Five Technology Trends of 2021 Helping Restaurants Rebound in the New Normal
The pandemic has flipped the QSR business model upside down. Forced business to build sales digital model that anyhow doesn’t hamper the workers and daily transactions. From social distancing requirements to reduced indoor seating to various other safety regulations, restaurants have managed to find the answer to so many things on their plate.
Rightly said, “Technology doesn’t slow down, it actually speeds up”.
The restaurant digital technologies (discussed below) brought a new way for fast casuals and QSRs to revamp business offerings and operations, improve ordering and guest experience, and enhance curbside deliveries.
The restaurants still unsure about the technologies that can help them pivot this pandemic smoothly and quickly, here are the wise moves that can help you rebound to the new normal with full agility and efficiency.
1. Self-ordering Kiosks To Improve Order Fulfillment and Accuracy
Self-ordering kiosk powers guests to order and pay for themselves- often using a tablet with an easy-to-use digital interface. The screen displays the restaurant’s menu and takes the customer to entire the ordering process- from selecting their meal to payment options to pick-up.
Brands like McDonald's have reported an average 5–6% uplift in sales, Chili’s saw a whopping 20% sales inflation- all after installing self-ordering kiosks. This technology streamlines orders and reduces face-to-face contact with servers.
2. Introduce Drive-Thru Technology Model For Securing Orders
Dine-in or indoor seating with minimum capacities is no more a crowd puller thing! Restaurants have to look for ways that open up the gates for the new delivery model. Integrating technologies like Drive-Thru and Takeaway in your food ordering app that supports contactless deliveries can increase the orders, accommodate demand, reduce wait times, and ultimately boost sales.
3. Contactless Payments For Quick, Easy, And Safe Billing
Contactless payment technologies like using debit/credit cards on NFC or RFID technology and mobile wallets are considered as a quick, easy, and safe way for secured payment transactions. Restaurants should be agile enough to adapt contactless payment technology to enable quicker order hand-offs and speed up the payment flow.
With an entire transition in the way order, payment, and fulfillment is done; only an online food ordering app solution equipped with the above features can help restaurateurs manage the influx of orders while meeting consumers’ satisfaction on point.
4. Digital Signage To Boost Customer Engagement
Digital signage is a tool that has proven its importance during the pandemic. From keeping both customers and employees informed to keeping customers updated and engaged with new safety regulations, rules, loyalty programs and offers- digital signage is enabling brands to display more creative content appealing to everyone. Fast-casual restaurants can utilize digital signage to maintain a good level of customer service and increased engagement.
5. Loyalty Program Registrations For Longer Term-Benefits
Loyalty programs are a valuable asset for any brand. It tempts customers and has their commitment for a longer time to keep returning to restaurants’ online app platforms as well as physical premises. Chipotle- a Mexican brand used it for a great benefit. Its digital sales soared by 80.8% and revenue increased 7.8% to $1.4 billion.
Adapt Mobile Ordering To Stay Competitive and Profitable
Superior guest experience is the foremost driving key to QSR and fast-casual restaurants’ success. Especially in this time of contactless service, where you have to make your guests feel safe and protected under your umbrella of services.
Doing so requires partnering with reliable technology companies that can secure your ordering process, payment transactions, and deliveries — all through the above-conversed features and digital solutions.
So, why not hire a trusted on-demand app development company and make your restaurant future-proof and profitable in this challenging environment.
