You and your staff have worked hard to make every customer that enters your cafe as comfortable as possible. But with the recent COVID-19-related restrictions continuing to plague many community-focused businesses, many are struggling to cope with ways to keep their operations afloat while still providing a comfortable environment for customers.
Technology can be the solution for cafes and restaurants alike in the form of a contactless dining kit. This set of technology-driven tools will transform your operations while still providing exceptional customer service. With seating being limited or eliminated, and safety being at the forefront of any business that interacts closely with customers, contactless POS technology can bridge the gap between new limitations, public safety, and maintaining the quality you provide.
Mobile POS Systems Are Leading the Charge
Mobility options were already trending in dining-based businesses before the arrival of COVID-19. The improvements in ordering accuracy, table bookings, and restaurant management was a heralded set of benefits that were already helping restaurants improve their margins. The elements that form the functional foundation of a mobile POS system are the cloud, mobile devices, and online business tools, such as web-hosted or app-based tools.
Mobile devices, in particular iPads, provide deep levels of security and intuitive interfaces that most of your staff are likely familiar with using. This, plus the high level of support provided by Apple, makes any hosted app, such as your mPOS app, very reliable. These tools provide several contactless options for in-house dining, delivery, and curbside services that would be challenging to manage using stationary, legacy registers.
The cloud is the glue that pieces it all together. Data from one staff tablet can be instantly sent into the cloud to be sent to the next appropriate location within your business. The seamless flow of data in a mobile POS platform is what allows you to follow an order from the time it is placed until delivery and payment. Information from every transaction is then archived for easy retrieval for further expansion or proactive changes to restaurant menus and service options.
Contactless Customer Strategies Can Enhance Servicing Options
The top mobile POS technology providers will present multiple customer servicing options to you. One such popular tool is an online ordering website, which is easy to configure and manage. The introduction of web-based online ordering and payment options will present you with exciting ways to broaden your customer base and satisfy the desire of those who want to dine-in or those who prefer to enjoy your menu at home.
Customers wishing to enjoy your cuisine from afar simply need to launch your online menu, select their options, and include any up-charge items or meal altercations. Then, they can choose their preferred time for curbside pickup of their orders, limiting any contact between themselves and your staff. Or, they can leverage the in-house or third-party delivery services you utilize to further create a safe, contactless experience with your restaurant.
The use of contactless tools places more control of the in-house dining experience into the hands of your customers as well. QR codes placed at tables eliminate the need for physical menus or for a server to take an order and accept payment. Orders can be processed by your online ordering website and forwarded to your kitchen display system (KDS) for fulfillment. This means that the only contact a customer may have with your staff is when their meal is served.
What Are the Basic POS Contactless Tools You Need?
We have touched on some of the key tools that are used in typical contactless cafe and restaurant strategies, but there are many more that can be leveraged–both customer-facing and behind the scenes–that can help you create a spectacular dining experience for every customer. The set of features below should be considered must-haves in designing a contactless dining kit for your own cafe or restaurant:
- A branded and customizable online ordering website, provided by your mPOS vendor.
- Full integration of all sales channels into your mobile POS platform.
- Advanced data management across sales, inventory, and staffing areas of your business.
- Modern and intuitive kitchen display system (KDS) for higher order-fulfillment accuracy.
- The ability to accept mobile and digital payments.
- Appointment scheduling website for table bookings and staffing.
- Powerful data analytics to drive proactive changes that boost profits.
This list should serve as a comprehensive guide that will help lead you to the most effective set of contactless tools for your establishment. Having these tools in your pocket will allow you to continue to create a welcoming dining atmosphere that shows how much you care for the safety of customers and staff. These tools will also introduce new ways to leverage your inventory and sales data to proactively adjust the menu and servicing options to keep you a step ahead of consumer demands.
Customize Your Own Contactless Dining Kit
Operating a restaurant in the world’s current state of affairs makes contactless servicing options a mandatory requirement. Limits on dine-in guests and table spacing threaten to pinch already-slim margins even slimmer. Implementing the supporting technology for contactless dining requires a touch of precision and a broad spectrum of POS technical expertise. This is where using a proven POS solutions provider that has the expertise and industry know-how can help in driving success.
In a period of change, talech has a number of POS solutions that can help your business adjust operations smoothly. From reaching new audiences to engaging with your existing customers more often, we give you the tools to adapt quickly and with confidence. Get your free personalized demo to see how you can benefit from talech POS.
