Do you really care about your restaurant customers? Of course – but are they actually feeling the love?
The lifeblood of any hospitality business is repeat business; customers who are so happy with your food and service that they’ll not only come back again and again but also recommend you to their friends.
A loyal clientele is every restaurant’s dream, but it’s not easy to achieve.
As Trish Caddy, foodservice analyst for Mintel, says:
“Foodservice operators that base their strategy around promotions are not doing enough to stand out. Brands also need to show that they care about the well-being of their customers by responding with menu choices that cater to healthy lifestyles.”
We know what Trish means. Everybody loves a money-off voucher – but it only works if it’s money off something that you really, really desire.
So how can you make your restaurant promotions stand out? Savvy restaurants are finding that the answer lies in the latest EPOS solutions.
This clever technology, specially designed for the hospitality industry, makes your promotions matter.
6 ways EPOS solutions promote business at your restaurant:
- Get to know your customers better
- Reward them better
- Get to know your business better
- Identify and make the most of downtime
- Be more creative with your offerings
- Make the most of social media.
Get to know your customers better
EPOS solutions constantly capture useful data about your diners, so you can cater for their needs better and provide the kind of service that creates a memorable diner experience.
The latest EPOS solutions create a seamless journey from online reservations to quicker seating, and rapid ordering and payment tableside via handheld terminals.
Reward them better
Because you know what your guest like, you can create offers that will appeal to them, creating loyalty programmes that are more than just a discount.
Did they dine last Valentine’s Day with a glass of fizz each? Why not offer it free this year if they book?
Get to know your business better
It a be hard to get an end-to-end view of how your complex hospitality business is doing, but EPOS solutions provide reports available in real time online that help you keep track.
This in-depth knowledge of how your business is operating at all times can help you create promotions that are a good fit – happy hours, for instance.
Identify and make the most of downtime
Take the guesswork out of knowing when you are quiet – a good restaurant management system pinpoints it exactly and even provides accurate forecasts.
Not only does this help you with identifying when you need promotions the most, but it also helps you to achieve accurate labour control.
Be more creative with your offerings
We’ve already pointed out that simple discounts are not always the way to stand out – so exactly what do you offer?
EPOS solutions provide deep insight into what sells, enabling you to create bundled options such as fixed-price menus, or a more expensive wine bundled with items that achieve a high margin for you.
Or why not identify which items are normally shared and discount them so people will bring along their friends?
Make the most of social media
Nothing happens these days without a thorough trawl online, so choose EPOS solutions that offer assistance with social media reputation management.
These smart systems monitor activity on your social media and alert managers of any adverse posts. It means you can put the matter right straight away and avoid reputational damage.
Now they’re feeling the love…
Great offers, brilliant discounts, carefully targeted to delight your diners – it’s the perfect way to prove how much you care about your customers.
In return, they’ll show they care about your restaurant by showing up on a regular basis to enjoy your food and swell your coffers. It’s a two-way relationship that truly benefits all.
* Discover more about how EPOS solutions boost your business and streamline operations
