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In the fast-paced world of food service, communication is everything. From taking orders to coordinating back-of-house operations, every moment counts. Yet many restaurants are still relying on outdated or overly complex communication tools that slow down operations and hinder their ability to deliver exceptional service.
Omnichannel communications and value-oriented customer expectations are two elements challenging restaurant owners and operators, according to a survey from Klaviyo. Among the other highlights: Restaurants have the opportunity to connect and convert audiences using mobile websites or apps and push notifications.
At the same time, a rise in fast-food prices driven by inflation is reshaping consumer behavior, with many customers now treating fast food as a splurge rather than a convenience. For example, AI can help QSRs make smarter inventory decisions by analyzing purchasing trends and aligning ingredient orders with demand.
Over the last two decades, I’ve worked alongside operators in just about every hospitality setting—independent cafés, high-end dining rooms, food halls, and regional chains. We saw widespread adoption of mobile payments, digital ordering, and contactless dining almost overnight.
There is an opportunity for restaurants that can modernize in a way that meets the needs of the diner while simultaneously overcoming food, labor, and technological challenges to run more predictable and profitable businesses. It certainly isn’t an easy proposition – but a holistic approach to restaurant modernization is critical.
To tackle these challenges, restaurant owners are relying more on digital tools like mobileordering, self-service kiosks, and AI-powered workforce management. Self-order and payment kiosks as well as QR code menus are streamlining front-of-house operations, improving order accuracy and speeding up service.
Photoillustration by Lille Allen; see below for full credits Every major fast-food chain, it seems, now has its own app promising deals, discounts, and a better diner experience overall. If you respond yes to the friendly cashier, youre asked to provide a code or other signifier, like your name, to help the worker identify your order.
The restaurant industry is going mobile, and restaurant apps are at the center of this transformation. Diners want the convenience of ordering, booking, and engaging with their favorite restaurants straight from their phones. Beyond mobileordering, restaurant apps support operations in ways that were never available before.
Is online ordering inefficient? Do you lose money due to food waste? Experiencing over-ordering or last-minute shortages? With a modern cloud-based POS, restaurants can streamline order taking, reduce human error, and improve the overall speed of service. Are labor costs too high? Too many missed reservations?
Customers on average will order more menu items, resulting in a larger bill for the restaurant and a larger tip for the employee. This may seem obvious, but keeping an open communication channel between management and staff is a great way to reinforce the importance of an active staff.
How do you handle multiple tables and orders at once? What steps would you take if a customer received the wrong order? How do you maintain accuracy when taking orders for large groups? How do you handle special dietary requests or food allergies? How do you handle multiple tables and orders at once?
Adaptability became non-negotiable as takeout, delivery, and digital ordering shifted from secondary revenue streams to essential lifelines." Self-ordering kiosks, QR codes, mobile apps and loyalty reward cards have created more personalized experiences, which increase the likelihood customers will return.
Are you doing all the right thingsserving amazing food, delivering top-notch service, crafting perfectly balanced drinksbut the tables still arent filling up like they should? The problem isnt your food or serviceits visibility and customer engagementand were going to help you fix that. Upload high-quality photos.
A strong restaurant brand doesnt just sell food; it tells a story. It communicates your purposewhy your restaurant exists, what makes it unique, and what emotional connection you want to build with your customers. Establish your brands voice and personality to communicate with customers.
When youre updating your online menu or online ordering system, its tempting to just copy over the dish names from your restaurant menu and call it a day. With a few simple techniques, you can write menu descriptions that sounds natural, highlight your best dishes, and help guests feel confident (and excited) about ordering.
A well-crafted email can remind a past guest to stop by again, encourage reservations for a new seasonal menu, or even boost online orders with a limited-time discount. A well-timed email with a special offer, new menu item, or exclusive promotion can be the nudge they need to place another order.
The report also includes additional key industry insights, including: Delivery sales and transactions increased industry-wide despite economic uncertainty: Kiosk as a channel is up 27 percent YoY and 49 percent since 2020, and mobile is up 21 percent YoY and 368 percent since 2020. billion in 2024 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 3.74
Have you noticed how food delivery apps are becoming essential in attracting and retaining diners? In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to create a food delivery app tailored to your restaurant’s needs, while staying competitive in a booming industry. The global online food delivery market size was valued at USD 221.65
If your site is clunky, hard to navigate, or missing basic features like a prominent online ordering button, your potential customer will bounce because diners have little to no tolerance for friction or confusion when theyre looking for food. 77% of diners visit a restaurants website before they dine in or order takeout or delivery.
The Power of Personalized Communication Developing close connections with your guests calls for frequent, customized contact that makes them appreciated and noticed. Creating a user-friendly, mobile-optimized reservation system helps to lower friction points that could otherwise deter return business.
But beyond building relationships, social media is also one of the fastest, lowest-effort ways to drive direct online orders. With just a few taps, followers can go from “hey, that looks really good” to placing an order, and you don’t need to rely on third-party apps to make it happen. If it’s not obvious, it’s as good as invisible.
In the fast-paced world of food service, every second counts. Modern point-of-sale systems go beyond order processing—they streamline operations, reduce bottlenecks, and improve table turnover. Here are five key features that can help: MobileOrdering : Speeds up order placement by letting customers order via their smartphones.
Every restaurant concept should be intentional about their branding, from food trucks and cafes to brunch spots and fine dininggreat branding is how your restaurant stands out and stays memorable. Ask yourself: Why does my restaurant exist beyond serving great food? But how to brand a restaurant isnt always clear.
They connect tools like inventory tracking, payroll, and online ordering into one system, allowing real-time data access for smarter decisions. Key benefits include: Efficiency : Automates workflows like inventory management and order processing. When backend systems work efficiently, it leads to faster, more accurate service.
No longer just a payment processing tool, your POS system can handle everything from order taking and payments to inventory tracking and customer data management. Increasing Order Accuracy and Speed Through POS Integration As a restaurant operator, you know that accuracy in order taking is essential to delivering great customer service.
Managing food allergies in a restaurant isn’t just about good service its a critical safety responsibility. With the right POS features for allergen management, restaurants can track ingredients, flag allergens, and communicate vital information quickly between staff and customers.
Key Benefits: Efficiency Boost: Kitchen Display System improves communication; payroll tools simplify staff management. The Kitchen Display System (KDS) enhances communication between servers and kitchen staff, while payroll tools simplify managing employee schedules and payments.
From managing orders and tracking inventory to analyzing sales data in real time, today’s POS systems are essential tools for restaurants of all sizes. POS systems are where you place food and drink orders and send them to the back of the house. A digital POS system makes communication seamless.
From self-order kiosks to real-time kitchen display systems, digital solutions are reshaping the way these restaurants operate. Here’s how technology is making it possible in 2025: Self-Service Kiosks : Reduce order wait times by 40%, shrink queues by 25–40%, and increase average check sizes by 30%. The impact?
Whether you’re connecting loyalty programs, online ordering, or inventory tools, open APIs make it possible to tailor your POS to match your exact operational needs. Custom icons allow employees to communicate better with guests regarding menu item ingredients.
These menus not only improve accessibility for a diverse range of customers but also streamline restaurant operations by simplifying menu management and order processing. Heres what you need to know: Better Customer Experience : 17% fewer order mistakes and shorter wait times.
Running a successful restaurant today requires more than great food and friendly service—it demands smart technology that drives efficiency. A well-designed POS system improves restaurant operations by streamlining order management, speeding up transactions, and delivering real-time insights that help optimize every aspect of the business.
Restaurant can improve its table turnover rate by implementing various strategies, such as streamlining the ordering process, expediting meal preparation, and ensuring prompt table clearing. When the server initially comes to the table, drinks should be ordered. Within ten minutes of ordering the drinks, food should be ordered.
From AI-driven ordering systems to smart inventory tools and contactless dining experiences, today’s innovations are reshaping how restaurants operate, serve customers, and stay competitive. In 2025, staying ahead means more than great food—it means leveraging the right tech to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate the guest experience.
Restaurant online ordering has emerged as a crucial aspect of the food service industry, reshaping restaurant operation strategies and fostering growth in restaurant delivery services. This article explores how online ordering is advancing and highlights the key concerns for businesses aiming to stay competitive.
Because pizza isn’t just food—it’s an experience. It is a way folks connect within a community. Each marketing communication should align with your brand identity. Customers expect hot, fresh pizza when dining in, picking up, or ordering delivery. Diners feel the food is prepared with care.
While menu pricing and food costs are critical factors, there are often overlooked opportunities that can significantly boost the bottom line. Creating customizable prix fixe menus for groups with easy online ordering. Offering direct online ordering via a restaurant-branded app to avoid high third-party app fees.
No matter how much technology evolves, or trends shift, people will always come back for quality food, great value, and friendly service. While the ways we order and dine may have changed, the reasons people choose a restaurant haven’t. These core elements never go out of style. Aligning tech with business goals is a must.
From food trucks to big-time breweries, a POS system is a must-have to accept credit and debit payments and offer more than just basic cash transactions. Be sure the orders are easy to read and understand. From traditional computer displays to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, the display is the beginning.
Running a successful restaurant in 2025 isnt just about serving great food and offering good serviceit also requires the right technology behind the scenes. Whether its managing inventory, handling online orders, or running loyalty programs, the right integrations can turn your POS system into a powerful tool for efficiency.
Whether it’s adding a mobileordering station, launching a loyalty program, or integrating new third-party platforms, the focus is on modular systems that grow with the business. Guests want to order how and when they want, with minimal friction, and they expect the tech to “just work.”
It combines hardware like tablets, receipt printers, and card readers with software for managing orders, payments, inventory, and staff. Key Features : Order management, secure payment processing , inventory updates, and performance analytics. Many modern setups use tablets, offering mobility and ease of use. system uptime.
With cashless options such as credit cards, mobile payment apps, and contactless payments, customers can make quick and hassle-free payments, reducing wait times at the point of sale. By eliminating the need to count, store, and deposit cash, restaurants can free up staff time to focus on serving customers and preparing food.
Should you choose a legacy or a mobile POS system? There are more traditional, legacy point-of-sale systems, which are more hardware-based, and then there are the more high-grade, mobile POS systems, which are more software and cloud-based. Additionally, most of their security and data storage takes place on your restaurant’s premises.
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