Time to Watch How Restaurants Up Their Game With the Use of Technology
It’s fair to say that the food service sector has had some difficult years, and this past year was no exception. Operators faced significant difficulties in 2022, including higher costs and labour scarcity. While customers started eating at home again, the worldwide online grocery and meal delivery sectors also kept expanding. The reason for this is that modern consumers are accustomed to the convenience of online ordering and are even willing to give up other activities to continue eating restaurant-quality meals at home.
F&B businesses must be adaptable and flexible to match customer expectations and keep up with emerging trends. However, to give customers a consistent experience wherever they are and whenever they want it, restaurants today must satiate consumer demand across many platforms.
Therein lies the role of restaurant technology. The availability of numerous tech solutions to increase the restaurant’s resource efficiency in this era of advanced technology will enable it to be more flexible and adaptable.
As a result of this, technology enables many restaurant and food chain owners to achieve their end goal of establishing an over-the-top experience for their customers and making their food service (s) as profitable as possible.
Let’s have a look at some of the technologies on the menu!
Automation, Robotics and AI surprised yet?
In response to increasing labour expenses, lack of employees, and menu inflation, operators are exploring automation, robots, and AI. These technologies automate particular processes or, at the very least, reduce the number of steps that employees must take. They consequently boost productivity and product consistency, which enables them to provide superior service.
Additionally, the food and beverage sector is embracing AI. Even while you might think AI sounds a little out there, some smart kitchen technologies are rather straightforward, simple to use, and widely accepted. This year, drone food delivery finally took off resulting in quicker and more affordable consumer deliveries. Without a doubt, more delivery restaurants will soon begin working with drone firms.
Virtual Brand Marketplaces
More restaurants will introduce their virtual brands in the coming year as a result of the broad success of virtual brands on delivery platforms. Virtual brands aid in extending the delivery area and customer base, boosting sales, and experimenting with new menu items to satisfy demand. By preparing food for delivery during off-peak hours, kitchen space can also be well utilised.
While creating a virtual brand is simple, market research is necessary to identify market gaps, evaluate competitors’ offerings, and create an effective marketing and branding plan. That requires time and resources that might not always be accessible.
Contactless Payments and Ordering Online
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a marked increase in demand for contactless processes. There are many advantages for both food businesses and their customers when using mobile ordering, payment apps, and QR code menus. They support higher table turnover, improve operational efficiency, and provide restaurants with access to client data, enabling businesses to forge deeper connections with patrons.
Contactless benefits customers by ensuring safer financial transactions, better order accuracy, and an enhanced dining experience.
Digital Loyalty Programs
Due to the worldwide economic crisis, diners are cutting back on their spending, thus restaurants are investing in loyalty programmes to boost client spending and promote repeat business.
It costs five times less to keep an existing customer than to find a new one. Additionally, returning consumers are more likely to try new foods and spend more money. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to invest in your faithful customers.
Programs that offer quick rewards, like in-store discounts or lower delivery charges, are one of the trends we’re witnessing right now. Alternatively, you may provide a free drink, hors d’oeuvre, or dessert after a certain number of visits or purchases.
Online Order Aggregator Software
To keep up with rising demand, food service providers and Q-commerce companies have started using online ordering platforms and (third-party) delivery services. They will next seek to maximise potential and optimise their online ordering processes. Owing to this, delivery aggregator software will become even more widely used in 2023.
Restaurants may easily manage internet orders with the aid of software called an online order aggregator.
Modern delivery management technologies, however, are capable of much more. Additionally, they help restaurant owners acquire useful information about their sales and patron behaviour and enable them to manage their menus and inventory efficiently.
Conclusion
Restaurant automation and technology may make daily operations more productive and provide owners with all the resources they need to create a successful business. They can also help restaurants stay flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
While there are various restaurant tech solutions you may use, several platforms will be especially useful in the upcoming year since they meet the expectations of today’s consumers. We advise researching robotics and automation platforms, digital loyalty programmes, virtual brand marketplaces, contactless payment and ordering systems, and delivery aggregator software. By using these technologies, food enterprises can go from existing to thriving.
