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Loyaltyprograms are the secret sauce for keeping customers hooked, whether you're a cozy corner café or a massive restaurant chain. Restaurants are going digital, with innovations like contactless ordering, reservation apps, and personalized marketing driven by data. But it’s not just about convenience.
Fast food and food delivery gradually began changing that equation. 2024 was a year of experimentation with AI, with restaurants testing it on customer-facing interactions, like AI drive-thru ordering, with varying degrees of success. Restaurants succeed or fail based on loyalty, which is a direct result of customer experience.
Steady Online Ordering Brings Food Waste, Donations to the Forefront of Priorities Orderingfood online increases restaurant sales, but it also can potentially increase wasted food if proactive measures aren’t taken – for both the business and consumers at home.
Self-serve kiosks, QR-code menus, and personalized ordering systems will continue to redefine how patrons interact with venues. For instance, I believe loyaltyprograms will evolve even further from providing customized recommendations, exclusive offers, and curated experiences based on past purchases and preferences.
“As the restaurant industry appears to increasingly embraces AI, the journey to full-scale transformation is still a work in progress," said Evert Gruyaert, restaurants and food service industry leader, Deloitte. "Leveraging That includes things like voice AI in drive thrus to automate the order-taking process.
Fast-casual concepts like Sammy’s Sliders, which offer high-quality, craveable food with speed and flexibility, are perfectly positioned for this shift. Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyaltyprograms, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive.
A Dilemma of “Super Size” Proportions Amid rising food prices and shifting consumer preferences, the restaurant industry is facing a dilemma of “super size” proportions. Restaurants must now navigate a razor-thin margin between maintaining customer loyalty and managing escalating costs. At the same time, U.S.
In order to address ongoing economic strains, more restaurant operators are choosing to strategically use technology and data to become "smarter, not smaller." Limited-time offers (LTOs) are proving to be a powerful tool for attracting new diners and fostering loyalty. Even menu decisions are now data-driven.
"If I had the opportunity, I would encourage them to employ voice analytics, not to automate ordering, but rather to analyze customer/employee conversations for insights into customer experience, operational efficiency, marketing effectiveness, safety compliance, employee engagement, and more, he said. "The
Reliable experiences build brand loyalty, and systemic processes lead to reliable profit margins. One location might offer seamless mobile ordering, while another struggles with glitchy payment systems, creating inconsistencies that can frustrate customers and impact revenue. And customers aren’t the only ones at risk.
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. Operators had to shift—fast.
Is online ordering inefficient? Do you lose money due to food waste? Experiencing over-ordering or last-minute shortages? If customer retention is a priority consider a digital loyaltyprogram or automated marketing tools. Are labor costs too high? The best tech investments solve real problems.
"These tariffs could deeply affect the food service and hospitality industries on both sides of the border," Alex Thalassinos, President of Silverware POS, one of the first tech providers dedicated to Canada’s hospitality industry, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine.
Nowadays, running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and good service. Another way to get local backlinks is from local news articles, food bloggers, or restaurant directories to boost your visibility in search results. Make sure to add high-quality photos of your food, interior, and staff.
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.
If guests at an existing location are not ordering 20 percent of the menu, then there’s an opportunity to cut those menu items and save on costs at both locations. Tracking inventory can prevent unnecessary and costly food waste.
A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. They tell you how much money your restaurant keeps after paying for everything from food costs to labor expenses to utilities and rent. There are two kinds of margins you need to know. Why are restaurant profit margins so thin?
This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features news of dramatic Valentine's Day shift, best food scenes, and the evolution of c-store foodservice. Food-away-from-home spending is likely to see modest growth as softer consumer spending patterns prevail. ” A Year of Challenges U.S.
Maintaining brand consistency : It is essential to ensure that franchisees adhere to operational systems and complete training programs to avoid inconsistencies across the brand. It's important to guide them in adjusting to specific parameters in order to achieve a successful partnership.
By Lindsay Lawrence, Contributor Relocating a restaurant is no small feat, as it involves managing the transportation of kitchen equipment, reestablishing the space’s atmosphere, and ensuring minimal disruption to your business. Programs like AutoCAD, SmartDraw, and RoomSketcher offer 3D modeling features.
Standardized Training Programs: Newbies get uniform training with digital training tools across multiple locations. Consistent Equipment Across Locations : Using standardized equipment across all locations, such as commercial deep fryers , ensures consistency in food preparation and quality.
Free food tastes better. Loyaltyprograms offer a rare win-win for restaurant operators and guests alike. " So if restaurant loyaltyprograms are so great, why doesn't every restaurant offer them? Like most facets of the industry, restaurant loyalty is easier said than done.
In this article, you will learn: The five most important restaurant costs to track and manage Easy strategies for controlling food costs and labor costs Tactics to save money without hurting your guest experience Lets start with the big picture and learn where your money is actually going.
One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customer experience that makes your restaurant unique. If youre pushing out more orders, getting more ingredients, and staffing more servers, these costs will reflect that.
Restaurants are already experimenting with using AI to handle drive through orders to allow human employees to focus on customer interactions in the restaurant. I think smart, AI-enabled platforms will turn data into intelligence around visit frequency, ordering, traffic patterns and more.
Participants reported continued food and labor cost increases, with 89 percent experiencing rising staff expenses, well exceeding the 79 percent of last year's survey who predicted labor cost increases. More than half of those coping with food cost inflation this year are seeing a 1 percent to 5 percent increase. percent 11.4
Food prices continue rising at grocery stores and through suppliers, while staffing gaps and shifting guest preferences add extra pressure to already thin margins. For instance, restaurant operators who track ingredient usage patterns and implement precise portion controls see significant reductions in food waste.
How POS data improves customer loyalty isnt just a trending topic its a strategic advantage for modern restaurants. By capturing real-time insights into customer behavior, preferences, and spending habits, POS systems empower restaurants to deliver personalized experiences, reward loyalty, and increase repeat visits.
Those priorities include increased marketing and sales efforts alongside new benefits and programs to attract and retain staff. For food, 53 percent reported a 1 percent to 5 percent jump, 37 percent saw a 6 percent to 14 percent increase, and 10 percent saw a more than 15 percent rise. Franchise 2.0:
Running a successful restaurant in 2025 means more than just great food—it requires smart financial decisions. Increasing restaurant profits allows you to invest in upgrades, like better equipment or a nicer place for customers to eat. Food cost control is crucial.
With the growing demand for fresh, made-to-order meals and local favorites, starting a deli can be a smart and rewarding business move. If you want to learn how to open a deli, follow these key steps to establish your brand and get the tools you need to serve customers great food and experiences. Youre not alone.
Then costs go in order from most controllable to least controllable. That could simply be food sales , alcohol , and non-alcoholic beverages. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Your Cost of Goods Sold is the cost of your food and beverages. That way you'll have accurate food and beverage cost percentages for each COGS line item.
Customer Reports : Understand guest behavior, loyalty, and spending habits to enhance customer engagement and retention. With these reports in hand, youre better equipped to make decisions that boost profitability. This makes it easier to adjust order sizes or find ways to use ingredients creatively before they go bad.
From streamlining orders to managing inventory and staff, these systems provide the tools restaurant owners need to stay competitive in 2025 and beyond. Improved Efficiency: Faster order processing, reduced errors, and better table turnover. Data Insights: Real-time data helps optimize staffing, menu adjustments, and inventory.
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.
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.
Point-of-service (POS) systems: POS systems are data powerhouses, tracking information on sales, customer behavior, inventory, labor, vendor invoicing, promotional/coupon usage, loyaltyprograms, takeout/delivery orders and overall cash flow. Was there an equipment failure or interruption that caused issues?
The right POS setup can make it easier to take orders, manage staff, track sales, and keep customers happy. Integration with online ordering, loyaltyprograms, and inventory tracking. Add features like online ordering, inventory tracking, and loyaltyprograms. Scalability for future growth.
That’s why having a solid restaurant management training program is so important for owners and operators looking to build a successful team. A well-structured management training programequips new leaders with essential skills while promoting ongoing development. This will help you avoid purchasing more than you need.
Loyalty is a huge factor now as guests desire rewards and perks for sticking with a favorite small business, and repeat customers are keeping many restaurants going. No matter how much technology evolves, or trends shift, people will always come back for quality food, great value, and friendly service.
With technology playing a bigger role in dining, your POS system needs to handle payments, manage orders, track inventory, and even help with staff scheduling. Mobile POS : Perfect for food trucks, pop-ups, or tableside service. Self-Service Kiosks : Best for quick-service restaurants looking to cut labor costs and speed up orders.
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. Taking and Sending Orders Modern POS systems make order management quick and efficient.
With the rise of digital payment platforms and mobile wallets, restaurants can offer rewards programs, targeted promotions, and personalized experiences that cater to individual customers’ preferences. This fosters customer loyalty and allows restaurants to gather valuable data and insights to inform their business strategies.
"As awful as it was, the pandemic pushed restaurants to completely rethink their operations in order to survive, and some of the changes they made during the pandemic have continued to be beneficial to those restaurants and industry at large." The pandemic made speed, accuracy, and seamless ordering non-negotiable.
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