When it comes to technology, the restaurant industry has been known to be slow to adapt. They prefer the more traditional way of doing things. Like taking orders using pen and paper and accommodating only cash payments. However, the COVID-19 pandemic was a huge wake-up call to the industry. And even restaurants that had long been institutions in their communities fell one after the other.
Restaurateurs now urgently feel the need for innovation to have any hope of thriving in an increasingly digital world and improve guest experience.For sure, modern technology has ushered in a new future for restaurants. With robots flipping burgers and serving customers in some parts of the world, restaurateurs have zeroed in on opportunities for automation and further reduction of their overhead costs. But what about improving the guest experience, and why does it matter to your own restaurant business? Here’s a briefer on contemporary technologies that can enhance guest experience in your resto, as well as make your operations more efficient.
1. Contactless Ordering and Payment Solutions
Though the technologies are not necessarily new, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that really propelled the implementation of contactless ordering and payments for all kinds of transactions. Including those done in restaurants. Using QR codes to direct customers to their menu, restaurants were able to save on labor while making their guest ordering processes more seamless and smooth.
Meanwhile, contactless payment systems accommodated new payment schemes for customers who wanted to use their digital wallets or credit cards. In the Philippines, Maya Business’s portable payment device, the Maya Terminal, emerged as a key solution for enhancing restaurants’ guest experience at the point of the sale.
As more than a simple credit card machine, the Maya Terminal also accepts QR and digital wallet payments. Moreover, the Maya POS terminal is compact, cordless, secure, and designed specifically to meet the needs of restaurants that fall under the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) category. It allows servers to approach each table directly to receive customer payments. Thereby facilitating fast and smooth payment and eliminating the risk of compromising the customer’s credit card information.
If you accommodate your customers’ evolving payment preferences and make a better effort to safeguard their financial data, they’re more likely to return and be loyal patrons of your establishment. Thanks to the increase in revenue and the improvement of your restaurant operations, the Maya Terminal price you paid might be recouped in no time at all.
2. Self-Order Kiosks
Self-order kiosks are becoming ubiquitous in the fast food industry and in some up-and-coming restaurants. This machine empowers guests to take charge of their order at their own pace when they order through a touch screen. It also eliminates awkward and time-consuming pauses between orders at the table or at the cashier.
In addition, the self-service approach via self-service kiosks also minimizes errors caused by miscommunication between servers and customers. All in all, the gains are twofold. Guests get what they want much faster than before. And your staff can spend less time simply taking orders and focus instead on delivering exceptional service.
3. Integrated Point of Sale (POS) Systems
You should also explore streamlining your restaurant’s operations with an integrated POS system. This technology connects various aspects of your business, from ordering to inventory management, ensuring order accuracy and timely service.
Maya’s credit card terminal is a great example. It’s designed to integrate into your cash register’s existing POS system and will, in turn, eliminate the need to punch in the transaction twice. This prevents errors in the data entry to the system and ensures that customers’ orders and payments are always right.
4. An Online Reservations System
Before there were online reservation systems, guests typically had to call a restaurant to reserve a table. But problems would inevitably pile up whenever staff were too busy to answer or inadvertently overbooked tables. So it forces guests to wait.
But with an online reservations system, restaurants can be sure to manage bookings in an accurate and orderly manner. Guests can also rely on guaranteed tables as long as they come early. This reliability is appreciated by guests and will promote higher customer satisfaction in the restaurant.
5. Kitchen Display System (KDS)
A kitchen display system (KDS) can level up your restaurant’s kitchen operations. It will make it much more efficient than a manual ticketing system. The KDS is meant to streamline communication between the kitchen and the front of house. So it reduces wait times and increases order accuracy as a result. Eventually, guests will notice the quicker service and appreciate such key improvements in their dining experience.
6. A Custom Inventory System
Run-of-the-mill inventory systems just won’t cut it for the modern restaurant. Especially if your establishment has a one-of-a-kind concept that requires specialized features. That’s why you should consider tailoring your inventory management system to your restaurant’s unique needs.
This custom approach ensures that you have the right ingredients at the right time, which reduces food waste and guarantees menu availability. After all, it can get quite annoying for a hungry diner to be continually told that something is not available when it’s listed on the menu.
With a more accurate custom inventory system, your guests can enjoy consistently high-quality dishes each time they come to your restaurant.
7. Online Ordering and Delivery Apps
Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, food delivery has indelibly become part of everyone’s lives. This means that restaurants are left with no choice but to partner with popular online ordering and delivery apps if they want to maximize their reach.
It may require a large investment. But making your dishes available through contemporary food delivery technologies can result in a significant payoff. If customers have the option to enjoy your delicious dishes from the comfort of their homes, you may be able to expand your current revenue streams.
As a restaurateur, your commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience is vital to your establishment’s survival. Consider investing in these modern technologies to provide better and more efficient service to your customers. Thanks to the attention and care that they receive from your restaurant, first-time or casual diners may soon become loyal patrons.