COLLEGE STATION, Texas - As details of the new national standards for menu boards and nutrition information begin to emerge from the new health-care law, Texas Digital Systems Inc. and its digital signage solution, VitalCAST, have launched new a new digital solution for menu boards.
The new law requires all quick-serve restaurants with 20 or more locations to comply with certain standards on menu-nutrition labeling, with the goal of helping consumers make better dining choices. Even franchisees that own only a few locations will be affected if the total number of brand stores is 20 or greater.
VitalCAST is a digital signage solution that allows restaurants to control a series of digital menu boards either on-site or from a regional or corporate location. Regular menu items, limited time offers, high-impact graphics, videos and more can be combined, and price changes and product offerings can be changed with a few clicks of the mouse.
"VitalCAST already has the ability to display nutrition information and the dynamic nature of digital signage makes updating that information very simple," said Dennis Davidson, president and COO of Texas Digital. "As the FDA determines the specific details of the nutrition regulations, we are prepared to take a leadership role as the most beneficial and affordable way to display required nutrition information."
The company says that digital menu boards have several advantages over traditional static signage. First, changes can be made quickly without waiting for static translites to be designed, printed and distributed to multiple restaurants. Second, the ability to incorporate moving images and deliver specific content at certain times takes targeted marketing efforts to a whole new level.
Additionally, VitalCAST offers a reporting feature that allows restaurants to analyze screen data to verify that each location is operating within federal or other regulatory guidelines. Lastly, the flexibility of VitalCAST digital menu boards will make it easy for operators to comply with legislation as it inevitably changes over the next few years.
"Texas Digital??s goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for quick-serve restaurants," says Davidson. "Although the guidelines of this legislation are not yet finalized, Texas Digital will stay on top of the latest updates, and will continue to accommodate and alter our software to meet restaurants?? needs."