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“The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn’t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.” – Steve Ballmer
Technology has been an integral part of the restaurant industry for a long now. But this year saw newer ways of embedding technology into restaurant operations, more because of the pandemic that shook the globe. Restaurants that were fast to adapt to these technological advancements did well, while those that did not pick up pace lagged.
As the year-end and the new year comes near, there are many technological advancements that will lead the happening restaurant industry to newer heights and greater profits. Business owners are investing heavily in this restaurant’s IT solutions and services. Novel concepts and equipment are coming up for benefiting business revenue and upsurging customer satisfaction quotient.
The Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry is progressing rapidly and business owners are finding new ways and means of keeping customers happy, fulfilling orders, and keeping at par with the fast-paced restaurant industry.
Implementing modern-day technological software solutions and services has brought about revolutionary benefits to the restaurant industry and there is no looking back, here are some of the key advantages:
- Automation of activities leads to enhanced accuracy, operational efficacy, and productivity
- Customer service offered is of great satisfaction level, and prompt leading to increased loyalty quotient
- POS systems offer a lot of advantages to different types of restaurants
- Driving heavy traffic and sales, bringing in more profit, and reduction in inventory cost
- Effective employee handling of work, wages, and satisfaction levels
Utilization of Mobile Devices and Restaurants Based Apps Is Upsurging
Restaurant-based websites and applications are now leveraged increasingly, the world over. These apps are accessible over all types of mobile devices – laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Most orders are placed through mobile-based apps. And, with the current pandemic situation, usage of such apps has increased by a great margin, mainly for home delivery and takeaway options, rather than in dine-in facilities.
Even the usage of hand-held POS devices is about to experience great demand. These portable devices help big time in processing fast payments, delivering parcels effectively, passing on digital orders to the kitchen, etc. Such apps prove highly convenient to customers and business owners, alike.
These apps offer a further audience reach, augmented client experience, flexible order placing and management, increased customer loyalty, and transparent billing. It also helps the restaurant task force to ensure accuracy, transparency, and ease of operations.
Online Ordering and Delivery Systems Will Be the New Normal
Though the dine-in experience is always more refreshing and preferred, the new normal right now has shifted its focus to online ordering and home delivery/takeaway. Either through restaurant-based apps or through third-party apps like Zomato, Uber Eats, etc., business owners are managing a good chunk of business with an increasing number of orders coming through from customers.
Restaurant owners may need to hire employees to get packets delivered and the mobile app that they use may need to cater to that. Third-party systems may have to integrate the POS system. This brings in transparency to delivery methods, payment styles, and sales management.
Ghost kitchens and kitchen display systems have garnered immense popularity in the year and shall increase more in the coming year. The food-on-the-go concept is being adapted to the new normal scenario. The kitchen display systems enforce smooth communication between the front desk members and the kitchen people.
Online Presence, Review, and Social Media Interaction Will Have More Focus
Those business owners who did not bother to create a social media or online presence have now bent toward doing so. The year to come shall see almost all restaurants having their online identity with social media presence.
Businesses are now collaborating with third-party websites for enhancing their customer reach. Restaurants can now talk with customers and post relevant information such as notifications, campaigns, offers, discount schemes, exclusive deals, etc.
Social media interaction in the form of feedback, inquiries, etc. will lead to increased collaboration between business owners and customers. Reading online reviews posted by customers gives transparent feedback about the restaurant, its food, ambiance, service, costs involved, etc. On a positive note, it is a good way of showing your business performance to all at a time.
Contactless, Secured and Flexible Payment Options Are Much in Need
A wide range of payment methods with appropriate security measures is in demand today. Gone are the times when there used to be restricted modes of payment – cash/card. Now comes the time for a variety of payment gateways with appropriate security protocols. Such new advancements have encouraged the restaurant business to sustain the global crisis and maintain its position in the market.
All adjoining POS software and ordering software systems are following standard security compliance protocols, assuring safe and fast transactions. Looking at the pandemic, placing orders in a contactless manner and paying safely without any physical contact, is what matters most.
This has been one of the rising trends currently and shall continue so, more so, because of the pandemic. It is here to stay. Customers will get used to this new method of payment and ordering and shall prefer the same, even in normal times.
Need for Self-Service Kiosks Is Rising
This is the rising trend today – self-ordering kiosks. Looking at the increasing rush at restaurants, many have started using the self-service portal that is well integrated with payment methods.
This increases the speed of order delivery and reduces wait time to a large extent. These kiosks are well integrated with the software systems to ensure centralized data monitoring. Such kiosks are more popular with QSR business owners where a quick placing of an order and delivery matters the most.
These systems offer a transparent insight into what customers like the most, the performance of delivery at outlets, orders received vs orders dispatched, etc. Based on this, business owners can work on enhancements in needed areas.
Cloud-based Point of Sale Systems Are Being Leveraged
Putting aside the usage of traditional methods of computing, the restaurant industry is now making the most of cloud-based systems to fasten the entire installation and implementation process.
Especially for POS systems, cloud-related technologies help in a big way by synchronizing hand-held and portable instruments, along with relevant printers. Such systems offer cutting-edge features that can help get detailed insight into business performance. One such feature is a touchscreen terminal that works seamlessly with cloud computing methods and offers great service by increasing efficiency levels.
Easy installation, the lesser expense towards infrastructure and hardware costs, free updates, saving on maintenance expenses, robust reporting, and offline system functioning are some of the key benefits of having cloud-based systems in this business. And the coming year shall experience more of it.
Implementing Kitchen Monitors and Automating Operations Is Rising High
With the increasing usage of order placement, having kitchen monitors helps a lot. Whenever a new order comes, the kitchen staff is informed through the monitor instantly, wasting no time in between. It fastens the entire delivery process and reduces the usage of paper, with the least chance of errors.
Kitchen display systems are being leveraged more and the coming year shall see more utilization of the same. Acting as a direct bridge between the POS and the kitchen, these systems have proved beneficial in smoothening communication between the stakeholders.
These automated activities help the kitchen to work faster, and smoother with high-end efficiency. Menu items are shown in appropriate series to relevant screens and prioritizing is also done thoroughly.
Biometric Validation Will Give a More Secure and Trustworthy Business
For customers and for employees both, biometric measures have proven worth. Customers are using biometric verification through the apps for secure and fast recognition, excluding much of the data entry into the apps.
Even in managing the restaurant business, stakeholders find it easy to verify access and authority via biometric methods for employees. Face scan and fingerprint scan are two most popular methods that will extensively be used in the next year too. There are chances of newer technologies coming up in this arena soon that will bring fast and revolutionizing results.
This also helps a lot in managing business activities like physical verification, inventory access, authorized access to cash registers, etc. Even payment through biometric methods will be possible soon.
Offering Personalized Experience Through Chatbots Is Being Preferred
Placing online orders was already the latest jargon but this year saw the usage of chatbots while doing so. Chatbots offer a personalized experience making the customer feel homely and acquainted.
These chatbots are well-programmed to answer customer queries, offer suggestions based on history, guide customers on payment methods, process orders instantly, send relevant discount/promotion messages, and direct customers to newer items. This technology is seamlessly integrated with social media sites through which it can manage efficient marketing strategies.
High-end Focus on Security and Privacy Policies
With technology going deeper into restaurant activities, ensuring the privacy and security of the confidential information of all customers is the responsibility of the restaurant business owner. With the new year coming by, offering superior security measures will come as a priority for all technological advancements.
The security policies will have to ensure proper measures for the effective functioning of LAN and WAN, firewalls, and other appropriate hardware components. Having secure networks offers a lot of trust factor to customers, building up the loyalty factor.
Voice Assistance Is Helping Restaurants Big Way
Automation is the key to success and voice automation is one leading arena in most segments today. Sparing the customer from keying in data, voice assistance-enabled systems are helping customers place orders without any human intervention.
This reduces the time taken to complete an order, especially when it is a takeaway or drive-through order. Even restaurant kiosks are using this extensively. The coming year shall see more apps implementing voice-based technology in their order placement module.
BI and Big Data Has Been Offering A Deep Insight into Restaurant Business
BI and Big Data have given their best to this business world in terms of extracting and analyzing the best of information from the huge bulk of information. Different tools and technologies have been instrumental in getting the best results.
Restaurant marketing has turned data-driven and garnered increasing business. The coming year shall see a better time with the insightful information that is being processed through BI and Big Data measures.
Big Data has been helping business owners to track the usage of special offers/schemes being placed. It helps in judging the effectiveness of the menu items, possible updates that could bring more business, running menu items, items that are not much liked, analysis based on customer feedback, and probable business trends based on customer history. It also helps in maintaining and managing inventory stock amidst varying requirements.
As We Welcome 2023
Much is happening in the restaurant industry. The year 2020 showed many novel trends and the coming year has much more to offer. Especially with the pandemic still rolling over, these newer technology advancements will help the industry boom further.
As a business that barely sees a downfall, it will be interesting to see how technology creates a new wave of happening activities in the restaurant industry!