Last year we did a series on technology for your small business. As part of that series we focused on point of sale solutions, including those used in restaurants. Implementing a point of sale solution is supposed to make ordering easier for your customers, encourage add-on items and free up your waitstaff so that they can focus on other tasks. In theory, it’s a win-win situation. In an effort to encourage restaurants to give their technology a try many companies even offer their systems for a percentage of the sales as opposed to charging an upfront fee. Before you jump on the bandwagon though, there are a few other things you should consider.
There will be a learning curve, both for your waitstaff and your customers. In today’s technology driven environment it seems like it would be simple to learn to use the system. Most of them are touchscreen enabled and fairly straightforward. The main issue is that you are asking everyone to change ingrained behaviors. People are familiar and comfortable for the status quo. Diners place their orders with actual people who then deliver their food. Now suddenly you’re able to click on a screen and put your order in. This means that the waitstaff has to watch for updates on a computer while still scanning the room to see if any of their tables require personal assistance. Some diners will feel comfortable using the screen, others will want to ask questions and be willing to wait to do so. How do you know which tables are waiting for you to come by and which ones just haven’t decided what they’d like to order yet?
Many restaurant have adopted a tiered approach. Diners are initially greeted by a member of the waitstaff who takes their main order. They are then asked if they have used tableside ordering before and offered a quick how-to lesson if they have not. They are then encouraged to use the system to add items onto their order throughout their meal. Many people appreciate being able to request extra drinks, appetizers, sides or desserts without having to scan the room trying to catch their waiter or waitress’ attention.
When it’s time to pay the check will be available on the tableside system and can be paid whenever the diners are ready. From personal experience I can say this process doesn’t always go as smoothly as one would like, particularly when there are split checks involved. There is always the potential for errors which will need to be rectified by the waitstaff and a manager. If the restaurant has a loyalty program there may be some glitches entering your number. Again, your waiter or waitress will need to assist you to sort out this issue. The news isn’t all bad though, over time many of these problems will be sorted out. Patrons and restaurant staff will become more knowledgeable about how to use the system and avoid incidents.
Some people worry that using tableside systems will lead to waitstaff obsolescence. I find this highly unlikely. As we mentioned above, there are numerous issues that can arise. With the tiered approach, the waitstaff isn’t obsolete. They are simply freed up a bit to chat more with their customers since they don’t have to make the rounds as often to see if anyone wants to add to their orders. Allowing waiters to create more of a rapport with their customers can lead to repeat business. When waiters don’t feel as rushed they may spend more time recommending menu items which can encourage diners to try new dishes and add on desserts and more.
Judging by the number of restaurants now employing point of sale systems, this trend is really catching on. The challenge for any restaurant looking to give one of these systems a try will be find ways to make it work for them and enhance the dining experience for their customers. Be patient and give your staff and customers time to adjust to this new way of doing things.
Find Time Thanks to Our Fast Free Inventory Solution
Afraid that you don’t have time to implement a new system like this? You must not be using Stockpile. If you used Stockpile fast free inventory solution to track your inventory you’d have no trouble finding the time you need to learn a new system. Stockpile makes it quick and easy to keep tabs on your inventory. Whether it’s perishable food items or backroom supplies you’ll always know what you have and where it’s being stored. Need to transfer items from one location to another? No problem. Want to run reports so that you can share detailed data with others? Stockpile makes that easy as well. Don’t take our word for it though. Try Stockpile today and see for yourself!
