Jeremy Julian

NorthStar Order Entry

Tips for Using Tabletop Tablets for Guest Ordering

October 7, 2014

Tips for Using Tabletop Tablets for Guest OrderingTechnological advances are happening fast and furious these days, permeating every market and industry imaginable. The food service industry is certainly no exception. Restaurants like BJ’s, Chili’s, Applebee’s, and Taco Bell have hopped aboard the technology train – and they are seeing the fruits of their efforts, too.

In our previous post, we mentioned BJ’s Restaurants’ use of an app which allows guests to reserve tables, order food, and pay their bill via their smartphone. Restaurants like Applebee’s, Chili’s, Stacked, and B-Dubs (Buffalo Wild Wings) are employing the use of tabletop tablets for what we call guest-facing ordering.

A recent article in Nation’s Restaurant News highlighted the use of tabletop tablets for guest ordering as a means of not only staying current with technological advances, but to keep their heads above water as labor costs, minimum wage, and health care costs rise. Guest-facing ordering allows servers to take on more tables, reducing the need for as large a waitstaff. It also results in higher customer satisfaction (and incidentally, better tips!).

It can be hard to keep up with all this technology, and to know what’s worth investing in for your restaurant. Restaurant Technology Guys to the rescue! We’re here to keep you in the know and provide our expert opinions on how to get the most out of technology, to improve customer satisfaction and employee retention, decrease costs, and increase profits so you can stick around for the long haul.

Here are some tips for using tabletop tablets for guest ordering:

1. Start small.

Technology can be incredibly simple and user-friendly, or it can be overwhelming and counter-productive. You may have a ton of great ideas such as music, picture-taking, and more – but keep in mind your purpose here is to improve the customer experience, not frustrate or confuse them. So ease your way into this technology by starting small.

Prioritize your ideas, keep the user interface simple, and start with the basics. Once your customers start to get the hang of it, you can gradually introduce more features into your tabletop tablets.

2. Don’t assume anything.

You know what happens when you assume…

As a restaurateur, you have your finger on the pulse of the restaurant industry. You can see what’s happening at BJ’s, Chili’s, and B-Dubs – and all the success they are enjoying – but that doesn’t mean the customers know what’s up. They may not inherently know that the device on their table is for ordering appetizers or drinks, or playing games or whatever.

Spend some time training your servers on how to introduce this technology to customers and explain to them what it is, why it’s there, and how to use it.

3. Don’t pull the trigger just yet.

The grand vision of every restaurant owner is to decrease costs substantially. In the excitement of adding guest-facing ordering to your restaurant, resist the temptation to heavily reduce your waitstaff. Let customers become accustomed to the new ordering interface and identify how many die-hards will refuse to use the technology altogether. Then you can decide how best to proceed. Ideally you will reduce your waitstaff, but until the drones take over, you’ll always have a need for human servers.

4. Think beyond the table.

You’ve introduced guest-facing ordering to your customers. Now’s the time to get creative. Consider other locations that might provide a fun experience to customers. Try the bar, lobby, exit (for the “should’ve-gotten-a-dessert” remorse), or whatever you think would work best for your restaurant. Test out some spots and have fun with it!

Have you tried guest-facing ordering or other tablet technology at your restaurant? Tell us about it! Comment below!

3 Reasons Your Restaurant Should Have an App

October 6, 2014
3 Reasons Your Restaurant Should Have an App

Image courtesy of “kromkrathog”; freedigitalphotos.net

Ever heard the saying “There’s an app for that”? Most likely you have. (If you haven’t, we cordially invite you to join us in the 21st century.) An app (short for application) is just that: an application made for use on a smartphone or other wireless device.

You may think of apps as mostly games or tools to help you stay organized or teach you something, or perhaps as social media outlets. But did you know that a lot of businesses are jumping on the app bandwagon – restaurants included?

Apps can be a relatively inexpensive and effective way to connect with your customers and improve brand awareness. We’re a fan of the app for restaurants, and we’ll tell you why.

Here are our top 3 reasons your restaurant should have an app:

1. More people are on mobile devices than are on PCs.

It’s true – mobile devices now outnumber PCs. By mobile devices, we mean small, handheld devices such as smartphones (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Android, etc.) and tablets (iPad, Kindle, etc.).

We are an on-the-go, instant gratification society. Mobile devices give us what we want. With an app, restaurants are able to get with the times and meet their customers where they are most: on their devices.

2. A better customer experience.

Piggybacking off #1 above, restaurant apps can allow customers to reserve a table, place their order, even pay their bill. There are all different types of features and functionalities available, depending on what you want and what your customer base will likely use. With software packages like our NorthStar Order Entry, your app can talk seamlessly with your interactive menu, ordering, and more.

Convenience, ease of use, accessibility, and a better experience overall will improve customer loyalty!

3. It’s a great marketing tool.

When customers download your restaurant app, you now have access to them. You have their email address for your email newsletter marketing campaigns, and you can stay in front of them and top of mind when the hunger pangs set in and as they plan their after-work happy hour or make their Friday Night Out dinner plans.

As you collect more and more data about your customer from loyalty programs, you’ll begin to know what means the most to them. By combining your loyalty program with your mobile app, you’ll be able to deliver very relevant marketing efforts to the people that already support your brand.

Use push notifications to promote special offers, coupons, announcements, and more. Launch your next marketing campaign through a free app!

Example: BJ’s Restaurants

For an example, check out the BJ’s Restaurants app. They offer a free Pizookie when you download the app! You can find a restaurant location, view the menu, put your name down on the preferred wait list, order ahead for dine in or take out, and pay your bill – all via your mobile device. You can also see what’s new at BJ’s and join their Rewards Program.

Read more about the BJ’s app here.

Granted, the BJ’s app is custom and therefore expensive. Not every restaurant will need all these capabilities, but this gives you an idea of what is possible. There are ways to create apps yourself, easily and inexpensively.

Have you used a popular restaurant app? What was your experience? Comment below!

Bo’s Steakhouse CEO Talks Technology

September 9, 2014

Check out our friends Bo’s Steakhouse CEO Tom Sacco as he discusses the use of technology including the innovative iPad point of sale NorthStar Order Entry omnichannel ordering experience.

 

Custom Business Solutions NorthStar Order Entry Now Available For Windows

June 23, 2014

June 23, 2014

For more information contact Ryan Williams at Ryan.Williams@CBSNorthStar.com

Press Release

The world as restaurateurs know is about to change. Custom Business Solutions (CBS), the hospitality industry’s leader in technology, is launching its innovative NorthStar Order Entry sales solution for Windows.

Windows users can now experience the industry’s best omnichannel ordering solution. NorthStar Order Entry delivers powerful flexibility through its five ordering methods in one software package. By combining POS, Guest, Kiosk, Mobile, and Web Ordering all from the same platform, hospitality professionals can maximize efficiency and profitability.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for both CBS and our customers. With our new Windows 8 platform, we are able to offer increased flexibility to how restaurateurs run their business,” said Art Julian, CEO of Custom Business Solutions. “Through our partnership with Microsoft, we were able to integrate our software with devices already running Windows 8, whether they are tablets, handhelds, or traditional POS terminals, adding tremendous value to our customers’ businesses.”

Custom Business Solutions pioneered the iPad POS space equipping the first all-iPad restaurant. Now with its cloud-based Order Entry software on both iOS and Windows, users can implement one software solution for a number of needs. From traditional POS, tableside ordering, to integrating web orders to the POS, NorthStar Order Entry will now foot the bill from even more devices.

NorthStar Order Entry will be available in the Windows store Summer 2014.

To learn more, visit CBS at www.CBSNorthStar.com or call 949.380.7674.

 

About Custom Business Solutions

 

Headquartered in Irvine, Cal., Custom Business Solutions has been the hospitality industry’s Point of Sale leaders since 1994. Providing the latest technology products and services to the industry, CBS’s NorthStar suite of products pushes the limits of convention and welcomes restaurants to the future of Point of Sale.  Combined with its full 24/7 Support, CBS brings something truly innovative to the table. Custom Business Solutions is a company built by restaurateurs for restaurateurs.  For more information, contact info@cbsnorthstar.com.

 

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2 BIG Questions Answered When Implementing Web Ordering

June 19, 2014

With so many different web ordering companies out there, how do you choose the correct one for your business?  Which provider is the right provider for your customers?  Should you integrate your web ordering into your point of sale? The list of questions goes on. Below are two of the biggest questions we see come across our desks.

2 Questions Answered When Implementing Web Ordering:

1. How do I choose the correct web ordering provider?

Just as you did when choosing a POS (point of sale) provider, you need to look for some references.  Talk to other restaurateurs. Existing customers are going to give you the stripped-down version of what they like, don’t like, and if they would make the purchase again.

Get your hands dirty. Because of the nature of the product, every web ordering company’s work is out there for consumers to use, making it easy for you to do better research. Try ordering food from one of their customer’s websites. This will give you some of the best idea of what your own customers will see. Try using the services you’d want for your own restaurant. Spending time doing your due diligence will save you surprises and subsequent headaches down the road.

2. How do I integrate web ordering into my POS?

The next big decision you need to make is whether or not you’ll integrate your online ordering with your POS system. There are plenty of benefits to integrating your web ordering to your POS. These benefits handily outweigh the costs if you really want to be serious about making smart business decisions and driving additional revenue through the web.

When you decide you want to take your web ordering seriously and integrate into your POS, unless you are running a POS that has a native web ordering interface in it like NorthStar Order Entry, you’ll need to pick a third-party web implementation partner. Below are 5 companies with whom we have worked closely for many years. Any one of these would be a good choice:

  1. Takeout Technology – Takeout Tech started as a subsidiary of Restaurants on the Run, a restaurant delivery outsourced company. It was started to fill the online ordering needs of their restaurant clients. Starting with a website to help facilitate the ordering process, the company has evolved to offer catering orders, advanced orders and a multitude of ordering types. It has recently moved into the mobile space, offering consumers a mobile ordering option. Takeout Technology also offers a central call center for its clients. If you would like to outsource your call center to help streamline your business operations, Takeout Tech can help you.
  2. Real Time Ordering – Formerly Gimmegrub. Real Time Ordering began with a website to help a friend do online ordering for their small sandwich shop. The business has evolved into what it is today. The company excels in the fast casual and pizza spaces. The team is incredibly easy to work with and has continued to update its product over the years. Real Time Ordering also offers a mobile solution.
  3. Snapfinger – Snapfinger, formerly Kudzu, is a large player in the restaurant online ordering space. Snapfinger’s client list includes several very large national chains. With this, the capabilities of the Snapfinger product are many. However, because of the depth of the product, it may be difficult for smaller restaurant chains to get the customization that some others may offer. Most of the smaller clients receive a product that is scalable to a national level, including mobile web ordering.
  4. Onosys – Onosys is one of the pioneers of the restaurant online ordering space. You likely have seen their booth at any number of trade shows. You likely remember them by being the ones dressed in orange – head to toe. Onosys also boasts a large client list and recently were purchased by LivingSocial. An aspect of Onosys that makes them rather unique in the space is its ability to capture customer data to be utilized in marketing efforts. This capability was enhanced with the acquisition by LivingSocial. The ability to see customer data makes Onosys something special.
  5. Big Holler – As CBS’s first integration partner, Big Holler will always have a place near and dear to our hearts. A partner in New York first introduced our team to Big Holler. The company has a sizable list of smaller takeout restaurants in the NY metro area. The product feature list is heavy into mobile and delivery services. Pricing is generally less expensive than most. The company has the history and the size to deliver an outstanding product, but retains nimble enough to add a degree of customer customization to the product.

Do a Google search. There are many, many players in the game. If you haven’t already, web ordering is something that your restaurant will need to adopt to stay relevant in the space.  It has already become something that many consumers expect.

With all of the choices out there, references are the best way to go about picking a provider. Talk to your POS provider. Talk to the burger joint down the street. Gain as much knowledge as you can to help align your web ordering partner with your business goals. And then let the orders roll in!

Have you chosen a web ordering client? If so, how did you go about picking the right one? Tell us in the Comments section below.

NorthStar Order Entry In the Hands of Your Guest: Today's Webinar Video

November 20, 2013

Today’s Webinar about the NorthStar Order Entry Guest Self-ordering Features was a lively discussion.  If you missed it, here’s the video.

The Restaurant Technology Guys want to know what you think about our webinar series.  Please feel free to share your thoughts in a comment below.  Tell us what topics you would find valuable for upcoming webinar events and we’ll take it from there.

And here’s a link to our upcoming webinar schedule.

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