Best Practices in Technology for Scaling Your Restaurant Business

It is hard to believe that just a decade ago, ordering food from your favorite restaurant or sending a surprise meal to your parents in a different city would have been unthinkable. All of it now happens with a few swipes on your phone from the comfort of your home. Online food delivery apps made this possible, and technology is the reason why.

Tech trends and their importance in restaurants

The true potential of technology stayed largely untapped in the hospitality and restaurant business for much of the last decade. Changing guest expectations, new technologies, and wider internet access have since transformed how restaurants operate. Restaurants once dominated by manual processes now use technology to meet shifting consumer needs, deliver better customer experiences, increase efficiency, and focus on what they enjoy most: serving people good food.

Restaurants are quickly adopting technology for day-to-day operations and long-term business benefits. To meet evolving guest preferences, improve operational efficiency, and increase profitability, restaurant owners must keep investing in and exploring new technologies to stay ahead. Even before the pandemic, large food chains had started investing in self-ordering kiosks, QR code menus, kitchen robots, online ordering apps, and other disruptive technologies. The good news is that small restaurant owners now recognize the benefits and are willing to invest too.

Restaurant technology tools to take your business to the next level

Are you planning to jump on the technology bandwagon, or are you already ahead of the curve? Either way, here is a list of restaurant technology tools worth having in your arsenal to run your business efficiently and delight your guests.

QR codes

QR code technology is gaining immense popularity in restaurants around the world. The technology has been around for years, but the pandemic fueled its growth, and restaurants big and small adopted it for social distancing and contactless dining. QR code menus let guests scan codes on posters, tables, coasters, doors, or websites with their smartphone cameras or scanner apps. From there, customers can navigate the menu, place orders, make payments, and submit feedback in a few swipes. QR codes offer plenty of benefits without a hefty investment. They are convenient to use and make employees and customers feel safe, which is why QR code technology is now a must-have in restaurants.

Automated inventory management software

Food and beverage, cleaning supplies, cutlery, serving ware, and dinnerware are the lifeblood of any restaurant. A well-managed inventory is key to the success of the business, and it affects revenue, profits, and reputation. Tracking all of it manually is cumbersome and prone to errors. By automating inventory management, you can track food and beverage stocks, anticipate quantities, and schedule reorders without investing a lot of time and labor. Automated inventory software saves time, streamlines processes, curbs food waste, and saves money over the long run, bringing you a step closer to running your business more efficiently.

Self-ordering kiosks

Self-ordering kiosks have gained immense popularity in quick service restaurants and fast-food chains over the last two years. McDonald's was one of the first chains to install them in its outlets, and many food chains, big and small, have embraced the trend since. The benefits outweigh the investment over the long run. Self-ordering kiosks give guests more control over the ordering process with a clean digital experience and an easy-to-use interface that simplifies menu navigation and order customization. A well-designed kiosk helps restaurants increase average check size through upsell prompts, shorten ordering queues, and free staff to spend more time on productive tasks.

Online food delivery apps

The lockdowns were strange times, but online food ordering became very popular. Dine-in businesses were hit hard, and online deliveries helped many restaurants stay afloat. By the end of the lockdowns, people had grown accustomed to getting the food they wanted at their doorsteps, and the trend is here to stay. According to a McKinsey report, the global food delivery market is worth roughly $150 billion, about three times its value in 2017. Many hotel chains, including five-star chains, are following fast-food chains and launching their own online ordering platforms and apps. Operators who cannot afford that scale of investment are partnering with third-party delivery apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Postmates.

Online table reservation systems

We live in an era of the internet and smartphones. Everything from booking a doctor's appointment to ordering groceries happens through an app, and making a lunch or dinner reservation is no different. Gone are the days when people called their favorite restaurants to check availability and book a table. Online table reservation apps such as OpenTable and EatApp let customers see available slots and make their own reservations. These systems help restaurants manage seating, customer loyalty programs, and guest dining preferences, and collect client data for contact tracing and marketing campaigns.

Digital kitchen boards

So far we have covered technologies that streamline things for front-of-house staff, customers, and admin teams. But the kitchen is one place in a restaurant where the action never ends. How can technology make kitchen operations more efficient? Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) are a strong solution for streamlining back-of-house operations. A KDS is a digital menu display installed in the kitchen and linked to a restaurant's point-of-sale system. It eliminates the need to carry order tickets to the kitchen by showing orders as they are received, along with any special requests. It also tracks meal delivery times, monitors inventory, and supports clear communication, accurate order processing, and efficient kitchen operations.

Key takeaways

The last two years were a roller-coaster ride for restaurant owners. As things return to normal, restaurants must adopt technology to get back on their feet and to survive and thrive. Consumer expectations and lifestyles have shifted in the wake of recent events, and adopting technology is the way forward to meet new customer demands. Today, platforms like Delightree help you manage many areas of your restaurant operations on the go. If you are still wondering how technology can support your restaurant's growth, act fast. Technology is your best friend.