Sponsored by Popmenu
Two-thirds of U.S. restaurant owners and operators surveyed by Popmenu said they have roles that have remained vacant for six months or longer, which can directly impact order volume, wait times, service quality and employee morale, among other things.
Fortunately, there are easy technology hacks that restaurants can quickly adopt to bridge labor gaps and alleviate pressure on staff—more than half of U.S. restaurants already use them. Check out the following tips to see how automation can help ensure that merriment and sales never skip a beat during and after the holidays.
Answer Every Jingle – One of the biggest frustrations for guests is when they try to make a reservation or ask a question, and no one picks up the phone. On the flip side, restaurant staff often struggle with juggling calls in between taking care of in-person guests.
Restaurants can use Popmenu’s AI tech to answer all of the most common questions guests have 24/7 with custom responses. “Do you serve vegan dishes? Do you have live music? Can I book a holiday party this Thursday?”
The technology can also send guests links to make reservations or place orders and transcribes messages to identify priority calls. The Deck on Laguna Beach used this tech to answer over 21,000 calls and saved 182 hours that would have been spent on the phone. On top of this, 40 percent of the phone calls were sent reservation links to help ensure the guests book a table.
Deliver Season’s Eatings — Holiday dinners are not to be trifled with…unless, of course, you’re serving a trifle. Many guests will turn to their favorite restaurants to provide certain dishes or, better yet, the entire meal, especially when the restaurant is offering a tasty seasonal menu.
A great way to get the word out and drive a quick spike in sales is through online ordering events. Restaurants can create a special online menu or holiday bundle for fulfillment on a specific date and instantly connect the menu to online ordering on their own website. Working with Popmenu, B&B Butchers & Restaurant drove $43,000 in just two days through a Thanksgiving takeout event featuring prime rib, Yorkshire pudding and other dishes.
Spread Some Extra Cheer — 'Tis the season of giving, and everyone loves a good deal when holiday shopping and travel leave wallets a little lighter. Restaurants can send automated emails and smart messages to guests, thanking them with a special discount, VIP invite to a holiday wine tasting or other promotion.
Keep in mind that 65 percent of U.S. consumers say they want to hear from preferred restaurants at least once a week, according to Popmenu research. It’s important to reach out often. Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie changed their slowest online ordering days to their busiest with a recurring discount offer that linked directly to their menu.
Make a List, No Need to Check it Twice — No one likes to wait for a table, especially when they’re hungry. With new tech, guests can add themselves to a waitlist ahead of time via the restaurant’s website or QR code. They then receive a link to the menu to start thinking about their order and are continually updated on when their table will be ready. After the meal, they are automatically sent an invite to leave a review and become a VIP for ongoing remarketing.
What used to require up to three people to manage can be handled by tech.
Tracy Bryan, marketing manager for The Winking Lizard Tavern, shared this about her experience with Popmenu: “The digital waitlist has really helped keep our guests engaged while they wait for a table. We have also seen a huge increase in traffic to the website along with additional reviews being placed.”
Unwrap More Opportunity — Another way around a staffing shortage is through digital ordering and payments via kiosks or QR codes on tables. Guests became accustomed to new ways of experiencing hospitality during the pandemic and the majority prefer having an option for contactless dine-in going forward. They can order and pay anytime they want, often resulting in larger orders and enabling restaurants to service more areas with less staff.
The holidays can be a stressful time for restaurants. With these five hacks, holiday demand can feel, well, less demanding (and more profitable)! Follow this link for more tips and tools to handle the holiday bustle.
