Chris Day, managing director of Moving Tactics, says that "the trends that we have predicted over the last few years have become the norm and they work exceedingly well."

Day adds that it is essential that the basic building blocks are in place for retailers and QSRs to build a value-add system that can accommodate for digital signage solutions, which will continue to shape the industry in the coming year.

According to Moving Tactics, here are five ways that digital signage will affect the QSR industry and how you can consider accommodating it in your own marketing:

1. Get the basics right

Kevin Bierman, head of digital signage at Moving Tactics, says, "My best advice to clients would be to get the basics right, such as employing quality commercial grade screens and implementing system-on-chip technology, which replaces the need for external media players. These are absolute musts." 

Quality commercial-grade screens end up costing brands less in the long run. This is because they are less likely to fail, they use less power and they are hardy enough to deal with load shedding and regular power cuts. These screens also automatically switch back on after a power failure, so marketing and advertising content can continue unaffected. 

System-on-chip digital signage technology additionally does away with using multiple pieces of equipment. This results in a much more streamlined solution, while providing overall health of your digital signage assets. This technology makes it possible to pair normal digital signage with value-add features, such as scheduling and dayparting.

2. Weather-based menu boards

Weather-based content for digital menu boards is becoming the norm for leading QSR brands. Weather-based digital menu boards will replace menu items being displayed, based on the actual weather being experienced outside in real-time. So, if it's a cooler day, warmer and heartier foods will be promoted and displayed in place of frozen drinks and salads on the menu boards.

In addition, menu items promoted based on the time of day (also known as day-parting for breakfast and lunch) gives customers more choice, as well as more practical and relevant food options. And for the restauranteur, the pricing on menu boards can be linked directly to the point of sale system and updated in real-time.

3. In-store music

Research has confirmed that consumers shop for longer, spend more money and have an enhanced shopping experience if they're exposed to music. In this way, local and international retail and restaurant brands are installing in-store music and audio solutions to create a more engaging and brand-specific experience.

In-store music, as well as tailored and regionalised radio services, can be developed. This channel can be used for the additional purpose of staff training, if and when needed.

4. Staff training on digital screens

Early morning in-store training for staff has progressed with the latest technology advancements and can be scheduled in a similar way to promotional content. Staff training no longer needs to be done live or scheduled weeks ahead of time.

With the latest technologies, staff are able to stream or download the most recent training that needs to be undertaken via the corporate network. This can be done using the digital audio and visual network in-store.

5. Refresh your network

Technology is ever-evolving and Day recommends that a digital signage network be refreshed every three years to keep equipment compatible with the latest software. Obsolete equipment often negates the time and effort put into creating content to promote products and services.

"We do, however, understand that refreshing a network can be a costly exercise. It's for this reason that we recommend rental finance options with financial flexibility. Over and above the explicit advantage of effective cash flow management, the fact that you have up-to-date technology that is always under warranty and replaced every three years provides peace of mind. It really is a new way of doing business for the digital signage industry here in South Africa," concludes Day.

For more information, visit www.movingtactics.co.za. You can also follow Moving Tactics on Facebook or on Twitter.