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The restaurant experience was once solely comprised of human-to-human, in-person experiences. Fast food and food delivery gradually began changing that equation. 2024 was a year of experimentation with AI, with restaurants testing it on customer-facing interactions, like AI drive-thru ordering, with varying degrees of success.
As digital transactions become ubiquitous, businesses across all sectors are embracing innovations that reshape the way they interact with customers. According to Statista , the global online food delivery market size was valued at $151.5 According to Statista , the global online food delivery market size was valued at $151.5
"The pandemic forced the restaurant industry to reinvent itself overnight, moving from a primarily in-store dining experience to an omnichannel, digital-first business. These changes have become permanent shifts in how they target customers, market themselves, and design their offerings." How Do You Stack Up?
Loyaltyprograms are the secret sauce for keeping customers hooked, whether you're a cozy corner café or a massive restaurant chain. For starters, technology plays a big role: more than 60 percent of diners credit tech with making their restaurant experience better. But it’s not just about convenience.
Less than two decades ago, restaurant-quality meal delivery was largely limited to pizza and Chinese takeout. Today, the global food delivery app industry is predicted to reach $320 billion by 2029 — up from $140 billion in 2022. When it comes to delivery, you can take the process into your own hands.
Here’s how loyaltyprograms often pan out: A customer downloads the app. Although the average consumer belongs to 15 or so loyaltyprograms, they use fewer than seven. So how can you make your loyaltyprogram stand out instead of going stale? Digital Touchpoints that Feed Customer Appetite.
With so many people leaving the industry, restaurants stepped up—raising wages, creating new opportunities, and doubling down on the employee experience. Similarly, AI-driven thermostats will optimize indoor climates, enhancing the comfort of both staff and customers while balancing energy usage.
Digital loyaltyprograms surged 124 percent during the height of the pandemic, helping restaurants drive more frequent visits and higher check averages from devoted customers, according to market researcher NPD Group. Having a loyaltyprogram today is table stakes. Having a loyaltyprogram today is table stakes.
As the world quickly came to a screeching halt in the early months of 2020, restaurants quickly accelerated an already existing shift towards digitalization to adapt to customers' new safety and priorities. Throughout 2021 and beyond, that answer will largely depend on how restaurants adjust their loyaltyprograms.
Marketers and business leaders have heard the saying, “It’s cheaper to keep a customer than acquire a new one.” The best customers are returning ones as members of top-performing loyaltyprograms are 77 percent more likely to choose their brand over competitors. Incorporating LoyaltyPrograms with SMS.
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.
More than eight in ten restaurant operators expect 2025 sales to meet or exceed 2024 levels, but rising competition will require differentiation through experience, service, and innovation, according to The National Restaurant Association’s 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry report.
Restaurants and bars are leaning into automation to address staffing shortages, enhance operational efficiency, and meet rising customer expectations for speed and consistency. Personalization Through Data Today’s consumers want experiences tailored to their preferences, and the hospitality industry is rising to meet these expectations.
Value Isn’t Just About Price—It’s About Experience Price sensitivity may be at an all-time high, but focusing solely on discounts risks missing the bigger picture. Diners aren’t just looking for the cheapest meal; they’re looking for the best balance of quality, quantity, and experience.
Offering the right type of discount will help operators win more loyal customers. The food and grocery delivery space is booming – and it shows no signs of slowing down. With larger orders, “percent-off” offers can have a greater benefit for the customer. Loyalty Rewards. Percentage-Based Discounts.
As consumers expect more convenient ways to get their favorite meals – even more so than ever before amidst the pandemic – adding delivery has enabled restaurants to meet those demands and grow digital sales. In fact, delivery has become mission critical. Launching and scaling delivery involves a lot of moving parts.
. "We are seeing many restaurants, chains and independents use price value messages to win new customers and grow visits and loyalty with existing customers. Consumers, regardless of country or income level, expect to have the experience they paid for when choosing the restaurant."
Restaurants collect a ton of customer data. Every online order, email sign up, and reward program interaction generates valuable insightsbut if that data just sits there, youre missing a major opportunity. Think about it: What if you could automatically send a special offer to a customer who hasnt ordered in a while?
Brands that have shifted to a more customer-centric approach have an understanding of loyalty as being earned and not sold. Loyaltyprograms are commonplace today, a necessity and important part of restaurant marketing strategy. What do these programs provide to an organization? Expanding delivery methods.
By Kateryna Reshetilo, Contributor Are you a restaurant owner looking for ways to keep up with the fast-changing demands of your customers? Have you noticed how food delivery apps are becoming essential in attracting and retaining diners? The global online food delivery market size was valued at USD 221.65 from 2023 to 2030.
For a deeper dive into brand messaging, strategy, and authenticity, creating unified guest experiences, and the orchestration of physical and experiential touchpoints, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine reached out to The Plaid Penguin’s Founder and Sir Idea Man Joe Haubenhofer. A strong restaurant brand goes beyond a logo.
If your business isnt keeping up with the changes, you risk falling behind and not meeting modern customer expectations. For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. Online ordering and delivery apps. Here is an example of a restaurants branded app.
In 2025, the US online food delivery market is expected to reach $424.9 Customers expect to browse menus, place orders, and pay for their meals with just a few taps of their phones. Whether theyre grabbing takeout on the way home from work or scheduling a delivery for later that day, digital ordering has become the norm.
Even though local and state orders prohibiting or severely restricting restaurants’ ability to serve customers and generate and revenue, standard business liability policies did not provide coverage, and many policies had a pandemic exclusion. The pandemic made speed, accuracy, and seamless ordering non-negotiable.
Many have started offering their menus on third-party delivery websites. Some have white-labeled those same delivery services for integration within their organizations, and others have built out programs for pick up or delivery entirely in house.
Personalization is key to successful loyaltyprograms, according to the 2024 Paytronix Loyalty Trends Report. "Top "Top performers are personalizing and using data to segment their customer database," Kristin Lynch, Senior Director of Restaurant Strategy for Paytronix Systems. "They
Youll learn how to: Make your website easier to use Improve your restaurants online visibility so more customers find you Offer rewards to create more repeat customers Leverage third-party apps to drive more customers to your direct ordering system And so much more. If customers have to hunt for it, they might not bother.
It's about consistently delivering top-notch quality, exceptional service, and an unforgettable experience. Moreover, as the hospitality sector becomes increasingly competitive, tapping into the nuanced aspects of customer behavior becomes necessary. For franchise owners, maintaining uniform excellence across all outlets is key.
It quickly became obvious that the brands best able to respond to the challenges posed by COVID restrictions and customer behavior changes were those with a strong digital foundation. Mobile-Based LoyaltyPrograms. With the collection of more customer data comes the opportunity to retool customer engagement marketing.
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. The problem isnt your food or serviceits visibility and customer engagementand were going to help you fix that. Optimize your Google Business Profile.
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.
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. But first, why is customer retention such a big deal? Sales: 80% of sales typically come from 20% of clients. Thats huge!
Restaurant operators are now looking for solutions to retain customers as colder weather and economic conditions threaten their bottom line. Customers now expect more than a simple rewards program or general mailing list. Enhancing the In-Person Experience.
We’re constantly being bombarded by messages about how important it is to own your customer data. Customer data is only one segment of the information you need for good sales insights, marketing information, and business analytics. There are three main types of information your restaurant should collect: Customer Information.
If you want to increase order volume for your restaurant, focusing on online takeout and delivery is key. Operators who ignore this opportunity risk losing significant revenue to their competitors while missing out on the chance to build a stronger connection with their customers. But growing online order volume isnt always easy.
Restaurant loyaltyprograms are nothing new so what can restaurants do to stand out from the competition and better engage with guests to build relationships? How and why are loyaltyprograms evolving? Loyaltyprograms are made to cater to customers' ever-changing needs and expectations.
From improving your Google listing to leveraging customer reviews, these tips will show you how to boost your visibility and drive more traffic to your restaurant. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers. This way, you won’t need to code your site from scratch.
Create a Strong Online Presence While platforms like Instagram and TikTok can generate buzz for a restaurant, many Gen Z customers are still looking to traditional platforms like Yelp and Google Maps when choosing a restaurant to visit; therefore, marketing strategies should focus on creating a strong online presence for the overall brand.
But two non-negotiables have remained strong for diners: convenience and loyalty. With digital and frictionless experiences at the forefront, diners are seeking their favorite restaurants in new, more affordable ways. In doing so, they improve the customerexperience, which, in turn, increases loyalty.
Delivery and take-out will continue to be the most popular way consumers will get their restaurant meals in a COVID and post-COVID world. One, the new normal will become the old normal, and a takeout- and delivery-first model will become the standard in the restaurant industry. Here are their responses. To read part one, click here.
“At a time when restaurants are continuing to face increased costs of operation, owners must be cognizant of not only the customerexperience but also the impacts their changes will have on loyalty patterns. Open communication with customers is valuable in gaining insights before rolling out price changes.
Full-service restaurants pivoted quickly to curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Last month, Pret A Manger became the latest restaurant chain to join the subscription economy, launching the YourPret Barista program that offers members up to five drinks per day in exchange for a monthly fee. Customer Connections.
Adaptability became non-negotiable as takeout, delivery, and digital ordering shifted from secondary revenue streams to essential lifelines." Digital not only powers seamless experiences but also unlocks guest data that can elevate hospitality across all touchpoints, both digital and in-person.
These tools have become so commonplace that many have become an extension of the restaurant experience — so integrated into dining culture that employees and guests do not necessarily realize how tech-savvy they have become. This shift is breaking new ground for business owners and changing how employees experience their work.
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