Fast food has evolved over the years—now it’s not just about quick meals, but also how you order and enjoy them. A big part of this change is the menu board. A menu board today is more than just a static list of food items.
Here are 4 digital menu boards for fast-food restaurants. These displays are making the fast-food experience better and easier.
1. Drive-Thru Menu Board
Drive-thru menu boards have long been a hallmark of fast-food establishments. But did you know they’re getting even better?
In 2020, 44% of all fast-food sales came from drive-thrus. By 2023, that number had grown to roughly two-thirds of fast-food orders. Today, drive-thru menu boards use dynamic displays and smart software. These features tailor the menu based on different factors like time and weather. This makes it simpler to display the right menu items at the right times. For example, if it’s hot outside, it shows more cold drinks. And if it’s breakfast time, it’ll highlight those tasty morning options.
Drive-thru menu boards not only streamline the ordering process but also serve as a powerful marketing tool. This lets restaurants promote special deals and upsell items. They’re even starting to use voice commands and mobile apps, ultimately reducing wait times and ensuring order accuracy. Many drive-thru lanes now feature a secondary promotional screen, also known as a presell digital board, before the main menu, showcasing special promotions or new items to influence customer choices early and reduce perceived wait times.
2. Interactive Kiosk
In addition to drive-thru displays, many fast-food restaurants are also adopting self-order kiosks. Interactive kiosks are the ultimate self-service experience. Customers enjoy their flexibility and ease of use. In fact, 65% of customers say they would visit fast-food restaurants more often if kiosks were available.
The benefits extend not only to customers but also to the fast-food restaurants themselves. Touchscreen kiosks streamline operations as they let customers review and edit their orders. In addition to minimizing mistakes, they are a great advertising tools to promote special offers with messaging and visuals.
Digital signage software features in kiosks, like weather-based menus, allow fast-food companies to better target their audience. These features make customization simple for customers too!
Major brands like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell use digital menu boards to speed up orders and improve upselling. These real-world examples show how digital displays directly enhance customer engagement and revenue.
3. Countertop Display
You might have seen digital menu displays on the counter. They display what’s available and make the ordering process hassle-free. But they’re not just convenient for customers; they’re also great for business.
Studies show that these digital counter displays can increase sales by up to 5%. Their place at the Point-of-Sale (POS) makes them great marketing tools. When customers see high-resolution images and animated visuals right in front of them, they are more likely to consider those items.
Having a digital menu board at the counter is like having an interactive tablet that displays all the menu options for you. For example, these counter displays let customers easily view and customize their orders. Additionally, the displays provide a good way to show nutritional information.
You don’t need to worry about the accessibility of your menu. With countertop digital displays, you can adjust the font size or enable audio descriptions to cater to all customers, including those with visual or hearing impairments.
4. Digital Menu Boards
It’s common to have digital menu boards above the ordering counter. With digital signage features like Dayparting (scheduling menu changes based on the time of day), these screens can change quickly to show new items or deals. Unlike static signs, digital boards can be updated instantly (even across all locations) without any reprinting, so menus stay consistent and current everywhere.
Digital menu boards can be strategically placed above the counter to promote impulse purchases. For example, animated images of seasonal drinks are great advertisements when the customer focuses on the moving images.
Storytelling and branding are simple with digital menu boards above the counter. These screens tell stories and engage customers while they wait, which in turn decreases perceived wait times and improves the overall fast-food experience.
Conclusion
Across all these menu board types, it’s clear that fast food is changing — and digital displays are leading that transformation. From drive-thru menu boards to interactive kiosks and digital menu boards on and above the counter, these displays make operations and marketing more efficient.
As technology keeps getting better, fast-food restaurants will find more ways to improve their menu boards. By leveraging these different menu board options, fast-food businesses can achieve their goals while creating an enjoyable customer experience.
FAQ
Q: What is the ROI of digital menu boards for fast-food restaurants?
A: Many restaurants see a 3–5% sales increase within the first year of adoption, plus ongoing time and printing savings.
Q: Do digital menu boards really reduce perceived wait times?
A: Yes. Studies show engaging content can make waits feel up to 35% shorter, improving customer satisfaction.
You can learn more about NexSigns’ Digital Signage solution and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube to get the latest info on digital signage!
