Tag: Online Ordering

8 Useful Restaurant Sales Strategies

Increase Restaurant Sales Strategies

Restaurant sales, as any restaurant owner knows, may be difficult to increase. We work with restaurants every day to help them leverage the latest restaurant technology to improve their guest experience and improve profit margins. Many restaurants fail during the first year due to higher operational costs and fierce competition. To grow sales, you may believe that you need to spend a lot of money on advertising, but one of the best ways to raise restaurant sales is to apply a few relatively easy strategies.

So, how do you increase restaurant sales? To start, here are eight tried-and-true tips for restaurant success:

Utilize online ordering.

Did you know that online ordering accounts for 40% of all restaurant revenue? Therefore, ordering directly from your website is a must for restaurants today. Whether it’s for takeout or delivery, more and more people are using their mobile phones for ordering.

Upsell and Cross-Sell.

For every person who orders food at your restaurant, there’s an opportunity to upsell or cross-sell. Encourage your staff to recommend customers to buy something more expensive than what they originally planned to purchase — for example, offering a side of fries with their sandwich or upgrading their drink size from small to large. Upselling can also be done by recommending menu items with high-profit margins. On your online ordering page, you can also set up add-on suggestions automatically.

Try cross-selling guests by motivating them to try a different way of dining with you. For example, offer a discount to a customer to try online ordering if they usually dine-in. Email customers who normally choose a delivery option to join you in person for a complimentary appetizer.

Sell branded products and merchandise.

Selling something you’re known for as a branded product is a successful technique for developing a secondary revenue stream and boosting restaurant sales. Do you, for example, own an Italian restaurant with a well-known homemade sauce? It’s time to package it and sell it. Alternatively, printed items such as T-shirts could help you expand your brand. Use Shift4Shop to set up your eCommerce page to sell products online.

Boost service speed.

Restaurants understand that the more tables flipped per hour, the more money they will make. That’s why giving employees the tools they need to improve service speed and efficiency is critical. This is where a mobile point of sale comes in handy, as it allows servers to submit orders immediately to the kitchen from the table. Simultaneously, reduce labor expenses by utilizing mobile POS, online ordering, and self-ordering via QR codes.

Take part in local events.

Restaurant Week is a fantastic local event to participate in for exposure. Restaurant week is an event in which restaurants offer discounted or set-priced menus, allowing customers to taste a variety of foods that would otherwise be out of their price range. This event will increase foot traffic to your business, so impress guests with your cuisine and services to keep them coming back for more.

Reward loyal customers.

Loyal customers are the backbone of every successful business, and restaurants are no different. If you want your restaurant to succeed and grow, make sure that your customers keep coming back for more. A loyalty program encourages repeat visits from existing customers and is an excellent tool for building customer relationships. In fact, 45% of diners will select a restaurant if they belong to its loyalty program. (Hospitality Technology) 52% of consumers will recommend to others the restaurants they are most loyal to. (Oracle Hospitality) The best part is you can easily keep track of your customers’ purchases using your point-of-sale system.

Build a strong team.

Your employees represent your brand, so great service starts with having the right people on your team to deliver it. Offer your employees incentives, such as sales contests, growth opportunities, and training programs. These will help your staff feel valued and motivated at work, which could translate into higher sales and better customer service.

Make personalized recommendations.

One of the easiest ways to increase sales is by delivering personalized recommendations to your guests at the right time — whether that’s during their first visit or every time they come back. A point-of-sale (POS) system can help make this achievable. When you have access to key information about your customers — what they order, how often they come in, and even whether they’re vegetarian or gluten-free — it makes it so much easier to personalize the experience for them and boost sales.

With these pointers in mind, you can begin effectively increasing your restaurant sales. The key is to be patient, keep looking for new ways to boost business, and most importantly – stay positive! Using these technology solutions is both simple and effective. It can help you overcome staff shortages while also retaining the employees you have, improving profit margins, and creating a better guest experience. Are you ready to boost your bottom line and grow restaurant sales?

Contact us to discuss how restaurant technology can help you achieve your business goals and run your restaurant smoothly!

6 Ways Restaurant Technology Can Help the Labor Shortage

Restaurant Technology to help the labor shortage

Why Is There an Ongoing Restaurant Labor Shortage?

The labor shortage has been quite a challenge for the restaurant industry. In fact, according to CBS News, nearly 4 in 10 restaurants report that they’re having difficulty hiring enough staff. Thousands of restaurant workers were laid off or furloughed during the start of the COVID-19 crisis because of the severe economic downturn. Many restaurant staff have since gone on to other industries.

These are some reasons they’ve moved on.

Health concerns with Covid, and lack of health insurance being offered
Dealing with bad customers who disregard the health procedures
Job instability along with shortened hours
Bad work culture and limited support for work-life balance
Low pay
Lack of promotional opportunities

When you’re looking to hire, keep these considerations in mind. It may be beneficial to market your business with higher starting wages, promotional opportunities, flexible schedules, health benefits, and a friendly work environment.

As you know, servers are a valuable part of the restaurant experience. They assist guests with ordering, dining, and payment. If you’re short-staffed, the amount of tables that can be serviced is limited. If service is continuously delayed, both guests and servers will be frustrated, which will have a significant negative impact on your business.

Here are 6 ways that technology can help fill the gaps created by the labor shortage.

Increase production without overburdening employees by implementing online ordering. Restaurants can serve more customers by offering online ordering. This increases profitability while also removing the need for a designated person to take to-go orders via phone call. You now have one less role to worry about!
With QR Order & Pay, speed up the ordering process and boost guest satisfaction. Don’t bother with traditional menus; instead, have your customers scan a QR code with their smartphone to browse a digital menu, place an order, and pay. As a result, servers will be less stressed and have more time to focus on delivering meals to tables and creating a positive customer experience.
A mobile POS will help with order accuracy and payment convenience. Customers and employees will have a straightforward ordering and payment experience with SkyTab Mobile. Servers no longer have to return to a POS station to put in orders; instead, they may do so directly at the table, ensuring order correctness. SkyTab also streamlines kitchen operations, increases table turns, and servers typically see higher tips as they can spend more time at tables engaging with customers. Since it offers full mobility Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity, SkyTab is also ideal for taking curbside takeout payments or even on the road for delivery.
Reduce labor overhead through automation with a Kiosk. Digital kiosks are large touch-screen displays that allow guests to place orders and pay without the need for staff assistance. They are ideal for quick-service restaurants, as they save money by avoiding the need to hire cashiers and allowing personnel to move to more valued positions such as servers or chefs. This will ensure that the dining room doors remain open! Another advantage is that customers are likely to spend more money and opt for add-ons when they use kiosks.
The Lighthouse Business Manager System minimizes time-consuming administrative tasks, allowing you to focus on running your business. Implementing Lighthouse Business Manager allows you to work smarter, not harder. This productivity software gives you access to critical reports and insights, as well as management features, like employee scheduling and customer engagement. Take full advantage of Lighthouse by using direct integrations such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and more in its Marketplace.
Improve operations with an industry-leading POS. When you hire new staff, you want to use restaurant technology that is straightforward so they can focus on operating the business and serving customers. Meadows Hospitality Systems offers the Restaurant Manager Point-of-Sale System integrated with Shift 4 Payment Processing to provide customers with industry-leading restaurant technology and local support. MHS makes the onboarding process simple by going onsite and instructing personnel on how to use the technology effectively.

The future of the restaurant labor shortage is unknown.

No one knows when the workforce will be able to keep up with demand. Using technology to adapt during labor shortages is a smart strategy to keep your business running smoothly while also providing a better employee experience that helps you stand out as a top employer for local candidates.

Online Ordering payment QR Payment restaurant restaurant industry

Why The “New Normal” Calls For a Contactless Mobile Guest Experience

Digital Dining Adoption

The pandemic has pushed the restaurant industry’s adoption of technology. It’s now common to see people use their smartphones or other digital platforms when dining out. It’s important to note that everyone’s expectations have shifted as a result of Covid-19, therefore you can’t rely on the same procedures that you used before March 2020 if you want your business to succeed.

According to Juniper Research, more than half (53 percent) of global transactions running through Point-of-Sale systems will be contactless within five years, compared to just 15 percent in 2020. It’s expected that contactless payments will triple to $6 trillion globally by 2024, up from approximately $2 trillion last year.

Create A Safe & Efficient Work Environment

Contactless payments are a method of paying for goods or services without physically having to swipe a card, touch a screen, or hand it to another person. Due to the pandemic, businesses have prioritized eliminating physical contact points to provide a safe and healthy setting, which is why many of them have provided contactless payment solutions, such as “Tap-to-Pay”. Customers enjoy having a touchless payment experience with devices such as SkyTab by Shift4. SkyTab even accepts popular mobile wallets like Apple Pay & Google Pay. Thankfully, a more protected workplace is possible with mobile solutions.

Maximize Resources and Cut Costs

Leveraging technology such as QR Order & Pay, guests can manage more processes themselves, such as ordering and paying. This type of software has also helped with another issue: the restaurant industry is facing a staffing shortage, so this tool allows restaurants to give high-quality service with fewer employees. “According to 89 percent of full-service restaurant owners, their present staffing levels are below average.” – National Restaurant Association. With the adoption of contactless technology, restaurants can boost productivity while keeping costs down.

Increase Revenue Streams

For eateries, online ordering is a must-have platform for survival. Businesses should be aware that third-party platforms contain a lot of hidden fees, and most customers prefer to order straight from the source when considering which route to take for online ordering. Have control over your revenue, branding, and data with RM Online Ordering. Did you know that the average online order is 20 to 30% larger than call-in orders? This makes it an excellent tool for upselling. Businesses can take advantage of the “new normal” by offering online ordering as a strategy to boost profitability.

When it comes to your business, which mobile tech fits best?

Consider the flow of your operations and note the areas where technology could be very helpful to your business. Think about the following questions when selecting what technology is suitable for your restaurant.

What’s your budget for incorporating technology, and what are your primary objectives?
In what ways will technology assist you in achieving your goals?
If tech issues arrive, how will they be handled?
What insights do you already have about your customers and what do you still want to find out?
How does certain technology help with marketing?
How can this technology contribute to a great client experience?

We’d love to learn about your business’s needs and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. By calling 407-365-1991, you can reach us at any time.

Online Ordering Qr Codes QR Payment restaurant industry Restaurant Technology

How Restaurants Can Provide Payment Flexibility To Guests

You dined at your favorite local eatery, and the food and beverages were excellent. However, when it comes time to pay for the dinner, you can’t manage to locate the server and inform them you’re ready to receive the bill. Even when you request a check, it seems to take an eternity for them to get it to you, and then you have to wait for them to take your card and process it. For the customer, this can be a tiresome procedure that might even ruin their dining experience. As a result, restaurants must provide payment flexibility to guests and allow them to pay in a variety of ways. This will streamline the workflow and make it easier for customers and restaurant employees.

“A study revealed that 60% of people who have experienced a slow payment process have ruined their dining experience.”

Accept multiple types of payment.

It’s critical to make it simple for customers to pay using whatever method they like. The more payment options your business allows, the more convenient it will be. Traditional card swipe, EMV chip, NFC cards, mobile wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and WeChat Pay, and Alipay are all accepted by Shift4. Did you know that one of the most efficient methods to cut wait times is to accept numerous forms of payment?

Give access to pay at the table.

In most countries, the use of table-side payment is already prevalent. In the U.S, almost all adults (70% of baby boomers and 72% of millennials) would prefer to pay at the table if they could. SkyTab is a powerful tool that will allow your business to offer the pay at the table service and deliver an unmatched experience to your customers. It also includes order entry from the table, which eliminates the need for trips to the POS system.

Increase payment security.

Allowing the customer to have control of their checkout procedure can alleviate concerns about a potentially insecure payment process. The consumer is no longer required to hand over their credit card to a server who then walks away with it. Customers will have peace of mind and a more secure dining experience as a result of this.

“A study conducted by Mastercard revealed that 79 percent of consumers globally are using contactless payments.”

Provide QR code pay.

In restaurants, QR codes have become increasingly popular; many times, QR codes are placed on tables for guests to scan with their phones to access a digital menu. Another application of QR codes in restaurants is QR Order & Pay, which allows customers to examine the restaurant’s menu, place an order, and pay all from their phones. This provides guests more control over when services are provided and how bills are paid.

Offer online ordering.

With online ordering, restaurants can accept orders and payments from wherever their consumers are. RM Online Ordering accepts all major credit cards, as well as RM gift cards. For guests, purchasing online is faster and more convenient. According to restaurant researcher Peter Saleh, guests who place their own orders “tend to engage with the menu longer and spend 15% to 25% more.” Frequent client visits, greater check totals, and improved client conversion and loyalty are some advantages of online ordering.

Ask guests their payment preference.

Different generations may be wary of new technology or have difficulty implementing it. If your restaurant’s patrons are used to checking out on their own, you may wish to assist them or use the Standard Credit Card procedure to satisfy them. If you’re trying out new technologies, ask for feedback, especially if they’re a regular customer.

Are any of the above-mentioned payment methods something you’d want to try? We’d be happy to discuss which alternatives are best for your company. For further information, call 407-365-1991.

EMV Online Ordering payment QR Payment security Skytab

How to Increase Food Orders With Instagram

Increase Food Orders With Instagram – It’s All About The Visuals

According to the publication, Social Media Today, 30% of millennial diners actively avoid restaurants with a weak Instagram presence. That equates to potential lost revenue and means it’s more important than ever to create content that engages new followers and keeps in touch with your loyal customers.

Instagram is definitely the best social media platform for the restaurant industry; as it’s all about the visuals when it comes to your specialty food and beverage items. If you don’t already have an account, now is a great time to set one up and increase your brand awareness!

Here are a few ideas to post on your restaurant’s Instagram:

Show behind the scenes in the kitchen
Respond and create content out of online reviews
Share fan photos with your location tagged
Highlight your staff with an employee spotlight
Host a social media contest to reach new followers
Offer a discount promo code to entice customers to order such as “WELCOME10” for 10% off the order – ask us how to offer online discounts!

Drive sales with this online ordering tip:

Make sure you have your custom RMPOS Online Ordering link posted in your Instagram profile to capture sales immediately and drive business to your integrated Restaurant Manager POS Online Ordering site! Don’t have one? Let me know and we can get you set up with a shortened custom link.

Remember, 70% of consumers say they’d rather order directly from the restaurant, preferring that their money goes straight to the restaurant and not a third party, like BiteSquad, GrubHub, etc.

Want to save time and use your built-in RMPOS social media scheduler and posting platform included with your Restaurant Manager POS System? Let me know, and I will help you get set up with that if you haven’t already done so in your Lighthouse portal.

Contact me with questions you may have to help boost your online presence and increase that Online Ordering revenue stream!

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