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1. NEC Display Solutions
for Small-to-Medium
Restaurants (SMR)
In a world that’s becoming increasingly fast-paced, on-demand and interconnected,
going digital is a necessary transition for today’s food service industry. But it’s hard
to know where to begin. With so many options and so many changes in the digital
marketplace, researching and deciding on the right visual display solution costs you
time and money in and of itself. Instead, you can take advantage of the knowledge
and resources of NEC’s SMR experts, who are well-equipped to tailor a display system
designed specifically to meet the growing needs of restaurants. From digital menus
to interactive entertainment options, more dynamic solutions are on the horizon.
Using this guide, you can prepare yourself with some common questions and issues to
consider when starting a conversation about digital signage systems.
www.necdisplay.com

2. 2 NEC Display Solutions for Small-to-Medium Restaurants (SMR)
How does a restaurant benefit from a digital signage system?
Reinforces your brand image. Digital signage can power Saves on costs. Static posters and banners are costly to
your brand with a consistent message, whether it’s to replace over time, especially if you want your content to
promote the national marketing of the parent company, remain relevant and interesting to the customer. Going
or the localized image of a family-owned establishment. digital saves a step in the production process by going
Logos and their accompanying color palettes are presented straight from the design phase to live display; no more
in optimal, true form. The color and image accuracy of waiting on printed materials and paying extra for expedited
professional-grade LCD screens, combined with NEC’s shipping and insurance. By playing a slideshow of JPEG files
award-winning SpectraViewII™ technology, far surpasses the or video clips in MPEG format, you’re able to use common
varying reproduction quality of printed signage. Additionally, media formats and convey as many messages as you need on
consumers are able to interact with your brand using a one screen, rather than facing the clutter of posters and POS
digital medium on all sensory levels, adding to the overall displays. To further help your budget, NEC offers its Total
experience. You have the flexibility of using photo images Trade™ replacement and recycling program, which updates
or movie files. Easily bring menu items to life by showing the your outdated technology equipment with the latest NEC
steam rising off a baked potato, or hearing the sizzle of a displays. The trade includes regulatory-compliant removal of
steak right off the grill. Instantly, your diners will experience industrial waste and the paperwork process of verifying it —
the freshness of your products. saving you not only unexpected costs but also time.
Decreases perceived wait time. Rather than test your Helps reduce your environmental impact. Digital signage
patron’s patience as they’re waiting to be seated, you can is an immediate solution to reducing your overall usage of
give them something to watch to take their mind off things. paper, ink and plastics. NEC displays are not only recyclable,
Live TV is always an option, but with display systems you but also contain less hazardous materials. In partnering
also have the option of educating them about your seasonal with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NEC has
promotions, daily specials and new product offerings. become very active in developing policies and guidelines to
Your customer will be able to decide what to order just by create a more environmentally conscious industry.
watching your screens.
Reaches your network’s full potential. Simply by using
Entertains your customer. Whether they’re seated at your location’s wireless network, you can set up and control
the bar, at a table, waiting at the entrance, or even in the your entire display system from a single point of access —
restroom, digital signage can entertain your customer whether it’s multiple screens in one restaurant or screens
throughout their dining experience. TV dinners have become across multiple franchises. Program when your displays turn
commonplace among American families, so having screens on and off according to restaurant hours. The system is also
around will put your customer right at home. Live TV can equipped with self-monitoring software to prevent black
share a screen with hourly drink specials. You could also screens, checking for those in need of maintenance and
choose to engage them with interactive trivia games or automatically sending an e-mail to the support team.
surveys — whatever you can imagine, digital can do it.
Enhances your existing infrastructure. A new digital
Minimizes waste and food spoilage. It’s true — digital signage system can be smoothly integrated into your current
screens can save money in the kitchen, too. If you find an inventory and POS system, with user-friendly templates
item isn’t selling well, post a daily special instantaneously. If to help efficiently create fresh content. Instantly retrieve
you’re running low on stock, post immediate changes to the franchise-wide promotions, specials and menu items from
menu. Say goodbye to the chalkboard scribbles. a digital archive. Marketing and IT departments are able to
collaborate more easily through its all-in-one software, while
Connects your staff. Having a digital display system also encouraging other teams such as kitchen and wait staff
facilitates communication among your employees — from
to participate and provide promotional ideas.
hosting, to the wait staff, to the kitchen. Patrons are turned
over more quickly and orders are fulfilled more efficiently.
Additionally, after-hours training can be conducted through
the screens to improve quality as well as camaraderie.

3. 3 NEC Display Solutions for Small-to-Medium Restaurants (SMR)
Initial concerns when considering a digital signage system:
This will be too expensive. Financing options are available How would I keep content fresh? Your marketing
with attractive pricing, terms and delivery options. You could department is currently using the same content creation
also consider entering an NEC-sponsored pilot program tools as those used to “feed” the digital signage network.
that tests how a potential system would work in a few key With digital signs, you can dynamically change the content,
locations before being rolled out across all franchises. In a increasing the ROI on the same content. For SMRs without
pilot program, NEC absorbs part or all of the initial hardware, access to content assets, NEC can help create digital
software and installation costs for the pilot location(s). Once marketing messaging at a monthly fee. Templates can be
the system has proved itself, NEC can help roll out the digital created to custom-fit your branding guidelines and provide
signage solution for the rest of your restaurants. you with an even easier way to update information. It’s
important to realize that content can make or break your
This will be too difficult. While a learning curve is expected, digital signage system, so a dedication to content renewal
in-person and online tutorials are available to prepare your
needs to be established early on.
staff for the transition. Web logins make it easy for you to
make changes from any location, while service support is There are too many options. Which do I choose?
available 24/7. NEC can bring coordinated deployment There are several scenarios to consider: is your display
services to ensure deadlines are met, and if possible, with system customized and networked to offer the flexibility
minimum impact on the dining environment. Your project to grow with your restaurant, or does it only offer you a
management team will be able to move the effort forward package deal that’s good enough for today? Is it done
from start to finish with periodic updates and installation through one point of contact, or are there several vendors
status reports. NEC also serves as your liaison among union to contract separately? Do they offer expertise specific
trades to coordinate the installation of electrical outlets, to your industry, or are you their first SMR customer? The
low voltage wiring and network infrastructure. Very minimal easiest solution for any situation is to deal with a “one stop
workload is asked of the restaurant staff. shop” like NEC, offering total customized solutions through
one point of contact.
This will alter my restaurant’s look and feel. If a site survey
determines a few awkward placements for your screens, you
have the option of building enclosures that can match and
blend into your existing environment.
I’m worried about my screens being damaged. Airborne
contaminants from kitchen and tables can cause severe
damage to display screens. Polycarbonate or glass-based
protective covers can easily be built for susceptible screens.

4. 4 NEC Display Solutions for Small-to-Medium Restaurants (SMR)
What are some challenges NEC might face with SMRs?
Though some visual display companies may try to convince Beyond your hardware components, you’ll also be deciding
you otherwise, there is no single “out of the box” solution. on a network solution to support your displays:
Each restaurant or franchise may have their own unique set of
challenges and business goals, and there are multiple ways
A SaaS/ASP Network is an external server that resides
outside of your company’s network. While you own the
of achieving each one, simple or complex.
hardware, you only have to subscribe to the software. No
If you’re looking to entertain customers while they wait using maintenance is required on your part. Access is done through
a budget-friendly, cost-effective means, consider NEC’s a browser-based user interface. SaaS/ASP is preferred when
Lobby Signage Solution, a bundle that includes a screen, a you have a tight timeline (one-day turnaround), a smaller
mount, a basic media player, software package and power budget, or have limited bandwidth and IT staff to handle
strip. If you’re hoping to standardize digital display systems day-to-day maintenance. It’s not recommended when
across thousands of independently operated franchises, you’re dealing with large-scale security issues or require
try a “Good, Better, Best” tier program that allows each more sophisticated consumer data retrieval (such as using
owner to choose a signage system that best suits their interactive kiosks).
business model. If you just want to create a “wow-factor” to
add to the dining experience, consider a video wall to play
A LAN/WAN Network is an internal server that resides
within your company’s network and firewall. You own both the
sports broadcasts and music videos. Solutions can vary in
hardware and the software, allowing for complete customization
complexity according to the size of your restaurant, budget
(such as designing interactive kiosk data retrieval). Access is
and IT comfort level. That’s why it helps to have a custom-
done through a browser-based user interface. LAN/WAN is
built system that meets your basic needs today, but prepares
preferred when your existing company network requires firewall
you for tomorrow’s growth.
protection, or when your displays demand more sophisticated
software writing. It’s not recommended for quick turnaround or
those with limited resources.
What are some general digital display solutions for restaurants?
Upfront costs are too high. NEC can offer the most basic “TV and PowerPoint are good enough” attitude. This do-
“sneakerware” systems, usually built around a simple flash- it-yourself approach actually adds more burden to the staff,
based media player (such as an industrial DVD player). more costs in installment and fails to meet the full potential
These systems are networked so that more sophisticated of dynamic digital technology. There’s so many ways to go
components can be added later on when the dealer is ready. wrong when transitioning into a digital signage system.
Instead, learn from NEC’s experience. Not only does NEC
Long deployment times. The bigger the restaurant, the know what to do, but more importantly, what NOT to do.
bigger the complications. There will be several layers of
management to filter through and sign-offs will take longer
than usual. Sometimes, deployment will require meeting
every franchise owner individually. An easier way to get the
system up and running is by efficiently managing a pilot
program to respond quickly to feedback.
Limited IT resources. NEC offers 24/7 service, in-system
maintenance checks and user-friendly tutorials within the
software. With a web-based model, anyone can access and
maintain the system through a browser — no new software
required. If additional training is required, live tutorials may
be conducted on site or over the web.

5. 5 NEC Display Solutions for Small-to-Medium Restaurants (SMR)
Who are the key decision makers?
Owners on the corporate and franchise level
What are some qualifying questions to ask?
Current Equipment/Platform Usage Image Quality
What kind of signage do you currently use? What are your intended goals with a Would you like high definition-quality
What kind of content is on playing on digital signage system? playback?
your screens? How will you use the technology? Do you have high-quality videos and
Do you know what digital signage is? (Promote sales or build your brand?) photo?
How big a part does digital signage play Will you need to retrieve data and Are you interested in RSS news feeds that
in your marketing plan? feedback from your patrons? crawl across the screen?
Are you currently working with a digital Do you need to show regular TV
signage provider? Integration programming?
How quickly do you need to deploy?
Budget Would you prefer start-to-finish project Network Requirements
How much money do you spend per management or working with your own What kind of IT infrastructure do you
year on your marketing (static signs, ads, vendors? currently have?
delivery services and logistics)? What screen sizes did you have in mind? Do you currently have an IT department?
Has a budget been set aside for digital Do you prefer wall- or ceiling-mounted Do you use a WAN/LAN?
signage? screens? Do you currently have a wireless network?
How many systems were you considering Do you have any bandwidth restrictions?
per restaurant? Operation
Does your server need to reside inside
Who will be managing the system’s day- your firewall?
to-day operation? Can the system reside within your
Who is responsible for content? network, or will it require a dedicated
Are you interested in outsourced content network?
creation and management services?

6. 6 NEC Display Solutions for Small-to-Medium Restaurants (SMR)
What are the steps in creating a digital display solution?
Project Kickoff Project Deployment Pilot Assessment Ongoing Evaluation
1. Project kickoff. Your NEC representative will meet with system installation, testing and equipment inspection, your
key decision makers to assess several factors — timeline, staff is trained and tutorials are created as needed.
ROI model, budget, and generally, what your needs
3. Pilot assessment. If you’ve chosen to go through with
and expectations are for your digital signage system. In
a pilot program, this is when you start receiving feedback
collaboration with manufacturing partners, NEC develops
from customers, employees and advertisers. An ROI analysis
a tailored, end-to-end solution, which is reviewed and
is performed, and a timeline is created for additional
approved among all involved parties.
deployments, as well as any enhancements to the current
2. Project deployment. NEC acts as a general contractor system. The effectiveness of the project is continually
in placing orders with vendors, scheduling installations, monitored, and when results are hitting targets, your
securing insurance and finalizing any application/content remaining sites take the full move into deployment stage.
requirements. A site survey is performed to determine the
4. Ongoing evaluation. A maintenance plan is built to fit your
best placements for your digital signage — how foot traffic
particular needs and budget. Your NEC representative is
flows, key decision points, proper infrastructure, electrical
continually in contact with you to provide any support or help
issues, etc. Upon final approval from the key decision makers,
with troubleshooting the system.
the first set of systems are shipped to your location. After
Why choose NEC?
With NEC, you’re equipped with a total solutions package Most importantly, NEC is an industry leader with a
— from diagnostics and implementation to follow-up longstanding commitment to quality service, product and
service and support. Through one point of contact, you have expertise. There is unparalleled value in working with a
access to the highest quality technology, superior vendors, global household name, since you can trust that you will be
and an unrivaled industry-specific service team. No one is taken care of throughout the lifetime of your digital signage
more committed to your needs, and no one else offers full system — and possibly beyond, as the relationship evolves at
complimentary consultations. the rate of technological innovation.
Unlike competitors, NEC doesn’t just offer one solution that’s
either too big or too small for your current environment.
Instead, NEC cost-effectively maximizes the system you start
with, equipping it with network capabilities that are ready
to grow when you are. Evaluating your unique situation is a
hugely important part of the NEC solution process, and can
make the most of your investment.
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