Many restaurant owners are being forced to adapt their services to meet technological demands. Although this is a daunting task, there are many solutions and ideas that could greatly improve the customer experience.
Technology certainly has its flaws, but if you use it correctly, it can transform your business, and this is especially true for mobile and online ordering.
Why you should be using online and mobile ordering
The Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) predicts that people will no longer cook meals at home by the year 2030. This means that the demand for better service is only going to increase in the future. Technology, when used properly, can greatly improve your efficiency and productivity, allowing you to create a better experience for your customers.
It saves time.
As the pace of life increases, restaurants must begin to adapt to it. In a world where time is the most valuable commodity, mobile, and online ordering will allow customers to view the menu and order before they ever arrive at the restaurant.
This will drastically reduce wait times, as the kitchen staff will be able to prepare the order before the customer is standing at the counter. It will also allow customers to pay for their meal before arriving. This eliminates the need to wait for a check, so customers will be able to leave whenever is convenient for them.
According to a 2018 study, 32% of millennials order online. This means you should expect nearly half of your restaurant’s guests to order from their mobile devices. It is critical for you to meet this technological need, one that will transform your business in the process.
It increases your serving capacity.
Traditionally, restaurants have only been able to serve as many guests as they can seat at one time. During busier hours, this can cause a delay as waiting lists grow. This can negatively affect the customer experience since you might feel the need to rush guests who have finished their meal.
Staff members also feel the pressure as orders pile in, and servers are given more tables than they can manage. Because mobile and online ordering allow guests to order and pay before arriving, you can begin to prepare and serve guests before they arrive as well. This means that a restaurant is no longer limited to the people they are able to seat and are able to stretch their capacity to serve. It also allows the restaurant to serve more guests with less staff due to the increased efficiency.
It increases efficiency.
Mobile and online ordering increase efficiency in multiple ways. As mentioned previously, it allows the staff to begin preparing orders prior to a guest arriving. This allows the staff to work ahead, rather than trying to keep up. While hand-written orders can be lost, misinterpreted, or recorded incorrectly, a point-of-sale (POS) system for online ordering can automatically keep track of orders, which will immediately reduce the number of errors.
The POS system will also store previous orders for better tracking and reporting, allowing you to spot trends, and better serve your guests.
It provides a personalized experience.
With mobile and online ordering, guests can personalize their experience. By providing an app for their mobile device, they can keep track of previous orders, allowing them to re-order with a push of a button. This again saves guests valuable time.
Mobile ordering also helps increase customer loyalty by providing rewards programs and other promotions, which can be delivered and tracked on their mobile devices. A mobile app also lets guests save their payment information, giving them the ability to pay without having to enter a credit card number each time.
Lastly, online ordering allows guests to leave detailed reviews online to share their experiences with others. This can be an invaluable marketing tool for your restaurant.
