The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has undoubtedly forced the general population to change its daily habits. The effects it has had on everyday routines including a boost in remote work, online shopping and even physical distancing are so significant, experts believe these lifestyle changes will continue long after the pandemic subsides.
One of the industries most impacted by these unprecedented times is the restaurant industry, for concerns indoor public spaces may be linked to the rapid spread of the virus. Although flaws have been found in the research, the new transition to how food is being served and consumed has forced restaurant owners to meet customers precisely where they are – in the home.
While on-premises dining has dropped significantly since the pandemic began back in March, a notable uptick of off-premises solutions have emerged. More orders have now gone digital. According to the National Restaurant Association, consumers are projected to continue ordering online and choosing takeout or delivery options during the winter months. They also point out a whopping 66% of adults admitted to ordering food from a restaurant for takeout or delivery just last week.
Restaurants are taking notice of key technology trends to help them overcome some of the challenges they face in today’s struggling economy. Many have already realized that if they want to improve customer experience and maximize profits, they will need to adapt to more flexible business models as well as adopt new technologies.
Technology not only helps restaurants perform tasks more rapidly and efficiently that ultimately lead to better customer experience, it allows for greater insight into what they are buying today and what they’ll want to buy tomorrow.
The restaurant POS system
If you’ve entered a restaurant in the last few months, you’ve certainly noticed a fairly new innovation that protects diners from virus transmission - the contactless menu. This is where a QR code is scanned with one’s smartphone camera, instantly taking the customer to a virtual menu. The replacement of paper menus can be attained using POS (point-of-sale) software. Now more than ever, restaurant owners are looking to simplify their day-to-day restaurant operations, analyze their customers’ buying habits, manage employee schedules and utilize real-time insights to be able to reach people with the right messaging. And they want to do it all in one place. A restaurant POS system streamlines the ordering process in-house and facilitates takeout. It is the center of the business, at your fingertips.
You’ll notice many restaurants have already implemented contactless tools and technologies such as the POS cash register to manage transactions from an intuitive touchscreen. Technologies like these help deliver a more personalized customer experience so every single one of them leaves feeling safe and satisfied.
Ghost kitchens
Another trend reshaping the future of restaurants for the long term is the ghost kitchen. Ghost kitchens or digital kitchens are making more of an appearance these days as a channel to capture off-premises business. This fairly new concept can be described as a delivery-only restaurant with no on-site seating. Contrary to traditional dining, it is basically a kitchen without a storefront that prepares the food for the customer, who ordered it online. This entirely new method of capturing off-premises business is growing in popularity for its lower operational costs, fewer working employees and smaller investment. Furthermore, the level of risk when it comes to starting a new business in an unpredictable industry is a lot lower.
Food delivery apps
While some restaurants are experiencing financial losses with the closure of indoor dining rooms, others have seen a spike in food delivery requests. The rise in food delivery is a major trend among all demographics and food delivery service giants such as UberEats and DoorDash have seen a surging demand. Many restaurants are capitalizing by partnering with these 3rd party platforms and paying them to be featured. Although food delivery apps demand roughly 20% of food sold, numerous small businesses require them to remain financially stable. Providing convenience-seeking customers with the tools they enjoy in an environment where they feel safe is key.
A sad reality is that countless restaurants have not had the ability to recover, and will be closing their doors before this crisis is over, if they haven’t already. And while the future of restaurants is uncertain, this pandemic has certainly uncovered what today’s diners want and how. The industry is quickly learning that along with better physical distancing techniques and hygiene practices, key technology investments are required to empower restaurant owners to take their business to the next level.
It won’t be long till POS systems, ghost kitchens and food delivery services become the industry standard worldwide. Whether we like to admit it or not, agile hardware and software systems are crucial to a restaurant’s recovery and being able to adapt to a customer’s expectations and changing needs will ensure their survival amid unprecedented times.
Images credit: Lightspeed
