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Delivering Consistent Experiences Across Each Touchpoint Whether a diner chooses to order and eat onsite, go through the drive-thru, or complete a mobileorder pick-up, delivering a consistent experience across touchpoints is vital to ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Remember when guests used to walk in, grab a menu, and browse through every page? Now, they're on their phones before they arrive, checking your reviews, looking at food photos, and getting recommendations based on their past orders. Let's put this in restaurant terms.
AI moves from nice-to-have to must-have Many QSRs experimented with AI-driven solutions in 2024, such as in-app chatbots and personalized order recommendations. For example, AI can help QSRs make smarter inventory decisions by analyzing purchasing trends and aligning ingredient orders with demand.
"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
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.
We saw widespread adoption of mobile payments, digital ordering, and contactless dining almost overnight. Today’s hospitality platforms are no longer just about taking orders or processing payments. These systems have replaced paper tickets and verbal callouts with visual, real-time order displays.
Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive. Customers expect seamless online ordering, loyalty programs, and delivery options, and franchise systems need to invest in tech to stay competitive.
Is online ordering inefficient? 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? Do you lose money due to food waste? The best tech investments solve real problems.
One location might offer seamless mobileordering, while another struggles with glitchy payment systems, creating inconsistencies that can frustrate customers and impact revenue. Customers crave simplified steps at the beginning and end of their food service experiences, and it’s not hard to understand why.
Today’s Loyalty Menu: Smarter, Tastier, More Satisfying The restaurants seeing real returns from loyalty right now are offering more than rewards; they’re serving up experiences. Guests now rack up rewards by completing visit streaks, hitting milestones, and participating in mobile challenges.
Build a mobile-friendly restaurant website In 2024, roughly around 63% of all web traffic came from mobile devices. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers.
Instead of giving up control to outside platforms, some restaurants are shifting to a more direct approach: first-party ordering. This means customers place orders through your own website or appnot a third-party platform. First-Party vs. Third-Party Ordering: Whats the Difference? What is third-party ordering?
That includes the ingredients and packaging for your menu items, but not things like rent and payroll. This gives you a sense of how effective your menu pricing is. It factors in all your operating expenses, like labor, rent, insurance, equipment repairs, marketing, and more.
Restaurant operators need to embrace menu and technological innovations in order to meet guest expectations this holiday season, according to the Fall/Winter Trend report: a report produced by Provoke Insights in collaboration with Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. "Our
Depending on a guest’s allergies or dietary preferences, AI can suggest personal picks from a restaurant’s menu, for example. Restaurants are responding with creative menu innovations, offering smaller portions, bundled meal deals, and "value bites" menus to provide premium experiences at reasonable prices.
percent menu-price inflation rate. With households increasingly treating dining out as a luxury, every menu item and service interaction becomes a potential make-or-break moment. Red Robin climbs 3 percent to 78 thanks in large part to its focus on menu and food. At the same time, U.S. chain sales grew just 3.1
Reevaluating the prices of your drinks and knowing the types of drinks you sell can help you earn more for each bottle, as well as implementing portion control and even redesigning your menu. Calculate the cost of each drink on your menu, including the cost of the alcohol, garnishes, mixers, and anything else that goes into the drink.
How do you handle multiple tables and orders at once? How would you recommend menu items to guests to enhance their dining experience? Have you ever handled a situation where a customer asked for a dish not on the menu? What steps would you take if a customer received the wrong order? How did you resolve it?
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.
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
The primary response was menu price increases, with nearly 61 percent of respondents adjusting prices to cope with the new reality. However, the industry has renewed optimism, driven by the adoption of digital and mobileordering, menu creativity and heightened expectations around AI. Franchise 2.0:
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.
Smart Cost-Cutting Strategies for Restaurants Effective inventory management requires a well-trained, organized team using consistent routines, streamlined processes, accurate par levels, menu cross-utilization, and reliable inventory software to minimize waste and maintain efficiency.
This reflects the positive impact loyalty programs have on driving revenue, with 83 percent of restaurant leaders saying their loyalty program successfully drives up order or basket size, as well as repeat visits (82 percent) and return on investment (78 percent). ” A Year of Challenges U.S.
With evolving technology, bar owners now have access to cloud-based, mobile-friendly, and AI-powered solutions that improve efficiency. Whether it’s managing high-volume orders or simplifying cash flow with dual drawers, Lavu is built to handle it all.
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.
A well-equipped POS system helps reduce human error, improve kitchen workflows, and build guest trust. Here are the 7 must have features every restaurant needs in a POS system for effective allergen management: Menu Customization : Update allergen info in real time across all locations. Lets explore each feature in detail.
Foot traffic or heat mapping, menu item engagement, or consumer demographics by time of day. Restaurants are already experimenting with using AI to handle drive through orders to allow human employees to focus on customer interactions in the restaurant. As of 2024, over half of U.S.
Confirm fees, equipment return instructions, and data migration steps. Return Equipment : Follow Toast’s instructions to avoid damage fees. Once you’ve calculated these costs, it’s time to focus on returning equipment and officially closing your account. Document hardware condition and shipping details.
How SaaS POS Systems Help Reduce Initial and Maintenance Costs If you had a cash register or a traditional point of sale equipment, you probably spent a significant amount of money on repairs when it broke down. This includes ringing up sales, tracking, and ordering. Reporting is a big part of managing and owning a restaurant.
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. Digital Ordering Systems If you are still scheduling shifts with pen and paper, 2020 is the year to change that.
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. Enhances Order Accuracy: Directly sends orders to the kitchen, cutting mistakes by 25% and improving customer satisfaction.
Here’s what you need to know: Sales Reports : Track revenue, peak hours, product performance, and staff contributions to refine pricing, menu, and staffing. Product Mix Reports : Identify bestsellers and underperforming items to optimize your menu and reduce waste. Product mix reports also help you manage inventory smarter.
These changes, however, appear to reflect a more scientific approach to coffee preparation, as baristas strive for excellence and precision in their craft, often relying on automat ed equipment and gadgets to assist the process. As market competitiveness increases, brands need to stand out even more.
While the ways we order and dine may have changed, the reasons people choose a restaurant haven’t. Whether it’s speeding up order times, improving inventory management, or boosting loyalty programs, every tool should serve a purpose. For us, it's all about menu optionality and community connection.
The right POS setup can make it easier to take orders, manage staff, track sales, and keep customers happy. Integration with online ordering, loyalty programs, and inventory tracking. payment methods, menu complexity). Configure settings (menu, taxes, staff access). Scalability for future growth. Software: $60$400/month.
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. Restaurant-Specific Tools : Manage menus, seating, reservations, and customer preferences.
Then align your marketing, operations, and menu strategies accordingly. Menu & Culinary Trends In a saturated market, a well-executed menu launch can be one of the most impactful moves a brand makes. Menu innovation also equips restaurateurs with new, compelling narratives to amplify across campaigns.
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. In today’s fast-paced world, consumers appreciate the ease of using credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, or other digital payment options.
"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.
There are several ways customers may want to split the check, including: Equal splits: The total bill is divided equally among all diners, regardless of what each person ordered. Itemized splits: Each guest pays for only the items they personally ordered, including tax and gratuity.
Modern POS systems simplify this process by automating allergen tagging, updating menus in real time, and integrating with kitchen tools to reduce errors. Key Features to Look For : Allergen tagging, menu customization, real-time updates, and integration with kitchen systems.
These include rent, utilities, licenses, equipment, repairs, credit card processing fees—anything that's not labor or COGS. Control COGS with inventory management Depending on your concept, you've got somewhere between 30 and 300 ingredients, many of which are found in multiple menu items in various amounts.
From knowing where an order is in the kitchen to having instant insight into which upsell recommendations are driving the greatest gains in average order value. At Qu, we’re focused on giving you data-driven tools to optimize every part of the order journey so you can run a more efficient, profitable business.
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