-selling juice, snacks, and food to entice customers.
• Customer engagement: Customers have a faster and easier time placing their orders when they can see their top options.
• Targeted timing: Unlike static menus, you can time your displays to automatically switch to feature breakfast, lunch, and dinner best sellers.
• Rotating: In addition to targeted timing, you can alternate different photos, videos, and specials to highlight more of your menu.
• Guided customer journey: Be mindful of what you rotate on different screens. Don’t just feature best sellers, also feature your upsell items.
• Reduce perceived wait time: Even when lines are long, customers are so engaged they feel like they’re waiting up to 35% less time. Table-mounted tablets with trivia and games can reduce perceived wait time even more!
• Real-time updates: No more ordering or printing out new menus when you add or remove an item to your menu, you can make changes to your menu in real time.
• Cost-savings: The ability to update your brick-and-mortar menu in real-time saves you the expense of costly static menu board changes.
• Strategic marketing: Have produce or other food items nearing their expiration date? Strategically update your images and video to increase sales and minimize waste.
• Informative: Use your digital menu panels wisely, incorporating meaningful information such as nutritional information and other FAQs.
• Data-driven insights: Your menu software gathers in-depth data points that drive menu decisions and marketing optimization.

How much does a digital menu cost?

Upgrading your menu to digital can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. This varies by factors such as:

• The size of your display.
• The image and video quality (resolution).
• How many displays/panels you invest in.
• If it’s indoor only or outdoor friendly too.

How do I turn my TV into a menu board?

With the right software, you can turn any smart TV into a menu board. ScreenCloud software is a top pick, but they’re one of many options. Whatever software option you choose, beta-test it with a free trial first.

How to create a digital menu with QR code?

The menu software you choose may have a QR code generator built in. If not, you can quickly find free and paid QR code generators in a quick online search. Download your unique code in HD to add to your online, offline, static, digital marketing, and digitized menus.

How to design a digital menu?

When it comes to design, you want to take full advantage of images, videos, and motion graphics. In other words, think beyond your existing menu to an innovative new design!

#1 Select your menu software

We’ve mentioned menu software a few times already, but before you decide which software to go with—browse their digital menu templates. These templates are beautifully laid out and designed with buyer psychology in mind.

#2 Personalize your template

Even with a template, you’ll have quite a few design decisions to make. If personalizing your template becomes overwhelming, seek the expertise of a menu or digital display designer. Time is money, so it may be more efficient to let a professional complete the finishing touches.

Personalizations include:

• Choosing the background colors.
• Identifying your menu categories.
• Choosing the font.
• Determining the font size.
• Rewriting menu descriptions.

#3 Invest in HD images and videos

Your digital menu display will feature your juice, snacks, and menu items in realistic oversized proportions—so high-definition is a must. To ensure both quality and artistry, consider hiring a food photographer. Don’t just take photos of your best sellers and seasonal menu items, but of almost everything on your menu.

#4 Leverage movement

Add motion to your menu with short videos, motion graphics, and rotating displays. Again, if this feels overwhelming, hire a menu designer. Even if they work within the template you selected, they’ll bring your menu to life!

#5 Analyze and refine

Once your digital menu is up for at least a month, analyze your data points. This will provide insights into which images, videos, and motion graphics are driving the most sales.

Make updates to your menu accordingly, including:

• Removing old menu items.
• Adding new menu items.
• Adding seasonal specials.
• Updating promotions.
• Swapping out images.
• Adding seasonal graphics.

Which digital menus will you add to the mix?

Upgrading to digital menu displays brings your menu to life. It increases engagement, streamlines ordering, and boosts revenue. Digitized tools are also something your customers expect for ease of ordering. It’s an investment, but one that often pays for itself in engagement and flexibility.

If you’re just adding freshly squeezed juice to your menu Zumex is here to help you narrow down your commercial juicer options. Reach out today to learn more!