Restaurant technology has expanded far beyond tablet-based ordering and digital menu boards. Nowadays, modern restaurants have not only those customer-facing technologies but also a host of other ones: innovations designed to make managers’ jobs easier, trim labor needs and ensure business runs more smoothly than ever before.
For operators who haven’t taken the plunge yet, the so-called integrated restaurant can seem like a daunting undertaking. This buzzwordy trend of ensuring different parts of the restaurant work together can seem like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. But there are several ways it can benefit business and take some stress off operators. Take a look.
Decreased labor costs
One of the biggest benefits of using technology systems that are fully integrated with one another is that it removes a layer of the labor burden off restaurant staff—which is huge, considering that labor costs are top of mind for just about every operator. With minimum wage rising and labor shortages growing, operators are looking for more ways to trim their labor spend, and integrated technology helps with this.
By integrating the point-of-sale (POS) system with other restaurant software and systems, such as inventory trackers and menu cost software, operators will no longer need to manually enter inventory and calculate things such as how much of an ingredient is left, whether a certain dish is selling big (or not) and more.
Integrated technology, because it takes care of tasks automatically, frees up staff time, too, allowing them the opportunity to spend their shifts serving customers and boosting the guest experience rather than holing up in a back office with spreadsheets and paperwork.
Increased order accuracy for off-premise orders
Along with decreasing labor costs, automation and integration can help boost revenue. By using technology that works cohesively with the POS as well as with inventory tracking, online ordering and third-party delivery platforms, operators can ensure menus are up to date for digital orders and delivery partners.
Additionally, when a loyalty program is integrated into the POS, returning customers’ information can be stored within the restaurant’s systems—this allows a restaurant to seamlessly suggest repeat orders as well as specials that might be on the menu at that time, plus other promotions or deals. By being able to update menus in one place and having the systems “talk” to each other, restaurant operators can rest easy knowing customers trying to place online orders won’t be able to order something that’s sold out or no longer offered.
Stronger customer loyalty
Integrated tech benefits reach beyond operators and can also increase customer satisfaction. When the POS system communicates with inventory, scheduling and financial systems, restaurants can start distilling the data collected and use it to provide a better customer experience.
For instance, when POS systems update all ordering channels, digital orders can become more accurately timed, thus food doesn’t sit waiting for too long. Integrating the POS with ordering and inventory technology also ensures that orders are prepared with fresh, in-stock ingredients, which leads to more transparent food safety and also ultimately makes the dishes taste better.
Beyond that, POS systems that connect with restaurant scheduling software can show operators which shifts were busier and in need of more staff. By collecting information from each connected system, operators can maintain a clearer overview of what’s going on in their restaurants—and can see sooner if changes need to be made.
By being on top of what customer needs are and using automated software to adjust, operators can better serve their clientele without having to conduct intensive analyses.
How to get started
If a restaurant operator wants to begin using integrated technology, starting with the POS is a smart move. Because the POS tracks many aspects of a restaurant’s operations, it can offer the most insights when hooked up to other software and technologies.
PDQ POS, for instance, is compatible with a host of other systems popular in the restaurant industry, including Crunchtime, Restaurant 365, Hot Schedules, Kronos and It’s a Checkmate, just to name a few. To learn more about how PDQ POS can help restaurants with integration, visit pdqpos.com.
This post is sponsored by PDQ POS
