Best Digital Menu Boards for Quick-Service Restaurants: WAND Digital vs SmarterSign

With several digital menu board platforms on the market for quick-service restaurants (QSRs), dining halls, drive-thrus, and food service operators to choose from, you might be feeling overwhelmed by features, offerings, and more as you do your initial comparison research. Instead of comparing features side-by-side in a long list, we’re looking at the bigger picture – the fundamental aspects of the technology and company – to help make your comparison research a bit simpler. In this article, we’ll compare WAND Digital with SmarterSign.

WAND: A Comprehensive Digital Menu Solution Designed for Quick-Service Restaurants

Focus on Full-Service Support: WAND Digital offers an end-to-end solution tailored specifically for QSRs and fast-casual restaurants. Unlike SmarterSign, WAND partners with clients to procure, install, and integrate all necessary hardware and software. This hands-on approach eliminates the need for DIY efforts, saving time and reducing the risk of implementation issues.

WAND’s commercial-grade displays are equipped with embedded media players, offering a more reliable and efficient setup compared to external players. With seamless POS system integration, WAND enables centralized management of menu updates, ensuring smooth operations and a cohesive digital strategy.

Designed for Growth and Reliability: WAND’s digital menu platform is hosted on AWS, backed by an offline automatic playback system, and optimized for scalability. The platform includes tools to enhance customer engagement, such as day-parting, dynamic displays, and award-winning menu design services. These features help QSR operators increase average order values and streamline menu management across multiple locations.

Comprehensive Support and Long-Term Value: From installation and onboarding to 24/7/365 customer support, WAND is committed to ensuring a seamless experience for its clients. Whether you’re starting with a single location or scaling to a franchise network, WAND provides tailored solutions to fit your growth stage and budget.

SmarterSign: A do-it-yourself Digital Signage Solution for Multiple Industries

Limited Support for QSRs: SmarterSign’s platform caters to a wide range of industries, including hospitality, retail, and corporate communications, making it less focused on the specific needs of QSRs. The platform requires users to procure and install their own hardware, such as displays and external media players, which can lead to a patchwork setup.

For QSR operators without the time or technical expertise to manage a DIY system, SmarterSign’s approach can be challenging. While they provide recommendations for hardware and installation services, the lack of direct support can result in higher costs and operational inefficiencies.

Reliance on External Media Players: SmarterSign relies on external media players to power its displays, with the option to connect multiple screens to a single player. While this setup may reduce initial costs, it introduces risks of connectivity issues and failures, particularly as businesses scale.

Conclusion

WAND Digital is the ideal solution for QSRs and fast-casual restaurants seeking a reliable, tailored digital menu platform. Its full-service approach, robust hardware, and focus on restaurant-specific needs ensure long-term value and scalability.

In contrast, SmarterSign may suit businesses with general signage requirements, but its lack of hardware support and reliance on DIY efforts make it a less suitable choice for busy QSR operators. For a streamlined and dependable digital menu solution, WAND Digital stands out as the clear alternative

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Disclaimer: All information was obtained from public sources on or around the date of publishing this article and may have changed since then. References to SmarterSign are for illustrative and educational purposes only. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by SmarterSign.

10th Jan 2023 John Phillips