What if I told you that your menu experience sucks and there is a technology that could fundamentally transform it to something truly spectacular? You’d certainly be interested in learning more. Well, that technology is called Augmented Reality (AR) and it delivers a complete reinvention of the way you present your menu to guests.
Emerging technology has impacted almost every aspect of restaurant operations over the past 20 years. This is especially true of the guest experience. From tableside ordering tablets to the rise of digital payment systems, technology is enhancing our ability to serve guests and improve their transactional experience.
While this technology has improved the ordering experience, it hasn’t really changed it in any demonstrable way. Guests are still reading a static menu and making choices which are either entered directly into the POS by a tablet or transcribed by a server.
This is where Augmented Reality changes everything.
How AR Can Elevate Your Restaurant’s Menu
When you hear the term Augmented Reality, what comes to mind? No, not Virtual Reality (we’ll explain the difference shortly), but Augmented Reality. Likely your first thought is Pokemon Go. If so, then you are already part way there to understanding how AR works.
When you wear Virtual Reality (VR) goggles you enter an artificial digital environment. Augmented Reality, conversely, puts digital elements in the user’s real world, hence the Pokemon Go model. The video below is a demo of how AR can look and feel in a restaurant setting.
The video shows several different interactions a guest could access using AR, which clearly demonstrate the incredible experience and potential that AR brings to a menu application. Through simple 3D modeling techniques, your dishes can be captured and recreated digitally to display for the guest on their table.
Imagine the wow factor alone as the guest can inspect a dish before ordering it. This would eliminate ever managing a guest’s disappointment that their meal wasn’t what they expected.
Pretty much all modern POS services have the capability of attaching this technology to a direct ordering system. Imagine a guest viewing a dish on your menu, enjoying the anticipation of consuming it and directing you to fulfill it, all in the same experience.
AR Also Boasts Restaurant Gaming and Marketing Capabilities
But that isn’t where the value of AR ends. As you can see from the demo video, an AR user can not only order their meal, but also view the next exciting video game offered at the venue as well as see what featured sporting events will be shown during their visit. This is meeting your guests where they are by delivering more than just a menu and instead giving them a literal dashboard to effectively navigate the value your restaurant offers.
This technology is far more advanced than most people understand and it’s incredibly effective when it comes to enhancing sales. In retail, for example, AR solutions increased purchase likelihood by nearly 20% and nearly 30% more items were viewed while AR was engaged.
How to Get Started with AR at Your Restaurant
You’re probably asking how do I take advantage of this technology? There are myriad ways to implement AR in your restaurant and this article provides you with some specific examples of successful implementation. The most important thing you can do is learn as much as you can about Augmented Reality before you take the plunge.
We have done much of that research for you and are happy to walk you through the options you will face should you want to move forward with AR. Just complete the form below. We’ll schedule a conversation to better assist you in determining how Augmented Reality can transform your menu experience and give you a decided competitive advantage.
