In America, more than 100 paper mills have been shut down since 2011 as the demand for paper continues to decline. Paper, a once frequently used product is quickly being replaced by digitalization. One of the industries that are contributing to this waning use of paper are restaurant owners who have found ways to enhance the dining experience by replacing paper menus with ipads and tablets that display all their offerings and prices, a trend that is predicted to slip into the country as more and more food vendors seek to provide customers with a better experience.
The immediate benefit for restaurant owners who are advancing towards this digital approach is that it takes a shorter time to update any changes, whether it is an adjustment or addition of items or pricing. Currently, if a paper menu needs to be modernized then it means reproduction of the entire menu, using printing paper that is durable and/or glossy and all of this is costly; cancelling the information manually also compromises the presentation of the menu and might present issues of clarity when the customer is selecting an item. Of course purchasing tablets or ipads may be considered just as expensive, however they last much longer and can as well be considered as an investment that will be used for the long haul.
For customers who are frequent users of online delivery, the mobile app displays the menu in a similar way, including an itemized price list with visuals that aid customers in choosing their meal. The benefit of course is that customers ordering for food delivery get the experience of a virtual food court with just one click of the phone and they no longer have to fill their refrigerator door with paper menus.
Digital menus, whether they are utilized by walk in customers or those who are ordering online, seems to encourage customers to explore different cuisines as they peruse through what is available to them; this can be attributed to the fact that online menus have better segmentation of their onscreen content leaving more room for descriptions, especially when customers are attempting to try out foreign food that they are unfamiliar with.