Nowadays, technology is a crucial component of running a restaurant. Restaurant owners must know the essential types of technology needed to keep their establishment operating efficiently. The restaurant industry continues to evolve rapidly, especially due to all the technology and new guest preferences. Consumers have changed what, how, and where they prefer to eat. Speed and convenience are crucial while meeting all their dietary restrictions and expectations. Guest preferences go hand in hand with the tech boom of the past decade, and keeping up can be challenging. Has technology become an important part of your business? The industry still has room to grow to meet demands. Consider implementing these technologies to keep up with industry trends.
Touchscreen Point of Sale Terminals
Modern point of sale (POS) technologies, such as touch screen terminals, significantly improve efficiency. One of the biggest selling points about them is that they can keep up with the high-speed restaurant pace. They are also typically created with an intuitive interface that is easy to use so that staff can learn quickly and move fast. These systems simplify the order-taking process so that orders can be placed quicker, and therefore the restaurant can generate more revenue. Quick-service restaurants commonly use guest-facing screens, so guests can follow along as they order, make their payment fast, and give the option to tip on the screen. This improves both accuracy and efficiency. Some new high-tech terminals even accept credit card and mobile payments through a reader connected to digital wallets.
Order and Pay at the Table
Restaurant efficiency has become more important than ever post-pandemic. Many guests nowadays claim that contactless/mobile payment availability is highly valued in their dining experiences, and some even expect a pay-at-the-table technology. This option allows guests to order and pay for their meals from their own devices. They may not only feel that it is convenient, but since the pandemic, they may also feel it is essential for safety. This technology also improves table turn times, reduces labor costs, and tracks guest preferences.
Handheld Point of Sale Systems
Traditionally it takes a server four visits to a table to close out a check (asking if a party is ready for the check, bringing it, taking the check back to the POS system, and bringing their change, card, or receipt back. Handheld POS systems allow servers to do all of this in one stop. At-the-table ordering and payment support a streamlined operation with higher speeds and accuracy. The less time it takes to close a check means an increase in the number of orders your staff can fulfill in a shift.
The devices also allow employees to create a better guest experience since they will not forget order specifications and go back and forth to a terminal. Hopefully, they spend that extra time engaging with guests.
Self-Order Kiosks
Self-order kiosks continue to grow in popularity at quick-service restaurants. Technology is becoming more important to guests as they will get their expectations met with an easy-to-use interface. With more control over their own ordering process, guests enjoy customizing their orders. You may even leverage this to increase the average check size by upselling prompts and shortened lines.
Integrated Online Ordering Solutions
Nowadays, most restaurants rely on online dining channels that make takeout and delivery easier. Since people are dining out at restaurants less, they have turned to take out. Off-premise orders are now a vital component of restaurants’ strategies. Have you implemented an integrated online ordering solution yet? Guests should be able to easily order directly from your restaurant for takeout or contactless delivery. Utilizing an integrated online ordering system will take out the third-party delivery fees and allow you to have more control over your guests’ experiences.
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