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A recent eBook by Softarex Technologies highlights all the main aspects of AI usage in restaurant operations, from customerservice to back-of-house management. This transformation is not just about automation; it's about creating smarter, more efficient, and more personalized dining experiences.
Understand the Basics of Tip Distribution Before creating or adjusting your tipping policy, understand the typical roles involved and how tips are usually distributed: Waitstaff: Often the primary recipients of tips as they interact directly with customers. kitchen staff, bartenders) significantly contribute to customer satisfaction.
Widespread Adoption of Technology Solutions in Food Service In 2025, the food service industry will increasingly leverage technology for waste tracking and diversion. – Frenchie Audette, VP of Food Service at Divert In 2024, the restaurant industry continued to adjust to changes sparked by 2020.
But with the rise of services like DoorDash, GrubHub and Caviar, good food — some of it from Michelin-starred chefs — is only a click away. Restaurants, like retail before them, are battling the rising tide of digital services by ensuring an experience that can’t be had online and that reflects well on their brand.
Restaurants and bars are leaning into automation to address staffing shortages, enhance operational efficiency, and meet rising customer expectations for speed and consistency. In 2025, I expect automation to keep expanding beyond back-of-house applications into more guest-facing roles.
Whether the business has just staffed up for the holidays or experiences their busy period at a different time of the year, investing in seasonal talent is a crucial part of labor strategy year-round. Perhaps the most important factor in attracting strong seasonal talent is creating a positive employee experience.
Today’s restaurants are expected to deliver an Amazon-like experience: know customers’ preferences and dining habits and deliver food, whether tableside or to their front doors, without delay. As such, it’s crucial for restaurants to find ways to increase efficiency and improve the dining experience.
“This enduring customer loyalty drives the restaurant industry forward, creating clear opportunities for restaurants to enhance the dining experience through strategic limited time offers, efficient delivery and exceptional in-person service," said Samir Zabaneh, CEO of TouchBistro.
They must also focus on creating memorable experiences for customers at every touchpoint. 60% of guests who have a positive experience are likely to dine at a restaurant more frequently. Knowing these customerexperience factors can help you create a positive and welcoming environment that will keep guests coming back for more.
Is your restaurant up to speed with the latest best practices for back of house (BOH) management? Those areas of your restaurant that aren’t typically seen by customers but directly impact your business. So, which back of office trends should restaurant ownership and management be concerned with heading into 2023?
With the rising costs of goods, consumers growing more conscious of spending habits, and private equity-backed brands popping up in communities large and small, mom-and-pops are in danger of adding to the failure statistics. Scalable solutions like self-service kiosks and predictive analytics are transforming the way small businesses operate.
A customer in Miami should bite into the same perfectly seasoned burger that delights diners in Seattle. Reliable experiences build brand loyalty, and systemic processes lead to reliable profit margins. It’s no secret that restaurants with more than one location depend on standardization to thrive.
Globally, restaurants saw a notable shift in customer expectations and behavior during this time. As a result, restaurants had to quickly adapt by offering takeout and delivery options to cater to their customers' changing needs. But with the growth in off-premise dining comes extra pressure for businesses.
Tipping expectations have skyrocketed, and consumers are pushing back. This “tipflation” phenomenon is leading to lower gratuity rates, even at full-service restaurants. Gen Z, in particular, is rejecting tipping culture, seeing it as a forced surcharge rather than a reward for great service. Transparency is key.
Looking back, I was optimistic—perhaps a bit naïve—about what scaling would require. The Turning Point: Expanding into CPG Scaling an artisan food business isn’t just about making more product—it’s about ensuring that growth doesn’t dilute quality, customerexperience, or operational efficiency.
From salted egg yolks and chili crunch fusions to mushroom-infused teas and freeze-dried fruit powder garnishes, Kimpton’s in-house experts share the standout ingredients, menu items and techniques that will come to the table in 2025.
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Rifrullo Café, a cozy farm-to-table restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts, hums with customers on a steamy July mid-morning. As a chef, I have a responsibility to do my best to create good environments for people, customers, and the community,” says Marnell-Suhanosky. Food service buildings in the U.S., Community, environment.
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What was once a gradual process turned into a rapid transformation, permanently reshaping how restaurants operate and interact with customers. Customers have now fully embraced the benefits of using restaurant technology, and to keep up with guests evolving expectations, the tech industry is growing at an incredible rate.
Before you spend the money and roll out a dozen new tablets across your front of house and kitchen, its worth asking: Are these things actually built for the job? Its going to get dropped, splashed with sauce, and maybe knocked off the bar by a customers pursethats just part of the deal.
We like to say waffles “drip with success” for food service operators, and it's because of four key factors: profitability, versatility, consumer experience and operational efficiency. It’s a favorite of ours and pretty straightforward. Versatility: They are essentially a blank canvas. .
One of those costs is with partnering services, with many food service operators relying on purchasing groups to help them make category-specific strategic purchases. There are many areas where we have seen food service operators benefit! This makes business tight causing a hard look at any extra costs.
Menu pricing isnt just about covering costsits about finding that sweet spot where profitability, customer perception, and operational reality meet. Too high, and youll drive customers away. High-end restaurants can charge more for the experience, leaving wiggle room for a higher food cost percentage.
We hope you enjoy your dining experience with us. For now, restaurants are using AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) to streamline operations and improve customerservice in a much less tech-savvy environment. You are sitting in your favorite restaurant and have placed an order on a tablet at your table.
Restaurants are constantly busy, which means communication is key to make sure the experience for customers is top of the line. Two-way radios, help restaurant staff communicate more efficiently leading to a better experience for the guests. Two-way radios help workers respond quickly to these customer’s needs.
Regular customers make up the backbone of any restaurants sales , but if you put a group of restaurant owners around a table, the conversation inevitably focuses on growth through new customer acquisition. You love seeing them come in, and you say hello, but is that enough to keep them coming back for years down the line?
The past two years have brought unprecedented changes across the restaurant industry, from new concerns related to social distancing and cleanliness to the acceleration of pre-pandemic trends such as the rise of mobile ordering and third-party delivery services. Strengthen Customer Retention. Set the Bar. Stay Connected.
Digital not only powers seamless experiences but also unlocks guest data that can elevate hospitality across all touchpoints, both digital and in-person. The customer's needs always come first, even though my prices continue to rise. One of the most impactful changes – and the stickiest – is contactless payment.
One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customerexperience that makes your restaurant unique. Running a restaurant is equal parts passion and precisionespecially when it comes to running the numbers.
There was a time when 70% of F&B employees didn’t receive training for customerservice. Without the right training, even the best menu or ambiance can fall short due to poor service, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost revenue. A well-structured restaurant training program will let you turn this around.
Customers expect to browse menus, place orders, and pay for their meals with just a few taps of their phones. For restaurant operators, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge: how to implement an online ordering system that maximizes revenue while maintaining control over their customer relationships. billion in revenue.
This ideally reinforces the connection in the customer’s brain between their everyday choices and the resulting impacts on the environment: “You’ve saved so many gallons of water, you’ve saved so many square meters of land and emissions and energy,” as Goldman says. These numbers are largely hypothetical. Congratulations.
But getting customers to order once isnt enough. Repeat business is what drives real growth, yet many restaurants struggle to keep takeout diners coming back. With competition increasing and third-party apps controlling customer relationships, building loyalty requires a smarter approach. In a recent survey by ChowNow, 54.6%
By the time you finish this article, youll know how to approach restaurant marketing the right way and not waste time doing guesswork, crossing your fingers, and then hoping you see new customers walking through the door. Customers have more choices, higher expectations, and countless ways to discover (or overlook) your restaurant.
Every restaurant faces operational challengeseven with a great menu and a talented team, bottlenecks can slow service, frustrate customers, and cut into profits. Staff scramble, customers grow impatient, and suddenly, a busy night turns into chaos. Overworked employees and impatient customers. The result?
The revolution of delivery services is making a substantial impact on the restaurant industry. While food delivery is nothing new, breakout services like Uber Eats and DoorDash have capitalized on what customers want most: convenience.
Are you doing all the right thingsserving amazing food, delivering top-notch service, crafting perfectly balanced drinksbut the tables still arent filling up like they should? Youre delivering a great dining experience, yet foot traffic remains inconsistent, online engagement is low, and new customers arent coming in as often as youd like.
Does the energy feel flat, and the customers look bored. Get some fresh customers through the door and start the neighborhood talking about whats happening in your restaurant again. You need ideas that will wow new customers and get the regulars excited to come back in.
As a new normal emerges, it will be more important than ever to elevate the dining experience with experiences that are personal and delightful. Business begins at the endpoint, especially in food service and hospitality. Each of these endpoints is part of the guest journey and are key in delivering a harmonized experience.
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