News

Taco John's testing Panasonic's digital menu boards

November 22, 2013

A Taco John's restaurant on South Greeley Highway in Cheyenne, Wyo., is testing Panasonic's outdoor digital menu board in a drive-thru lane. The companies are also testing a digital menu board inside a Taco John's restaurant in Fort Collins, Colo.

"It makes the guest experience more consistent, even down to the numbering of menu options. The digital board looks nice. It's crisp. We see a number of potential benefits," Shawn Eby, VP for Operations at Taco John's, said in a news release. "The efficiencies would also extend to labor costs. Digital boards are easier and quicker to maintain. One person can remotely update multiple locations."

Panasonic monitors the performance of both boards from a network operations center located in Ohio. Technicians provide remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, along with remote rebooting and repair capabilities.

"The QSR market is fiercely competitive. For this reason, it's critical that restaurants incorporate reliable, durable technology solutions that help operators provide the highest level of service while also driving repeat business, both in-store and in the drive-thru," said Rick Albert, VP Retail & Media Solutions for Panasonic. "With its digital menu board pilot, Taco John's demonstrates its dedication to creating greater operational efficiencies, boosting sales and enhancing the overall customer experience."

The digital boards, especially the one located in the drive-thru, will have to withstand rigorous testing from customers, restaurant employees and Wyoming's weather.

According to Panasonic, the test conditions at the Taco John's in Cheyenne are made to order: the 47-inch Professional LCD Display brings 1,000 cd/m2 of brightness, IP44-level dust and water resistance and operating efficiency in harsh conditions.

Eby expects testing of the outdoor digital display will continue for several more months, providing plenty of opportunities to see if it performs as well in the winter.

Read more about digital signage.