Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and the hospitality sector is no exception. For cafés, restaurants, and large-scale franchises, AI-powered digital signage is streamlining and elevating in-store communication, enabling owners to craft personalised, engaging content that resonates with their customers and enhances the dining experience.

With the help of AI, hospitality venues can now anticipate customer preferences, adapt menus on the spot, and respond in real time to drive both satisfaction and sales. Here’s a closer look at how these businesses are leveraging AI in their digital signage strategies to remain competitive and build stronger connections with diners.

Give customers what they want, when they want it

AI-powered digital signage empowers businesses to adjust messaging in real-time, helping them respond to customer preferences instantly. By analysing engagement data, hospitality venues gain insights into the types of content that resonate most with customers, understand peak times for specific promotions, and assess the impact on sales.

For example, if engagement data shows that hot food promotions are most successful in the morning while drink specials perform better in the afternoon, AI-powered signage makes it easy to adapt.

Fully customised, professional signage templates can be generated within minutes, and automatically scheduled to display at optimal times to capture customer attention and boost sales. This ability to personalise content in real time ensures that the right message reaches customers precisely when it is most relevant, creating a seamless, tailored experience that drives loyalty and revenue.

Keep your menus fresh and engaging

Gone are the days of updating printed menus every time you add a meal or change your pricing. With digital signage, hospitality venues can easily update menu displays, making it simple to highlight seasonal items or daily specials without the cost or hassle of reprinting. AI tools streamline the design process even more, generating customised templates that save time, cut costs, and provide the flexibility to adapt offerings as needed.

Digital signage displays also provide an opportunity to influence customer behaviour by showcasing high-margin items or popular seasonal specials, subtly guiding customer choices to align with business goals. With AI-driven, real-time updates, menus can be adjusted instantly, allowing venues to respond to customer preferences and changing trends, which enhances overall customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Improve the waiting experience

In venues where customers may have to wait to be seated or served, AI-powered digital signage can improve the overall experience by offering engaging, dynamic content that entertains and informs. From short clips of behind-the-scenes kitchen footage to staff introductions and local news updates, this content helps reduce perceived wait times by keeping customers engaged and connected to the brand.

AI tools enable businesses to create customisable templates optimised for maximum engagement. This means that venues can craft targeted content that can build brand loyalty while ensuring that customers are immersed in the dining experience even before they reach the table. In a market where customer experience is increasingly important, leveraging AI for engaging waiting area content can set businesses apart.

Get more eyes on your deals and promotions

Digital signage has revolutionised how hospitality venues promote specials and deals, providing a more dynamic and efficient alternative to traditional marketing methods. In the past, creating and displaying marketing materials required significant time and resources, often involving costly printing and manual updates.

Today, AI-powered digital signage simplifies this process, making it easy to capture customer attention with striking visuals, compelling language, and clear calls to action – all while reducing the need for constant manual intervention.

Take for instance Amin, the owner of Street Taste in Preston, Victoria. By implementing Mandoe Media’s digital signage displays, Amin has achieved a 15% sales increase. His signage highlights popular items and limited-time specials, drawing in customers and encouraging them to explore new menu options. This success story underscores how AI-powered digital signage can drive awareness and increase revenue when used to its full potential. 

In today’s fast-paced hospitality environment, AI-powered digital signage is making content creation easier for businesses of all sizes. By investing in smart, responsive signage, hospitality venues can improve the way they communicate with customers – all while saving valuable time and resources.

Steve Baxter is founder of Mandoe Media.