Operations
3 holistic solutions helping restaurants heal
Francois Wolf, CMO of HungerRush, discusses how holistic technology solutions can help heal brands.
April 7, 2021 by Francois Wolf
The restaurant industry will need a lot of healing to recover from the global pandemic. And the best "medicine" to accomplish this healing is a holistic technological solution. A holistic approach isn't just for the medical world. If you're thinking holistic solutions won't apply to your eatery — think again.
A holistic approach is one that takes into consideration all the parts of the whole, with awareness of how everything is deeply interconnected within the "big picture." When it comes to solving problems for restaurants, consider digital technologies that are well-connected on every level, creating a unified system. Here are three ways that restaurants may benefit from implementing a holistic technology.
Integrate using SaaS with modular apps
When it comes to restaurant technologies, consider every aspect of your business. Digital technologies that are
 |
| Francois Wolf, CMO, HungerRush |
adaptable and results-oriented are paramount for success. An innovative, multi-functional platform should have a customizable structure that can adapt to your restaurant's needs and be built not just as operational tool, but as a business solution.
With a purposeful Software as a Service platform, you'll be able to simply and quickly integrate the modular apps you need to run your business. You can plug and play, accessing what you need without wasting space for what you don't. All of the components that support the front-end and back-end of your business will be connected, which is as holistic as it gets! And whether you have one restaurant or a chain, centralized customer data will be available in the cloud, anytime and anywhere.
Plus, you won't have to worry about maintaining on-premises software. No more unnecessary stress and resource constraints for integration or wasting thousands of dollars on incompatible systems. Platform upgrades will be hassle-free: a multi-functional cloud platform automatically deploys new features and functions. A hybrid ecosystem will also keep working with or without an internet connection so your business will never come to a screeching halt.
Using a SaaS platform-based solution allows you to make changes any time by incorporating new digital ordering and digital marketing channels. Simply put, the platform has the ability to quickly grow as much as you need it to. You'll have the scalability and flexibility to quickly address challenges and evolve with consumer preferences.
Use digital payments
Another benefit of using a multi-functional platform is that there are more options to connect to various digital payments. In fact, cash has been steadily falling out of favor for the last few years. Handling bills and coins not only slows the checkout process, it also increases the potential for passing germs around. Now, there are more options on the table and the more there are, the happier your customers will be.
Manual and swipe payments are the pre-COVID favorites for customers and restaurants. Credit cards have been rolling out a card tap feature, which allows customers to "tap" their EMV card on the terminal without signing or touching the unit. This option has made guests feel safe, providing accessibility and peace of mind.
Digital payments like Venmo, Zelle and PayPal are how many customers are paying for their purchases. Having these options allows for ease of pay, especially for off-premise dining. Customers can easily use digital payments when using digital ordering channels like text to order, online ordering, or ordering through your restaurant's app. For text ordering, customers generally safe their preferred digital payment option so they don't have to send multiple messages to your restaurant. This streamlines the ordering process for both your customers and your staff.
Customers want more options — including payments — and you'll see how it's profitable for your restaurant long-term. Holistic solutions can link all of these functions, maximizing profits while prioritizing the guest experience.
Scale and centralize operations for multi-unit restaurants
When it comes to chains or franchises, your locations require a scalable solution for managing all software, systems, and services, like a restaurant management system. Multi-unit restaurants and other franchised eateries rely on this type of holistic technology to quickly support their growth for long-term success. Regardless of how you're changing or expanding your operations, technology should optimize your operations and maximize efficiency wherever possible.
The most profitable restaurants scale their multi-unit businesses by having a unified approach when it comes to running each location, removing bottlenecks and solving issues automatically. Your holistic restaurant tech solution will be ready to guide your business through any challenge that comes your way.
A holistic solution serves as your command center that integrates and stores all of the data you need: customer transactional data from all locations; loyalty program insights; digital marketing efforts and more. Having centralized control of your data enables you to make informed business decisions and provide a consistent guest experience across all locations.
About Francois Wolf
