How Customer Feedback Shaped Nu-Way’s Outdoor Digital Menu Board Solutions

You probably remember a time when you went through a drive-thru and saw a static menu board. At many restaurants, these boards had to be swapped out manually during the day. Breakfast went up early in the morning, then someone had to run back out and replace it before the daily lunch rush.

About 10 years ago, that all started to change. When outdoor-hardened LCD screens became available, the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry moved fast, and the market rushed to meet a new demand. Large enclosure manufacturers began offering standard, catalog-style outdoor digital menu boards that let customers choose an out-of-the-box option and order online. These catalog solutions opened the door to the technology, but it quickly became clear that not every restaurant wanted the same configuration. Different display platforms, brand-specific colors, and site conditions all called for customization that catalog options could not support.

That’s where Nu-Way Industries came in. Instead of offering one-size-fits-all options, we listened to what each customer actually needed and built accordingly. Over the past decade, that commitment to customization has made Nu-Way a manufacturing partner for the companies that distribute products to the major QSR chains, helping them navigate one of the biggest technology shifts in their industry.

Figuring It Out Together

When Nu-Way first entered the outdoor digital menu board space, the industry was still trying to understand what these products needed to be. The technology was new, and major QSR chains were running pilot programs long before they were ready to commit to full rollouts across thousands of locations.

Those early pilots showed just how different each customer’s priorities were. While one restaurant wanted their brand colors reflected in the enclosure, others were more focused on function and cost control. We built small-run prototypes for each brand and sent those units into the field so they could see how the designs performed in real conditions.

The feedback that came back from those pilots shaped every next step:

• – Installers shared which components were difficult to work with on site.
• – Maintenance teams explained the issues they encountered during servicing.
• – Restaurant managers outlined what they needed to make the units practical for everyday operations.
• – When field reports revealed that occasional water leaks were tied to installation errors, we responded by redesigning those features to make incorrect installation nearly impossible.

As a collaborative manufacturing partner, we absorbed all of that information and used it to refine the product. When customers began preparing for larger rollouts and asked where we could reduce costs, we studied the design and identified where material could be removed without sacrificing structural strength. When managers said they did not want media player computers taking up space in their crowded offices, we reconfigured the enclosure to house those components outdoors, along with the network switches and cabling needed to support them.

At one point, a major customer changed their preferred display platform entirely. Different LCD manufacturers use very different heating and cooling systems, so supporting the new platform required redesigning proper ventilation from the ground up. A pivot like that simply isn’t possible when you are working with a fixed catalog product. It only happens when the approach is built around customization and continuous adaptation.

Those years of rapid learning and constant iteration established the approach Nu-Way still uses today: listen to what customers actually need, then engineer solutions that deliver on those requirements.

Building What the Project Actually Needs

Once the industry started moving beyond pilot programs, it became clear that a standard catalog product could only take restaurants so far. Every chain had its own equipment, its own site constraints, and its own vision for where digital menu boards were headed. The needs kept shifting as technology evolved, and off-the-shelf solutions simply could not keep pace.

That’s where Nu-Way’s approach began to stand out. Because we handle everything in-house, from engineering through finishing, we can adjust designs quickly and build solutions that match the exact requirements of each project.

In practice, that flexibility has taken many forms:

• – Custom bolt patterns that align with existing foundations, so stores do not need to tear up prior concrete during installation.
• – Shim kits that support LCD model changes while still maintaining a seamless appearance.
• – Integrated customization options such as GFCI outlets, anti-vandal kits, and side channels for static advertising inserts.

Customers come to us with a wide range of requests. Sometimes they need support for a new display platform. Other times, they need a different mounting approach or adjustments to airflow and cooling. Instead of redirecting them to a different model or a standardized option, we modify the design so it fits the requirement.

Building what the project actually needs has always been our core differentiator. Where catalog manufacturers stop at what is available on the shelf, we begin by understanding what the site requires, what the customer wants to accomplish, and how the system needs to evolve. That approach has allowed us to support a wide range of QSR chains as they move through digital conversions and prepare for the next wave of technology.

Engineered for the Real World

These units don’t get the protection of a climate-controlled building. They’re out in the elements year-round, dealing with conditions that vary dramatically from one location to the next. For example, coastal areas bring high winds that can test mounting systems and enclosure integrity, while unstable ground can cause shifting and settling that affects long-term stability. Standard catalog products are often designed around average environments, which can be a problem when the site isn’t. 

We’ve engineered our outdoor digital menu boards to handle exactly these types of demands. Our units meet high wind load requirements for coastal installations and perform reliably in challenging soil conditions. Available in 1×1, 1×2, and 1×3 configurations, they give restaurants flexibility in designing their drive-thru lanes while remaining easy to assemble and simple to service.

Preparing for What Comes Next

Swing through the drive-thru of your nearest QSR, and you’ll likely confirm what we know to be true: digital menu boards have become standard in the industry. But this level of maturity doesn’t mean the industry has stopped evolving.

Early adopters are now reaching the point where their first installations are five, six, or seven years old, and many chains are beginning to plan refresh cycles. At the same time, new technological advances are reshaping what restaurants expect of these systems. It’s no longer just about displaying menu items and prices. Restaurants want these systems to support ordering, customer interaction, and operations data.

Some brands are experimenting with AI-assisted ordering, while others are exploring integrated cameras, expanded audio capabilities, or features that allow remote order takers to interact with customers on-screen. These ideas require space for additional components, new airflow considerations, and more flexible internal layouts. They also require a manufacturing partner who can adapt quickly as those needs evolve.

That’s the role Nu-Way continues to play. Because we built our approach around customization, we can adjust outdoor digital menu boards to support new hardware without forcing customers to adopt an entirely new design. When a chain wants to test a feature at a handful of locations, we can prototype those changes so they can get real-world data before committing to larger rollouts. And when the time comes to refresh existing units, we can build on what they already have, rather than starting from scratch.

Digital drive-thru systems will keep evolving, and no two brands will take the same path. Some will prioritize new ordering technology while others will focus on serviceability, durability, or integration with future store designs. Whatever direction they choose, we provide the flexibility and engineering support that turns those ideas into real, workable solutions.

Beyond the Drive-Thru

The evolution of outdoor digital menu boards has also opened the door to broader digital upgrades across the restaurant. When chains move toward complete digital conversion, they often update everything at once. That includes in-store displays, order confirmation boards, and the self-checkout kiosks that some chains are adding. Nu-Way supports these projects as well, coordinating complete conversion packages and shipping outdoor and indoor components together so installation teams can complete the work in a single visit.

Over more than 10 years, this combination of flexibility, engineering depth, and real-world experience has positioned Nu-Way as a manufacturing partner for QSR chains that need solutions built for their specific environments, not constrained by a catalog. As digital requirements continue to evolve, our role remains the same: understand what each project needs, then build equipment that delivers reliable performance in the field.

If you’re planning your next QSR equipment project or preparing for a future digital rollout, our team is ready to help you explore what comes next.