Advancements in technology continue to change how restaurants serve customers, especially when it comes to online ordering. A Fortune restaurant technology survey found the percentage of orders booked using a mobile device is now 6.6 percent of the total and exceeded the quantity placed verbally over the telephone.
Restaurants with online ordering cater to a growing generation of consumers with on-demand expectations and we predict restaurant technology will keep up with this demand in 2018. Here are some insights we’ve read about and agree will impact the industry this year.
Social media and mobile apps will be a sales driver
Facebook announced last year that users can now order food right from a restaurant’s Facebook page, which with two billion monthly users, that’s the potential for a lot of orders! It won’t be long before other social channels follow this trend.
In addition, the growth of restaurant’s mobile apps will continue to grow as it provides a fast way for customers to not only place their orders, but create accounts, re-order meals, receive coupons and incentives and provides user data for restaurants to use for marketing and inventory. Plus, when restaurants offer customers access to a native app, there’s more than 15 percent of orders coming directly through the app, an increase of seven percent from 2015.
As fast-pay programs like as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Android Pay continue to become second nature and delivery companies become more widespread and efficient, these numbers will be on the rise. This is especially true when restaurants partner with digital online ordering companies that understand the complexities of the food industry and can create seamless transactions that keep customers satisfied.
Importance of restaurant analytics
Online ordering software for restaurants provides a view of restaurant customers with vital data from orders and preferences, that help restaurants understand their audience. Restaurants will continue to use data from online ordering to provide them with a more fine-grained understanding of both their costs and their customers’ inclinations, as well as the ability to create personalized loyalty programs for customers. Analytics can ensure a restaurant is staying in tune with customers and allows adjustments as needed based on real time or recent data.
Cloud-Based POS Integration
More and more quick service restaurants are updating their POS systems to include cloud-based technology. With these advancements, digital ordering companies are increasingly using streamlined and less intrusive software to integrate with these restaurant systems. Cloud-based POS integrations support centralized communication over secure private networks and eliminate the need for store-level software installation, support and maintenance. These integrations also allow for easier load-balancing and fail-over systems.
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