Digital Menu Boards in Melbourne: 7 Checks Before Installation

A digital menu board needs to work from the spot where your customer actually stands. Before choosing a screen for your Melbourne restaurant, takeaway or butcher shop, work out what it needs to show, who will see it and how changes will be handled.

The screen is one part of the job. Placement, finished artwork and ongoing management deserve just as much attention. These seven checks will help you prepare for an inspection and compare proposals.

1. Give each screen a clear job

Start with the information customers need at each stage of their visit. An ordering screen might show the main menu. A separate display could give a weekly special enough space to be noticed. A pickup-area screen might show collection instructions.

For a restaurant display setup, consider the entrance, order counter and dining area separately. A takeaway may need most of its information at the order point. A butcher shop may need cuts, pack information and prices close to the service counter.

Write down the purpose before deciding the number of screens. More screens are only useful when each one has something useful to do.

2. Check the view from the queue

Stand where customers wait, then move to the ordering point. Check whether people, equipment or hanging signs block the proposed position. Look from both ends of the counter, rather than only from directly underneath the screen.

Bring a sample of your actual menu to the planning conversation. If customers need to read prices before ordering, those prices should be visible from the relevant position. Do not rely on a close-up phone preview to judge readability.

3. Look at light throughout the day

A position that looks clear in the evening may catch reflections during daytime trading. Note windows, direct light and bright fittings around each proposed screen.

A window-facing display also needs a separate assessment from an indoor menu board. Ask the supplier to assess the intended location and recommend suitable hardware. Avoid choosing solely by screen size or assuming an existing television is right for the job.

For takeaway screen installations, include the shopfront and pickup area in that discussion if you want displays there.

4. Prepare finished files for the screen layout

Decide who will create and approve the artwork. At VicDisplays, menu design and artwork creation are handled by your team or designer. We configure and manage the display system using the approved material you supply.

Confirm the required file format, dimensions and orientation before your designer starts. A printed menu with many small items may need a different layout for a screen.

• Keep item names and prices easy to pair.
• Give important conditions enough space to be read.
• Use clear contrast between text and background.
• Keep key ordering information visible instead of making customers wait through a long sequence.

5. Agree how changes will reach the screen

A weekly offer needs an owner and an end date. Decide who approves the replacement file, how it is sent and when the previous offer should stop showing.

For example, a butcher shop might prepare a new specials file and specify which screen it replaces. That is an example workflow, not a promise of a particular update time.

The VicDisplays butcher-shop service uses finished files approved by the shop. The proposal defines the process for changes and support. Ask about turnaround, operating hours and what happens if a file needs correcting before you agree.

6. Include mounting, power and access in the inspection

Point out the proposed wall positions, available power and access around the counter. Mention equipment that creates heat or moisture, areas that need regular cleaning and any restrictions from your landlord.

Let the installer assess the location and explain the mounting and connection requirements. If extra electrical work or permissions are needed, ask who arranges them and whether they are included. Do not assume they are covered simply because a proposal says “installation”.

7. Compare the whole agreement

A weekly amount does not explain the complete arrangement. Check the screen setup, agreement length, ownership conditions, ongoing management and support together.

The current VicDisplays pricing page advertises managed rent-to-own packages from $50 per week with nothing upfront. This is a starting price. Your written quote confirms the hardware, weekly amount, term, ownership details and service scope for your shop.

Keep a copy of that quote and check it against the setup you discussed. Ask how additional screens, changed requirements or future support would be handled.

Your site-inspection checklist

Tick these as you prepare. This checklist stays on this page and does not send your answers anywhere.

Common questions before installation

Service details checked against the VicDisplays homepage, industry pages and pricing page on 19 October 2026. Availability, pricing and scope are confirmed in your individual quote. Cover image is a generated concept illustration, not a photograph of a client installation.