Why Self-Ordering Kiosks Are a Good Idea for Your Restaurant
For those who are unfamiliar with self-ordering or self-service kiosks. Self-ordering and self-service kiosks are often referred to as touchscreen computers that let users independently input an order into the system. Self-ordering and self-service kiosks are not very new technologically. Nonetheless, the fast casual, restaurant, and fast food businesses have seen a consistent increase in demand for self-ordering kiosks. Businesses are now much more conscious of the advantages that come with technology. Numerous studies have shown how effective technology can be in increasing a company’s growth and efficiency. Restaurants with the biggest technical advantages in the industry are often those that can take advantage of the newest technological advancements.
In order to improve customer experiences and expedite company processes, kiosk management entails supervising the establishment, upkeep, and performance optimization of self-service kiosks.
Let’s discuss the main reasons why self-ordering and self-service kiosks appeal to restaurant and hotel enterprises.
Labor Cost
The cost of labor is rising constantly. The minimum wage is rising in several states. The cost of investing in self-ordering and self-service kiosks might be less expensive overall than purchasing point of sale systems and hiring staff to run them as the minimum wage increases approach a tipping point.
Rivalry
In the last ten years, the restaurant and fast food industries have undergone significant transformation, making it harder to stand apart from the competitors. There is a great deal of congestion in many areas. Casual eating establishments are shutting their doors because to congestion, much like retail outlets. Take a look at this article on the glut of restaurants. These days, customers have various expectations. Differentiating your brand is essential to success and expansion. Major alterations are being made to the identity and brand of fast food establishments.
Characteristics
Adult generations evolve with the passage of time. This implies that when baby boomers age, the bulk of consumers will come from the next generation. It’s easy to see that almost all brands these days are trying to appeal to the younger client base. It’s also no secret that the millennial generation, and all subsequent generations, are much more tech-savvy and alert.
More narrow margins
Numerous significant developments have been seen in the restaurant and fast food industries. Many of these changes are the result of a sharp shift in customer demand and behavior. Over time, the total profit margins on food and drink have only decreased. In this essay regarding restaurant statistics, Michael Schumacher does an excellent job of showing how tight margins are.
Therefore, it is evident that the restaurant and fast food industries need to adapt to the changing times given the frequent changes that occur in these sectors. It seems that installing self-ordering and self-service kiosks in the restaurant is one of those significant modifications. Most likely, this is so because self-ordering and self-service kiosks cover the following important issues:
· Reduced Headroom
· Boost Retention and Customer Experience
· Boost Productivity
· Boost Growth
· Boost Income
Let’s discuss how self-ordering and self-service kiosks can provide eateries such amazing value.
Reduced Overhead and Expenses
Self-service and self-ordering kiosks may save staff overhead. During peak hours, cashiers might be assisted by kiosks. When little business is being done, self-service kiosks may be the sole way to place an order during off-peak hours, negating the need for a cashier. Every single point-of-sale system requires a worker to function. Because they don’t need a staff to run each one, kiosks can grow more effectively. Companies must also provide POS system training to someone. Self-ordering and self-service kiosks, however, need little to no training for staff members. Orders may be placed at kiosks 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without a break. They also don’t need overtime, increases, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, or employee benefits.
Enhanced Productivity
Self-service and self-ordering kiosks may provide a platform for processing orders more quickly. Customers may see reduced wait times or maybe no lineups at all if orders are taken more quickly. Businesses may function more efficiently and service more consumers when orders are put into the system more quickly. Employers may reallocate staff members to concentrate on enhancing other company operations. It is possible to enhance quality control and service quality by allocating more human resources.
The core of self-service kiosk systems is kiosk software, which offers outstanding capabilities for handling user interactions, providing knowledge, and system monitoring. This allows for cost-effective operation and adaptability to fit a variety of corporate goals
Enhanced Quality Assurance / Regular Purchases
Orders placed via self-ordering and self-service kiosks are usually submitted more properly since there is no need for the client to translate their instructions to the cashier. It has been shown that when clients submit orders independently, they are satisfied with order consistency. Repeat business is often generated by satisfied clients.
Data and Marketing
Knowledge is a powerful thing. Self-ordering and self-service kiosks may improve data collection and consumer identification. Self-service and self-ordering kiosks are constantly capable of offering more effective suggestive and upselling opportunities. More sophisticated kiosk technology are able to provide recommendations and upsells depending on the person placing the purchase. Businesses are now able to communicate with customers twice via text messaging thanks to authentication using telephone numbers. More precise information about a client’s requirements and experience may be obtained via improved customer communication.
Better Support for Customers
Self-ordering and self-service kiosks save up staff time so they may concentrate on giving clients better service instead of collecting orders. By eliminating the need for costly human resources to do tasks that machines are superior at, people can spend more time interacting with customers, delivering meals to the table, making recommendations, and finding out about their experiences.
Enhanced Client Experience
Self-ordering or self-service kiosks are popular with millennial clients, and if the kiosk is well-designed, order input is quick and simple, making for a positive ordering experience. A well-designed kiosk interface enables customers to consistently anticipate an accurate order. Improved client retention (repeat business) is often correlated with better customer experiences.
Self-ordering kiosks are a terrific idea! Why, then, has adoption been so inadequate?
Numerous articles discuss the pros and even some drawbacks of self-ordering or self-service kiosks. Let’s talk about some potential explanations for why restaurants that may really profit from them have not embraced self-ordering and self-service kiosks.
Breaking Up
The majority of self-ordering and self-service kiosks on the market today aren’t designed to work with your point of sale system. Therefore, a kiosk solution isn’t always accessible. The majority of kiosks on the market today are designed to only function with POS systems made by the same company. The effect of POS businesses keeping their products private is fragmentation. It is very difficult for another product or service to integrate (function with) a system that uses a proprietary development approach. This approach may compel the client to buy every product from the same supplier. Proprietary items are absolutely acceptable; the challenge lies in the fact that it is hard for a single firm to create everything to the highest standard and satisfy everyone’s demands. A significant factor in business specialization is this.
Another problem with fragmentation is that you are limited to the form factor that the kiosk provider for your point of sale offers. For example, suppose you’d want an iPad kiosk with a 22-inch screen. Regretfully, iPads are only available in 12.9-inch sizes.
Minimal Personalization
While most self-ordering and self-service kiosks allow for personalization, the options are often restricted. There is often little flexibility in terms of workflow, menu design, and user experience. These kiosks often have a predetermined design. The majority of self-ordering and self-service kiosks do not let you flip the screen from portrait to landscape mode or the other way around. Since clients would never see or use POS, a standard layout and orientation will be adequate. It’s likely that most companies don’t mind if their point-of-sale layout is identical to that of their rivals. But things are different with self-ordering and self-service kiosks.
Branding is crucial. The way you set yourself out in the market is via your brand. Delivering the ideal brand experience is essential to the success of your business. For your firm to really provide the consumer the brand experience, you need have completely personalized branding and layout. Sadly, most self-ordering or self-service kiosks do not provide complete creative freedom in design, which restricts the capacity to provide a comprehensive brand experience.
Price
There are undoubtedly upfront and ongoing expenses associated with self-ordering and self-service kiosks. Like everything else, quality comes at a cost. The less expensive kiosks may not adequately reflect your business and provide less flexibility. Self-service kiosk hardware that is less expensive and less durable/tamper-resistant than more expensive alternatives is often not of commercial standard. Although less expensive solutions could be less expensive initially, they restrict your options and the kind of self-service you can provide to your clients.
High-end self-ordering or self-service kiosks that have unique enclosures and hardware cost much more. They are able to provide the authentic branded experience, nevertheless. It always has a greater initial cost and often has higher installation and setup costs, just like any custom-built equipment.
Software for upscale self-ordering or self-service kiosks is often created on demand. Since there isn’t a Kiosk solution for their POS system or the one that is available isn’t good enough to give their brand experience, the majority of prominent businesses have had to spend heavily in developing bespoke software.
Supervisory
Like other technology, kiosks need to be managed. The costs associated with owning and running self-ordering and self-service kiosks may rise due to maintenance, repairs, upgrades, security, and upkeep. Vandalism is another problem that kiosks may cause, and it may make management more expensive.
Unsatisfactory Customer Service
If the Self Ordering or Self Service Kiosks are unresponsive, slow, or have an interface that is too complicated for customers to use to place an order or make a payment, they may get irritated or agitated. Customers may need to request support when anything goes wrong, which might take more time. There are situations when you may not even be able to receive help. While it is probably (hopefully) uncommon, vandalism might be resorted to by a disgruntled consumer after a bad encounter.
Some individuals are traditionalists and would rather speak with a live person. This is particularly the case if the self-ordering or self-service kiosks do not let users customize the menu items to their own preferences.
Workers’ Sabotage
It may be challenging for employees to accept self-ordering or self-service kiosks because they see them as a threat to their job security. Occasionally, servers may think that since clients are utilizing self-service kiosks, their tips are decreasing.
What makes self-ordering kiosks a good option for your restaurant or fast-food business, then?
Breaking Up
The majority of the popular POS systems that restaurants and fast food chains use today can be integrated.
Price
The greatest hardware and technology available for kiosks are used in the creation of Linkitsoft. Companies may get the most out of their first kiosk investment. Generally speaking, a proprietary Kiosk with comparable functionality, robustness, and power costs far more than.
Workers’ Sabotage
Linkitsoft is unable to stop your staff from creating barriers to kiosk adoption. But in our opinion, it will benefit all parties if a company gives its staff the freedom and training to devote the additional time and focus to giving consumers better service rather than making them punch in orders.
