7 Methods Restaurant Know-how Is Altering The Enterprise Of Eating

November 13, 2018

This text was initially posted to Pointofsale.com

Creator John Giles has over 30 years of expertise creating level of sale software program for the hospitality trade. John is the President of Future POS, the corporate he based in 1998 after single-handedly creating the award-winning software program bundle.

I have been within the hospitality enterprise for over 30 years, and it nonetheless amazes me to see how lengthy promising restaurant applied sciences take earlier than receiving widespread market adoption. Though some do not stay idle fairly so long as others, the meals and beverage trade is notoriously gradual to embrace change.

Regardless of the gradual tempo, there appears to be extra momentum lately, and that is a motive to get excited.

Let’s check out how restaurant expertise is altering the enterprise of eating.

1. Level of Sale System (POS)

POS techniques are the spine of any eatery and a bit of restaurant expertise no enterprise proprietor ought to be with out – and I am not simply saying that as a result of I am within the enterprise. As an alternative, it is the rationale why I went into enterprise within the first place — to offer impartial restaurant house owners a POS answer that works.

Merely put, a degree of sale system is a mixture of {hardware} and software program designed to streamline your corporation operations on the level of buy; or within the case of the restaurant trade, on the level of order.

When carried out appropriately, a POS system may help you observe every little thing from meals prices and revenue margins to labor prices and your most loyal prospects.

Whether or not you personal a meals truck or a 5-star restaurant you want a degree of sale system to assist streamline operations and supply real-time analytics so you may make smarter, data-driven choices.

2. Handheld Ordering Units (Tableside Ordering)

We talked about POS techniques first as a result of they’re the inspiration and connecting level for lots of the different applied sciences we’ll discuss on this submit.

For example, cellular gadgets corresponding to tablets that workers can use to take orders tableside moderately than stroll forwards and backwards to a stationary POS system. Not solely is that this handy for workers, nevertheless it additionally will get the order to the kitchen faster which implies patrons will get their meal quicker — and that makes for higher buyer experiences.

For greater than a decade level of sale software program corporations like Future POS have been making an attempt to leverage cellular handheld expertise with blended outcomes as a result of there wasn’t an important cellular platform to construct a product round.

You have in all probability seen a number of corporations go the iPad path to convey some “Apple attractive” to an trade that has historically been something however. Whereas this may increasingly appear to be a good suggestion, in idea, the issue with this method is Apple merchandise are consumer-grade gadgets and are not constructed to face as much as the tough atmosphere of most eating places.

To not point out they do not work properly with third-party peripherals corresponding to EMV and magnetic card readers as a result of most use a Bluetooth connection. This kind of connection creates an extra single level of failure and an operational nightmare when it’s going to inevitably change into unpaired.

So, very like each different firm, we had been a software program answer in the hunt for a {hardware} platform that did not but exist. We’ll admit that we did attempt to convey some “iPad attractive” too, however with the added value of a bank card reader, the associated fee was as a lot as a 15” stationary terminal.

Fortunately, right here at Future POS, we lastly discovered the PAX A920 fee terminal, and it checked all of the packing containers.

• It is an Android gadget that has a built-in printer and due to this fact eliminating the purpose of failure current in Bluetooth gadgets.
• As a result of it operates on Android, it is greater than only a solution to settle for funds — it could actually take orders too.
• It contains EMV and NFC funds, so that you by no means need to compromise on fee safety or your prospects’ most popular fee technique.
• It is 4G-ready so you need to use it anyplace you’ve a mobile phone sign.

3. Self-Serve Kiosks

For quick-service eating places, self-serve kiosks are the equal of tableside ordering — and a restaurant expertise I used to be positive would have gone mainstream way back. Give it some thought. Would you moderately repeat your order a number of occasions to a disengaged part-time worker who might enter it mistaken, or would you moderately enter the order your self?

Each fast-casual restaurant or counter service cafe may gain advantage considerably from implementing at the least one kiosk. When you think about the development of order accuracy that may assist get rid of meals waste, the flexibility to fulfill the overflow of visitors throughout busy meal durations, and it’ll by no means name out sick, the monetary benefit of a kiosk is tough to disregard.

Future POS is happy to announce their new Kiosk

4. On-line Ordering

Within the digital world, on-line ordering is our equal of tableside ordering and self-serve kiosks. It gives an on-demand component and permits prospects to conveniently enter and pay for his or her order utilizing their most popular medium.

Though fashionable third-party on-line ordering apps like GrubHub and Uber Eats are a superb solution to achieve publicity and attain new prospects, they are not probably the most cost-effective answer.

Distributors like these are inclined to cost hefty fee charges, and in an trade the place margins are already slim, you do not need to put all of your eggs in a single basket with all these apps. As an alternative, select a POS system that has a built-in on-line ordering characteristic and save your self some dough.

With on-line orders tripling within the final 5 years, this a gross sales channel that you may’t afford to neglect — nevertheless it additionally should not eat up all of your income.

5. On-line Reservations

Persevering with on the digital path of restaurant applied sciences, for sit-down eating places we’ve got on-line reservations. For patrons who need to break bread at their favourite restaurant and guarantee they’ve a desk to take action, on-line reservation options are one of many extra broadly adopted applied sciences on our listing.

Pioneering apps like Open Desk which were round since 1998 have left folks feeling extra snug with this expertise; nevertheless, restaurateurs beware. These third-party apps additionally include pricey month-to-month charges that may reduce your ROI for utilizing all these providers.

Once more, the more cost effective answer is utilizing a degree of sale system with a built-in on-line reservations characteristic.

6. Digital Menu Boards

One other digital expertise that is steadily gaining reputation is digital menu boards, particularly within the QSR section. Digital signage is a good way so as to add wealthy content material corresponding to photos and video to an in any other case uninteresting and flat element like a menu.

What appears extra appetizing to you? A black and white line merchandise letterboard or a digital show with mouthwatering visible photos of potential entree selections … and dessert — regardless that you had no intention of ordering dessert.

Not solely are they simpler to learn, however they’re additionally simpler to replace than the old-school letterboard method. Though there could be a vital upfront funding for the shows (displays) relying on the specified configuration, 30.8 p.c of QSRs recoup their cash inside 7-12 months of implementation of a digital menu board system.

7. Worker Scheduling Software program

Final however not least and shifting on to inner working procedures, worker scheduling software program is turning into increasingly fashionable within the meals and beverage trade. In case you’re a restaurant supervisor or proprietor, you are no stranger to the weekly problem of worker scheduling.

Who requested off? Who can solely work dinner on Tuesdays and Fridays? Who referred to as out sick and now it is advisable discover protection? Remembering all these little particulars or accounting for the unpredictable just isn’t solely time-consuming, nevertheless it’s additionally inefficient.

Worker scheduling software program options like Once I Work is a good way to handle employees and maintain them accountable for his or her shifts. Do you need to know the perfect half? It is free for as much as 75 workers. How’s that for cost-effective?

The Backside Line

There isn’t any denying that restaurant expertise is gaining momentum lately due to the advances in {hardware} expertise and client demand. Nonetheless, extra importantly we’re seeing this shift as a result of restaurant house owners and managers like you might be beginning to see the worth in expertise — and that is a motive to get excited.