# Business development
15 Essential Technology Tools for a Restaurant in 2024
Red Rocket teamAug 13, 20246 min read
In This Article
Point of sale (POS) systems Online ordering and delivery platforms Reservation management systems Customer relationship management (CRM) software Inventory management systems Employee scheduling and management tools Contactless payment solutions Digital menu boards Kitchen display systems (KDS) Tabletop ordering systems Customer feedback and survey tools Restaurant analytics software Marketing automation tools Food safety and compliance software Mobile apps for restaurants How to install and make It work?Some people wonder how modern restaurants can quickly and efficiently serve such a large flow of customers every day. Actually, there is no secret and success is achieved with the help of technological solutions. Just a few years ago, waiters used to write down customer orders on a small notepad and personally hand this piece of paper to the kitchen. With the active development of software development and the introduction of artificial intelligence for restaurants, things have changed for the better.
Business tools are a wide-ranging concept that includes a whole group of web products. They are installed on computers, smartphones and work tablets of restaurant employees. Thus throughout the working day waiters, cooks, and administrators use various IT solutions. In this article, we have gathered the best restaurant systems that will help your business to increase efficiency and generate more profits.
Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Today’s POS systems are not solely the means by which transactions are executed, but much more than that. A POS system is an essential mechanism through which orders are processed, payment is made, and inventory control, customer relations, and business intelligence are managed. Features like ordering directly from the table, integration of online ordering, and going mobile are conveniences that customers desire.
Through its access to inventory control, reservation systems, and loyalty programs, a POS offers an essential insight into operations and revenues. When selecting a POS system, the application developer's openness and the ability to scale up should be given priority to meet the restaurant’s growth needs.
Online Ordering and Delivery Platforms
According to recent statistics, more and more people prefer ordering food than visiting a restaurant in person. There is a simple explanation for this - people value their time and spend it on other activities. A restaurant that is loved by local visitors should definitely work not only for personal sales, but also for delivery around the city. What solutions exist for such a purpose?
- Integration with delivery applications. Remember such famous apps as Uber Eats and DoorDash. Today, they work even in small towns so that customers can order food from their favorite establishments. You can connect to such apps, which will help you significantly increase the number of your sales.
- Creating your own delivery app. This method will take more time and money. However, building your own delivery app is the best solution for the future. It will not only boost sales but also help increase your brand awareness among your customers.
What way to implement the delivery option is your decision. However, any cafe or restaurant should have such an element. Another benefit of the delivery option for customers is that your hall will have more free seats for visitors. This is especially true during holidays or hours when the hall is filled to the maximum.
Reservation Management Systems
Restaurant systems include a variety of software that differ in purpose and function. A great option that your customers will love is a table reservation system for restaurants. Customers always prefer to make a reservation using their phones, and hence, making the process easier leads to more bookings. The restaurant reservation system interfaces with POS databases to monitor the status of tables to avoid overbooking. If you've been in the restaurant business for a long time, you may have heard of technology solutions like OpenTable and Resy. Numerous testimonials from restaurant owners indicate that such applications provide many benefits for efficient operations.
Online reservations for customers should be easily accessible with some rooms for maneuvering especially when it comes to making special requests for tables, making reservations, or even rescheduling. Concerning the integration with other communication forms, it is possible to achieve automatic confirmations and reminders through SMS or email. As an added advantage, collecting clients’ information through the online reservation also has the added advantage of expanding your customer list.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software
Customer relationship management systems take details of customer orders, their choices, contact information, and other related details to be useful in restaurant marketing and enhancement of service. Having this data tracked is helpful for recognizing a VIP or a loyal customer, sending promotions to a specific group, or modifying a menu. Further, some of the features can include customized customer feedback surveys to check on the levels of satisfaction after the meal. Synchronizing the use of the CRM with the POS and the restaurant reservation system helps to capture customers and their experiences in one place, meaning that the delivery of loyal experiences will encourage returned customers.
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Inventory Management Systems
Working in a restaurant is always about proper food stock management skills. Ordering and ensuring there is enough stock with products requires accurate records of ingredients available. Inventory management systems have real-time tracking of the available stocks, along with supplier management systems. It integrates with sensors and scanners and thus can be automatically updated when items are used up or delivered. This saves chefs and managers time of manually preparing schedules for stock-in and stock-out by providing an at-a-glance view. Besides saving food, it also guarantees that there is always stock in those foods that feature on your menus most often.
Employee Scheduling and Management Tools
Apps for cafes and restaurants include not only solutions for customers. Some business tools are aimed at the efficient work of employees and apps such as HotSchedules and 7shifts are a prime example.
The use of restaurant technology that is related to the scheduling and management of employees is another feature since it allows employees to be scheduled based on the expected traffic. Besides, these systems are used to post schedules for staff to check outside work and record actual payroll hours and cost of labor.
Contactless Payment Solutions
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic increased the number of contactless payments as this type of payment mode has been on the rise in the recent past. Customers would like to have an easy and fast option to pay with options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. Wearable credit card readers and NFC gadgets also facilitate cashless transactions thereby minimizing contact with cash.
Among the benefits associated with this is increased convenience and reduced queues during the peak time, and increased hygiene. This applies to the menus, which should not go to extents of having physical bills instead they use QR code payments. The absence of direct contact with the customers also meets the customer’s demand and reduces the time of waiting staff.
Digital Menu Boards
The traditional menu, which is written on paper or in a book, is a thing of the past. This approach is time-consuming, especially when some dishes appear or vice versa leaves the current menu. A great restaurant technology is digital boards that contain menus. These connected screens enable prices, descriptions, and images to be updated remotely, in real-time. Digital boards also allow for you to highlight high-margin products or offer the perfect complementary products in a bundle.
Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)
A KDS enables servers to pass orders and other information on meals to the kitchen staff in real time. This get rid of any wait time from the moment a customer places an order to the time the chef receives the order. A KDS arranges all the ticket orders sequentially, which means that different chefs can prepare a range of dishes at once. This means that with the use of the products, there is a drastic decrease in the food preparation time. This makes it possible for restaurants to accommodate more customers without risking the quality of their food. Perhaps the greatest advantage of having a dependable KDS is that it drastically cuts down on order mistakes.
Tabletop Ordering Systems
Ordering software at the table means that guests can order from a smartphone or tablet at their table. Why is it so effective? Restaurant waiters will be able to allocate their time to other customers who want to order in person. The online ordering system by QR code is a very easy task that any customer can cope with. It is enough for him just to point the smartphone camera at the code and follow the link. Now all the available items from the menu will be displayed at the device of the consumer. When he selects the desired dishes, the order will automatically be displayed for the kitchen department. Moreover, you can set the chefs to receive audible notifications when an order is received via the customer's device.
Customer Feedback and Survey Tools
The best way to know your weaknesses is through comments from real customers. Customer feedback and survey tools are programs that can be used to capture the opinions and reviews of customers. This constructive criticism, both positive and negative, helps restaurants correct such problems or shortcomings as soon as possible. Tools like SurveyAnyplace, or QuestionPro, used for mentioning guests, can also be used to design unique surveys to get better insights into unique customer feelings. These tools are useful in giving a detailed view of the restaurants so as to improve customer satisfaction perpetually.
Restaurant Analytics Software
There is so much data collected from different platforms daily, and analytics software processes all these pieces of information that restaurants get. Some examples that can be considered include POS, inventory management systems, customer relations management, social media, and staffing software. Reporting systems aggregate all the items to produce reports on significant performance indicators such as sales, traffic and patrons, cost of stocks and merchandise, and employee productivity and marketing effectiveness.
Marketing Automation Tools
Effective operation of any enterprise is impossible without active marketing engagement. Restaurants and cafes are no exception. Marketing automation platforms help restaurants increase the overall throughput of the restaurant through campaigns that are channel-specific and include email, social media, website, etc. These tools monitor the behavior and data of the customers to deliver relevant messages and offers. Marketing automation tools such as Mailchimp or HubSpot enable creating workflows so that different marketing tasks like sending emails, scheduling social media posts, and lead nurturing can be performed automatically.
Food Safety and Compliance Software
It is crucial to ensure food safety as well as to adhere to the regulatory requirements set for any food business. Such software can automate compliance with certain rules concerning food storage, preparation processes, and the training of the employees, etc. Some also encompass features such as temperature control, analysis of compliance offenses and corrective measures. It all enhances the quality of food sold and minimizes cases of prosecution due to violation of legal requirements.
Mobile Apps for Restaurants
There is no best app for restaurants because each establishment has its own software requirements. A great option is to create your own mobile app for your restaurant. People should be able to make table bookings, view the menu, order food for collection or delivery, pay bills, and manage rewards via apps. These services can be accessed on the phones that customers use in their daily lives. For restaurant managers, such offers are also great for helping them work more efficiently. For example, with the help of such software, they get more information about customers, see the most popular dishes and get detailed statistics on the work of the establishment.
How to Install and Make It Work?
Obviously, all the above-mentioned technological solutions are a must-have for every restaurant and even cafe. However, imagine how hard it would be to manage all the applications from multiple devices. The best solution for business owners is to integrate such technologies as complete software. This way, you can receive orders, process them, make it easier for the customer to pay and much more. Development companies are now actively providing their services for custom software development for restaurants that will fully meet the client's requirements.
