When you’re an independent restaurant, bar, cafe, or takeaway, it can be exciting but also worrying to think about growth. You probably started your business because you were passionate about the industry and had something great to offer your customers, but as you grow in popularity you’ll also have to grow your responsibilities. From finance and payroll to marketing and HR, there can be a lot to consider. Opening and managing new locations can have a huge effect on how you operate, as you won’t be able to be everywhere at once.
Growth can bring greater brand recognition, larger profits, and stability for you and your business but it’s common to be worried about losing control, having extra stress, and higher costs. With the right technology and systems in place, it’s easy to grow while remaining fully in control.
How to grow your restaurant business using technology
In this day and age, the right technology is key to helping your business thrive. You might have tried systems before that promise a lot but in reality, don’t deliver. Here’s what you should look for to help you succeed:
- The system has been created for the hospitality industry and has been further customised for your business.
- The system is used successfully by other operators, has good reviews and testimonials
- The system is able to cover everything you need to run your business – from point of sale to kitchen management and back office reporting.
- The system is able to easily grow with you. You can add new hardware, new locations, and new users without any issues.
- The system is easy to use by all your staff, from management to front of house.
A well integrated EPOS system will tick all these boxes and help you streamline your daily operations. Here are some ideas on how you can use your system to help you grow your business.
Manage operations from a centralised back office
A good cloud back office will work as your main reporting tool so you can see what’s happening at any given moment – even if you’re away from your venues. Check KPIs, sales and voids broken down by each location and easily oversee staff performance.
Having a centralised back office also means you can manage all your menus and promotions from a single place, and roll it out to each location with the click of a button.
Increase your restaurant revenue
If you can understand your audience, you’ll be able to plan ahead to make the most of opportunities. Create discounts and special offers that are valid during quieter periods or locations, and introduce meal deals or upsells to increase your average order price. Your sales data will be able to give you the information you need to plan this, letting you know your most popular times and menu items.
You could also set up your own loyalty program that is valid across all your locations, so customers can build up points and then spend them.
Make informed business decisions
When you have your EPOS system up and running, you can start to analyse your data to see which areas are performing well and which are struggling. Say goodbye to guesswork and make your important decisions based on hard facts.
For example, you can reduce your waste by keeping track of all your stock across sites. Compare data between your sites and cut down on losses.
Improve the guest experience
Giving your guests the best experience possible will have a hugely positive impact on the growth of your restaurant. There are a number of things you can do to make your guests feel satisfied with their experience, including implementing new ways of ordering such as an app or self service kiosk. Connect these up to your loyalty programme and you’re on to a winner.
Automate communications
Improve speed and accuracy across your business by automating tasks, reducing the need for paper and manual processes.
If your restaurant offers table service, consider giving your wait staff EPOS tablets so orders can get sent straight to your kitchen as soon as they’re placed. Using a KDS in the kitchen will also help speed up the ordering process by tracking orders until they are completed. Guests will get served faster, with minimal mistakes.
Manage staff effectively
As your business grows, it can get harder to keep track of your staff. The right systems in place will help you and your teams manage and monitor staff effectively. You’ll be able to set custom permissions at different levels of staff, so you can restrict access to certain functions if needed. You’ll have an overview of every transaction that has taken place and who processed it, so you can quickly identify any problems that may arise. You can also set up security measures to clock staff in, from custom pins to RFID cards.
Offer direct online ordering
If you haven’t already, a great way to grow your restaurant business is to start offering online ordering for takeaway and click & collect. The best way to start with this is by adding an integration to your website to make it as easy as possible for your customers. Promote the delivery options on your social media account at peak food ordering times, at lunchtime and in the evening, to organically bring in more orders.
Make the switch to Gardiff
Hospitality is a competitive industry and that’s not changing anytime soon, so you should be thinking ahead. Choose the right EPOS technology partner to help you grow.
At Gardiff, we put our customers first. Designed for ease of use and convenience, our EPOS systems give you more time for your staff and company. If you choose to switch to us, we’ll work with you every step of the way to make sure your life is made easier from the switch, not harder.
