FULLY INTEGRATED RESTAURANTS: 3 BENEFITS
Technology in the restaurant industry has evolved beyond tablet-based ordering and digital menu boards. Modern Proveedores de Restaurantes is not only equipped with the customer-facing technologies mentioned above, but with many other innovations intended to ease managers’ jobs, reduce labor needs, and ensure the smooth running of the business.
A so-called integrated restaurant can seem daunting to operators who have not yet taken the plunge. The buzzwordy trend of integrating different parts of a restaurant might seem like too much trouble. There are several ways that it can benefit businesses and take some stress off of operators. Take a look.
Decreased labor costs
When technology systems are fully integrated with one another, it removes a layer of the labor burden from restaurant staff-which is huge, given that labor costs are a big concern for almost every operator. As minimum wages rise and labor shortages increase, operators are looking for more ways to trim their labor spending, and integrated technology helps with this.
By integrating the POS system with other restaurant software, such as inventory tracking and menu costing software, operators won’t have to manually enter inventory and calculate things such as how much of an ingredient is left, whether a certain dish is selling well (or not) and more.
Since integrated technology automates tasks, it frees up staff time, allowing them to serve customers and improve the guest experience rather than sitting in a back office with paperwork and spreadsheets.
Improved order accuracy for orders placed off-premises
Automating and integrating can help boost revenue along with decreasing labor costs. Technology that integrates with the point of sale, as well as inventory tracking, online ordering, and third-party delivery platforms, will allow operators to ensure menus are current for digital orders and delivery partners.
When a loyalty program is integrated into the POS, returning customers’ information can be stored in the restaurant’s system. This enables the restaurant to seamlessly suggest repeat orders and specials that might be on the menu at the time as well as other promotions and deals. Having the ability to update menus in one place and having the systems communicate, restaurant operators can rest assured that their customers won’t be able to order items that are no longer in stock.
Stronger customer loyalty
The benefits of integrated technology extend beyond operators and can also increase customer satisfaction. The POS system can integrate with inventory, scheduling, and financial systems, allowing restaurants to utilize the collected data to offer a better customer experience.
If POS systems update all ordering channels, digital orders can be more precisely timed, thereby preventing food from sitting out too long. Integrating the POS with ordering and inventory technology also ensures that orders are prepared with fresh, in-stock ingredients, which translates into better food safety as well as more delicious dishes.
POS systems that integrate with restaurant scheduling software can also display which shifts are busier and require more staff. Operators can keep a better overview of their restaurants by collecting information from all the connected systems and can determine if changes need to be made sooner.
Using automated software to adjust to the needs of their clients, operators can better serve their customers without having to perform intensive analyses.
How to get started
When a restaurant operator wants to begin using integrated technology, starting with the POS is a good place to start. A POS system tracks many aspects of a restaurant’s operation, so when it’s integrated with other software and technologies, it provides the most insights.
The PDQ POS system, for example, is compatible with a variety of other systems popular in the restaurant industry, including Crunchtime, Restaurant 365, Hot Schedules, Kronos, and It’s a Checkmate, to name just a few.
