A restaurant menu’s simple function is introducing a list of food and beverage items with their prices. Some restaurants also add a short description of the dishes and include allergens on their menu to create a better experience.
However, due to new regulations and safety precautions in COVID-19, restaurants must offer a contactless dining experience. For some restaurants, the quickest way is to offer their menu in PDF, being accessed via a QR code. It is fast and cheap. However, PDF menus don’t generate any value for restaurants, and it does not enhance the dining experience.
So the question is, how can restaurants deliver a much better dining experience without worrying about the financial burden? The answer is introducing digital menus.
Here are five reasons why PDF menus don’t generate any value and how digital menus can create a much better dining experience.
PDF menus are hard to read
PDF menus are not as effective as they may seem. Both the customer and the restaurateur find it challenging to use. It is not practical for restaurants because PDF menus don’t create a user-friendly experience for customers.
Once the customer scans the QR code, they pinch and zoom in on their screen to see the menu. The majority can’t see the menu clearly and get frustrated by this experience.
Digital menus, on the other hand, are easy to read and follow. Because the app is fully customizable, it enhances the ordering experience with its user-friendly approach. Guests can click on the dishes to see their photos and read detailed product descriptions.
PDF menus are hard to update
PDF menus are hard to update. Making daily changes, updates, or offering seasonal menus is not possible with PDF menus. So it is not an effective way to display menus.
Digital menus, on the other hand, allow restaurateurs to make daily changes, add/remove items, make updates based on inventory, and offer a seasonal menu with just one click. Digital menus are practical and easy to use.
Moreover, operators can also add photos & videos of the dishes, offer campaigns or special offers, and include a complete description of the dishes with allergens seamlessly with digital menus. This enhances the dining experience, and digital menus generate more value to businesses.
PDF menus are not interactive like digital menus
Guests can not interact with PDF menus. They simply scan the QR code and view the menu. However, some customers find it difficult to read the items on PDF. From the size of the letters to its font, PDF menus are not mobile-friendly. Customers try to zoom in on everything and this impacts the overall dining experience negatively.
Digital menus, on the other hand, are interactive. Guests can navigate through the menu, see detailed product descriptions, give feedback, and order & pay by using the same menu. As a result, just by digitizing menus, operators can offer interactive menus to generate more value.
PDF menus don’t make smart recommendations
PDF menus are simply converted from Word documents. Since there is no interaction, upselling, recommendations, or added ones are still made by restaurant staff. However, relying solely on the team can come with a cost, losing an opportunity to sell more. This impacts the overall revenue negatively and reduces profits in the long run.
Digital menus, on the other hand, engage with customers. Upselling, recommendations, or add-ons are possible based on restaurateurs’ wishes. When a customer browses the menu and clicks on an item, digital menus can make smart recommendations, offer high margins, or rely on inventory. Digital menus also display pop-ups that encourage people to eat more. As a result, digital menus enhance the customer’s dining experience and bring more profits to venues.
PDF menus don’t collect data!
If cash is king, data is queen because it allows operators to make smart decisions. The problem with PDF menus is that it does not collect data. It doesn’t show which items were viewed the most but did not turn into sales. This loss of opportunity impacts the overall sales, and restaurateurs can’t improve their menus correctly.
Digital menus allow restaurateurs to compare each item’s views and sales and their place on the menu to find the best content and layout for their business. They can also leverage artificial intelligence data to make smart decisions.
For example, suppose the item “Tiramisu” has a high view count and relatively low sales within the high-performing “Desserts” section. The restaurateur can consider an adjustment in the price, presentation, or ingredients.
In conclusion, digital menus allow operators to enhance their guests’ dining experience while also maximizing their revenues. If you would like to know more about digital menus and leverage your business, go to finedinemenu.com to streamline your operations.
About FineDine: FineDine is a growing tech company that provides data-driven digital tablets and QR menus for a smarter and more profitable dining experience with its menu management, order & payment solutions.
Our digital ordering solutions increase restaurants, hotels, beach & pool clubs’ revenue by digitizing the dining experiences.
Operating in 60+ countries, FineDine currently serves hundreds of restaurants in 40 languages.
