A Recipe for Success: Restaurants Investing in Tech
Dining out at restaurants isn’t what it used to be. In fact, 60% of diners prefer quality over quantity, citing they’d choose to spend more on one exceptional meal out rather than a handful of subpar dining experiences. This makes one thing particularly clear - the expectation for operators to deliver more than just a meal is higher than ever, and the solution lies in the investment of new technology.
Diners want to feel special and giving them that unique experience starts with understanding who your customer is. In today’s world, operators are looking to bring in technology that will help them not only deliver these memorable experiences but lighten the workload for their on-site employees and streamline operations, too.
Enhancing the Customer Experience through Tech
Today’s technology allows operators to have valuable guest insights so they can deliver unforgettable experiences - all they must do is invest in the proper platforms and software programs.
A one-stop-shop technology investment provides every employee with what they need to know heading into each shift. Whether it’s having the guests’ favorite bottle of wine waiting on their table upon arrival or providing a nut-free specialized menu for those with an allergy, restaurants that use point of sale (POS) systems or customer relationship management (CRM) software to track habits and get guests insights allow operators to meet high guest expectations, before they even walk through the door.
The benefit behind technology doesn’t stop there. In fact, it extends beyond the restaurant’s four walls and follows up with guests post-visit through customized automated emails. With this, operators can elongate the experience by sending a personalized ‘thank you’ note or request for feedback to elevate future experiences. As an added bonus, direct touchpoints allow operators to build their brand with guests and further drive loyalty and the likeliness of repeat visits.
Doing More with Less
In tandem with creating the ultimate guest experience, implementing technology also benefits those working in the background, which is more important than ever.
It’s no secret that restaurants are short-staffed due to labor shortages and inflation, meaning employees are expected to do more with less. During a time when diners are expecting more than ever, having less people to create memorable experiences for guests is a big task, but that’s where technology can lend a helpful hand.
Implementing data-driven technology tools allows restaurants to successfully streamline their internal processes and handle even bigger obstacles down the line.
For example, with limited staff, employees are less likely to have the bandwidth to handle multiple roles and responsibilities. With the integration of something like back-of-house AI, it can automatically take the burden of keeping track of inventory off kitchen staff, and instead, automatically anticipate inventory shortages and suggest quantities for restock. Not only does this allow kitchen staff to have one less thing to worry about, but it eliminates the chance of human error, which is commonly seen among busy shifts with short staff.
Despite the specific technology that’s used to help on-site employees, equipping them with tools to provide streamlined insights to both the front and back of house allows the establishment to operate as a well oiled machine.
An Omnichannel Approach
In addition to investing in tech, restaurants must take an omnichannel approach to connect with customers and build loyalty so they can combine customer interactions into one platform. From booking reservations to email marketing and everything in between, restaurants can now manage the guest experience in one cohesive location, providing opportunities to elevate the overall guest relationship.
By implementing technology that pulls data and insights from your overall business into one platform, you can empower your staff with information to make every guest experience better, which will translate into customer retention and long-term loyalty.
Time to Invest
The bottom line is, technology is on the rise across industries and to continue climbing the ladder of success, restaurants must adopt, adapt and invest.
There’s a plethora of new technology solutions designed for the restaurant industry that have come onto the market in recent years. However, it’s up to operators to analyze their pain points and invest in technologies that can offer specific assistance and, ultimately, create those impressive guest experiences.
About the Author
Angela DeFranco is the VP of Product at SevenRooms, where she is tasked with supporting SevenRooms’ customer satisfaction and catering to their wants and needs with a unique and sustainable perspective. Prior to joining SevenRooms, Angela was a VP of Product at HubSpot where she specialized in the building tools that bridged Web Content with CRM data. She started her career in frontline Sales and Services at HubSpot and graduated from Questrom School of Business at Boston University.