If there is one culinary trend that’s set the world on fire in the last decade it’s the rise of the food truck. While it was once seen as the sole reserve of greasy spoon style breakfasts and anaemic burgers has now blossomed into a genuinely exciting industry.
If you were being cynical, you could say the rise of the food truck was partly due to the 2008 recession, with wannabe restaurateurs too strapped for cash to afford traditional digs. However, there’s something about the food truck that’s quite unique and magical. It also means that more people than ever before have been able to follow their dreams and open food businesses without resorting to auctioning off their kidneys.
The food trucks of today cater to all tastes and all markets – from high-class cuisine to burgers and chips. But regardless of the kind of cuisine your truck serves, if you are not able to stand out among the herd, it doesn’t matter how incredible your food might be.
Because you’ll rarely see one lone food truck. Indeed, food trucks tend to congregate at dining fairs and festivals and large scale events. If there are dozens to choose from, it’s going to take a little more than a well-written menu and some appealing smells to draw in the punters. And we think we have just the answer.
Digital menu boards
The most obvious way to use digital displays to improve the food truck experience is to invest in a digital menu board. Unlike your generic chalkboards, these are dynamic screens that can reveal additional nutritional information about the dishes and even include animated pictures of the food. Because people are much more likely to want to purchase a meal if they can see what it looks like.
Of course, fast-food chains have been using digital menu boards for years now but you’ll still rarely see food trucks utilising the technology. And it’s not half as expensive as you might assume. Best of all, if you have a special item or want to make changes on the fly it can be done quickly and simply. You can even adapt your digital menu for different locations and situations.
Digital advertising
Digital displays can also be used as advertising tools. Whether that’s revealing promotional messages or paid advertisements from partner businesses. Depending on your budget and the size of your truck there is no end to the possibilities here.
You could, for example, build an LED wall on the rear of your truck to entice customers or go the more affordable route and simply place a scrolling LED sign above the service window with unique messages. This could also be used to alert customers when their orders are ready.
Digital self-service
Finally, if you really want to double down on your digital investment there’s the possibility of installing touchscreens on your truck that customers can use to order their meals without talking to a staff member. These screens are ideal for keeping lines to a minimum, as you could potentially create two lines – one for self-service orders and one for traditional orders.
It would require setting up the infrastructure so that orders could be taken and delivered seamlessly but the added convenience and efficiency is sure to make your food truck stand out from those offering little more than cash payment and chalkboards.
Image: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com
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