As the 21st century progresses, technology changes the restaurant sector. Today, customers care more about the experience at a particular food joint than everything else. That’s why people in this industry have put so much effort into employing technology for everyone’s benefit.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, shareholder, or consumer, these are some of the trendiest restaurant technologies you should acknowledge.
Online Payment Methods
Contactless payment techniques have become the norm for restaurant businesses. Online platforms like mobile wallets, smart cards, and debit cards facilitate them. In contactless payments, consumers do not have to physically pay.
This technology uses near-field communication or radio frequency identification. Businesses are guaranteed more security, convenience, less transaction time, and shorter queues. The technique also enhances hygiene, especially against infectious conditions like COVID-19.
Digital Menu Boards
Times are changing how presentations occur, including in restaurants. The traditional way of presenting menus in booklets has been phased out and replaced by digital boards. Digital menu boards are digital displays of restaurant offerings and prices.
They are often mounted conspicuously on the wall for customers to see. Another way of presenting menus digitally is through handheld devices or table-side devices like tablets or phones. These techniques save time and money, make communication easier, enhance visual appeal, boost hygiene, and increase sales.
Inventory Management Software Systems
Restaurants also use technology to facilitate inventory management. These systems are developed to aid in regular stock tracking accompanied by appropriate recommendations.
For instance, systems can notice a decline in ingredients and prompt an order for specific items. Inventory management software also calculates profits and losses, adjusts menus and costs, stores recipes, and responds to purchase orders. It increases productivity, enhances job experience, and reduces waste.
Robotic Technology in Kitchen and Serving
Robotic technology has been embraced in many industries, including restaurants. It is focused on reducing human labour fatigue and improving production rates.
The key areas you’ll likely find robotics in restaurants are taking orders, preparing food in a kitchen, serving food to customers, cleaning, and giving instructions. This has significantly reduced labour costs while enhancing efficiency and accuracy. Their operations are continuous since they are not limited to time as long as they are well maintained.
Customer Service chatbots
Gone are the days when people had to stay awake to respond to customer concerns. Today, restaurants enjoy chatbot development, a technological development propelled by artificial intelligence. In addition to general customer service matters, the systems can offer special promotions, guide customers through crucial procedures, and take orders.
That means you can drop a quiz or compliment at any time of the day and get an immediate and satisfactory response. This advancement has saved many businesses by helping them retain customers. When concerns are addressed promptly, sales accelerate.
Air Purification Techniques
The emergence of COVID-19 tested air quality in restaurants and other food joints. Even companies already upbeat about air purification technology had to put much effort into overcoming the risks.
This has become a basic requirement for all hotels, even when there’s no major outbreak. Such techniques have elevated hygiene levels while increasing customers’ confidence in knowing they are safe from transmittable conditions.
The HVAC system should be up to date, regularly maintained, and aligned with room size and population potential.
Better Food App Features
First, the number of food delivery apps is recommendable, and customers can avoid congestion with the few common ones. Additionally, the applications have incorporated quite enjoyable features that allow customers to express themselves fully as if placing an order physically.
Recently, consumers could choose any pickup point without many restrictions. The addition of emojis has also been a game changer, not to mention adequate choices of delivery modes (drone, car, and bike).
Online Table Reservation
Imagine choosing your preferred seating area in a restaurant when you are not there physically. You can also look at the rest of the layout to see what suits you.
Online table reservation technology aims to improve the consumer experience. It allows guests to book a space in advance or add their details to the waitlist to be notified when a room or table is vacant. The system has also enabled hotels to manage their population and avoid inconveniences that could hurt sales.
These are the most common restaurant technology trends every hotel should embrace. They facilitate digitalization and help businesses grow to impressive levels—and this is just an indication of what’s ahead!
