By Ashley Wilson, Contributor
Restaurants, bars, cafes, and clubs have been closed for months, which has led many owners to bankruptcy, forcing them to shut their doors for good.
Nevertheless, the world is slowly transitioning into a new era for entrepreneurs — a post-pandemic era.
Now that the long-awaited end of the lockdown is almost at hand, restaurant operators have to look ahead and anticipate possible changes in order in succeed in this “new normal.”
We are lucky to live in a world where technology has advanced to the point of addressing any needs in no time.
Let’s have a look at some crucial technologies that will help restaurants get safely back into business.
Contactless Payment Systems
Following the pandemic, new payment methods will experience a boom not only because of their practicality, but also because of improved hygiene and safety standards that come with them as a result.
Implementing a contactless payment system constitutes a small change for restaurants that can nevertheless lead to many benefits, such as:
an improved guest experience
faster and more convenient transactions
more efficient cash flow
better time management
According to recent evaluations, contactless payments will triple globally from $2 trillion to $6 trillion by 2024. Providing this kind of solution has already been reported as extremely important by 34% of customers.
It is therefore highly advised for restaurant owners to look into contactless payment in order to adapt to new conditions in the hospitality industry.
Turning to innovation and technology is the way to go.
Electronic Menus
Replacing paper with digital solutions has been the goal for a long time because of its obvious benefits for the environment.
The pandemic’s “no touch” rule has definitely given digitalization a big push, turning it into a solution that helps businesses maintain their operations while adhering to safety guidelines.
Restaurants are looking for that “must have” piece of technology that will make their comeback as smooth as possible.
The transformation of menus into simple barcodes or QR codes can make the life of a restaurant owner so much easier. Guests just need to use their smartphone devices to scan the codes and be taken to an online menu. Digital signage can also be used for displaying electronic menus, among other entertaining content.
Content can be updated effortlessly, while upselling products through promotions can be done quickly, saving you money and time.
The flexibility of such menus enables your customers to interact with your business better and therefore help it grow.
Furthermore, 74% of customers agree that having an easy-to-read menu is the most important part of the sales experience in the restaurant industry.
Additionally, it is a relatively low-cost solution for the business.
So why not go for it? Increasing your sales performance has never been easier and more convenient.
Tableside Ordering
Another amazing technological solution that has blossomed thanks to the pandemic outbreak concerns tableside ordering using tablets, and comes in two versions.
One includes placing tablets near customers (ideally at every table) and allowing them to order for themselves, while the second one includes placing fewer tablets in the hands of your staff.
Understandably, most restaurants opt for the second option.
Financially speaking, it is more budget-conscious, while customer-wise, as the interaction between people when ordering food is a notable part of the customer experience, that specific part of the service is not stripped away.
Not only is it a long-awaited solution, especially by waiters worldwide, but it includes benefits you should look forward to when switching to tableside ordering.
These include increased speed of service, improved accuracy of orders and the collection of more data, among others.
Ensuring better communication and clearer workflows is paramount for any restaurant at any given time, but especially coming back from such a huge break.
Staying organized and well-prepared is key.
Loyalty & Guest Engagement Apps
Loyalty programs, especially engagement apps, have been a hot topic for quite a while now, with leading businesses proving how beneficial they can be.
Now, more than ever, it is the right time to jump on board.
During the pandemic, apps have helped restaurants a great deal by enabling food ordering and online payments.
Turning to apps was a life-saving strategy for restaurants that were forced to operate under unprecedented circumstances.
However, even after the COVID pandemic ends, mobile technologies will continue to be a part of the restaurant experience.
For instance, the data collected through custom apps can serve business in many ways — helping sales grow, engaging with customers on a more personalized level, and overall pushing toward business goals.
If you haven’t moved your business in this direction yet, it is highly recommended to consider it.
The app analytics tools that come with loyalty and engagement apps are another way to identify business opportunities and definitely not something you should miss out on.
In short, now is the time to attract as many customers as possible and spark some interest in order for them to keep coming back to you in the future, once the doors open.
Technological solutions can help you achieve that.
Conclusion
Restaurants, along with the rest of the foodservice industry, are clearly bound to experience remarkable changes in the way they are run post-pandemic.
Changes in the way hygiene and the handling of food and packaging are addressed, and even menu modifications are imminent.
There will always be an interest in the service that restaurants provide, so it’s not a business that will ever go out of style.
However, it is crucial to be agile in the way your restaurant operates in order to adjust to unexpected conditions, such as the one we’ve been experiencing recently.
Adaptation is key to the survival of hospitality, an ever-evolving sector that has been afflicted by unexpected hardship and now needs to find a way to get back on its feet, under completely different terms.
Therefore, it’s time to let go of past habits and focus on the future. A new era is coming — and you should be excited about it.
About the Author
Ashley Wilson is a content creator, writing about business and tech. She has been known to reference movies in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga. You can get in touch with Ashley via Twitter.
