DSA Signage
Traditional static menus can be limiting, especially in a drive-thru setting. Digital menu boards in drive-thrus, in contrast, are more efficient and engaging, and they give you the freedom to change your menu offerings more often without incurring excessive labor or material costs.
As such, if you’re looking to create a dynamic drive-thru experience for your patrons while also showcasing your top-selling products, it’s time to upgrade to a hybrid or digital menu board. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of digital menu boards and some practical tips to help you get the most out of them, should you choose to upgrade.
The Benefits of Digital Menu Boards in Drive-Thrus
Digital menu boards allow customers to quickly review your offers and place their orders. That, in turn, speeds up the ordering process and will enable you to serve more customers in the same amount of time, which is great for both your establishment’s profitability and reputation.
Additionally, by investing in digital menu boards for your drive-thru, you can accomplish the following:
- Improve the customer experience with clear, dynamic displays
- Increase sales through upselling and real-time promotions
- Easily and efficiently update your menu items and pricing
Transitioning to digital boards can also reduce decision fatigue and draw customers’ attention to items that offer the highest profit margin, effectively maximizing the profitability of every order.
Best Practices for Effective Digital Drive-Thru Menus
To maximize your return on investment (ROI) for your digital menu boards, make sure that you adhere to these best practices:
Strategic Placement
Placement is key to maximizing the impact of your digital menu boards in drive-thrus. Make sure your boards are installed at eye level, angled for optimal visibility to drivers, and that they are free from obstructions, such as trees or poles. You should also consider the position of the sun at various times of day to minimize the likelihood of screen glare.
You can also consider investing in a second set of digital menu boards and position them further back in your drive-thru line. The intent is to allow customers to review your menu offerings while the driver in front of them is placing their order, which will help speed up the ordering process even further overall.
Readable Design
A well-designed menu board prioritizes readability. Use high-contrast colors and large, crisp fonts to ensure that the text is easy to read.
Don’t clutter up your menus, either; you want to provide customers with valuable information, for sure, but you shouldn’t overwhelm them. If you give them too many options or display a jumbled menu, customers will have a harder time making a decision. Keep descriptions brief and use high-quality images instead of excessive text to improve the patron experience.
Your most popular and highest-margin items should be placed in a prime position on the boards. Placing them front and center will greatly increase the chances that they catch the customers’ eyes while reviewing your offers. It’s a subtle tactic that influences decision-making and can promote profitability.
This strategy is further strengthened through our partnership with Neon, whose expertise in digital content and menu optimization enables us to deliver impactful, results-oriented solutions for every environment.
Clear Navigation
In a similar sense, your menus need to be organized logically. Group similar items together to make the ordering process seamless. Highlight meal combos and categories like beverages or side items.
You can also add intuitive icons to guide customers toward choices that align with their dietary preferences. For example, you can add icons to identify low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian, and low-fat items.
Tips for Using Digital Menu Boards
Utilize Dynamic Content to Influence Customer Choices
One of the most significant advantages of digital menu boards is their ability to display dynamic content. You can add animations and dynamic graphics to your menu, which capture customer attention and drive purchasing decisions, by doing the following,
- Highlighting limited-time offers and high-margin items
- Using subtle motion graphics to draw attention
- Displaying real-time updates, such as daily specials or seasonal items
Mix up your menu frequently enough to keep customers intrigued. At the same time, though, make sure that you keep your most popular items around as well. You don’t want customers to have to find a new “favorite” item every time they use the drive-thru.
Integrate Data-Driven Insights
Data analytics can help your business optimize its digital menu boards based on customer preferences and traffic patterns. Some effective ways to integrate data into your menus include the following:
- Adjust your menu offerings automatically based on the time of day
- Track popular menu items and adjust their placement to increase visibility
- Dynamically alter content based on external factors like the weather or time of year
You should also identify which items have the highest profit margins. Upselling these will improve profitability and help drive long-term business growth.
Ensuring Readability and Performance in Outdoor Environments
A drive-thru’s digital menu boards are, naturally, exposed to the elements, and that means you need to invest in high-quality boards that are durable and readable in a wide range of conditions.
They should also be weatherproof: able to withstand rain, snow, and extreme hot and cold temperatures. You’ll also need high-brightness screens that prevent glare and maintain readability. Screens that automatically adjust their brightness levels based on the time of day and ambient light conditions are the best fit for drive-thrus.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidance to keep your screens functioning properly. You’ll also need a stable internet connection to deliver menu updates and sync orders to the screens.
Enhance Your Drive-Thru Experience With Digital Menu Solutions
Digital menu boards will create a more engaging and efficient drive-thru experience for your patrons. Upgrading your menus will also promote upselling and enable you to highlight profitable menu items with motion graphics.
When you’re ready to dive in and explore the benefits of digital menu boards, DSA Signage has you covered. Our team offers a variety of indoor and outdoor digital menu boards for restaurants and fast-food businesses. Explore our menu boards or contact DSA Signage today for more information.