As we’ve emerged from pandemic life and the restaurant industry is booming once again, many restaurant owners are looking for ways to level up their customer experience. Video wall technology is a tool restaurants are incorporating into their business for this purpose, and it has major potential in the industry. Perfect for sharing information in a range of environments and businesses, video wall displays are changing the way people are entertained and even solicited. Video technology is no longer limited to television broadcasts or computer monitors. Now, business owners have the power to use video to heighten guest experiences and leverage this technology for messaging.

As a restaurant owner, you are often caught up in ensuring the delivery of quality food and service because that’s what it takes to run a successful restaurant. But is that all it takes? The digital revolution is producing a new generation of customers who are growing more accustomed to digital experiences accompanying all different types of services. Thanks to the simple yet robust video wall technology, you can deliver on that front and carve a unique identity and voice for your restaurant brand through customized content and engaging messaging.

What is a Video Wall?

An LCD video wall or display wall is a large visualization surface of multiple displays tiled together. Initially, these displays consisted of TV screens or monitors put closely together on smaller video wall mounts, but newer technologies such as tiled LCD wall panels, rear-projection cubes, and direct LED screens are available. Although TVs and monitors worked fine, the bezel surrounding each screen ruined the visual performance and could not generate the effect of a single canvas.

Video walls can be used to display different content on each display or function as one huge unified display. Besides the display screens, other video wall system components include a media player which can be connected to the screen using an HDMI cable or VGA ports, content management software(CMS), mounting brackets, and content that can be in the form of full videos, infographics, screenshots, or presentations.

How Can a Video Wall Benefit Your Restaurant Business

The size and quality of video walls make them very effective for branding and communicating with customers. Adding them to your restaurant allows you to customize their use beyond entertainment and marketing. You can program video wall systems to transform each space into a unique experience that aligns with your branding and leaves a lasting impression on guests. For example, some restaurants use video displays to create an impression of being elsewhere, like underwater or in space. If you are considering having a video wall installation done, here are some of the benefits it can bring to your restaurant.

• Brand promotion tool. A well-done video installation can create an excellent first impression on customers, prospects, and clients. This, combined with clever use of the content, can positively influence their personal opinion about your business.
• Impact on sales and customer satisfaction. Sharing clear and practical information to dining customers, such as opening hours, cooking practices, and menu changes leads to positive experiences since customers can make well-informed decisions.
• Entertainment, promotion, and informational tools. Combining these options with elite customer service can help your restaurant stay on top of the competition.
• Engagement with customers. There is a greater opportunity for customer engagement through interactive video walls where they can communicate their opinions and feedback on your restaurant. For example, you can use a touch screen or QR-code-based interactive video walls to let customers input details of how they want their orders served or to help them learn more about a menu item or cuisine.
• Employee morale and productivity. Signage technology can make it easier to perform specific tasks. This frees up employees and allows them more time to concentrate on other pressing matters like quality service delivery. For example, your waiting staff can skip handing out physical menus as the information can be displayed on the video walls.
• Growth. Having video walls in your restaurant is also an opportunity to boost growth and revenue. Besides using the displays to promote your brand, you can sell the space to other brands for advertisements and promotions.

Things to Keep in Mind During a Video Wall Installation

Preparation and planning are crucial to ensuring a successful video wall installation. To help you get started, we have put together a checklist to help you understand some essential things you should consider when installing a video wall in your restaurant.

Your business goal

As the presence of video walls in restaurants grows, business owners need to get more creative with their video wall applications to stand out. An innovative video wall setup will wow customers while supporting your business, employees, and customers. Determine the overall goal for investing in video walls and then work to ensure that the installation will support achieving that goal. Generally, restaurant owners use video walls to improve brand awareness, enhance user experience, and share information with customers and employees.

The location of the video wall

The physical location of your video wall matters during installation because it highly influences how rewarding your setup will be. It will also affect other decisions like the display screen size, the type of screen, whether it should be an LCD or LED display, the wall mounting solution, the pixel pitch, and screen resolution. Make an effort to find an appropriate location for setting up your video wall closely tied to how customers interact with your content.

We always recommend opting for installation setups that can be customized around the unique attributes of your space. Usually, LED walls offer more design versatility. For example, they can be bent to fit around columns and corners or be formed in unconventional architectural ways besides the standard rectangle and square installations.

Additionally, when considering the location, consider proximity to the electrical outlet, Wi-Fi or LAN internet cable, the ability of the wall to support the screen, protection from elements, and visibility.

Types of content displayed

Believe it or not, the type of content you intend to display is also a factor you should consider during the installation phase. The video wall and other related infrastructure can be complex when setting up, especially if you want multiple video walls showing synchronized content. In this case, you really want to have a content plan established beforehand, so the installation team knows step by step what they need to deliver.

The key is to find a flexible networking installation that either supports software programs and servicing or is compatible with a control system that allows it to adapt to various applications to guarantee a friendly user experience.

The type of content you end up choosing will also influence the calibration of the displays to ensure a pleasant appearance. Without the perfect calibration, your video wall will seem out of balance. Ensure you use high-quality visuals, keep the message concise, and avoid cluttering the video wall. To ensure your content is appropriate, understandable, and actionable, test its impact and performance.

Audio and interactivity

Audio and interactivity are not always necessary when installing a video wall but can significantly impact the end-user experience and enhance engagement. Deciding on this early can ensure your installation setup is designed to accommodate any additional hardware or cables to support audio and interactivity. Also, remember that the effectiveness of these other features will significantly depend on the type of environment where you plan to put your video wall.

Installation options available

Restaurants can use various video wall display installation methods depending on whether it’s being done indoors or outdoors. The grid-style video wall is usually the most complicated setup, requiring lots of configuration and installation. While making a DIY video wall is possible, it is always better to work with a professional to avoid errors, especially in measurements. For example, measure the bezels and width when considering the display size, and don’t rely on the screen size. Another important measurement is the amount of clearance between the back of the display and support structure and space allowance for media players or Wi-Fi adapters.

A professional will provide a suitable installation guide based on your current and anticipated needs and requirements. This will save you the cost of fixing an avoidable mistake or creating a new video wall each time a new niche comes up.

Maintenance 

Maintenance of video walls is essential to ensure that they always function correctly. When choosing an installation, confirm if they provide ongoing care and support for the video wall. Since they are already familiar with the configuration and installation, it becomes easier to locate and fix the faulty components.

Choose a Digital Signage Partner to Handle Video Wall Installation

When professionally designed and installed, video wall solutions deliver noticeable benefits in terms of customer engagement and experience. Unlike amateurs and DIY installment efforts, professionals will ensure the system is aligned to enhance visibility and ensure high performance. Therefore, finding the right digital signage company to guide and help you how to execute your video wall vision is essential. With our knowledge and expertise, decision-making is informed and made much easier.

Keyser has years of experience in video wall installation and other digital signage solutions. Contact us today and transform the way your restaurant does business.