Traditional or digital menu – which format is more compelling?

Jasmin Ohlendorf 

‘We prefer to work with our haptic menu because it’s easier to read in the traditional sense. It’s like a business card for our hotel. It conveys a certain sense of culture. If guests prefer a digital menu, they have the option of viewing our menu online on their own device. During the coronavirus pandemic, our guests got used to scanning a QR code and reading the menu online. But there was a real sigh of relief when the menu was available in a printed format again. People also got tired of laminated or bagged menus very quickly. Due to our sustainability strategy, we mostly use recycled paper or grass paper to present our diverse food options in an appealing way.’

Timo Schmitz

‘For me, the biggest advantage of a digital menu is flexibility. Our menu changes frequently, and this is an easy and cost-efficient way to adjust the menu quickly. You can also highlight certain dishes or incorporate pop-up windows. Digital menus are also hygienic, which is not only important with regard to the coronavirus. It also avoids sticky surfaces, makes it easier to keep menus organised and automatically produces less waste. Our menu is always up-to-the-minute and interactive. We often receive positive feedback for this. By scanning a QR code at the table, our guests automatically land on our website, which incidentally increases our click counts. If guests explicitly ask for a haptic menu, we give them our tablet that we use for the ordering process. It also displays the menu even larger. So far, everyone has been satisfied with that option.’

Olaf Jordt,

‘We can assume that the proportion of restaurants that use a traditional menu will steadily reduce in the future. Nevertheless, the printed menu will never go away completely because the feel, the weight and the romantic presentation are important features, especially in high-end restaurants. However, the shortage of skilled workers  is forcing restaurateurs to implement more and more digital processes. A digital menu thus becomes a virtual waiter during the ordering process. It offers restaurateurs many options, such as responding flexibly to daily or weekly specials, offering advice via videos and even transmitting orders to the POS system. All things considered, modern restaurateurs should stop questioning the advantages of a digital menu and simply use it. Presenting a menu will be less important than the added value of the digital ordering process.’