A hospitality ordering system can improve business operations beyond the restaurant industry. Though ordering systems are a form of restaurant technology, they serve a purpose in various sectors of the hospitality industry.

To fully optimize operations, digital platforms can assist in collecting payments, restocking inventory, and boosting customer satisfaction. It’s a branch of technology that simplifies daily processes.

Before we dive into the industries that should onboard a hospitality ordering system, let’s learn what the hospitality industry includes.

What Defines Hospitality?

The hospitality industry provides forms of entertainment to guests. Consumers could be traveling, dining, or partaking in other recreational activities. In every sector of this industry, people can purchase items such as food, tickets, hotel stays, and more.

Some of the most lucrative subsectors of hospitality are live entertainment and tourism. From concerts to multi-day festivals, consumers travel from all over the world to attend such shows. It’s definitely a business where a hospitality ordering system can elevate the overall experience. However, it doesn’t stop there.

Let’s decipher how a hospitality ordering system can benefit different sectors of the entire industry.

1. Food and Drink

Online ordering systems for restaurants offer numerous perks to streamline restaurant operations. It’s an innovative solution taking the industry by storm. And, it’s becoming more popular across hospitality businesses.

Restaurants with online ordering can collect customer data while streamlining food orders. For instance, tools like live order monitoring and digital restaurant menus simplify the processes for both parties.

An online ordering platform for restaurants can also utilize a restaurant inventory management system to help managers take inventory more efficiently. In time, this will help lessen shrinkage and restaurant expenses. Proper inventory management techniques will also simplify warehousing logistics.

Integrating online ordering apps and restaurant POS systems is groundbreaking for convenience, turnaround, and larger profits. By adding omni-channel ordering to a restaurant’s strategy, revenue streams can escalate in no time.

2. Hotels and Lodging Companies

When you envision the kinds of companies that can benefit from a hospitality ordering system, hotels are probably the first to come to mind.

To elevate travelers’ stays at your hotel, simplify the way they order food. User-friendly hospitality software is essential, whether you offer hotel guests late-night room service or poolside drink specials.

With the right hospitality ordering system, hotels can grant guests access to all facilities beyond those with a kitchen. Does the hotel offer paid access to gyms or arcades? Provide travelers with an all-inclusive resort experience. With the click of a button (or tap of a phone screen), your hotel can instantly establish a whole new atmosphere.

Room service apps can operate similarly to regular mobile ordering apps. You can run promotions, send alerts, and suggest menu options based on search or purchase history by collecting customer data.

Establish a sense of loyalty with travelers by offering package pricing tiers. Depending on which subscription model customers opt into, they can receive discounts on meals, room stays, etc.

If you want to simplify a loyalty program even further, integrate relevant perks with your company’s POS system. This way, it’ll add the right information to your databases. Then, guests won’t have to worry about not having a card, an app, or proof of eligibility.  

The tourism industry has been successful with programs such as frequent flier miles. So, why not offer similar rewards programs to travelers in need of a comfortable hotel?

Getting consumers to choose your hotel over others is tough competition. Your facilities will stick in their memory for future travels by creating a hassle-free environment with excellent perks.

3. Travel and Tourism

Food is an essential aspect of tourism. By adding a hospitality ordering system to tourist destinations, travelers can place secure payments to retrieve goods.

One of the most significant benefits of online ordering systems is the customers’ ability to choose a preferred payment method. Credit cards can freeze when traveling abroad, and wifi issues can occur in new territories. Providing multiple ways for customers to process payments is a sure way to eliminate frustration while securing every transaction.

Passengers on planes and cruise ships will enjoy the safety and convenience of a hospitality ordering system. Travel and hospitality software companies can create packages featuring bundled pricing to maximize profits, too.

Airline apps are beginning to include features beyond booking, ticketing, and weather alerts. Now, fliers can pre-order meals for their flight or pay for items with a contactless scan. Though in-flight food orders sound pretty futuristic, it’s reasonable and makes perfect sense to streamline expenses on the fly.

Digital ordering platforms with marketplace insertion features allow businesses to adjust prices. Seasonal rates are a way for companies to keep up with overhead expenses as an influx of business occurs.

Delivery-to-seat ordering systems will soon be available within theaters and stadiums. The convenience of food service that doesn’t require guests to leave their seats is innovation at its finest.

Restaurant industry statistics show that consumers are likely to spend more after browsing a mobile app. Due to the convenience of delivery-to-seat software, the tourism industry can expect higher cart values. Since it lessens the number of times customers have to leave their seats, this kind of hospitality ordering system will result in more orders, too.

4. Theme Parks

Many popular theme parks have mobile apps, which opens the door for a hospitality ordering system.

Allow amusement park guests to skip the lines with self-ordering kiosks and app features. Guests will also be able to dodge the crowds during peak hours and when seasonal tourists are present.

Integrating food orders within an app allows contact-free pick-up to abide by health and safety mandates. Contactless transactions are vital for reaching safety standards. So, allow visitors to order food on their own.

Theme parks typically offer limited menu types. They’re also an environment where once visitors enter the park, they don’t leave unless they’re done for the day. This idea means that park guests will order food upon feeling hungry.

Limited eateries create room for premium pricing for food distributors. Customers will be likely to spend a little extra money on food and drinks when only a handful of options are available. Before setting premium pricing, learn how to price a menu.

Theme parks can also increase profits by creating loyalty programs to compensate for higher food prices. Mobile apps can support loyalty programs with a quick scan or QR codes. Loyalty programs can cause customers to frequent your theme park for discounts while constantly raising profits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hospitality Ordering Systems

How Could a Wireless Ordering System Improve Customer Service In a Hospitality Operation?

Wireless ordering systems can improve efficiency and accuracy for customers. There are fewer errors across orders when businesses streamline processes with state-of-the-art technology. Consumers will receive the correct delivery, which is the best impression a company can make. Plus, secure payment options help build trust and loyalty.

What Is the Importance Of Ordering Systems?

Ordering systems help businesses maintain structure while at the same time increasing profits. Once you organize operations, turnaround is quicker. The more customers you can serve, the more revenue your business will generate.

What Are the Four Types of Ordering Systems?

The four types of ordering systems are:

• Standard Purchase Orders: One-off purchases with a set price, quantity, and delivery time known in advance.
• Planned Purchase Orders: Long-term orders from a single source. Quantities and delivery schedules are necessary for such orders. A prime example of planned purchase orders is when restaurants place ongoing orders for ingredients.
• Blanket Purchase Orders: A purchase between a buyer and supplier where multiple deliveries will occur over a fixed period.
• Contract Purchase Orders: A purchase that occurs upon signing a contract. There must be a written contract requesting a product purchase in this scenario.

Depending on which departments need supplies, businesses can restock inventory via all online ordering systems for restaurants.