10 Ways to Cash In on Restaurant Automation for Long-Term Benefits

Automation is the name of the game in nearly every industry today. If there are any industries that aren’t yet automated or are not currently on the path of automation, it can only be because they are the providers of some niche product or service that specifically calls for archaic manual labor.

For restaurants that are not located in some remote corner of the world (which is, the majority of restaurants), this is certainly not the case.

Sure, food is one of mankind’s basic needs, but its providers have scaled impressive heights when it comes to modernizing the way food is prepared, presented, and delivered to its final consumer. Here are 10 ways to help you get the best out of your restaurant software solution and fully embrace the path of automation:

Self-Ordering Kiosks

QSRs such as McDonald’s have achieved considerable success with self-ordering kiosks. Although this concept has been around for ages, it is only recently that they started being extensively used by the restaurant industry.

Self-serving kiosks are great because they allow the customer greater convenience and customization in addition to reducing the waiting period. The accuracy of orders is increased and labor prices reduced. What’s more, these kiosks actually lead to an increase in sales. Customers are more likely to order extra food through a self-ordering kiosk. Being human, they would normally not do so for fear of being judged by the servers. But with a kiosk, they are more likely to order that extra helping of fries or that dessert.

Magnetic Secure Transmission

Your customers no longer need to go through the lengthy process of swiping their cards through the swiping machine. With magnetic secure transmission, all they have to do is hold their card in front of the machine.

All the relevant details will be captured by the machine instantaneously, without any error. Customers can check out in a jiffy, without wasting time over the swiping machine to make a payment.

Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems

POS systems are all the rage now, owing to their multifaceted capabilities. Restaurant POS systems can optimize your tables, monitor employee leaves & attendance, and manage inventory.

They provide useful and actionable insight into the restaurant’s operations and where it needs improvements. Important operating costs of the restaurant are under constant scrutiny in a POS system.

Menu Automation

Updating menus can be a hassle for many restaurants. Especially if there are changes on a regular basis, and the changes are to be made across multiple outlets. With an automated restaurant software solution, restaurants can update their menus on a regular basis.

Any changes made in the central menu are reflected immediately across the menus of all the outlets. Centrally managed menus will also allow you to make changes in menus of certain outlets specifically.

Automated Checkout

Restaurants can set up an automated checkout system along with the kiosk or on-table ordering system. It will eliminate the hassle of waiting for the check to arrive, and in general, contribute to the diners’ pleasant experience.

The customers will not have to wait for the server/waiter to take the check, process it and then return it. Automating the checkout process will enable customers to pay quickly and according to their convenience. They will leave the restaurant on a happy note. Moreover, your tables will turn over faster, which means you can serve more customers.

Mobile Ordering

For most products, be it food or clothes, mobile ordering has become second nature to customers. They consider it a given that wherever they’re shopping from, an online/mobile outlet of the same will be available.

If you haven’t already, your restaurant should strive to make ordering through mobile a possibility for its customers. Customers can order and pay in a manner that’s convenient for them.

Additionally, your restaurant will be able to serve a multitude of other customers even when all your tables are occupied.

Analytics

Most POS systems will tabulate all your transactions and sales data into graphs and reports, to provide an easy understanding of what’s really going on. This will make it easier for restaurant managers to target the areas that need improvement.

A good restaurant management software will equip you with real-time statistics and reports about significant metrics such as inventory, peak hours, most popular dishes and/or drinks, most popular servers, and many others which contribute to the overall operations and success of your restaurant.

Online Table Reservation

Give your customers the option to reserve their preferred tables online. They can see the entire layout of the restaurant through a virtual overview online. Accordingly, they can select the tables they like best, in advance.

This way, they will not have to wait and they can start their dining experience as soon as they enter the restaurant. Like most other items on this list, it enhances customer experience, making repeat business more likely.

Automated Feedback

Gone are the days when your wait staff would present a feedback form to the customers at the end of their meal. You can now automate the feedback process by relocating it to a digital platform.

Instead of filling out a feedback form manually, customers can provide their feedback on a feedback management app or online. On online forms, they can be asked specific questions regarding their experience and the food. The feedback is automatically stored in the restaurant’s records, thus removing the hassle of keeping a separate file full of customer feedback forms as well.

Automated Marketing

Traditional marketing is not only rare but is also non-cost effective. Why spend thousands on a function that could be performed at a much cheaper cost on a variety of platforms. Restaurants, like most businesses, have switched to mass emails and bulk text messages from the flyers and pamphlets of the early days.

These methods are much less time-consuming and much more cost-effective. In time, customized emails and texts regarding promotional offers and schemes can be sent to the customers. This function, when integrated with your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, will give you tremendous results.

Final Thoughts

The aforementioned automation tools and methods should give you sufficient insight into what automation can do for your restaurant.

Worldwide, restaurants are undergoing mass-scale automation in order to improve their operational efficiency, their bottom line, but ultimately their customer experience. All the positive changes brought about by automation will contribute towards giving your diners the best possible dining experience. Which is what any restaurateur wants for his/her restaurant!

Have been certified in Digital Marketing and now I'm working as Software Analysts. I am a responsible and friendly person who loves being in contact with persons. I am always looking for the opportunities to grow up both professionally and humanly.