Jeremy Julian
Jeremy Julian
Restaurants and the food service industry as a whole were hit hard by the lockdowns. According to researchers from Penn State University, among the small and medium-sized businesses that were hit the hardest, restaurants were the first to close their doors. In many cases, they never opened for business again.
Those that survived did so because they were able to deploy alternative service models and capabilities. In our area alone, we saw steakhouses turned into dedicated drive-through establishments. Fast food establishments that had a drive-through didn’t have much trouble with this. But sit-down restaurants located in strip malls where setting up curbside and drive-around service was impossible simply died, with many shuttering their business in the summer of 2020.
Those that survived were either exempted from restrictions or acted quickly to serve customers in other ways. Among the many ways these hard-scrabbling establishments skirted the lockdowns, technology is a running theme.
Social distancing, masking, and full-on lockdowns are anathema to restaurants. Add to that the fear many customers have of infection, and you have a perfect recipe for the decimation of an industry. Here are a few ways information technology made it possible for some to weather the storm.
Like self-checkout in supermarkets, kiosks featuring automation suffered from being perceived as impersonal. But as restrictions were put in place, and as establishments started losing workers, the kiosk made it possible to continue serving customers in many cases. Their ability to come in many sizes and offer a range of digital capabilities makes them especially useful.
With added digital security, and with more and more widespread use, digital signage services have become more and more normalized. This made it possible to eliminate the handling of pens and recipes, giving customers a greater sense of security from contagion. Digital signage became a standard where touchless transactions were made necessary.
The ability to order online made curbside and drive-through pickup much more sensible. Customers would order online and by the time they made it to the curb or window, their food would be ready. This has been a revolution in terms of customer experience and pairing it with Uber-style delivery makes online ordering one pandemic-related change that is here to stay.
With the uptick in information-tech-driven change, guest wifi has become a must-have for eateries of every kind. Customers increasingly need it, and more and more, they expect it.
Customers have always had trouble knowing whether they should wait at their table or walk up to the register. With digital point-of-purchase devices installed at the table, this problem is simply vanishing. Over the next decade, we expect it to become an industry standard.
Of course, these examples are simply the most prominent and life-saving tech-driven capabilities that may have saved the restaurant industry from complete dissolution. It is not a complete list and some unique businesses made great use of AI, back-of-house tech, inventory management, and more. We look forward to seeing how these trends develop and what’s next in the years to come.
Millennials — now the largest restaurant customer segment in the U.S. — have a preference for conducting retail and restaurant transactions without having to speak to a live person — using a tabletop ordering system, for example.
It is likely rooted in them being the first generation to grow up with the internet and become early adopters of smartphones, which have instilled the expectation that they should be able to get what they want on their own time, and at a moment’s notice.
Rather than seeing this as an impediment, savvy restaurants are turning this predilection into a positive and embracing younger restaurant guests by installing restaurant tablet ordering systems and table-top checkout options.
Remember what we just said about millennials expecting to get what they want on their own time? That’s one of the factors at the heart of the push towards tabletop ordering systems and checkouts. Some diners want to sit down, immediately browse the options, and place an order as quickly as possible.
Plenty of others desire to dive into a conversation and take their time without worrying that a server will be interrupting them every three minutes to ask if they’re ready. In any situation, using technology to let these guests create their own dining timetable is an attractive proposition.
As a restaurant owner, your primary reason for installing a tablet ordering system or employing any technology should always be to create value for your guests. But that doesn’t mean that the system shouldn’t have other quantifiable benefits for the company as well.
Restaurant companies are paying close attention not only to how these tablets affect the guest experience, but also what impacts they may have on their revenues, costs, and operations.
Applebee’s, which now uses tabletop ordering systems in every one of its U.S. locations, says over 70% of their guests use them during their visit. Outback Steakhouse, meanwhile, claims that their dessert sales have risen by 30% due to their restaurant tablet ordering system, and several other chains have reported higher overall tickets when they are in use.
Clearly, most diners (especially younger ones) are open to utilizing tabletop ordering systems and tabletop checkout systems in restaurants, and businesses can use them as a part of their overall digital technology strategy to engage guests in different ways.
Leaders must remember that this kind of restaurant technology is a tool to enhance the service experience, but it will never be a replacement for an established and robust service culture throughout the business. A tabletop ordering system and other innovations can be used to attract millennials, but there is no evidence thus far to suggest that diners will sacrifice the qualities they normally want out of a dining experience — friendly service and consistent food quality — for the sake of technology.
Are you ready to upgrade to a POS that will streamline your business? See how the Northstar POS system can revolutionize how you do business today.
Yes. 100% yes. Restaurants should blog.
But do restaurants actually blog? No.
It’s because blogging is hard and it takes time. Having an effective blogging strategy is key to long-term success in a crowded field. Did you know that about 2 million blog posts are created every day? That is a lot and a bit ridiculous if you think about it. So, if restaurants want to blog, what can it do for their business?
Be first on search results
We have talked about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on the blog before. If you are unfamiliar with SEO, here is an intro into restaurant website SEO.
So how does a blog matter to SEO?
Content.
You’ve probably heard it before: “Content is king.” Bill Gates made this prediction in 1996 and it’s as true as ever today.
Why?
Because a Google user is happy when s/he finds the result that serves their need(s) in the best way. Google always tries to give you the best possible experience by directing you to the most relevant content it can find.
This means your number one job is to produce good, relevant content.
SEO is no different than any other skill – the great results will always come from big effort. Just like the best marketing in the world won’t help you sell a bad product, super advanced SEO will be useless if your content sucks.
So you may be asking, “what exactly makes ‘good content for a blog?”
Glad you asked! Here are factors in Google’s eyes that make up good, relevant blog content:
As we laid out above, creating useful blog content takes A LOT of work. But when done correctly, your organic traffic will skyrocket, creating additional revenue. Not to mention the social media implications and following you will be able to generate; which in the business world is precious gold.
We highly suggest getting into the blogging sphere, but before you do, take some time to work with members on your team. Strategize positioning and create a content calendar for at least half the year. This will help put you on a path for success. As you receive data from on-page and social media, you can adapt to see what is engaging users and what is not.
Happy blogging!
Serious about updating your POS? Check out the Northstar POS system to improve the power and effectiveness of your restaurant!
Technology is updating and changing every single day. And currently, the food, drink and hospitality industries are in the process of being transformed by emerging technologies. What new technology will become standards and which will fall by the wayside? Today, the Guys go over what technologies to keep an eye on in 2019!
#1. Better Delivery Ordering & Tracking
Delivery is growing and is becoming more important. We have been watching delivery grow over these past couple of years and you may read a few articles that we have on the subject. For a refresher, check out the three articles below:
The subject of delivery has been growing and we do not expect it to stop. 2019 will see that delivery becomes faster and more personal for the customer. According to coverage of a recent report published by a firm in Edinburgh, Scotland, people can expect to see more GPS tracking technologies that let them follow their food with real-time movement information displayed on a smartphone screen. It will most likely mimic what Lyft and Uber show on their apps to show when a driver is arriving. Currently, customers get estimated delivery times and instructions to contact the restaurant if their food doesn’t arrive on-time. We will begin to see additional personalization and contact between the delivery drivers and customers.
One interesting aspect of ordering we are curious to see more of in 2019, is voice ordering. Customers that use Grubhub can ask Alexa to place one of their last three orders again. With the prevalence of Alexa, Siri and others like it, we think the ability to order items via voice commands spoken to smart speakers could become more of a trend many foresee.
#2. Changes to beverages?
When you go to any restaurant, customers are offered a drink: water, soda or any other beverage. A company in North Carolina called Clear Water Manufacturing engineered an alternative — a machine that filters water, dispenses it into recyclable glass or aluminum containers and puts the caps on them.
The innovation, known as the Boomerang Water Machine, could allow restaurants to highlight a commitment to environmental sustainability, all while saving on costs. What this does is encourages people to come back to the location and return their water bottles to be sterilized and used again, thereby potentially eliminating single-use plastics.
#3.Virtual reality
The future of restaurant menu interactions will be coming in 2019. However, some folks are already experimenting with it. Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the biggest tech trends to look out for in 2019. This new form of technology will allow customers to have a visual experience like no other. AR allows customers to use their phones or restaurant iPads to view 3-D renderings of menu items. This gives customers not only an image of the food, but to view it as if it was right in front of them.
We made reference to this in one of our previous articles, ‘3 Restaurant Trends to Look out for in 2019.’ Check it out to learn more about the capabilities of AR and how it can benefit restaurants.
#4. Fully-automated restaurants?
We know there is buzz around this subject, but we just don’t see this catching on just yet. In the future, yes, there absolutely could be more automated restaurants, but not for 2019. There are pioneers out there like Eatsa, Spyce, Crave and more, but we still need that human interaction. The market is showing us this because most of these businesses are hurting and not expanding all over the country.
Instead, we see more of a surge in kiosks, pre-ordering via apps and smart-screens, as opposed to a fully-automated restaurant experience.
What restaurant technologies do you think we make a splash in 2019? Leave comments on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages!
Curious about how Custom Business Solutions can help your company? Check out their Northstar POS system and its capabilities to power and improve your restaurant!
2018 has been an exciting year for restaurant technology: the prevalence of delivery options, increased investment on kiosks, the rise and fall of cryptocurrency and the impact of social media. But what does the future hold as we make our way into 2019?
Today, we are putting together a quick list of what we think will be big trends in 2019.
#1. Virtual/Augmented Reality
The future of restaurant menu interactions will be coming in 2019. However, some folks are already experimenting with it. Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the biggest tech trends to look out for in 2019. This new form of technology will allow customers to have a visual experience like no other. AR allows customers to use their phones or restaurant iPads to view 3-D renderings of menu items. This gives customers not only an image of the food, but to view it as if it was right in front of them.
While this concept sounds very complex and expensive, it is actually quite simple.
Tech start up Kabaq is at the forefront of the AR trend. Its application allows restaurants to add the 3-D experience to their menu within just a few weeks.
With the use of high quality images and other image guidelines, Kabaq is able to process them and create a 3-D food model. The customer is then able to access the 3-D renderings through Snapchat. Customers are first prompted to scan a Snapcode and this gives them access to the 3-D menu items.
Why do this?
Remember the adage: people eat with their eyes? This system gets at exactly that sentiment.
A study conducted by Kabaq says that restaurants saw an increase of 25% in dessert sales alone with the use of AR.
The AR trend is still in the early-adapter phase. As a result, restaurants that choose to integrate this technology now will have an appeal that other restaurants do not. This can generate a plethora of marketing opportunities that will attract new customers vying for a memorable experience.
#2. Mobile Payments
In 2017, the use of mobile payments grew 75%, especially within quick-service establishments. For a consumer, the ability to order and pay from a mobile device speeds up the process dramatically.
For restaurants, mobile payments cut down the number of customer touch-points, thereby making it easier to serve more customers. Plus, it can provide a wealth of data about their customer base and spending habits. By doing so, restaurants can have a built-in loyalty program that incentivize customers to both return to the establishment and continue using mobile pay.
Mobile payments are great, but they are not without their own risks. All owner/operators need to be aware that data breaches are a real concern. 2017 and 2018 were full of large and prominent examples, including Cheddars, Adidas, Panera Bread, Verizon and most notably, Equifax.
#3. Self-serve Kiosks
Did you know: 95% of restaurateurs agree that restaurant tech improves their business efficiency and 65% of customers use an ordering kiosk when it is presented to them? That means switching to a mobile POS software or the implementation of an ordering kiosk would be an advantageous move.
In addition, 73% of diners agree that restaurant technology improves their guest experience. More specifically, 61% agree that handheld tablets improve the dining experience.
Do you have tablets in your restaurant? Test with one or two and see how your customers react. Be sure to track their tipping on IPad versus non-iPad users.
2019 will no doubt bring new and interesting things for the restaurant industry. We cannot wait! What trends do you think will be dominate 2019? Let us know on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages!
Serious about updating your POS? Check out the Northstar POS system to improve the power and effectiveness of your restaurant!
We have an exciting treat for everyone! We partnered with the pros over at Restaurant365 to share the 3 areas where you can save money with the right software.
It’s no secret restaurant technology has come a long way, especially in the last five-to-ten years. But what exact issues have been solved since the days before iPads and tablets? There are several restaurant management software options out there, but it’s essential to choose an all-in-one solution – it will make your life so much easier!
Restaurant365 is the world’s only all-in-one, cloud-based accounting, back office and reporting solution for restaurants, and is constantly being updated with new features to keep up with the ever-changing restaurant industry. Restaurant365 has operations-specific solutions that have made it infinitely easier for managers to handle inventory, ordering, scheduling and reporting, all in one place.
So, where can Restaurant365 help make your business more efficient and save you money?
Area 1: Inventory Control
Customers using Restaurant365 technology have an inventory turn 2.5X better than the average restaurant owner. Spreadsheets living within the software track stock counts, product transfers and waste log. With the Restaurant365 mobile app, managers are able to count inventory on the go, so forget the pencil and paper!
A recent upgrade also allows the software to automatically suggest quantities of ingredients and supplies a restaurant needs based on usage per $1,000. Rather than keeping track of shipments coming through the restaurant’s door, the software tracks what ingredients, and exactly how much, guests are ordering in line. This also allows purchase orders to be flagged if the restaurant is shorted product or when prices change.
With this tracking power, you can make sure the investment you make in inventory, is being fully utilized every time.
Area 2: Over/Under-Scheduling
Smart Scheduling software is another power tool in Restaurant365 and allows you to have full visibility of your entire staff. Managers can optimize and reduce labor costs with the scheduling tools designed to help maximize profits. A new feature added to Restaurant365 provides suggested hours to schedule per day based on sales per labor hour (SPLH) goals, allowing managers to create schedules smarter and faster with projected labor profitability, weather forecasting and even local events data incorporated.
Area 3: Food Waste
Throwing away ingredients is terrible. You either ordered too much or customers didn’t order enough of a dish to use the inventory in time. You are practically throwing money in the trash every time that happens. But with the help Restaurant365’s new prep feature that automatically suggests the quantity of food that should be prepped each morning based on forecast and usage per $1,000, you can avoid such disasters. Pre-loaded prep sheets can be printed and handed directly to the kitchen staff to have them make the right amount of product for the day. A prep history report is created for tracking historical prep production, which can then be used to spot trends in your restaurant’s prepping.
What a time to be alive in the restaurant industry! There’s no denying the power in software and programs being able to “talk” to each other via the cloud. Issues that seemed impossible to manage before can now be solved with the tip of your finger. To learn more about how Restaurant365 is changing the restaurant software game, visit www.Restaurant365.com.
