How Automation Improves Restaurant Efficiency and Capacity
Your Guide to Implementing Automated Tools in Your Restaurant
The restaurant and bar industry is known for its hospitality, from friendly and efficient staff to immersive environments and quality food and beverages. But, like every industry, restaurants and bars are making innovative changes to attract and retain customers while establishing a better and smoother workflow for staff.
When you’re searching for new ways to upgrade your restaurant or bar and accommodate customer and employee needs, consider implementing automated tools!
Automated tools—such as a Point Of Sale (POS) system—provide the customer with a convenient and customizable experience, free of human error. While a dedicated staff is the key to a restaurant's success, automation not only optimizes your team’s performance and workflow but can also increase profits and improve business efficiency.
Here are five key benefits of using automation in your restaurant and how you can implement new technologies to upgrade your business:
Efficiency for customers and staff
Automated features, such as order and pay-at-table options, are excellent for streamlining processes for customers and front-of-house staff. For instance, during your restaurant’s peak hours, order-at-table technology allows your customers to order when they're ready, rather than wait for an available employee.
In addition to guest convenience, it reduces pressure for staff to take orders in a fast-paced environment. An order-at-table option also provides accuracy with each order since they’re directly added to the system by the customer.
When customers have finished their meals, a pay-at-table option offers the freedom and ease to pay when they're ready to leave. These automated tools provide fast and seamless experiences, leading to more customers and increased revenue.
Ordering On-the-go
For restaurants specializing in to-go orders, it’s vital to adopt technology that supports a streamlined workflow and serves a fast-paced crowd. Ordering kiosks are a prime example, as they have recently gained traction for on-the-go food and beverage orders.
Like order-at-table technology, an ordering kiosk or mobile ordering app offers customers the convenience of promptly ordering and paying for their food, reducing the pressure workers face with multi-tasking.
Smoother reservation process
Say goodbye to writing down names and diner counts on a clipboard!
Thanks to automation and restaurant reservation systems, restaurant teams no longer have to stress over organizing reservations manually.
These online booking systems are perfect for streamlining your busiest hours, allowing guests to see real-time table availability through your website or app. Instead of spreading your staff thin by tracking reservation times and tables, an online reservation service does the heavy lifting by automatically showing table availability and confirming reservations. This system also helps avoid customer frustration with traditional wait times.
Automatic capacity management
A restaurant management system is an efficient tool for controlling restaurant or bar capacity.
By tracking table availability and preventing overbooking (or underbooking), this automated system creates a smoother workflow that allows your team to focus their efforts on other areas.
Tools like capacity management are a great way to support your staff and provide a healthier working environment that mitigates burnout potential. Smart systems also provide a seamless dining experience for your customers, giving you the best of both worlds.
Save money with an inventory tracking system
Imagine having a reliable inventory tracking system that does all the counting and reporting for you. Not only do automated tools like a POS system manage your inventory, but they can also predict how long your supply will last. With accurate analytics and reports, you don't have to worry about overspending on inventory, wasting food and resources, or spending hours entering your supply needs manually!
Integrating automated tools in your restaurant or bar has the potential to connect your business with a more extensive customer base and bring a new level of convenience and comfort to your guests and staff.
Here are five ways to start implementing restaurant automation systems:
1. Automated scheduling system
If you're searching for a solution to help you streamline employee schedules and support communication, a POS system is the answer.. Manually organizing employee hours is time-consuming and exhausting. Still, you can finally focus on more pressing responsibilities with a scheduling system that features backfill shifts, communication forums, and automatic schedule changes.
2. Convenient software experiences
Provide your customers with a seamless and convenient dining experience by adding self-ordering kiosks, order-at-table options, and self-checkout systems. Customers will appreciate the freedom to order and pay when they're ready. These automated tools also allow your employees to work at a healthier pace and focus on providing high-quality food and friendly service to your customers.
3. Online ordering drives crowds
Mobile ordering and online ordering continues to gain popularity, so it’s time to upgrade your restaurant to offer this feature if you haven’t already. Online ordering is not only convenient but a safe way for patrons to order and enjoy their meals. While restaurants can use third-party delivery apps for online orders, a POS system provides complete control of the ordering process, from communicating with customers to increasing profits without delivery fees.
4. Accurate account reports and analytics
Analytics reveal valuable insights into profits, sales, transactions, and customer data. This information is essential for managing a restaurant, as it highlights what your target demographic finds attractive based on their ordering habits. Update your restaurant software to ensure all your information and data are streamlined and easy to review.
5. Track your inventory without hassle
Manual inventory management can be extremely costly, especially when your team makes a mistake. Avoid headaches and errors by incorporating inventory management software that automatically tracks the kitchen’s materials, ingredients, and stock. Based on your restaurant’s historical data, most inventory systems also include a prediction feature to determine how long your supply will last. If detailed reports of inventory, cost savings, and food waste help you sleep better at night, it's time to implement this automated tool.
How to Integrate Total Touch POS with Your Restaurant
The idea of implementing multiple smart systems may seem intimidating. Fortunately, you can use an all-in-one software that features all the supportive automated tools listed in this post.
Here's a glimpse of how Total Touch POS can support your restaurant or bar:
- Works with your payment processor
- Online and mobile ordering system
- Business analytics, anywhere
- Gift cards and loyalty programs
- Pre-authorize bar tabs
- Payment options including split check and split tab
- Kitchen display system
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Employee scheduling and timekeeping
Automated tools are the perfect way to support your staff, provide excellent service, and keep your business organized and well-managed. And the good news is that getting started with automated tools doesn't have to be challenging.
Start upgrading your restaurant's system by scheduling a product demo, setting up training, and growing your business today!
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