Restaurants have become far more than just a place to eat, and that trend is poised to grow. Savvy diners are now getting more and more accustomed to having a seamless experience, no matter where they order from. While traditionally that might have meant offering online ordering, it has become far more nuanced than that.
Technology in the restaurant space has extended to having multiple options for ordering, as well as a responsive website as well as establishing a sense of personalization in the meals. Consumers are no longer looking for a one-and-done experience, they want something that feels authentic and convenient.
1) Increased online ordering
Let's take a look at the first trend, of multiple options for ordering. There are many ways to approach this, such as joining popular food delivery apps like Just Eat and Uber Eats. While yes, they provide a level of exposure that can be great, they also come with a cost.
Instead of paying a large price tag for subpar exposure, think of ways to improve the experience on your end. You could look for solutions that offer commission-free ordering, or even develop your own online ordering capabilities through your website, Facebook page or even your own mobile app.
2) An interactive website
Your website is your new business card, but are diners able to access it easily? Are they able to get the information they need quickly, or do you see them leaving your site early without really browsing it?
The first step is to ensure that your website is search engine optimized so that users are able to find it quickly. The other step is to find ways to make it more interactive, such as introducing online ordering, so that the users are able to access the menu and order food far more conveniently.
3) Personalization throughout the experience
Another trend that is continuing to grow is personalization. Many are seeing how technologies such as online ordering can feed into other parts of the business as a way to gather customer data and feed into food delivery to deliver a tailored experience for each customer. You can use these new tools and software to develop an experience where each customer feels catered to individually, and use that as a way to gain a long-term, loyal customer base.
To learn more about online ordering and other technology trends that can boost your business and attract more diners, please do not hesitate to contact us.
