The restaurants and coffee shops sector is evolving, ensuring better customer experiences. In addition, restaurant point-of-sale technology is evolving to meet customer needs. One type of restaurant tech that’s become quite popular is self-service kiosk.
Also known as self-serve kiosks, these solutions are gaining popularity in the quick-service restaurants (QSR) industry among both QSRs and customers.
Self-service kiosks let customers make orders, with less interaction from hosts, and help restaurants boost sales and profits.
They also help reduce congestion during peak times in restaurants, cafés, and stores.
Self-ordering kiosks offer customers a quick and easy way to order and pay for their food, enhancing their experience. These self-service kiosks also increase work efficiency and lower operational costs, making them a smart investment for restaurants.
In this article, we will cover the importance of self-ordering kiosks and their benefits for business owners and customers in the restaurant industry. We will also provide tips on how to choose the right kiosk for your restaurant.
Top benefits of self-ordering kiosks
Before we dive into how to choose self-service kiosks and machines, let’s explore their top benefits and features.
Contactless ordering and payment solutions
One of the top reasons customers like self-service kiosks is the contactless features. Customers can easily browse the menu without interacting with a cashier.
This not only enhances the customer’s comfort during the ordering process, but also helps reduce the spread of germs in enclosed spaces.
Customers can review their orders and make payments safely through these kiosks.
More accurate orders with fewer errors
Another key benefit of self-ordering kiosks is accurate orders. Customers fill out all the details regarding the order themselves, allowing them to customize ingredients and add side items easily through various options or automated recommendations.
For instance, when selecting a latte, the self-ordering system can suggest different types of milk, such as skimmed, full cream, almond milk, or others. In addition to enhancing order accuracy, these kiosks help reduce errors that can occur during the ordering process.
Their integration with the cashier system and kitchen display systems further contributes to improved customer satisfaction.
Non-intrusive promotions
Customers in restaurants and coffee shops often feel annoyed and uncomfortable when cashiers pressure them to consider new offers or additional items they don’t want.
In contrast, self-order kiosks offer non-intrusive suggestions. This removes the pressure customers feel and allows them to browse menu items at their own pace. They can also explore additional options to their meals or beverages.
Faster service
Kiosks reduce queues and waiting times during peak hours, allowing staff to serve more customers quickly. This enhances service efficiency and increases table turnover by streamlining the ordering and payment processes.
Enhancing profitability
Self-order kiosks can increase revenue by lowering labor costs and reducing errors, which decreases customer complaints. These kiosks can also increase sales of certain products or dishes by recommending them to guests.
The future of self-ordering technology
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve and concerns about the spread of new epidemics grow, the reliance on self-ordering kiosk technology is on the rise. By integrating AI with kiosk systems, businesses can offer customers a unique and enhanced dining experience.
AI and automation in self-ordering Kiosks
AI-enhanced self-ordering kiosks will analyze customer behavior and recognize faces, allowing them to anticipate orders based on past selections and provide automatic suggestions. Future kiosks are expected to enable control and order placement through voice commands or gestures, eliminating screen contact.
Currently linked to inventory management via point-of-sale systems, these kiosks will eventually automate orders for out-of-stock products without any human intervention.
Further reading: 9 Reasons Why Self-Service Kiosks Are The Future Of Ordering
Personalized recommendations
Using self-learning and artificial intelligence, kiosk systems will analyze customer behavior based on previous orders and provide tailored recommendations to help customers place their orders easily.
How to choose a self-service kiosk for your restaurant
When selecting self-ordering kiosks for your restaurant, there are several factors to consider to make the best decision for your business. Among those factors are price and quality.
Here are some useful tips to help you find the ideal option for your needs.
Choose a service provider offering hardware and software
First, you need to choose a service provider. Look for companies that provide both hardware and software for seamless integration of your self-ordering kiosk with your restaurant systems.
This will help you access detailed reports and performance analysis, enabling informed decisions to boost sales and facilitate growth.
Working with a single provider also simplifies technical support requests, ensuring quick resolution of any issues.
Offers regular updates
Consider a provider that provides regular, free, and automated updates to their self-ordering technology.
These updates to the operating system help simplify the user interface and introduce new features that enhance usability.
Integrates with CRMs
Another important feature or factor to consider when choosing a self-ordering kiosk is to make sure it integrates with your customer relationship management (CRM) system.
This integration helps you collect customer data, such as mobile numbers and emails, while preventing duplication. It also allows you to track orders, customize options, and improve your marketing strategies.
Supports loyalty program integration
When selecting a self-ordering kiosk, make it can be integrated with your restaurant’s loyalty program.
This integration allows customers to earn and accumulate points when making purchases. They can also redeem those points for rewards, discounts, and other purchases directly through the kiosk.
It’s important to note that effective loyalty programs encourage repeat purchases, helping restaurants retain customers and foster their loyalty.
Further reading: 6 Effective Loyalty Program Ideas for Your Restaurant
Upselling
An important feature to look for in a self-service kiosk is the upselling feature. This feature allows you to recommend additional or higher-value items or options to guests.
This approach increases your average sales, including your average order value (AOV), while maintaining a pressure-free experience for customers.
Supports multiple payment methods
The self-order kiosk system should accommodate various payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Wallet, credit cards, and payments via smartwatches. This flexibility makes it easy for customers to pay and can contribute to increased sales.
A marketing tool when idle
Choose kiosks that function as display screens when not in use. This allows you to promote your restaurant’s special offers and advertise new menu items.
This approach can help reduce marketing expenses, particularly the costs associated with printing promotional materials.
Conclusion
Over the past decade, the demand for self-ordering kiosks has significantly increased, particularly after 2020. These kiosks offer numerous advantages, all of which are provided by Foodics’ self-ordering solutions.
Foodics kiosks helps QSRs and other types of restaurants enhance the customer experience, boost sales, and manage their entire restaurant with a variety of restaurant-focused solutions.
Give your restaurant a modern look and feel. Contact us to learn more.
