Integrating technology and innovative solutions into your restaurant are both vital for business growth. Here are 4 ways to avoid falling behind technology trends.
Top 4 Restaurant Technology Trends for the New Normal
The restaurant industry has typically been slow to adopt technology and innovative solutions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted restaurants to look for safer ways to deliver a great experience to consumers other than the traditional methods of dine-in and takeaway services.
To survive and thrive during the pandemic, restaurant owners need to adapt by using new and existing technology tools. From online ordering to self-checkouts and touchless payments, entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry can no longer ignore trends if they want to remain relevant in this new era of connectivity and contactless transactions.
Furthermore, as we continue to cope during the pandemic, adapting to the constantly changing environment of rules and regulations is vital. If you are still reluctant to integrate better technology into your services, you risk closing your doors to your consumers and losing your business during these precarious times.
Here are four ways you can stay on top of the latest F&B technology trends to avoid problems like this, and position your restaurant for faster growth in the future:
1. Have an Online Ordering System and Delivery Service
Third-party delivery companies were at first necessary last year, as restaurants worldwide relied heavily on their services to stay open during the pandemic. Since restaurants are vulnerable to the imposed quarantine restrictions, strict sanitary regulations, and even the closure of dine-in services, online ordering and delivery services are more critical than ever to ensure continued operations.
Another threat to business operations is the staff shortage that comes along with lockdown regulations. This is partially due to the fact restaurants are only allowed to operate in a limited capacity, but also due to the fact fewer restaurant workers are returning as economies are reopening. As a result, some restaurants may not have the staff necessary to accommodate a sudden influx of online orders. On top of that, some restaurants may choose not to even offer pick-up or delivery services, or accept phone orders, as it interrupts business flow. This is because doing online orders takes time away from preparing food and maintaining quality control in kitchen operations.
In 2020, the food delivery business in the Philippines grew to a total of $1.2 billion in gross merchandise value. This means that demand for food delivery is growing, and this trend is only going to continue upwards after the pandemic. While offering your own in-house delivery could be the most cost-effective option, third-party food delivery services, such as GrabFood and FoodPanda, will remain an important solution to restaurants that cannot afford to set up their own in-house delivery services.
2. Add a Contactless Payment Option
In the Philippines, more and more Filipinos prefer contactless modes of payment, making this technology far more mainstream today than it was just 5 years ago. Users can opt for contactless payment via a smartphone or credit card through an app or a touchless device (NFC).
The Philippines’ top fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Jollibee, have all adopted contactless payments as digital solutions for their in-store services and delivery portals amid physical distancing restrictions. According to the 2020 Visa Consumer Payments Survey, the preference for cash payments for everyday transactions in the Philippines significantly decreased due to health-related concerns.
With no cash on hand and no human contact required, contactless payment is the more hygienic, safer, and convenient method restaurant owners should consider implementing. It is also more efficient in the sense that cash flow is easier to track and manage. When you don’t have a contactless payment option, you’ll lose customers who are health conscious and prefer paying without handling paper bills.
Again, health concerns like these aren’t just a fad due to the pandemic—they’re going to be around for a long time after we return to normal. So investing in cashless payment options now is a good way to future-proof your restaurant.
3. Maximize the Use of QR Codes
The usage of QR codes has increased dramatically among restaurants worldwide to keep consumers and employees safe. QR code technology is convenient and efficient, as smartphones can scan these codes through their built-in camera app or another QR code scanner app. Upon scanning a QR code, restaurant goers follow external links to see your menu options. One thing to note is that it will require an internet connection to access, so make sure you have WiFi available in your restaurant for diners to use a QR code.
The world as we know it is becoming more digitized, especially during this ‘no-touch’ era. Maximizing QR codes enable customers to access the menu online, order, and pay all from their smartphone, so it can also make transactions more accessible and safer. Not only does this help in restaurant operations, but it is also considered vital in contact tracing, which the government mandates currently for all businesses.
QR technology can also help reduce costs and labor by eliminating printing menus and constantly cleaning each physical menu between customers. More than that, having a QR code increases your website’s traffic and improves your business’s online presence. Some businesses even used the opportunity to expand their email list when customers go to their website.
If you’re not using QR codes yet, it’s time to catch up. They’re safer, convenient, and help grow your business when used properly.
4. Stop Doing Inventory Management Manually
Inventory management is fundamental to restaurant success.
The complexity of restaurant inventory management largely depends on the size of your business. The more your restaurant grows, the more challenging inventory management becomes. Even in small restaurants, manually managing your inventory can be time-consuming and prone to human error.
One innovative solution to improve your restaurant inventory management is by automating your system to help you efficiently:
- Track food and beverage costs
- Schedule your reorders
- Reduce food waste and overall costs
More than that, an automated inventory management system helps you connect your point-of-sale systems, kitchen operations, and back-of-house applications.
One of the most efficient ways to achieve a smooth inventory management process is by using better tech. This will not only save time and resources, but also provide you more accuracy. Having a good inventory management system helps you make sure you order 200 tomatoes instead of 2000!
Innovate and Integrate the Right Tools into Your Operations
There are plenty of modern technological solutions that help you to maximize your restaurant’s profit. However, you need to be ready to adopt them or risk falling behind in the industry.
While we’re still dealing with a lot of uncertainty because of the pandemic, working technological innovations into your restaurant operations will give you some peace of mind. Better services mean your customers can have a seamless and safe experience, increasing your cash flow and improving customer satisfaction.
With Mosaic Solutions, you can efficiently integrate digital tools into your existing operations. Our platform offers you a full suite of cloud-based services that ensure your kitchen and logistic processes operate seamlessly, so your customers can have the best experience with your restaurant.
We also offer analytics tools that allow you to have real-time data on your customer’s spending trends and identify menu items that are more profitable to maximize your inventory. In addition, we also help you incorporate internal and third-party delivery platforms with our Point-of-Sale system to cater to customers who choose to order remotely.
If you are looking to enhance your restaurant operations, contact us now! We are ready to help you be on top of technology trends and remain relevant in the F&B industry.