Technology is making its mark on the restaurant industry by changing the way restaurants operate and adapt to new challenges. For a restaurant to be successful in today’s world it must be agile and adapt quickly to changes in procedures and protocols. Here is a look at some of the ways technology is transforming the restaurant industry.
How technology has helped restaurants adapt
Restaurant adaptability is more important in 2020 than ever before.The pressures of an ever-changing world, especially during COVID-19, have forced restaurants to make huge technological changes practically overnight.
Mobile ordering
Because quarantines have closed down restaurant floors, ordering online has almost become the new norm. Restaurants that quickly pivoted to online ordering, drive-throughs, and carry out food were able to maintain steady business. Mobile ordering technology also reduces wait time for customers, making fast food even faster.
Online reviews
Online reviews have changed the restaurant landscape forever by giving an immense amount of control to consumers. In a world where any bad experience can turn away potential visitors, restaurants must step up their service, cleanliness, and food quality. Restaurants adjusting to new CDC guidelines have to be ever-conscious of their actions so as not to attract social shaming. If an employee is wearing a mask incorrectly (or not at all), if a table looks dirty, if in-person dining capacities are surpassed, or if gloves aren’t changed frequently enough, customers will let the world know about it through online reviews and social media.
New payment options
Paying via phone app, online portal, or QR code has become commonplace. These options are growing increasingly more popular during the pandemic because it removes another touch point and both simplifies and speeds up the buying process.
How technology has helped restaurants operate
There are plenty of restaurant BOH and FOH operations technologies and companies. They have many different purposes and help restaurants accomplish different goals. Three of the biggest ways technology helps restaurants is with their digital food safety, employee performance, and team accountability.
Digital Food safety
Digital food safety improves food quality and helps avoid food safety disasters. Digital tools help restaurant owners serve hot, fresh food with quick temperature probes, automated temperature monitoring, and food & date labeling. Put simply, digital food safety helps restaurants be compliant and serve hot fresh food.
Employee performance
BOH digital software also helps restaurant owners ensure orders are accurate, service is friendly, and all employees are trained with the tools they need to succeed. This encompasses a variety of tools that help improve employee performance, but the biggest ones are online training hubs, scheduling tools, digital checklists that increase task accountability, analytical tools for managers, employee quizzes, and more.
Digital Team Accountability
Digital tools also help restaurants hold their teams accountable for the work they do. The whole team is evaluated and held accountable for the quality and consistency of their work product. All tasks are tracked and recorded through reports and analytics that are available to the management team.