Over the years, restaurant technology has been a vital source of growth and exposure for restaurant businesses. The restaurant industry is a competitive, niche market, so it’s crucial to stay ahead of tech and food trends.

New technology in restaurants is allowing businesses to simplify standard processes. Tools such as payment technology or online ordering for restaurants are just a few systems that can technologize restaurant operations.  

Let’s take a closer look at the many types of restaurant management technology.

Types of Restaurant Management Technology

Various types of restaurant management technology can assist your business needs. Several of the most efficient types of restaurant management technology include:

• Online Ordering Apps: Allow people to order food outside of the four walls of your restaurant with restaurant payment technology.
• Restaurant POS Systems: Accept payments in-person and online to support a restaurant POS platform or an omnichannel order fulfillment system.
• Inventory Management Software: Use a restaurant inventory management app to take inventory and organize inventory storage.
• Loyalty Programs: Establish a rewards system so that customers keep coming back for more.
• Digital Menu Platform: Utilize QR codes to eliminate physical menus, offer contactless payments, and speed up restaurant processes. Some digital menu platforms will even allow voice ordering for restaurants.

Now, let’s uncover the key factors to know about restaurant management technology.

1. Restaurant Management Technology Is Vital for Efficiency

Efficient business operations are a necessity. When processes are in order, employees can perform at their highest capacities.

Restaurant management technology can boost efficiency in numerous ways. For instance, facilitating menu changes is important for showcasing menu item availability. Concerning this idea, inventory management techniques ensure your kitchen inventory contains everything you need.

A quick service restaurant is a prime example of how efficiency is necessary. The ability to provide customers with meals in record time is one of many ways that restaurant management technology can maintain steady growth.

Drive-through eateries have been successful for decades, delivering convenient service to consumers. In recent years, counter-style restaurants and self ordering kiosks have been game-changers.

Whether you prepare food in advance to speed up turnover rates or stay open 24/7, accessible and timely meal orders are popular go-to options.  

Quick and accurate food orders are essential for a memorable dining experience. Onboard the right restaurant management technology for your eatery to accelerate efficiency.

2. Digital Platforms Eliminate Long-Term Expenses

Tracking restaurant stats on a digital platform can save you tons of money in the long run. Once you grasp which aspects of the business perform well, you can optimize your strategy.

For instance, if an online ordering app indicates that not many customers order food on a particular day, restaurants won’t have to schedule as many delivery drivers for those shifts. Restaurant overhead expenses can add up, so find ways to decrease costs.

Digital platforms can also prioritize kitchen operations–especially for off-premise deliveries (see: what is off premise). When restaurants are available on online ordering apps, managers can easily view which dishes are most popular. In learning this metric, they can order more ingredients than others.

Eliminating inventory shrinkage will keep the kitchen organized and lessen restaurant expenses. Utilize an inventory and order management system like BlueCart to place all your orders in a single app. Restaurant kitchen technology can be equally beneficial to both the sous chef and consumers.

3. Using Technology Can Boost a Restaurant’s Marketing Efforts

The ways a restaurant operates can affect its marketing efforts. Restaurant management technology such as online ordering apps can increase awareness in your town and the surrounding areas, leading people to place orders in-person and online.

Many restaurant marketing ideas revolve around technology nowadays, so it’s important to recognize how the two areas of business intertwine. Digital restaurant menus can increase exposure since you can use QR codes in various advertisements. Whether you share the QR code on print ads or social media, it’s a simple and cost-effective way to show people your menu types (learn more about social media ROI).

Using a QR code platform such as SproutQR is an easy way to create a professional and custom QR code for your business. If you’re unsure about “what is a QR code,” book a demo now to learn more.

The more exposure you generate for your restaurant, the more organic traffic you’ll experience within your social media or restaurant SEO strategy, too. Until then, use your in-house restaurant management technology platforms to your advantage to increase outside awareness.

Customer loyalty programs are another excellent way to increase business with a restaurant management technology platform. Value features such as coupons and exclusive perks will help customers gain trust and loyalty to your business. Plus, it requires very little investment from the restaurant’s side.

4. Restaurant Management Technology Can Increase a Restaurant’s Profitability

Food trends often bring in new and existing customers. You’ll be able to make frequent menu updates using a digital ordering system.

The right restaurant management technology will also show you which menu items are more popular than others. If you find that customers never order certain dishes, you can (and should) remove them entirely.

When certain dishes gain popularity, you can prioritize investing in high-quality ingredients from a wholesale marketplace. Browse a wholesale directory to purchase supplies and ingredients to create consistent dishes at a fair rate. Then, you can promote these meals even further. Allowing popular menu items to be available at all times while eliminating the expenses of unnecessary ingredients is a frugal way to cut corners and boost revenue.

Restaurant management technology that allows managers to schedule shifts is also beneficial for profitability. If you have metrics to show your busiest times, you’ll know when to give shifts to the wait staff and each bartender.

Adequate restaurant staff is key to streamlining operations, which results in customer experience. Eliminate lengthy wait times with efficient staff members and pay-at-table devices–a new form of technology in restaurants. Creating a positive atmosphere with stellar service is necessary if you wish to increase monthly profits.

Curbside pick up is another great option for boosting profits, too (see: difference between curbside and pick up). One of the many benefits of curbside pickup is that it is integrated with restaurant tech, so operations are simple yet effective.

5. Restaurant Management Technology Is Worth the Investment

The right restaurant management technology will save time on manual labor. Tech-savvy eateries have more freedom to grow their business with restaurant automation systems.

When managers and their employees work more efficiently, operations become more seamless. And when processes are in order, customers will receive a positive experience.

We live in a world where consumers want to receive goods and services quickly. By removing the guesswork and manual labor, restaurant staff can ensure customers that their orders are accurate.

Technological advancements always circle back to customer satisfaction. Businesses use restaurant management technology to simplify daily processes to make lives easier. Though it may seem like a large expense upfront, it’ll pay off in the long run.

Investing in your business is the best thing you can do for its growth over time. Whether you maximize your profits by using online ordering apps or inventory software, you should expect to witness exponential growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant Management Technology

Restaurant management technology is new and constantly evolving. Continue reading to learn more about the topic.

What Is a Restaurant Management Software?

A restaurant management software is a way to properly run end-to-end operations within a restaurant. Restaurant owners and managers can use such technology to organize expenses, track inventory, and make payments.

Why Are Restaurant Management Systems Important?

Restaurant management systems help streamline every process, from sharing menus to accepting reservations. Onboarding a practical system will simplify tasks and maximize productivity.

What Is A POS System?

A point of sale (POS) system is a way for restaurants to accept in-person or online payments. To accept payments, print receipts, and track sales, a business must use proper restaurant POS integrations.