2024 Restaurant Tech Predictions
It’s no secret that the last few years have been chock-full of hurdles for restaurants and hospitality. Owners have had to adapt to new ways of business and staffing shortages. As we approach the new year, there are an ever-growing list of digital solutions that can be implemented to solve both old problems and new.Online reservation and booking
Although online reservations aren’t exactly new, we can see that numerous businesses are attempting to improve the customer experience on that front. The pandemic has forced restaurants to rethink how they approach admitting customers into their premises. Even venues that previously didn’t have a reservation system in place were forced to implement one rather quickly. We expect to see this trend continue, and restaurants will have fewer walk-ins since most of their business will be done via reservations. Therefore, it’s natural to look for new developments in how reservations are placed and handled. Besides having the ability to place a reservation, restaurants and other service providers are implementing software that gives their customers more options for online booking. Restaurants are already offering 3D virtual tours with a choice of seating. Of course, it’s still advisable to provide good support over the phone if your customers need help from one of your employees, as well as monitor those calls for future improvements. However, advancements are also present there in the form of AI chatbots that can offer assistance to your online customers.
Rise of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the breakout star of 2023; from ChatGPT to AI art controversies, it can seem from the news that AI is a passing fad, but it can streamline your restaurant by translating recipes, keeping a digital stock list, and more. As we head into 2024, we predict that there will only be even more great ways to implement AI.Connect to the Customers
Most businesses in the service industry rely on the purchases of regular customers for a large volume of their sales. Software for managing customer relations already exists and is used by many companies in various branches of the industry. Ecommerce online stores have developed CRM into an art form, and restaurants have started to follow suit. Unfortunately, loyalty programs can only go so far, and they traditionally depend on rewarding customers for returning to your restaurant. Although that is a proven strategy that can boost sales, the decision is still left up to the customer. This means that the restaurant can do very little other than offer loyalty rewards. Having a constant line of communication between you and your customers has proven to be the most reliable way to ensure that your restaurant is their go-to choice for dining. This doesn’t mean that you should just ask visitors for their emails and bombard them with advertising. Restaurants will need to implement digital solutions similar to those used by eCommerce stores to contact their customers with specialized offers. Firstly you’ll need to develop a strategy that will get users excited to follow the latest menu changes. You can appeal to users with exclusive offers and seasonal food that will only be available for a limited time. Additionally, you can examine their previous dining habits and offer them specialized deals that cater to their taste.
Flexible order pickups
Some restaurants never thought they’d need to invest in the drive-through and pick-up options. However, due to social distancing rules, they were forced to find a way to cope with the new situation. Thankfully, relying on third-party services and software solutions was a lifesaver, especially for small businesses. Obviously, even in those cases, there was plenty of room for improvement. Curbside pick-ups became commonplace, and that trend isn’t going away anytime soon. For both delivery services as well as individuals who wish to personally pick up their order, timeliness was a significant issue. People sometimes just run late, and when it comes to something like food, even half an hour could make a huge difference. Restaurants needed to find a way to solve problems of food getting cold, or drinks and desserts not being refrigerated long enough before a pick-up that ran late. The software can allow users to communicate with restaurant staff regarding the exact time of their order pick-up. This approach will ensure that the food is kept warm until the precise moment of pick-up. Users will expect excellent on-time service, and restaurants will need to look to software solutions to meet those demands.
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