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Elevating the Dining Experience with Indoor Digital LCD Menu Boards

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In the ever-evolving landscape of the food and beverage industry, staying ahead of the competition requires innovative approaches to engage customers and enhance their dining experience. One such approach that is transforming the way restaurants communicate with patrons is the use of indoor digital LCD menu boards. These dynamic and interactive displays offer a modern and visually appealing way to showcase menu items, promotions, and branding, creating a memorable and immersive experience for diners.

Indoor digital LCD menu boards provide restaurants with a versatile platform to showcase their offerings in a visually striking and engaging manner. With vibrant colors, high resolution, and dynamic content capabilities, these displays capture the attention of customers and entice them to explore the menu further. From mouth-watering food images and videos to real-time updates on specials and promotions, digital menu boards offer a dynamic and flexible way to communicate with diners.

One of the key advantages of indoor digital LCD menu boards is their ability to enhance the overall dining experience for customers. By providing a visually appealing and interactive menu presentation, restaurants can create a modern and sophisticated ambiance that aligns with their brand identity. Customers are more likely to be drawn to visually engaging menus, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Moreover, indoor digital LCD menu boards offer restaurants the flexibility to update menu items, prices, and promotions in real-time, eliminating the need for printed menus and reducing waste. This not only saves costs but also allows restaurants to respond quickly to changing market trends, seasonal offerings, and customer preferences. With remote management capabilities, restaurant owners can easily customize and schedule content across multiple locations, ensuring consistency in branding and messaging.

Additionally, indoor digital LCD menu boards can serve as a tool for upselling and cross-promotion, guiding customers towards featured items, specials, or combo deals. By strategically showcasing high-margin items or promoting limited-time offers, restaurants can drive sales and increase revenue. The dynamic nature of digital menu boards allows for creative and targeted marketing strategies that resonate with customers and encourage them to make informed purchasing decisions.

In conclusion, indoor digital LCD menu boards represent a powerful tool for restaurants looking to elevate their dining experience, streamline operations, and drive sales. By leveraging the visual impact, flexibility, and interactivity of digital displays, restaurants can create a memorable and engaging experience for customers while maximizing their marketing efforts. Embrace the future of menu presentation with indoor digital LCD menu boards and unlock new possibilities for enhancing customer engagement and driving business growth.

 

Digital menu board vs. traditional- which is best for your restaurant?

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It can be a challenge to determine if tech-focused upgrades are necessary for restaurants, which is why it’s important to pinpoint key differences and benefits between digital and traditional solution.

Restaurant signage serves a greater purpose than merely listing item variety; in fact, a high brightness lcd digital menu board can also define brand identity.

Upon entering eateries or fast-food establishments, posted menu boards are typically the first to capture a customer’s attention. Because of this, it’s important for businesses to capitalize on this and truly consider how and what they want to be displayed.

On average, 8 out of 10 passerbys will enter a retail space due to persuasive signage, so in order to remain competitive your visual appeal must stand apart from the rest. With debates between whether or not digital menu boards are more influential than their non-digitized counterparts, considering the right choice for your brand can prove to be a challenge.

To gain a deeper understanding, let’s explore the key differences between traditional and digital menu boards, and whether or not making the switch is right for your brand.

Digital menu boards are a collection of monitors that are run by a central computer. Many restaurants have switched to digital menu boards for their modern and sleek appearance. Digital signage displays on screens of any size, and informs through a variety of channels like video content, animation, and text.

There are several advantages that digital menu boards give business owners over traditional menu boards-

Easier for customers to read by using bright screens and larger text
Updating the menu is simple and streamlined
Saves on printing costs
Reduces labor costs
Higher customer engagement
Provides variety, as screens can automatically change menus throughout the day
Traditional Menu Boards Traditional or static menu boards are still useful to many restaurants. Static signage has two functions- to inform and to decorate.

These menu boards are easier to install and have a lower price range than digital boards. Some restaurant owners may want to maintain a certain ambiance, so in order to remain consistent with the decor, like 50’s themed diner, for example, a digital sign may not be the best fit. Benefits of traditional menu boards include-
No digital errors
No digital operating costs
Longevity
Uniqueness of design
Digital vs. Traditional Menu Boards
Digital and static menu boards are both informative; however recently, high brightness digital menu boards have created a game-changing strategy of brand recognition and customer engagement that makes it difficult for static menu boards to compete with.

Here are the key differences between both forms of signage.

1. Cost
Traditional menu boards must account for costly printing costs to create all visual materials, whereas digital boards do not. Instead of having to reprint updated menus, digitized menu changes can quickly and simply be applied to a digital sign over the computer.

Not only do digital menu boards cut down on materials costs, but it also reduces food costs and waste. Digital menu boards sync with POS, point of sale, systems, allowing employees to more accurately track inventory. This is widely beneficial when taking food expiration into account, or monitor when ingredients or menu items or running low.

With clearer insight on inventory, businesses prevent waste. This is accomplished by achieving a higher sales margin per transaction because sales opportunities are not being missed out on due to menu items running out of stock.

Digital menu boards also save money in the long term when looking at economies of scale. Economies of scale are cost reductions that happen when companies increase production. Depending on the restaurant and its seasonality, menu boards may require five to six updates or revisions annually.

2. Customer Experience
In today’s fast-paced world, customers expect quality and speed; technology makes that possible. By upgrading a menu board to a digital experience, customers are more inclined to visit. By using bright screens with clear text this allows for easier readability. Surveys show that 74 percent of customers’ top priorities is an easy to read menu.

Digital menus can also entertain consumers. While waiting in line, customers can be engaged with content on the screens, distracting from the wait time.

Digital menu boards have the ability to up-sell to customers, boosting overall sales. Upselling is when a seller influences a customer to buy more expensive items or add-ons to make a more profitable sale. Instead of an employee suggesting any up-sells, the menu board can suggest up-sells, and the customer may subconsciously up-sell themselves without any feeling of pressure from an employee.

3. Scheudling and Updating
Employers can set a digital menu board to automatically change menus at a specific time of day. The need for physically switching out lunch menus with dinner menus is eliminated.

Also, adding new menu items or changing prices can now be done remotely. Management can use smartphones, or any device with internet access to add or change information instantly. Digital menu boards can also be quickly updated to comply with new or upcoming health laws.

For example, per the Affordable Care Act, the Title IV Law states- “restaurants and similar’ retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name’ to disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner’ a nutrition disclosure statement,’ a suggested daily calorie intake,’ and the number of calories contained in the standard menu item.’ Standard menu items do not include such things as daily specials, but they do apply to food on display’ and self-service food.'”

By using a digital menu board, inputting this information is nearly hassle-free and allows for the restaurant to stay current and compliant. This also aids in keeping consumers informed on calorie intake, promoting a health-conscious mindset.

4. Management
As a restaurant chain grows larger, it can be more difficult to maintain consistency in appearance and operational practices across multiple locations. With traditional menu boards, there is no guarantee that all locations’ menus are uniform in appearance.

Digital menu boards take away the uncertainty through the ability to collectively update all menus at once. This eliminates menu discrepancies and creates a fluid branding image and marketing strategy. Centralized control can also eliminate errors and inefficiencies. Employers can monitor screens and control content and messaging from almost anywhere, as long as there’s an internet connection.

5. Enviromental Impact
An estimated 18 million acres of forest are eliminated due to deforestation, of which is contributed to 40% of paper products. This includes catalog and glossy paper, materials often used for menus, and posted menu signage.

Digital boards cut the need for printing new messages and can be easily changed and updated. Digital menu signage eliminates the need for paper menus, which lessens a company’s environmental footprint and increases profits by getting rid of printing costs. It’s important to note that digital menu boards’ use of electricity also have environmental impacts, but it is much smaller in comparison.

LCD technology makes digital menus a more viable option that is also eco-friendly because it requires low energy consumption in comparison to other lighting sources. By requiring less power, LCD technology reduces greenhouse emissions from power plants.

6. Hours of Operation
Unlike static menu boards, digital menu boards can continue to advertise its products after store hours. By having a brightly lit screen this takes the restaurant outside and can share its brand to future customers walking past the restaurant. Employers can set an evening schedule through digital signage software to tailor messages for after hours.

7. Visuals
Digital signage catches the attention of customers and can influence their purchasing decisions by creating an intimate one-on-one interaction. Digital menu boards can also focus on deals or promotions that increase overall sales. With access to video content or automated GIFS, this adds an element of motion to a menu board and can capture a customer’s attention faster. However digital boards can deter customers by too much activity. Crowded boards with too much information or text can actually make it difficult for customers to pay attention to the main message, so it’s important to ensure all content is displayed in a strategic and thoughtful manner.

8. ROI
To compete with continuously changing markets, restaurants have to be as innovative as ever. A digital menu board will practically pay for itself and increase a business’s return on investment. ROI is the ratio between net profits and the cost of investment. By increasing sales margins and maximizing seasonal opportunities, promoting upsell purchases through the digital experience, improving the impact of a brand, and eliminating static menu printing costs this positively affects a company’s ROI.

9. Target Audiences
After seeing a static menu board several times, customers can begin to disengage with content. Digital boards not only show frequently updated content but also employers can easily tailor promotions to their target audience. For example, a restaurant near a high school may have school lunch promotions for students, and this content can be displayed during the time students are out for lunch.

10. Foot Traffic
By using interactive screens it not only increases engagement but also increases efficiency. For example, it’s a worker’s lunch break and he/she is in a hurry. By utilizing a touch screen menu, customers can quickly make selections without any human interaction, and make it back to work on time. This can also turn tables faster and allow for more customers to come in and eat.

11. Community
Gaining the loyalty of local customers can help many restaurants survive amongst the competition. Using digital menu boards, restaurants can show its appreciation by giving back and sharing community news on its screens. For example, it could display local news such as upcoming events, or promote local businesses in the area.

So, What Should You Ultimately Invest In?
Both traditional and digital menu boards have their roles in restaurants. Typically, many restaurants can utilize both in a single business, like using a digital menu board for dine-in customers, while also incorporating static menus for customers who want to take a menu to-go for future pickup orders.

Businesses should invest in digital menu boards because it can increase business efficiency, provide better service to customers, and boosts a company’s bottom line. However, it’s not enough to simply purchase the digital software, mount the displays, and watch the profits unfold. In order to maximize digital menu board benefits, it’s important for a business owner to understand the technology and by having a better understanding of it, use it to his/her advantage.

Fengshi’s drive thru coffee menu boards

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Drive thru coffee menu boards are most commonly found in brand name outlets, like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts who will have digital advertising boards as well as other forms of boards, like chalk boards and posters; the beauty of using a digital menu board is the convenience of being able to change and update the content at the touch of a button – via a network over the internet or an individual flash drive.

Brands are easy to identify with and customers are loyal to their favorite – often collecting loyalty points for free coffees and other offers; digital menu boards can also attract additional sales by forwarding special coupons and offers via blue-tooth to a linked smart phone. Coffee shops not only sell coffee, but add on sales like cakes, sandwiches and chilled drinks, as per the time of day and season.

Understanding Fengshi’s drive thru coffee menu boards.
These boards are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, particularly the outdoor ones can take drive thru orders, directly from customers still in their cars, which is handy for those in a rush or who want to avoid getting soaked in the wet weather! People are more inclined to use a digital menu board to make their selection, as it is clearly set out, using images or photographs and text – all of which can be changed according to stock levels and demand. Slow selling items or overstocked gods can be offered at a special price within a moments notice, reducing waste whilst even increasing profits – this does not work as well for static menu boards, like the chalk boards and paper posters. Whether coffee shops are indoor, like a mall or part of a complex, or a stand-alone facility or outdoors in an outlet village, digital signage is essential to keep up with technology.

Customers are attracted by the content of an electronic board, in some places it is still a novelty as technology catches up, which drives additional sales for the coffee shop. Bear in mind where the digital sign will be placed, as sunlight is one of the most common fails; not only does the glare obliterate the imagery on the screen, but it can cause the unit to overheat which can be an irreversible factor and invalidate any warranty.

Coffee shop chains are more likely to network their screens, so they are all showing the same content at the same time (time zone variable), however there is nothing to stop an individually owned coffee shop from joining the digital signage revolution by installing one too. In this case the content can be uploaded directly from a flash drive, which is convenient and can be altered and changed more readily than a printed poster – and chalk boards can look messy when hurriedly changed and crossed out.

Digital Menu Boards are now the preferred choice for food & retail menus and in-store marketing

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Drive customer loyalty and revenue by optimizing menus while still meeting labeling regulations, increasing order size, improving drive through engagement, reinforcing the brand and promoting community programs, enhancing the store atmosphere, creating a personalized customer experience.

Benefits of Digital menu boards

1.Capture your customer’s attention with vibrant, dynamic and moving content.
2.Increase sales by introducing promotional or marketing messages to your menus.
3.Make simultaneous changes globally or individually across all locations.
4.Eliminate costs of printing, delivery and wastage associated with traditional menus.

Switching to Digital menu boards

1.Display and related technology costs have dropped enough that converting from static printed displays makes budgeting sense – when all the costs of printing, shipping and mounting new signs multiple times each year are factored in.
2.Menu changes can be made in seconds instead of days or weeks using digital, and different menus can be shown by time of day. The age-old problem of breakfast menus appearing on signs all day has disappeared with digital.
3.Eye-grabbing videos for promotions, test products, under-performing items and high margin upsells drive sales on feature screens.

Please contact our friendly and helpful sales team for further information and advice regarding the best digital menu solution for your requirements.

Digital menu board solution for restaurants

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Solution for restaurants, fast-food and other franchises including gas stations, allows for a flexible menu to be customized to the time of day, geographic location, days of the week or weather, resulting in better decision making by the customer and increased sales. The solution consists of high-resolution commercial grade high brightness lcd monitors with matching bezels and adapted to the continuous operation in harsh conditions. These displays are equipped with built-in, professional grade players with passive cooling requiring no additional space or other considerations. This reduces device downtime while increasing service life and easier and faster servicing. A specially designed fastening system with low weight also ensures easy installation and service.

The article highlighted the consumer’s frustration with the menu, detailing that the customer, in this case, wasn’t just “hangry,” but frustrated. Seems the lightning-fast digital menu animation gave him just seconds to see, then recall the name of the item he really wanted to try. As a result, the customer ended up ordering an item he was familiar with, instead of getting to try the new chicken sandwich he really wanted.

Imagine the overall dissatisfaction in having to settle for that standard burger, when you really wanted the chicken — especially as you see that desired sandwich flash across the menu as you pull away. A real bummer, to be sure, as well as an instance that prompts the question: What is the goal of digital menus’ animated content after all?

We want to empower customers to find what appeals to their appetite, right? In limited-service settings, we want to help guests make quick decisions, while helping them to feel confident in their selections, but also keeping the whole process simple and quick. And there, too, some limited-service concepts get in their own way by choosing poorly designed printed menus.

For instance, on a recent trip to a growing Mediterranean fast-causal chain, where guests pick up small printed to-go menus to choose their orders as they approach the counter, I watched some guests step out of line to analyze calorie counts. Health-conscious customers went on to their mobile browsers to find nutritional values for specific items that were part of each meal. More info, please!

Another couple made their way to the order counter where they conversed with one another about different options on the tiny paper handout. The line and frustration built as the couple asked the order-taker what was included with each meal. It literally took 10 minutes for the one order! So, where were the pictures anyway? Show me that tilapia with caper-dill sauce, please!

When digital menus rush the customer
Now let’s talk about slowing things down a bit. Digital menus can be stellar for giving us visuals and appealing to our taste buds. But what happens when the flash animation is too fast?

I consider myself a fast reader but it can easily turn into a game of “who saw it first?” As mentioned in the aforementioned Wall Street Journal article, customers want a realistic opportunity to see the menu, but not have to chase down or wait for the content they really want to reappear. “Now you see me… now you don’t” tactics do not lend themselves to a satisfying ordering experience.

When trying to improve the bottom line with any menu design, a balance of information, animation and animation speed is the bottom line goal. Over the course of working with numerous brands of all sizes, we’ve tracked the sales data and talked to restaurant operators about what most pleases their customers in this area of daily operation.

What’s really working?
Well, printed menus just don’t do this customer need justice anymore, especially with growing concerns about sustainability and waste. However, brands and customers can both win when animation and imagery is used for featured items.

So though it may seem obvious, give some real thought to the time your content actually stays on screen before customers and make sure you’re keeping it in front of their eyes long enough for the average customer to make a decision and selections. This is absolutely essential to your QSR’s customer experience because it cuts ordering complications and empowers consumer tastes.

More than half of customers are influenced by a restaurant’s menuboard

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What are some restaurant buzzwords we can’t escape? Delivery. Mobile. Integration. Ghost kitchens. Maybe some combination of all those things, with plant-based meat tossed into the fold. Yet are restaurant marketers skipping something dine-in and drive-thru guests literally can’t ignore? Research shows 56 percent of customers are influenced by high brightness lcd menuboards, and 74 percent said an easy-to-read setup is a top priority.

Operators talk to length about streamlining the ordering process. And one of the quickest routes to a positive ROI might just be where diners do the vast majority of their purchasing.

Fengshi said it improved sales and made service leaders more effective by simplifying the look and feel of  lcd digital menuboards. And added the change propelled line and speed of service.

The big flip, though, came with guest-facing metrics. Consumers simply had too many options before. Pick a burger. What bun, cheese, protein would you like? The back and forth started to frustrate customers and employees alike. Now, high brightness digital menu board offers top-to-bottom curated offers that can still be customized, but simply make a better first impression. Additionally, it allows the chain to nudge new users where it wants them to go.

In both cases, sunlight readable lcd menuboard optimization provided a chance to simplify without focusing solely on what was being cut. In fact, the change made room for future lcd digital menu innovation. It didn’t limit it. Improving speed of service wasn’t a bad kicker, either.

Last quarter it produced best period in term of speed of service in five years. It boosted drive-thru times 17 seconds. Sounds small, but it led to some three million more cars rolling through.

Many company rolled out a broad refresh, too, this past year intended to bring attention to expansive changes.Recently brought its center panel from 55 price points to 18 and introduced two new sections—make a meal and pick your pair. In Q3, menu optimization helped hike average check 5.8 percent.

The findings did not look into the use of digital menuboards, as only 30 percent of the brands in the study deployed them inside their four walls. None of them had digital displays at the drive thru.

At each venue, the mystery shopper made a statistical evaluation of both the drive thru and interior menuboards and then took photos of each. This took place in the spring of 2019.Satisfaction, but room to grow.
Two-thirds of the evaluators (66 percent) reported positive opinions of ordering from the menuboards, with 41 percent expressing top-box (liked it a lot) results. Drive thru and interior menuboards measured about the same. However, when asked what stood out, the shopper ratings varied significantly.

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Are digital menu boards the most powerful tool for driving customer experience

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How this strategy can help brands drive guest loyalty and sales.We got this news on CNNLCD.

Consumers now routinely expect dynamic digital content, which they receive through smartphones, televisions, and computers. Going out to eat is no different. People want to be wowed. Some may need a little persuasion to spring for that dessert or try a new premium item. Digital menu boards get that message across and encourage guests to make further purchases.

Coming into a restaurant with a static menu experience can be a bit of a letdown, and out of sync with customer’s expectations.Digital menus are a relatively new technology and there’s a misconception these are merely a replacement for some of the more traditional media. We see it not as a replacement but an enhancement and a way to transform the customer experience.

Installing digital menu boards can enhance the customer’s understanding of a brand, he says. This high brightness digital menu signage  helps the customer develop a deeper appreciation of what the restaurant is all about and further engage with it. The goal is not just to convey the restaurant’s message, but to do it in a way that drives customer loyalty and increased sales.

“We’re organic” on a static sign or menu may not be enough to make an impression, but showing customers the process of farm-to-table in a video can highlight the brand’s values in a more impactful way. Plus, restaurants are already competing with smartphones for eyeballs. Digital menu displays create a similar sensory experience as a smartphone and engage customers with interesting visuals and movement.

A paper menu is not going to win a customer’s attention over a smartphone. You don’t stand a chance unless you combat the potential distraction of one medium with a similar medium. The engaging nature of digital menus can shape customer demand in real time.

Content on a display is only limited by imagination. If a restaurant is trying to sell more desserts or promote a special, digital menus are all about show and tell. They’re also consistent. A digital menu never forgets to tell customers about the restaurant’s offerings. And when it’s time to look at ROI, comparative testing can be as easy as a couple of clicks, using software tools that work with digital displays to evaluate how well campaigns are working.

You can do an A/B test in two or three markets in a matter of hours, not days.We’re seeing a three-to-five times increase in loyalty programs in a matter of days just by highlighting these programs on the digital menu board. At the corporate marketing level, we’ve heard our clients say that they have reduced marketing costs by 70 percent while increasing same-store sales.

Because customer response can be measured so quickly with a digital campaign, sales data and digital messaging can be correlated, evaluated and tested constantly and in near real-time. This presents an opportunity to tweak the franchise business model and understand what engages customers to drive both sales upside and reduce costs.

Additionally, high  brightness lcd digital menu boards signage display allow brands to respond to issues or make desired menu changes quickly. Digital gives you the ability to iterate.It’s easy to tweak. You can schedule what you want to display. With a print campaign, changes can be expensive and take a long time, so testing or making quick pricing or product changes isn’t really a viable option in a lot of cases.

The single most common mistake is deploying existing static content into a digital format.You want to take advantage of the medium. You also need to know the desired business objectives. Simply hanging lcd high brightness digital menu boards signage display is going to help a bit, but not as much until you really know what you’re trying to accomplish.

Once restaurants understand their goals, they should look at the creative capabilities of a partner before choosing. Digital boards are a medium, not the solution in and of itself.Whether you have two stores or 20,000 sites, you have to have a consistent and engaging brand experience across all of your locations. The right creative content that is designed with the goals of the brand and the customer experience in mind can really provide a boost to a business.

This can have an incredible effect as you upsell or cross-sell. Present a message to buy a soda with this or add a cookie with that. You can influence your customer’s behavior to drive sales of featured items or increase ticket size with add-on items. Well-designed digital menus do more than add a modern look and feel to your restaurants. They soon become the most powerful component of your in-store marketing strategy.

To learn more about the digital signage, please check here.

Online ordering tech with high brightness lcd digital signage integration

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Many places have introduced the high brightness lcd display with the  technology to allow customers who order online to skip the line. When customers arrive in the store, they can check the Tracker or order confirmation page, then the high brightness lcd digital menu board will greet the customer by name and the employees will hand them their pizzas, according to a press release.And Fengshi HD-E Series 700nit slim displays expand content-sharing possibilities and deliver clear and intriguing messaging for businesses in semi-outdoor and indoor environments.The displays reinforced design ensures continuous visibility and tolerance against intense lighting exposure, while convenient all-in-one management reduces operational burden.

The overall goal is to cut out the line for customers who order online or on the app and to “roll out the red carpet” for them, according to the release.

Provide uninterrupted visibility against natural and ambient lighting conditions with high brightness and against display blindness from polarized sunglasses with circular polarizing technology. Deliver content without disrupting the customer experience. A high-TNI panel prevents blackening of the screen from sunlight exposure and a fan-less design ensures minimal noise emission. With pivot mode, users can install the HD-E Series Displays in both a landscape or portrait orientation to suit environmental and usage needs.

And this digital menu signage has a variety of installation methods, you can choose wall mount or roof hanging, with VESA mounting holes reserved on the back to meet customer’s customization needs.

We know that carryout customers value speed and simplicity, and that is exactly what they’ll receive with the technology.Gone are the days of waiting for your carryout order — now when customers arrive at the store, they’ll be greeted by name on our digital signage and handed their order. It’s the ultimate VIP carryout experience where customers don’t have to be a regular customer to be treated like one.

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