Technology is a game-changer for all business verticals, and the restaurant industry is no exception. Although it is an inherently traditional sector, the pandemic made innovation a must-have for restaurant owners. You can imagine how many of them could have closed down without cloud technology, digital food ordering, and zero-touch POS systems. In this article, we will dive into how to modernize your restaurant with technology.
Even as the pandemic is no longer around, most American restaurateurs continue to leverage innovative technologies to enhance operations and improve their services. Statistics show that 1 in 4 hospitality organizations consider themselves tech-forward today. The trend is here to stay, so you must consider joining the bandwagon sooner than later to keep your eatery on pace with the market.
Modernizing your restaurant is crucial to survive and thrive in the competitive landscape. Likewise, it can help you stay ahead of customer expectations. But you may have some qualms about technologies to stay relevant in the face of the looming recession. With food service making 40-50% of food spending in the US, an investment in innovation surely makes sense for restaurant owners.
But you must embrace innovation wisely instead of jumping on the trends. Let us share a few actionable tech tips to empower your restaurant business in 2023 and beyond.
Simplify Restaurant Management With Automation Tools
Managing an eatery can be taxing, regardless of size and scale. The sheer number of moving parts can be overwhelming. From keeping track of inventory to scheduling employees and staying ahead of orders, everything has to be on point. A slip at any place or time can lead to disgruntled customers, unhappy employees, and loss of business reputation.
Adopting restaurant management tools can help you simplify daily operations with automation. The best part about using a software tool is that you need not struggle with paper-based checklists and complicated spreadsheets anymore. A smooth system at the back end translates into better service quality for your customers.
According to CheddrSuite, lack of organization is perhaps the most challenging aspect of running a food service business. The best way to resolve the problem is by having quick and easy access to the necessary information without going through multiple sources. With automation software, you can cover all inventory, customer service, and employee management needs with one solution.
Improve Order and Food Preparation With Touchscreen Tech
Although touchscreen technology has been around for some time, it isn’t in the mainstream in restaurants yet. You can leverage it to improve your ordering and food preparation process. Customers can order directly from their tables through tablet screens. Orders get relayed to the chef in the kitchen without compromising the accuracy of information.
For example, a patron may want to avoid a specific ingredient due to a food allergy. They can rest assured that the chef preparing the meal gets specific instructions directly. Since orders are visible in real-time on touchscreen devices in the kitchen, there is hardly a chance of gaps in the information.
Besides accuracy, touchscreen solutions ensure efficiency and timely completion of all orders. Line cooks can follow the queue and mark the fulfilled orders once they are delivered to tables. Timely preparation keeps the patrons happy and reduces the pressure on the kitchen staff.
Empower Customers With Self-Ordering and Contactless Payments
Beyond streamlining backend operations and ordering processes, restaurant technology can help you empower customers in several ways. Self-order kiosks are popular because they enable customers to enter details and check prices and ingredients on their own. The process eliminates errors and misunderstandings due to communication problems between staff and clients.
Contactless payments with POS technology are also valuable for restaurants as they reduce the need to queue up or wait for the billing process. Customers can pay digitally, so they need not worry about counting cash and change. Most restaurants already have the technology in place after the pandemic, which means you may have a front covered.
With most diners associating a good dining experience with the accuracy of their orders, timely delivery, and staff expertise, these customer-facing technologies can make all the difference. Diners have more control over their experiences with these tools. Of course, you cannot get complacent with food quality because it matters more than anything else.
Wrapping Up
Modernizing your restaurant is easier than you imagine. The best part is that you need not go too far with complex tech investments to adopt innovation. A few savvy software tools and solutions are enough to improve your operations and ramp up the dining experiences you offer to your patrons. Follow these tips to get a winning advantage for your business.
