Ring in the New Year with an Upgraded Online Ordering Solution
We’re in a new year, and it’s the perfect time for quick service restaurants (QSRs) to reassess their operations. Are you embracing innovative solutions like online ordering software or settling for things the way they have always worked?
The food service industry is in an era driven by customer convenience. Customers seek it wherever they can and will choose a different option if you don’t offer it. Online ordering can be a lifeline for QSRs catering to convenience-craving customers.
Reaching Customers Beyond Brick and Mortar
Staffing shortages have become a widespread issue, leaving many QSRs struggling to maintain the quality of service. Even with a shortage of trained in-house staff, you can still connect with customers outside the traditional brick-and-mortar setting with the right online ordering solution.
A reliable online ordering system will keep your restaurant firing on all cylinders, by continuing to have orders rolling in, enabling your team to process them in stride, and ensuring their stress levels stay under control.
Options for Online Ordering
To allow your customers to place orders online, you have two basic options:
- Use a third-party platform to accept orders.
- Accept orders directly through your website.
Each option comes with pros and cons. For example, while there are fees to use a third-party platform, it may also give customers the option of delivery service, which you may not offer in house. Additionally, posting your menu on a third-party site can expand your marketing reach and mean more business. On the other hand, accepting orders through your own website can be efficient and cost-effective, and you have more control over the entire customer experience.
By investing in the right online ordering solution, you’ll ensure you’re providing the best customer experiences and laying the groundwork to grow your business.
There’s no better time than the beginning of another year to reevaluate your current setup and explore alternative solutions.
Seamless Integration
The right quick service online ordering software should seamlessly integrate with your POS system, sharing orders with the kitchen with no manual intervention. When an order is placed through a third-party site, NCC funnels the order through our Web Order Service (WOS) and the quick service restaurant’s POS, which then displays on Kitchen Display System monitors.
The Kitchen Display System automatically sorts orders based on the order type so that the kitchen staff can prioritize online orders. This allows your staff to focus on the most important tasks and your restaurant is positioned as a modern tech-savvy establishment.
Achieving Customer Satisfaction
A consumer survey revealed that 1 in 4 patrons spend more when they order online. However, offering online ordering provides more than just higher check averages and increased sales. It also promotes customer engagement, which is critical to building loyalty.
Integrating orders from your online ordering system directly to the POS can enhance customer experiences even more. It can tie into your menu management, making sure you never offer a menu item that’s out of stock. Nothing ruins a customer’s online restaurant experience like ordering a meal and then finding out 40 minutes later that they can’t get it.
Integrating the software can also keep customers happy by making sure that your team will meet their special requests. A fully integrated system will reduce errors by setting up all necessary ordering prompts so that they are carefully tracked and fulfilled ensuring customer satisfaction. Taking care of these details strengthens customer retention and provides valuable data for personalized marketing strategies.
A Better Solution for a Successful Year Ahead
Starting the new year right for your QSR involves embracing a tech-forward approach to online ordering. You may have experienced some difficulty with online orders during the Christmas rush. The parts of the process that need manual intervention are the most likely to break down when the restaurant gets busy. Integrated online ordering software will help you eliminate those breaks in the chain. Automation also helps QSRs make the most of the staff they have at a time when hiring and retaining staff members is becoming increasingly difficult. It will also support your desire for excellence in execution to maintain those happy customers.
Integrated online ordering systems ensure your off-premises customers always get what they want when and how they want it. The dawn of the new year is the perfect time to make changes. Take a look at our Online Ordering Solutions to see what enhancements might be perfect for your 2024! Set the stage for a prosperous year of online ordering ahead.
