Why is automation the future of restaurants?
At the minute every part of our lives is pointed to automation:
- We are trying to pay online;
- We make digital dates;
- We order for home with help of technologies as well;
- In many places we use the 'self checkout' or self service, again using technologies.
One of the purposes of automation is to save time and personalise the experience of every customer. The high development of automation has been accomplished by the search or by customer's desires. If they don't need it and they don't accept it as something important, automation doesn't have any chance of development.
We can see in the whole world initiating more and more technological facilitations, which save time, decrease the chances of human mistakes and increase the level of personalisation.
The whole thing of running restaurants accepted the technologies a long time ago. It is wanted mostly by people who are younger than 30 years old, but only them. If you had the experience once, you will always want to use technologies.
We will introduce you two examples for worldwide businesses which said "YES" to automation and accomplished the to extend the range of the business.
McDonalds and their kiosks for quick orders
In 2015 McDonalds introduced their self service system - kiosks. They are digital displays, by which every client can make his own order. Whatever he wants, however he wants it. Except that, they are equipped with a software which allows you to add some extra products to your order - sauces, side-dish, trimming, mixtures, drinks etc.
In this way McDonalds got rid of the big queues, side-expenses and human mistakes. In the same time they increased their sales, because kiosks are not affected from customer's mood and using them allows customers not to be shy when adding something extra to the order. This awkward feeling is usual when you are in front of weighter, cashier and sellers.
65% of customers prefer going to restaurants with digital menus.
30% of customers choose kiosks before cashiers if the queues are the same size.
Some psychology: The managing director of McDonalds shares in front of the media the actual reason for initiating this automation. The more time customers spend choosing their food the bigger is the chance for them to invest more. Later investigation proves this and the results are even more shocking: The customers spend even more money when they touch their food - even using touch screen.
In Bulgaria we can easily say that kiosks are digital menus. And if all this has started in the USA in 2015, it will come to our restaurants very soon as well.
Curious: Until the end of 2020 McDonalds wants to initiate the digital menu of every one of it's 14 000 restaurants. The example of McDonalds is so successful, that other fast food restaurants initiate the digital menu as an option - Subway, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell, Panera etc.
Starbucks - digital menu and mobile application
In 2018 Starbucks Initiates a digital menu using huge displays. On them is visualised the whole menu together with actual promotions, which attracts the attention with beautiful videos. Starbucks did it because they wanted to save money from paper menus. They have 13 000 stores only in the USA. Imagine how every single one of them needs to update their menus with every new promotion. This cost lots of money.
Even more impressive is their mobile app, which becomes HIT for the fans of Starbucks. But why? The success of the application is accomplished by the following things:
- Comfortable mobile interface;
- Personalization of the online order;
- Order a favorite product online;
- Easy to find the closest store;
- Quick line to collect a digital order;
- Program for loyal customers.
Maybe the most interesting is the program for loyal customers. It's principle is very simple - the more you consume, the more rewards you earn (to consume even more, of course).
Here's the summary: Starbucks aims in constantly money saving, the smart usage of technologies and initiating new ways for faster and personalized service. All this is possible only with the help of technologies.
Take advantage of the technologies as well! What stops you?
No, you are not a giant like McDonalds and Starbucks - it's not needed. The only difference between you and them is that they took a risk years ago. Nobody was 100% sure if technology changes will work. Well ,,, with lots of work, observation and adaptation, they have managed to make digitalisation a competitive advantage.
Examples like these ones are valuable for every business connected with restaurants and stores - they are setting the trends, sharing valuable experience and inspire the rest to get better, more innovative and more flexible.
This is the moment to think about how you can initiate more technologies to your business, for:
- Saving your customers time;
- Engage your clients even more with your brand;
- Make the communication even more personalized;
- Cut extra expenses;
- Sell more;
- Save more time to seek and find more ways for your business growth.
Digital menu is a great start. Welcome your clients with the freedom to make their own order, eliminating the chance of human mistake. And one reminder: the more the clients interact with their food (even digital), the more they will be down to invest and come back again!
Contact us, so we can explain the opportunities of TabL.BG's digital menu.
We offer a free test period of 10 days, so you can ensure that this is a great decision for first steps in digitizing.