Case studies

iSignage Optimizes Menu Boards with ASUS NUC

Dynamic Multi-Screen System Keeps Customers Engaged

Hong Kong’s fast-food scene puts intense demands on digital menu boards. With hundreds of menu items, four distinct meal periods, and service running 14 hours a day, reliability is critical. Even a brief glitch can send hungry patrons elsewhere.

And in a market dominated by three major chains, scalability is just as important. Whether launching a new location or upgrading existing infrastructure, restaurants need a supply chain as dependable as the signage systems they rely on.

iSignage understands these challenges firsthand. With more than 20 years serving the Hong Kong market, the company knew exactly what was needed to build a modern, resilient signage solution. That’s why it turned to the ASUS NUC for its new iMenu platform. With robust multi-screen capabilities, all-day reliability, and a world-class supply chain, the ASUS NUC proved to be the ideal foundation for next-generation digital menu boards.

“ASUS NUC is a perfect partner in helping us to deliver a reliable, energy saving, and scalable digital menu board solution to our food and beverage customers.”

—Francis Fung, Managing Director, iSignage Limited.

Partnership Highlights

Reliable performance ensures uninterrupted operation during 14-hour service days, seven days a week
Compact design supports advanced multi-screen output without consuming valuable space in Hong Kong’s tightly packed restaurants
Energy-efficient architecture helps customers meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals while reducing ongoing operational costs
Robust supply chain ensures product availability for both planned expansions and short-notice restaurant openings
Responsive local support minimizes downtime with fast, effective troubleshooting

The Challenge: Reliable Operation of Complex Menu Boards

Hong Kong’s fast-paced lifestyle demands far more than one might expect from a digital menu system. To stay competitive, iSignage needed to overcome some unique challenges:

Complex Menu Requirements: Hong Kong menus feature up to 22 options per screen with over 100 menu items at any time. This changes throughout each day as the service shifts between breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner periods.
Space-constrained Installations: Hong Kong’s premium real estate prices mean that restaurant space is extremely limited. Digital menu solutions must be discreetly installed and able to operate for many hours at a time without optimal airflow.
Scalable Solution: For streamlined operation, the digital menu solution needs to integrate with existing customer infrastructure and support new iSignage offerings as businesses grow.
Sustainable Operation: Modern customers care about their impact on the environment, so new solutions must be energy efficient and meet agreed ESG requirements.
Rapid Product Availability: Hong Kong restaurants provide minimal notice before opening new locations. A responsive supply chain is therefore key to seizing new business opportunities.
Seven-day Support: Every second of menu downtime means lost revenue as patrons reconsider their options. With no weekends off for restaurants, technical support must operate on the same clock.

Previous digital menu systems often struggled to meet these demanding requirements. To enhance customer satisfaction, iSignage needed a solution that would dramatically reduce support calls by offering exceptional reliability.

Interior of a service counter area with blue and white decor. A digital kiosk and screen display numbers. Staff in yellow uniforms assist customers.

HK’s retail scene demands efficient use of constrained spaces while satisfying modern customers’ expectations for environmental compliance

The Solution: ASUS NUC Drives Multi-Screen Digital Menus

While several computing solutions were tested during development, iSignage found a clear winner with the ASUS NUC 14 Pro Slim. Its 4x4-inch footprint, efficient operation, and high-performance video capabilities made the ASUS NUC ideal for driving digital menu boards and going head-to-head with market demands.

“The performance of the digital menu’s PC is very important. We tried to use different brands, and finally they worked with ASUS NUC. The substantial performance improvement helps us to reduce the number of support calls related to hardware failure or performance longevity.”

—Francis Fung, Managing Director, iSignage Limited

Key ASUS NUC features that addressed iSignage's challenges include:

Ample performance enables dynamic, multi-screen signage applications supported by multiple HDMI ports on each device
Ultra-compact form factor allows discreet installation in space-constrained environments while supporting a two-NUC redundant architecture to minimize downtime
Energy-efficient design ensures reliable, environmentally-friendly performance in challenging thermal environments while minimizing operational costs
Robust supply chain guarantees product availability when businesses expand
Dedicated ASUS Hong Kong support team provides rapid, comprehensive technical assistance across all service hours for maximum customer satisfaction

The iSignage digital menu board solution typically connects to both a central management system and each restaurant’s local IT server. iMenu enables drag-and-drop content management via VPN to provide real-time updates on multiple NUC-powered menu screens and E-posters.

A brightly lit fast food counter with digital menu boards displaying various Asian dishes, combo sets, and a mango dessert promotion.

ASUS NUCs enable iSignage digital menu boards to update menus frequently while taking up little spaces in HK’s crowded fast food restaurants.

The Results: Scalable Signage Solutions for Fast-Paced Businesses

This partnership between iSignage and ASUS truly expands the possibilities for many Hong Kong restaurants. Patrons can now experience truly up-to-date displays that both enhance engagement with special offers and avoid disappointment by integrating iMenu with the restaurant’s point-of-sale system. “Sold out” items can be marked or removed from boards completely to ensure real-time accuracy of what’s available before patrons place their order.

The exceptional reliability of the ASUS NUC ensures these digital menu boards operate consistently during their hundred-hour working weeks. Even when hardware fixes are needed—which occurs far less frequently—the dual-NUC redundant architecture maintains menu functionality so business continues uninterrupted.

Beyond day-to-day benefits, the ASUS NUC's reduced power consumption supports customer ESG objectives without sacrificing valuable restaurant space, thanks to its remarkably compact design. The scalable nature of the complete solution and future-proof infrastructure supports rapid new store openings to meet the evolving needs of Hong Kong businesses.

“We choose the NUC because of the support service that we get from ASUS’ Hong Kong office. Whatever problems we have, we always contact them and are provided with plenty of support.”

— Francis Fung, Managing Director, iSignage Limited

A brightly lit menu with multiple sections displaying images of breakfast dishes, including eggs, sausages, toast, and rice, with prices in a tiled setting.

Powered by ASUS NUCs, iSignage provides dynamic, complex digital menu boards that runs reliably across many locations

Enhanced customer experience through dynamic menu presentations

The collaboration between iSignage and ASUS demonstrates how the right technology can transform customer experiences while optimizing business operations. The compact, reliable ASUS NUC provides the ideal foundation for iSignage's intuitive digital menu board solution, perfectly addressing the demanding requirements of Hong Kong's bustling restaurant scene.

This successful partnership showcases the power of edge computing to deliver scalable digital signage solutions capable of withstanding continuous operation while meeting modern sustainability goals. The ASUS NUC's proven reliability gives them the confidence to expand their innovative digital boards solutions to other industries including healthcare and financial sector.

About iSignage

For more than two decades, iSignage Limited has been a driving force in Hong Kong’s digital signage evolution. Now recognized as a global solutions provider, the company specializes in software-based systems and end-to-end platforms for creating engaging displays across retail, healthcare, hospitality, museums, financial services, and more.

Core offerings include iPlays for video walls, iQueue for managing patient and visitor flow, and iXchange for currency exchange displays. The company’s latest platform, iMenu, has been widely adopted by Hong Kong’s three major fast-food chains, underscoring the iSignage reputation for delivering trustworthy, market-leading solutions.