Every fast food chain worth its fries is now flaunting a digital menu.
However, if we pause and explore the origins of the electronic menu, we find a very interesting story at its heart.
Scott Sharon of Scott Sharon Consulting shares a delightful tale from his glory days in the food industry.
Picture this: the early 90s, when Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) were just starting to put up menu boards featuring both images and prices.
Sounds fancy, right? Well, not quite.
Space was tight on these board menus, and it quickly became a headache.
This escalated when it came to drive-thrus, where customers would complain about the small fonts on the menu.
Fast forward to 1990, and Scott found himself working for Dick Ripp, an Arby’s franchisee in Virginia. There, he had an ambitious idea: broadcasting Arby’s commercials right in the restaurants. What he actually did was create the first-ever digital menu board (well, sort of).
And that is how the humble board menus transformed into the sleek, eye-catching digital menu screens we know and love today.
That’s not all; the digital signage industry is highly valued as well. It’ll be a $45.3 billion industry by 2030—this is what analysts are predicting.
With rapidly advancing technology, one can’t help but wonder: how will the electronic menu boards of tomorrow evolve?
Get Real with Real-Time Digital Menus
Manually updating menus is so 2020s. In the current times, restaurant staff are saving time by incorporating this feature.
We're talking about real-time menus.
By integrating real-time menus on electronic menu boards, restaurants can instantly update daily specials, flag sold-out dishes, or tweak prices on the fly.
No more "Sorry, we're out of that" moments—just informed decisions and a smoother dining experience for customers.
These interactive menus can also be used in the bar section to display a live countdown to happy hour. This can serve as a great opportunity for upselling and nudging your customers toward those tempting add-ons.
A Balance of Taste and Nutrition
So, digital signage can show food options, but what if it could also help you keep tabs on your nutrition?
Adding nutritional information to electronic menus is easier than ever, thanks to user-friendly drag-and-drop builders. Restaurants can quickly update their menus, not only with prices and ingredients but also with essential data like calorie, fat, protein, and more.
In addition to this, it’s all customizable, allowing for detailed nutritional labels that cater to customer needs—whether it’s per serving or per 100g.
Studies have shown that when customers can easily access nutritional information, they’re more likely to pick healthier options. And that’s a win-win for restaurants too, since it could mean a boost in sales of those healthier items on the menu.
Also Read: How Storefront Signage Can Bring You More Customers
Lower Costs With Better Brand Value
Another reason why investing in digital menu boards is a win-win for your restaurant is that it reduces costs.
First of all, you save on printing new menus every time there’s a tiny change.
On top of that, your brand recall value improves.
Let's be real—it’s easy for staff to overlook updates on static boards. With electronic menu boards, every location stays consistent. Whether it’s your regulars at the flagship spot or someone trying your place in another city, the experience feels just right, every time.
By embracing digital menu screens and LED menu boards, you’re not just cutting costs—you’re making your brand stronger while watching profits grow.
Everyone Loves a Good Deal
Your customers love promotions.
In fact, 49% of customers prefer getting weekly promotional emails from their favorite spots.
Here’s the kicker: studies show over 70% of customers are more likely to visit a restaurant if they’re offered personalized promotions.
So why not use digital menu screens to highlight special events, weekday deals, or irresistible combo offers?
With eye-catching visuals and animated graphics, you’ll draw in diners even during those slow hours—and boost traffic while you're at it!
Also Read: Transform Your Restaurant Experience with Innovative Digital Menu Boards
Future Trends in Electronic Menu Boards: AI and AR
AI is getting its hands on everything, even your menu boards!
$48.99 billion—that’s the valuation that AI in the Food & Beverages market is expected to hit
by 2029.
Imagine walking into your favorite spot, and the menu is more than just digital; it's smart.
Based on your previous orders and preferences, it’s already suggesting the perfect combo, complete with extra condiments and gluten-free options.
Moreover, these menus reflect a restaurant’s brand with customizable designs, engaging layouts, and even integrated videos.
To make things even more immersive, AR takes a step further by bringing dishes to life. Imagine a steaming bowl of ramen assembling itself in 3D right on your screen. With just a tap, diners can explore the meal from all angles.
This level of interaction leads to happier customers who get to experience a different dimension of their dining experience.
Also Read: From Static to Dynamic: Elevate Your Marketing with Cloud-Based Digital
Signage
Digital Menus to Become a Pillar of Restaurant Operations
There's a popular saying that the food industry will never go out of business—and it’s easy
to see why.
Just last year, the U.S. full-service restaurant industry served up over $78 billion in output.
That’s a lot of burgers, pizzas, fries, and so much more!
More importantly, the industry sees electronic displays not just as flashy technology but as a solid investment that helps boost sales.
These interactive LED menu boards are forming a long-term, sustainable partnership with restaurants, leading to better customer service, smarter operations, and, let’s be honest, fatter profit margins.
So, without any further ado—Say hello to L Squared.
Whether you're setting up a simple digital menu board or scaling an entire electronic menu network, L Squared makes your experience effortless.
Think of a 1-hour deployment and 24x5 live support.
Need customization? Easy!
Plus, you can easily integrate apps on L Squared's flexible dashboard to monitor insights.
Want to make your digital signage unforgettable? Contact us to get more details, and let’s create a display experience that wows your audience.
