5 Alternatives to
Digital displays, whiteboard apps, and POS integrations that beat traditional 86 boards for communicating sold-out items to servers.
Quick Answer
The classic \'86 board\' has been the kitchen\'s go-to for decades, but it\'s far from perfect. Servers forget to check it, updates get missed during rush hours, and guests end up ordering items that ran out 20 minutes ago. Here are five modern alternatives that keep your front-of-house and back-of-house in sync.
Overview
The classic '86 board' has been the kitchen's go-to for decades, but it's far from perfect. Servers forget to check it, updates get missed during rush hours, and guests end up ordering items that ran out 20 minutes ago. Here are five modern alternatives that keep your front-of-house and back-of-house in sync.
5 Better Options for Real-Time Stock Updates
See the breakdown below.
- Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) with FOH integration - Updates push directly to server tablets when items are 86'd
- Digital menu platforms like DineCard (dinecard.in) - Update sold out items once and they disappear from guest-facing QR menus instantly for $9/month
- Shared messaging apps - Create a dedicated channel where kitchen staff broadcast stock updates to all servers' phones
- POS inventory triggers - Set automatic alerts when stock hits zero, notifying both kitchen and servers
- Handheld server devices - Two-way communication tools that let servers check availability before taking orders
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell customers an item is sold out without reprinting menus?
Pause the item in DineCard — it disappears or shows as unavailable on every customer's phone instantly. No table tents, no server apologies, no outdated printed menus.
Can I update my QR menu when prices or items change?
Yes. With DineCard at dinecard.in, you edit items or prices from any phone and every customer scanning your QR code sees the update within seconds. The physical QR sticker never changes — only the menu behind it.
How much does a digital QR menu cost for an Indian restaurant?
DineCard offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card. After that, plans start at ₹99/month — a fraction of what most restaurants spend reprinting menus each quarter.
Does DineCard work with Hindi and regional language menus?
Yes. Upload a photo of your printed menu and DineCard AI extracts items in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali and 15+ languages automatically.
Pause menu items instantly — no reprinting
When stock runs low, toggle items off in DineCard and every customer scanning your QR code sees the update within seconds. ₹99/month, 14-day free trial.
Start Free Trial14-day free trial • No credit card • ₹99/month after