When you operate a restaurant, you require the best tools for the job. While it’s possible to get by on manual processes, these are outdated, and won’t give you proper tools you need in order to handle the competition.
If you want to stay competitive, you need to be picky when it comes to your software. Don’t waste money paying for functions that you don’t need, and don’t sacrifice quality just for a cheap system that doesn’t quite fit right. Do your research.
Industry-Focused POS
Look for POS software made specifically to handle the industry challenges you face on a daily basis, and the data necessary to identify and solve those challenges. Cloud-based POS is especially important. It can increase mobility within your restaurant, and more importantly, improve communication between systems and staff.
It can also help you achieve better visibility. The right POS can automate data collection across systems, compile that data into easy-to-read reports, and give you clues and insight into how your business operates.
With this added visibility, you can easily identify any bottlenecks that you may not have always been aware of. Then, you can solve the most pressing challenges, making informed decisions backed by data.
Online ordering
Online ordering is one of the most popular ordering channels for consumers today. Thanks to the pandemic sweeping the globe, and an increased focus on customer safety, online ordering is now a staple.
Beyond keeping customers safe from the spread of pathogens by reducing face-to-face interactions, online ordering increases customer satisfaction by delivering on the conveniences customers now expect.
Online ordering isn’t just important for customer safety and satisfaction, however. Restaurants can leverage software like upselling prompts to conduct better and more effective marketing. Using historical sales data, you can identify which add-ons are most popular. Set up automatic upselling and cross-selling prompts around these items to increase average order size.
Download our free ebook: 4 New Must-Have Technologies for Your Restaurant
Delivery
Another service that has been increasing in popularity lately is delivery. Delivery boosts customer satisfaction and convenience, while helping you reach a broader audience that may not have time for a full table service experience or takeout.
A delivery operation can be very profitable if done well, but it requires the right software. You want to look for a delivery solution that integrates seamlessly with your POS and gives you visibility into your operations. You should be able to manage and track your drivers and ensure they have turn-by-turn instructions for the fastest routes to ensure deliveries are made on-time.
Loyalty program
In a restaurant environment, customer loyalty is everything. Most of your business comes from your regulars—not from new customers. Take that into consideration when you’re planning your marketing strategy. A solid loyalty program can keep your regulars coming back for more and turn first-time diners into loyal customers.
Let your customers accrue loyalty rewards and points through dollars spent or times visited. Customers should have the option to sign up, review, and manage their loyalty rewards through a mobile app or website so they can stay engaged even when they aren’t on premises.
Look for integrated software that allows you to configure your program based on your individual business needs and preferences. Your software should have the right tools to help you effectively view and manage your loyalty program data and make more informed decisions that better align with what your customers actually want.
SMS and email marketing
In the contemporary restaurant landscape, digital marketing is king. Your POS needs to have the ability to integrate digital marketing with the rest of your restaurant technology. With integrated email and text-based marketing, you’ll be set up to send automated marketing messages to your customers.
When customers haven’t visited in a while, send out special offers to re-engage them and entice them back to your business. After you’ve run your promotions, you can review concrete data to help you measure the effectiveness of your promotions and hone your marketing strategy over time.
Focus on the Future of Your Business
The right POS for your restaurant should ultimately be one that equips you to grow, not one that bogs you down with complicated processes and a lack of access to the right data. You need to choose a POS and a provider that work with you, rather than against you, to identify your business challenges and deliver the tools you need to solve them.
Focus POS has your back, with innovative, high-quality POS systems hand-tailored to the unique way you do business. Our systems are flexible, scalable, and fully-integrated to ensure you have the best and most up-to-date data available. We offer comprehensive cloud-based solutions that help you and your business succeed.
For more information on the restaurant management software we offer, or how Focus POS can help you increase both profitability and customer satisfaction, contact us today.
