Intelligent menus: how to personalize your suggestions based on customer data
07 April 2025
Display the same dishes to everyone, all the time? This is no longer what customers expect.
Today, personalization has become a real lever for improving sales, loyalty... and simplifying the ordering process.
And it doesn't require a complete overhaul: your tools already collect valuable data. What your customers order, at what time, at what price, on what channel... You just have to use it.
Customer demand is clear: according to a Tillster study, 92 % of consumers expect a form of personalization from restaurants quick service.
As far as restaurateurs are concerned, the results are clear: with a personalized display via QR Code or Self ordering kiosk, the average basket climbs from 10 to 30%.
In this article, we show you how :
✔ identify useful data (and read them easily),
✔ adapt your menus according to profiles or moments,
✔ personalize your suggestions without complicating your organization,
✔ and leverage your existing tools (Click & Collect, kiosk, QR Code, loyalty...).
What your database can tell you about your customers
Each order contains useful information: dish chosen, budget, frequency, time, channel... All this data is already there. But it often lies dormant.
Yet it's your best resource for personalizing suggestions.
Find out what really matters:
➜ The dishes your loyal customers eat on every visit
➜ Those that have been tested once and then abandoned
➜ Habits according to time of day or day: working at lunchtime, families at weekends
➜ The differences between kiosk, table or delivery orders
And if you have a loyalty program :
➜ Average shopping basket by profile
➜ Frequency of visits
➜ Lifecycle (new, regular, inactive)
What it does:
➜ Create different menus for different times or channels
➜ Adapt display according to profile or time of day
➜ No more showcasing dishes that nobody takes
"Are your bestsellers visible as soon as you open your digital menu? If they're hidden at the bottom of the screen or on the second page, you're missing out on sales."The point to check
Personalize suggestions: what you can already do
You don't need a complex tool. You can already do a lot with what you have.
On a control terminal, in Click & Collect or via a QR Code, you can go further than the order in which the dishes are displayed.
You can create several menus, and automate their display according to time, day or channel:
➜ a brunch menu displayed on Sunday mornings.
➜ a snack offer visible from 3pm.
➜ an aperitif menu that replaces the lunch menu at 6pm.
The customer comes across a menu that's easier to read, more relevant and easier to navigate. And that makes it easier to make decisions.
In addition, you can also :
➜ highlight the dishes most ordered by the customer (when identified),
➜ suggest a complementary product just after a selection (e.g. "And a drink with it?").
The idea is not to multiply menus. It's about adapting what you display, depending on the person or the moment.
You don't change your offer. You make the experience clearer and more focused. And that's often enough to boost your shopping basket.
Adjust your menu using data: sort, test, adapt
You probably have dishes that you love... but that your customers don't know about. Conversely, some highly profitable products fly under the radar. Your data can help you see things more clearly.
Start by answering these questions
➜ Which dishes come out often?
➜ Which ones are sleeping on the map?
➜ Which ones really pay off, once costs are deducted?
➜ Which products add confusion rather than value?
Then cross-reference with customer profiles
➜ Does this dish only work on delivery?
➜ This one appeals to regulars but not to newcomers?
➜ This product is a hit in the evening but not at lunchtime?
➜ This one is promoted... even though it doesn't sell?
The idea is not to review everything.
But to identify what deserves to be :
➜ reworked (recipe, name, visual, position)
➜ tested on a specific channel or segment
➜ or removed, because it serves no purpose
A good menu doesn't have to be longer. It's a menu that helps customers choose quickly and easily. And your data shows you where to act.
What you gain by customizing your menu and suggestions
Personalization isn't just a bonus; it's an effective lever for improving your sales. And when it's done right, the effects are quickly visible:
01. You speed up order taking
When the right dish is displayed at the right time, customers hesitate less. Decisions are taken more quickly, which makes for smoother service, especially during rush hours.
02. You make the menu clearer
Customers only see what's relevant to them. It's clearer, more targeted and more effective.
03. You boost the average basket
Offering a dessert, a drink or an extra at just the right moment works. Customers feel guided, not pushed. In fact, restaurateurs report a 10 to 30 % increase in average bill when suggestions are well-targeted.
04. Improving the customer experience
Recognizing habits, even without human interaction, creates a bond. And when the experience is seamless, customers come back. And talk about it.
05. Better control of your card
You highlight what really sells. You lighten your card without losing value, and reduce unsold stock.
"Personalizing your suggestions means selling better, without complicating your service. You guide your customers, optimize your menu, and create a smoother experience. And all without changing what you cook."Things to remember
Ready for action?
Would you like to personalize your suggestions, simplify ordering and make better use of your customer data?
Our team can help you set up the right tools (and configure them properly).
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Want to find out more?
➜ Customer data and loyalty: 5 key actions to boost your sales
➜ Self-ordering VS traditional ordering: which solution best meets customer expectations in 2025?
