Untappd for Business launches AI-driven digital menu designer (enjoy some design tips!)

Untappd for Business, the world’s leading menu publishing platform for restaurants, bars, breweries and other food and beverage venues, recently introduced an interesting AI-powered digital menu design tool. Developed by parent company Next Glass, this tool transforms the way businesses create and customize their digital menus in real time. With a straightforward conversational interface, Untappd for Business’s latest feature lets users refine and enhance their menu aesthetics with simple commands like “make the menu more elegant” or “add a gradient background.” From the press release:

“We’re excited to harness the power of AI technology for Untappd for Business,” said Tony Fuger, Director of Product at Next Glass. “This new feature gives our customers unparalleled control and creativity over their menus, allowing them to deliver an engaging, custom experience for their guests.”

Untappd’s evolution from app to AI innovator

Untappd originally launched as a mobile app in 2010, designed by Greg Avola and Tim Mather. It quickly became a favorite for beer enthusiasts, allowing users to check in at bars, rate beers and earn location-based badges. The app gained significant traction, becoming a social platform for sharing beer experiences. By 2016, Untappd merged with Next Glass, a company known for its technology-driven alcohol recommendations. Untappd for Business soon emerged, enabling pubs and breweries to use Untappd’s platform to publish and promote digital beer menus. As Next Glass’s influence grew, Untappd for Business expanded its offerings to include digital and print menus and now supports nearly 20,000 businesses worldwide.

The new AI-powered menu tool: Key features

With the new AI tool, Untappd for Business simplifies the digital menu customization process. Key features include:

• AI-powered customizations: The tool harnesses the power of an LLM to understand how Untappd for Business digital menus are structured and provides context-aware customizations based on the user’s interactions.
• Real-time AI feedback loop: With each adjustment, the AI adapts and learns from the user’s directions and tailors iterative design requests to help achieve the desired outcome seamlessly.
• Instant preview and real-time updates: Each design update is instantly reflected in the user’s browser preview or live on their digital menus enabling businesses to see and deploy changes in real time.

This tool reflects Untappd’s ongoing commitment to providing businesses with efficient menu solutions, empowering brands to personalize digital displays without advanced design skills. With nearly 20,000 active clients in over 75 countries, Untappd for Business remains a frontrunner in digital menu publishing. From the release:

“We will continue to leverage AI to enhance our products that serve nearly 20,000 SaaS customers globally,” said Trace Smith, CEO of Next Glass. “This Design with AI feature for Untappd for Business is the vanguard for Next Glass’s drive to deliver tangible value via AI-powered features and enhancements across our product suite. We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation, ensuring our customers have access to cutting-edge tools in order to streamline their operations, save time and money, and elevate guest engagement.”

Tips for crafting a digital menu

Creating an engaging and effective digital menu goes beyond listing items. Here are a few tips to make the most of your menu:

1. Highlight seasonal beers: Use your digital menu to spotlight seasonal offerings or limited-edition brews. This not only draws attention to new items but also encourages return visits.
2. Keep it simple: Avoid overwhelming customers with too much information. Highlight essentials like beer style, ABV and unique ingredients. Or maybe go the other way…
3. Use descriptive language: Engage patrons with creative descriptions that convey the flavors and textures of each offering. Customers often appreciate details about a beer’s origin, hops or brewing process.
4. Optimize for mobile: Untappd’s platform supports mobile-friendly design, so be sure your menu looks great on small screens for on-the-go browsing.
5. Update regularly: Consistency is key, and with Untappd’s real-time updates, you can easily refresh your menu to match your current offerings.

The future of digital menu design in breweries

Untappd’s move to integrate AI into its platform demonstrates how technology can enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. As the digital beer market evolves, breweries and pubs have new opportunities to engage patrons with dynamic, customizable menus that reflect brand identity and cater to customer preferences. Businesses looking to try the new AI-powered menu design tool can explore Untappd for Business by visiting utfb.untappd.com to start a free trial or book a demo.