How to 'Dress' Your Digital Drive Thru Menu Board

You dress according to the weather, right? If it's hot, you wear loose fitting clothes. If it rains, you wear a waterproof jacket, maybe. If it snows… well you get the idea. The same principle applies to your digital drive thru menu network, it needs to be 'dressed' accordingly to survive the outdoors...

...That's where digital drive thru menu board enclosures come in. Why an enclosure and not an integrated, digital menu board you might ask? Two reasons:

• #1 - Cost.
• #2 - Flexibility.

Nothing against integrated, digital drive thru menu displays, but the long-term cost of owning just one can quickly spiral out of control. Meanwhile, they are about as flexible as North Korea when asked to stop missile testing. Enclosures on the other hand represent better value for money, plus they are much easier to work with operationally.

With that in mind, here's what your digital drive thru menu board enclosures should be equipped with to properly protect your capital assets:

#1 - Air Conditioner Units

Air conditioner units (AC) are one of the most effective ways to combat heat, especially in extremely warm climates. AC units can cope with temperature fluctuations and they can reduce humidity as part of their operation cycle. They're extremely efficient too.

#2 - Fans

In moderately hot environments, fans will help to increase the airflow within the enclosure. With screens producing heat and the potential for sunlight to warm them up further, fans work to channel hot air and force it out of the unit.

#3 - Plenum Chambers

They sound fancy, but plenum chambers are extremely practical. What are they? In layman's terms, plenum chambers allow filtered air to flow through an enclosure, dispersing any heat. They eliminate the need for alternative ventilation systems, which are likely to be more expensive.

Equally, plenum chambers protect against water penetration, keeping the rain out and they require very little maintenance. They are a unique way of cooling hardware prone to overheating in enclosed spaces.

#4 - Anti-Glare/Anti-Reflective Glass

According to screen giants, Panasonic, 74% of drive thru fast food patrons put an easy to read menu at the top of their priority list. Trust us when we say that nothing obscures digital drive thru menu visibility more than screen glare caused by direct sunlight hitting the screen display.

To combat this inconvenience, have your enclosure(s) display window(s) coated with an anti-glare or anti-reflective technology. Anti-glare is the lower-cost option, while anti-reflective is more effective, reducing screen glare to as little as 0.4%.

Why Are We Telling You to 'Dress' Your Digital Drive Thru Menu Boards?

Like turning up to a black tie event in the wrong attire, a poorly 'dressed' digital drive thru menu board network leaves it exposed to the elements. Ultimately, this results in damage to equipment, escalating costs and digital menus left idle.

However, in the event that your capital assets come to the end of their life or you want to upgrade hardware, an enclosure allows you to swap out and upgrade at your convenience. The same goes for components, whether it's fans or air conditioning units, and this is why we point you in the direction of enclosure systems.

To learn more about 'dressing' your digital drive thru menu boards, get your hands on this first-class guide...