CENTRAL OHIO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (COTA) SYNOPSIS:
Since January 1971, COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) has been the official bus service for the city of Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas. COTA is currently in the process of deploying CMAX, an all-new rapid transit service. CMAX is a limited-stop service and will connect passengers to major destinations in and around downtown Columbus. According to the official COTA website, the new service will improve service, improve mobility and reliability in congested areas, be less expensive for travelers, provide more travel options, and improve pedestrian access and safety.

HOW DID COTA FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
In the summer of 2014, COTA reached out to ITSENCLOSURES, whom they had worked with before on a different outdoor digital signage solution, to glean pricing on fabricating an all-weather, LCD enclosure for a bus stop shelter makeover across the city of Columbus, Ohio. The plan was in the initial stages, but it was anticipated that the overall project would take place over the course of a few years. COTA’s proposal included a prototype bus shelter at the company’s headquarters, located at 1333 Fields Avenue in Columbus, Ohio.

PROJECT:
COTA desired to install eye-catching outdoor digital signage at every CMAX bus stop and the project entailed a custom, environmental LCD enclosure to be housed in a large pylon, attached to a bus shelter. Considering the complexity of the project and having successfully worked with ITSENCLOSURES on previous transportation projects, COTA felt confident that the new CMAX signage strategy would become a reality with ITSENCLOSURES’ durable, heavy-duty products.

CHALLENGES:
Being in Columbus, Ohio, a city that experiences all four seasons of weather, COTA required various thermal management options as they were concerned about freezing, snowy winters, and humid, sunny summers. In addition, COTA required high bright, commercial-grade monitors, so that passengers could view the bus routes at all hours of the day. Another critical concern for COTA was the possibility of vandalism and destruction of the screens.

SOLUTION:
After weighing different options, COTA decided to install a custom, fan-cooled, outdoor digital signage that is recessed into a bus shelter. To study and review the enclosure in various weather conditions, COTA built a fully functioning CMAX shelter to prototype in the winter of 2016. COTA plans to install a combination of pylons, single and double sided, at each CMAX bus stop to display real-time information, including arrival and departure times. Each outdoor digital sign is equipped with a 47-inch, high bright LCD and a thermostatically controlled fan/heater system to protect the electronics in the extreme, central Ohio weather conditions. The enclosure houses a media player to ensure seamless content delivery.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
In all, COTA purchased 77 LCD enclosures designed for 47-inch monitors, which were installed throughout 2017 and into the Spring of 2018. The innovative outdoor digital signage will be housed in a total of 64 pylons throughout Columbus. COTA anticipates that the digital signage will help passengers find the correct bus route and arrive at their destination in a timely manner. CMAX bus stop shelters and busses will change the way that people travel in Columbus.

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- email: info@itsenclosures.com

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Many customers exclaim, “I will just provide my own LCD monitor for my outdoor digital signage project.” But, will the monitor be an effective solution installed outdoors? When deploying outdoor digital signage, the LCD chosen really does matter! For many customers, it might be desirable to purchase the “best deal” or least expensive monitor on the market, whether online or at a big box store. The simple truth: consumer-grade monitors found at big box stores or on the web will most likely be too dark or fail if installing outdoors in the elements. A consumer-grade television will not perform in the same way as a commercial-grade or high bright LCD monitor. They are quite different.

If a company attempts to use a consumer-grade screen outdoors, several challenges exist.

4 LCD Challenges for Outdoor Digital Signage

(1.) Not Bright Enough for Outdoor Use

On average, most consumer-grade televisions are only rated at 150-300 nits of brightness (a nit is a measure of brightness and equal to 1 candela per square meter of light). This is great for a living room or bedroom, but outdoor installations are very unique and quite different. It is recommended that you choose a screen that is at least 2,000-2,500 nits to be visible in an outdoor environment. Consider what happens when you try to view your iPhone or Android smartphone outdoors on a sunny day. The screen appears black and you can barely make out the text or images. The exact same effect occurs when using a screen outdoors that is insufficiently bright.

(2.) Length of Warranty

Many popular brands of consumer LCD televisions only offer a 90-day to 1-year warranty and retailers may try to “upsell” you with an extended warranty, which might be for 2-5 years. However, the outdoor digital signage warranty will be ‘void’ if the monitor is not used properly, for example – leaving the monitor on for an extended period of time. According to the website, LCD TV Buying Guide, “The warranties do not cover damages resulting from misuse, natural disasters, or accidents. For these causes it may be best to find a store bought protection plan or extended warranty.” However, there are stipulations for extended warranties as well. Prior to installation, it is best to review what is not covered. Commercial-grade displays offer a standard 3-year warranty with the option to upgrade up to 5 years. This is an important detail when planning an outdoor signage project.

(3.) Prolonged Daily Usage and Solar Load 

Most outdoor digital signage applications dictate that the LCD needs to deliver a menu or powerful marketing message 18-24 hours a day! A consumer-grade television is only meant to be used approximately 5-6 hours a day. Prolonged daily use will result in premature failure. HDTVs purchased at a retail store are not built or designed to be powered on for extended periods of time. Plus, when the sun beats down on the screen, it will quickly show wear and lose clarity. The effects of solar gain can be dramatic, and overheating will cause isotropic effects (screen will turn black or dark).

(4.) Low Value Proposition

Many integrators and end users simply do not understand why they should purchase an LCD that can be 3-5 times the expense of what they can buy at a “big box store” or online. A significant amount of time and money is invested in making the transition to outdoor digital signage or menu boards. A direct sunlight environment presents many more challenges to overcome than a shaded area or outdoor canopy protected application, all of which can be resolved if you choose the correct LCD and enclosure solution. Skimping on an LCD or enclosure budget will be detrimental to the quality of the overall solution.

Always do your homework and choose the correct high bright LCD or LCD/enclosure combo solution which will keep your outdoor digital signage menu board running 24/7, 365 days a year! You need longevity and peace of mind that a solution is going to work for many, many years.

HAVE QUESTIONS?  LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BEST ASSIST YOU! CONTACT AN ‘ITSENCLOSURES EXPERT’ AT 1-800-423-9911 -or- EMAIL: INFO@ITSENCLOSURES.COM

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For outdoor digital menu boards to be a success, do the necessary research to determine the following:

What is the goal?

With any new project, the overall goal(s) is the very first item that should be considered. The goals can be any of the following: increase customer engagement, raise revenue, or create brand loyalty.  Depending on the goal(s) set will dictate the QSRs overall content strategy. Do not move forward with the project until the goals have been defined and are clear to all parties involved in the project. Digital boards must be updated with fresh and relevant content, on a regular basis, to maximize your investment. Will your restaurant be able to handle the demands of updates? Failing to not properly prepare for the digital menus can be a colossal mistake.

Choose store(s)

After setting the goals, determine the number of stores that will utilize digital menus. Deciding on the number of locations will help negotiate the best cost for the necessary hardware and software. Many companies will discount products based on large rollouts. Therefore, there will be a big price difference between 1, 25, 100, and 500 stores. A QSR may want to test a few markets, based on environmental extremes, to evaluate the ruggedness of the solution.

Select Hardware

The overall project goals will dictate what hardware is necessary. If the goal is to highlight promotional items to increase revenue, consider installing a presell board in the drive-thru. If the goal is to easily update menus with FDA guidelines and to have the ability to daypart, then a full digital menu board will be the best option. And, then, comes the most important aspect: research, research, research! There are a number of companies, on the market, that claims to provide outdoor solutions, but have never actually deployed them in an exterior environment! The ‘solution’ may be a few ‘Photoshopped’ images that were doctored up using some dynamic stock imagery. Be wary of these providers and always ask for references. Inquire where you can see the actual products deployed at a quick-service restaurant near you. Seeing is believing!

Get a site survey

Site surveys are generally very inexpensive given the cost of installing new equipment in a drive-thru. Surveys usually cost under $500 and will provide a great deal of insight into how smoothly the installation will progress. If planning on installing multiple stores in a metropolitan area, you will likely be able to negotiate a better rate per survey. A number of items are discussed during the site survey, which includes an evaluation of the existing footer, cabling, and data wiring, and de-installation of current signage.
The cost of an outdoor menu project is dependent on the number of restaurants and the number of displays per location. Keep in mind, depending on the software and content provider chosen, they may have recurring monthly or yearly fees associated with their services. Be sure to figure these costs into your budget. Tegan Worrall, in his blog, “QSR + Outdoor Digital Displays = The Ultimate Happy Meal,’ sums up outdoor digital menu boards at Quick Service Restaurants, “QSRs that embrace the opportunity to engage their customers through digital will not only outperform their competitors but will also differentiate themselves from other operators who have not changed the way they do drive-thru business for decades. By combining the influential capabilities of digital menu technology with outdoor displays, QSRs can drive sales increases, improve the speed of service and create happier, and hence, more loyal customers.”

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COMPANY SYNOPSIS:
Founded in 1972, Chefette is the largest quick service restaurant chain based on the Caribbean island of Barbados. The company currently has 14 locations and is known for its broasted chicken and specialty wraps (known as the “roti roll”). Chefette offers a large variety of food, including lamb chops, wings, onion rings, burgers, salads, pie, and ice cream. According to Travel + Leisure Magazine, Chefette is one of the best fast food restaurant chains in the world.

HOW DID CHEFETTE FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
Chefette met ITSENCLOSURES at the National Restaurant Association trade show in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant was interested in outdoor digital menu boards for its drive-thru’s. The overall goal of the digital signage project was to remain hip/modern and greatly enhance the image of the brand. Digital menu boards would help to reinforce Chefette’s already stellar reputation across the island.

PROJECT:
Chefette desired to make the switch to digital menu boards both inside the restaurant and outside in the drive-thru lane. ITSENCLOSURES is one of the top providers of outdoor digital signage in the United States. With unparalleled experience, ITSENCLOSURES provides the best digital signage – with the proper thermal management – and brightest screens for the hot and sunny island of Barbados. Chefette also desired to utilize digital menus on the inside of each of the chain’s locations.

CHALLENGES:
Because of the salty island air, heat, humidity, and bright sunlight present throughout the year, Chefette required a heavy-duty, outdoor, digital signage solution. Chefette also realized that thermal management would be an important piece of the digital signage menu solution.

SOLUTION:
Looking for a trusted partner, Chefette turned to ITSENCLOSURES because of the company’s experience with outdoor digital signage in the quick service industry. In addition, ITSENCLOSURES had established partners to easily source the required electronics and mounts. Chefette was able to procure all of the necessary hardware from one company. Chefette installed ITSENCLOSURES’ ViewStation QSR triple screen menu boards at its 10 drive-thru locations. Areas where space permitted also included a single screen presell digital menu board to display promotions and limited time offers. The interior menu board solution included 46-inch LCDs mounted in portrait orientation. The number of displays varied for each location depending on the menu size. Installations were completed overnight to eliminate any disruption of normal business hours. Chefette also customized the exterior of the enclosures with the brand’s color purple and the Chefette logo.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
With the click of a button, Chefette can quickly and easily update menu items, pricing, specials, and even imagery throughout the restaurant. Dayparting is now something that can be done with very little effort. When it comes to digital signage and customer engagement, Chefette immediately noticed a positive impact. With the addition of digital menu boards, the restaurants created a face lift, without breaking the bank on a complete renovation. Because the menu boards were easier to read and understand, ordering time was also cut down considerably compared to the static menu boards. The eye-catching screens garnered attention and improved the overall experience of the Chefette brand! Ryan Haloute, Managing Director of Chefette stated, “We wanted our brand to be on the cutting edge of technology and look very modern, especially with the incorporation of the new outdoor digital menu boards in our drive-thru’s, which was the first for the region.”

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you!
Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

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With a custom, built-to-last base, the sixth-generation digital signage is designed for a smooth and uncomplicated deployment. A customer would only need to run a 30-amp cord to the signage. The outdoor rated (IP56 certified) monitor offers protection against snow, rain, ice, and salty air. The VS-6 can be integrated into virtually any outdoor environment!

VS-6 Digital Signage Features:

• Ultra small footprint in drive-thru
• Low maintenance/Low energy consumption
• 55-inch, high bright outdoor LCD monitor
• Eye-catching visibility – in direct sunlight
• No Air Conditioner, No Fan Needed!
• No crane for installation
• Only need one 120V circuit
• Easily viewed with polarized sunglasses

“Our company has been installing digital signage across the United States, Canada, and even the Caribbean for over twelve years and our solutions continue to improve and advance,” said JT Spangler, President and Owner of ITSENCLOSURES, “Our latest generation is simply stunning! The 2,500-nit, high bright LCD monitor looks incredible outdoors in the sunshine. I can honestly say that it is impressive to view at any point in the day; morning, noon, and especially night.

The dynamic VS-6 digital signage has serviceability, behind the lockable rear door, for easy access to important assets, like the media player and surge protector. The monitor can easily be installed on the front of the heavy-duty mount.

ViewStation’s solution incorporates an outdoor monitor with a built-in, inaudible air moving system that allows functionality from -22° to 122° F, even in direct sunlight.

Mr. Spangler added, “Our new moto around the office is that ‘we bring videos to life’ outdoors. The goal is to continue to do so for many years to come. I still feel like digital signage is in its infancy.”

The 6th Generation digital signage is currently being tested on the outdoor ITSENCLOSURES test pad and will be ready for deployment across the country and around the world in the 2^nd quarter of 2019.

ViewStation by ITSENCLOSURES has over a decade of experience in successful QSR deployments and offers a wide variety of digital signage board solutions.

For more information, visit the ViewStation VS-6 Product Page

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Mt. Pleasant, PA (September 29, 2017)

Originally founded in 1972, Chefette Restaurants, the largest quick service restaurant in the Caribbean island nation of Barbados, operates 15 locations across the island of Barbados and employs over 850 people. Chefette deployed its first round of digital signage in the first quarter of 2013 at 10 drive-thru locations. The deployment included indoor and outdoor digital signage in portrait orientation and consisted of a mix of triple screen outdoor menu boards and single display pre-sale digital boards, both with 46-inch high-bright monitors. Because of the heat (average temperature is 80° F) and humidity that exists on the island, the outdoor LCD enclosures required air-conditioners installed on the rear of each unit.

The grand opening of Chefette’s brand-new location in Lancaster was September 15^th, 2017. The company’s website noted “Chefette’s newest branch is located in Lancaster, St. James, just off Highway 2A. This beautiful facility expands upon the modern designs seen at our Warrens and Welches branches and features a drive-thru, Double MEGA 3-Story Playground and ice cream parlor.” According to the news article, ‘Barbados needs Chefette now more than ever,’ the new location “sits on over 8,000 square feet of land, can seat about 170 people and offers parking space for about 40 vehicles.”

Chefette’s Lancaster store deployed a single and triple screen digital signage menu board paired with 47-inch high bright monitors. Utilizing the latest technology, ITSENCLOSURES’ fan cooled digital menu boards boast a 66% energy consumption reduction, compared to the compressor based enclosures originally installed in 2013.  Each enclosure is branded with the company’s logo and powder coated in the company’s signature color purple. Since the original deployment in 2013, ITSENCLOSURES’ new generation of outdoor digital menu boards are thinner, sleeker, and more energy efficient. To reduce  frequent enclosure maintenance, the menu boards employ a hydrophobic air filter to keep out dust and dirt, and only need to be replaced every 3-5 years. Chefette also installed commercial grade 48-inch monitors indoors to serve as menu boards and promotional tools.

“Chefette has been a loyal digital signage customer for years and we are proud to have our outdoor digital menu boards at the chain’s drive-thrus, including the new Chefette store in Lancaster,” said J.T. Spangler, President and Owner of ITSENCLOSURES. “The new location looks inviting and modern. Chefette does an excellent job with the architectural design and feel of each location. ITSENCLOSURES is proud to be the exclusive provider of digital menu boards to Chefette. We look forward to working with them on future projects!”

ITSENCLOSURES designs and builds the most heavy-duty enclosures on the market and ships every product completely assembled and ready to use upon delivery.

For more information on ITSENCLOSURES and their wide array of innovative products, please email ITSENCLOSURES (info@itsenclosures.com) or call 1-800-423-9911 to speak to a sales specialist.

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Opening a new location and wanting it to be state-of-the-art, Backyard Taco contacted ITSENCLOSURES about installing a dynamic, digital signage menu board in the drive-thru. The outdoor digital menu board incorporates three high bright LCDs (2,000 nit) in portrait orientation. Already utilizing digital menu boards on the inside of the restaurant and in portrait orientation too, Backyard Taco was able to use the same menu content on the outside, thus saving time and money for the restaurant.

ITSENCLOSURES solution utilized three 47” monitors and a 6,000 BTU air conditioner to combat the hot, desert weather found in Arizona for most of the calendar year, especially during the Summer months. To provide a water tight seal, the digital signage body (powder coated light brown) is marine grade aluminum and welded aluminum. The large viewing window is laminated glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides, providing 99% light transmission and UV protection. In addition, the front cover is hinged at the top and supported by gas springs for front access to all three displays. A rear door provides access to internal electronics, as well as, power and data entry locations. Specific, heavy-duty gasket is installed around the glass to keep the cool air inside of the digital signage and prevent the enclosure glass from fogging up.

President and Owner of ITSENCLOSURES, JT Spangler, knew that his company was prepared for the Arizona heat, “We installed a number of outdoor digital signage menu boards at another popular quick service restaurant in Arizona during 2011. We are aware of the challenges you need to overcome to combat against the high temperatures and strong sunlight exposure for an outdoor digital menu solution.  Our production team ensured the enclosure configuration will withstand any environment.”

Royal Sign Company, located in Phoenix, Arizona, was hired by Backyard Taco to install the digital signage boards in the drive-thru. ITSENCLOSURES supplied the sign company with directions on how to install the 3×1, including the size of the footer, location of anchor bolts, and running the electric and the Cat 5 cables properly.

Mr. Spangler added, “Our goal is to provide outdoor digital signage menu boards to every quick service restaurant in the United States. The ViewStation QSR product line can withstand harsh weather conditions and continue to shine. The high-bright monitors used in our enclosures can be seen by drive-thru patrons, even in direct sunlight. All in all, digital menu boards are a win-win for the restaurant and the customer.”

ITSENCLOSURES offers a 3-year warranty (with the option of 5 years) on all components of the outdoor digital signage.

For more information on ITSENCLOSURES’ large array of products, visit www.ITSENCLOSURES.com, send an email to info@itsenclosures.com, or call 1-800-423-9911 to speak with Jennifer Bissell, Director of Sales & Marketing.

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Mt. Pleasant, PA (February 28, 2017) – ITSENCLOSURES, a digital signage hardware expert, installed an all-weather, LCD enclosure at the front entrance of The Frank Kapr Funeral Home. The digital signage displays brief obituaries with visiting hours and also announcements/events.

Frank Kapr Funeral Home, located on West Pittsburgh Street in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, has been in operation for over 6 decades. Wanting to take advantage of the flexibility of digital signage to instantly change and revise content, the funeral home installed a consumer grade, residential, HDTV to present obituaries and announcements. The indoor monitor was mounted outdoors on the front porch railing, but was not a ‘high bright,’ commercial monitor. For this reason, it was nearly impossible to see during the day.

Frank Kapr desired to use the digital signage around the clock, and the residential television posed a problem. After struggling to use the current system, the funeral home turned to ITSENCLOSURES for direction on a more robust solution. For over a decade, ITSENCLOSURES has designed and installed outdoor, all-weather lcd enclosures across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. Several factors were considered, including the overall display visibility and harsh, Western Pennsylvania weather conditions.

After meeting with ITSENCLOSURES to discuss digital signage options, Frank Kapr chose an enclosure – in portrait orientation – that included a 46” high bright LCD (1,500 nits), and a specific heating and cooling system to allow operation 24/7 in temperatures of -40° to 120°F. To quickly modify content on an hourly or daily basis, a media player is hard-wired to a computer in the funeral home’s main office.

Frank Kapr, Owner of The Frank Kapr Funeral Home, was pleased with his decision to utilize digital signage at his funeral home, “We wanted state-of-the-art signage for our funeral home… something that could be seen from a distance. Our first step was to contact Shannon Roberts, who is the Production Manager at ITSENCLOSURES. He took the time to explain everything clearly to us and helped us make the best decision for our needs.”

After reviewing various locations on the funeral home’s grounds, the enclosure was installed on a cement footer in the flower garden at front of the building and can be seen by those walking or driving past the building. It is surrounded by flowers and greenery, making it an eye-catching addition to the funeral home. Frank Kapr also chose to have the funeral home’s logo silk screened in 3 locations on the enclosure for personal customization and brand awareness.

JT Spangler, Owner and President of ITSENCLOSURES, was proud that his company’s digital signage would be used to honor those that had passed away, “Digital signage is often installed for advertising and promotion, so I was proud to see our product employed in a unique way at the funeral home. The Frank Kapr Funeral Home is a fixture in the town of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and they give back by using the LCD enclosure to display area events. This is just one more example of how digital signage can be a very versatile product.”

The Frank Kapr Funeral Home has a park on the property, called the Family Gardens, with a soothing waterfall, fountain, and statue. The all-weather LCD enclosure announces musical entertainment in the park. Singers, instrumentalists, and bands are provided free of charge to the public.

Mr. Kapr continued, “We are ecstatic about all that our attractive sign is capable of doing and we are continually finding new things to try with the sign. It is the right size for the exterior of the funeral home and the messages can be read from a distance. We are happy with our investment and every dollar was well spent. Mr. Roberts and ITSENCLOSURES are a wonderful digital partner.”

For more information on ITSENCLOSURES’ large array of products, visit www.ITSENCLOSURES.com, send an email to info@itsenclosures.com, or call 1-800-423-9911 to speak with Jennifer Bissell, Director of Marketing.

For more information on other enclosure products by ITSENCLOSURES: Click Here

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The organization’s Digital Signage Industry Market Tracker indicated that, as the total cost of the technology, continues to decrease each year, expanded deployment is becoming more feasible for a variety of industry sectors.” Starbucks is a great example of a company that will be getting into the game… in a big way! The coffee giant plans on adding 2,400 outdoor digital menu boards in the next year.

With already proven indoor digital signage at many QSRs (McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, KFC, Taco Bell) across America, outdoor signage does not have to be a tremendous mountain to climb. In fact, some enclosure fabricators are now offering outdoor enclosures that are landscape oriented, which makes the transition from indoor to outdoor that much simpler.

The content does not have to be reimagined, resized, revised, and reworked. It is already completed! Content is just one area that must be explored when planning a digital strategy. What are the five most important aspects of digital to consider from the very beginning?

5 Tips to Make Outdoor Digital Menus a Huge Success:

1. Deploying digital outdoors requires a plan.

An effective outdoor digital signage installation requires more than a media player, all-weather enclosure, LCD display and creative content. Considerations for cabling, power sources and the existing footer size/conditions are extremely important prior to arriving on site to switch from static to a digital menu. A site survey should be completed before any decisions are made, because location matters. Just because the static menu boards were in the same location for twenty years does not mean that the new digital menu board can be installed in the exact same location.

2. The hardware matters.

In theory, it is possible to run a menu system for a short period of time with a run-of-the-mill $500 consumer grade screen from a big box store and a $200 media player. However, it is inevitable this ‘path of least resistance’ solution will fail in an extended amount of time, which means that you will need to find another solution – this will cost more money in the long run.

Consumer grade electronics are simply not meant to operate for an extended period of time, especially at places like Taco Bell with their breakfast, lunch, dinner, and fourth meal options. In fact, the consumer electronics’ warranty clearly states a clause cautioning over-usage. The chosen media player should include solid state components and LCDs need to be commercial-grade and feature 1500 nits of brightness or greater to be viewed outdoors.

3. Content is king.

A strong, digital content strategy is extremely critical to the overall success of the outdoor menu board project. A savvy team of experts should create appealing content that will ultimately increase sales in the drive-thru lane.

Emily Carroll explains the importance of content in Digital Signage Today, “With digital solutions, you have the power to change information, menu items or the dates of events, and have it update on-screen immediately.” However, the call-to-action should be well thought out, because flashy or animated content is worthless, unless it has a purpose. Ms. Carroll adds, “All this beautiful animation and interactive content is meaningless if you don’t convey a message to the end-user. Not only do you have to tell the user something about your product, you have to tell them the next step to take… If you don’t have a call to action, then there’s no way to turn the viewer into a customer.”

Also, keep everything current and up-to-date, because a stale menu board can become an ineffective menu board. Sean Matthews writes in his blog, The Top 7 Mistakes Once You Have Digital Signage, “In addition to keeping content fresh, you need to keep your content management software fresh as well. New software features will let you do more with your messages more efficiently. And, don’t forget to update hardware once in a while, too.”

4. Technical support is important.

Planning on deploying digital outdoors at multiple store locations? A strong technical support team is crucial. Before deciding on a software partner, evaluate the ease of use, reliability, serviceability, and scalability of the hardware. With that being said, it is important to keep the menu boards void of clutter and stick with the overall message of selling hamburgers, fries, shakes and soft drinks. It can be tempting to throw everything on the screen and see what sticks, but this can actually have a negative effect.

Sean Matthews of Digital Signage Today explains that less is more when it comes to digital signage solutions, “Your software comes with a lot of options, but you don’t need to show everything at once. Remember that your goal is to deliver information. Your message can get lost if you have your screen packed with so much that viewers can’t pick out the different things you’re telling them.” Always remember that the fundamental objective is to get people through the drive-thru rather quickly. Too much information on the screen can be overpowering and turn off the customer.

5. Consult a menu board expert.

Choosing the right partner is not a small task and can quickly become overwhelming. With a little research, the correct outdoor digital menu board solution will include partners that are experienced with environmental LCD enclosures, offer commercial-grade electronics and provide a strong support system for content. Inquire with possible suppliers where their actual products can be seen “in the field” and/or working in a local drive-thru, because it always helps to actually see (and even touch) the digital menu boards. By observing for a few minutes, you will recognize the quality and durability. Never let price guide your decision. When deploying outdoor digital menus, experience always speaks for itself.

As with any large purchase, do the necessary homework to keep everything in budget and within the parameters set forth in the beginning. Tasks should be noted and deadlines should be set. As the blog ‘Mistakes That Cause Signage Disasters’ explains, “Many projects fail simply because they have been rushed. If you are investing money in a signage project, then it is worth making sure you are 100% happy with the finished product… Creating a successful digital sign network takes careful planning.”

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