By: Grace Parazzoli, Content Marketing Manager at Lavu
VARs working within the food and beverage sector know that while restaurants vary drastically in menu offerings and ambience, they all have one thing in common: the pursuit of total efficiency. That pursuit is a never-ending one because it can seem at odds with the leisurely experience that customers frequently expect when dining out. VARs who offer mPOS solutions within their line card stand to differentiate themselves by integrating restaurant technology that boosts both speed of service and customer satisfaction.
The result? An attractive return on investment for any restaurateur, and maybe some glowing Yelp reviews.
One of the trickiest aspects of running a restaurant—and one of the key ways in which VARs can help their customers realize their full potential—is table turnover. Too fast, and customers feel as if they are not wanted. Too slow, and you can watch those margins atrophy (in real time, if you’re checking reports on an mPOS).
There are some practical ways to improve table turnover, such as training staff to visit a table for drink orders within one minute of customers being seated, or assigning more than one server to a large party. But one of the best time-savers is taking orders and charging cards at the table. Taking orders on a mobile device allows the server to move directly from one table to the next—not from table to kitchen to table and back. Mobile ordering also allows easy order changes. If someone orders a quinoa burger and then decides to switch to the cheeseburger, the server can press a few buttons to make that change, which kitchen staff will see immediately.
Without mPOS, 15 minutes can pass between the time the server drops the check and the time the cards are rung and receipts signed. Diners might be deep in conversation, or the server could get distracted by more immediate requests from other guests. Restaurateurs can eliminate these time-wasters by using technology to their advantage.
mPOS systems allow servers to be in control of the time at the end of the meal. Receipts are easily offered by email, and tip amounts can be suggested, saving customers from having to do the math. Soon those customers will be on their way, and new ones will be seated at the table, looking over the menu.
No matter how upscale or casual a restaurant, its patrons will admire an establishment that offers not just excellent food but also attentive service and sleek, modern technology.
There are plenty of other ways VARs can emphasize the increased efficiency and customer satisfaction that mPOS brings. Labor reports can indicate exactly how much individual servers are selling during specific time frames, gift and loyalty programs encourage new and repeat patronage, and mPOS shift management cuts back on the amount of time and effort a restaurateur has to put into determining staff schedules. Amid a challenging restaurant landscape with stiff competition, VARs who can offer a POS solution to improve efficiency will find that they are providing a true value-added solution.
