Don't miss the bus again
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1-min read
Now that restaurants are gradually beginning to resume their "normal" activity, it may be a good time to take stock. What has been taken, and what has been given to us during this damn pandemic?
I believe that we will never go back to the "old normality", but I see this as a positive. Let me explain myself. From my point of view, Covid has not changed anything as such. What it has done is exponentially accelerate some changes that were already taking place. Having the will to improve, and above all, to adapt, is a decision that we must make.
To summarise, the main change is called digitization and its surnames are Delivery and Take Away. Those who were used to work with these two services are the ones who have suffered the least. Those who have had to jump on the moving bus, have sweated a little more.
The bad (or good) news is that the adaptation process doesn't end here. The digitization of the venue has also come to stay. Now that the restaurant's interiors recover part of their joy, it is time to anticipate new needs.
If everyone is used to reading the letter through a QR code, why not take advantage of it so that your customers can order and pay directly? Surely not all type of restaurants allow this service to be developed, but I would dare to say that most of them do. Some restaurants and cafes such as Totale, Black Sheep Coffee or Big Al’s among others, are already doing it.
It may seem "weird" at first, but... who is surprised now when getting off an Uber you do not have to do anything because it is already paid? Not too long ago, few would have anticipated...
In order to help you understand how the dine-in service can benefit you, here are some use cases and main advantages:
Possibility of paying digitally. The moment of payment is one of the moments that creates the most friction with your customers. Offering the possibility of ordering and paying directly has two fundamental advantages: from the customer's point of view, they do not have to bother asking for the bill, that they bring the dataphone... that is, the customer gains time and comfort. On the other hand, the restaurant gains operational efficiency since it surely needs fewer waiters, and these can be focused on where they really add value: serving your customers.
Customer acquisition. Many restaurants would be surprised to learn the number of unknown customers who pass by their tables. This is a way to register them all and include them in your loyalty plan, being able to interact personally with them. From a restaurant point of view, it can fit within your marketing budget.
Educate the customer on your Web experience. Threading in with the beginning of this article in which I discussed the current importance of Delivery and Take Away, this is a way to show customers who visit you physically your online ordering experience with which they would place their Delivery and Take Away orders.
Display the menu. There may always be customers who prefer to pay in the traditional way. In that case, you would be offering both possibilities, ordering and paying to the one who chooses it, or simply showing the menu to people who prefer to order in the usual way.
Avoid crowds in times of Covid. Avoid crowds in times of Covid. If one of the main challenges inside restaurants is to avoid congestion of people, the fact that they can order or pay without having to wait makes the room flow more agile.
In addition, offering this possibility means differentiating yourself from competitors. If you allow me to place a bet, in a few months this will stop being a source of competitive advantage and become a necessity. This leads me onto my next question, what if this time you wait for the bus "calmly" at the stop?
If you already use Cheerfy, I encourage you to ask yourself if online ordering and paying for a dine-in service can help you.
If you still don't use Cheerfy, but are thinking about it, we will be happy to explain its operation and capabilities in detail.
I am here to help you.
Tony @ Cheerfy