COVID-19 influenced the restaurant industry in unexpected ways. Some trends died while others flourished out of the blue. Reservations have become important, both because of new financial constraints caused by the pandemic and evolving consumer preferences which is why having the right POS system for restaurants is important.
Because reservations do save money. You’ll reduce your labor costs because you’ll know exactly how much staff to schedule that night. Maximize your tables, too, by anticipating turn-times more accurately. Is your current reservation software up for this new reliance on call-ahead seating?
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Make Reservations a Success
Given that they’ve become so relevant, your reservation software needs to be equipped to handle the strain. Perhaps you’ve never done reservations before but are introducing them because of COVID-19. Maybe you’re just putting more pressure on channels that you already used. Either way, optimize your system to get the most ROI possible.
Send reminders about guest reservations via text or email to reduce no-shows, which eat up profit.
Implement fees for late cancellations and no-shows to encourage communication.
Use reservation notes for allergies, preferences and other requests.
Open reservations on multiple platforms. For example, you may already have a button to book a table on your website. You should also get on databases like Google and Yelp to expand your pool of potential customers.
You get more with advanced Point of Sales. For example, integrating your reservation software with guest profiles improves your overall sales data. You can identify your most frequent visitors and what your most loyal guests prefer. Capitalize on these opportunities to create a customer experience tailored for your audience. It shows your regulars that you’re paying attention and care about them, too. Smart reservation software supports customer relationship management to build a better business overall. That’s why upgrading, and creating the best reservation management experience you can, is so important.
Better Tech Drives Success
Point of Sale systems can do much more than just take payments now. When they’re powered by software like eatOS, you’ll get cloud-based capabilities that provide increased security and efficiency. Being able to run your restaurant from one smart hub makes everyone’s job easier. Communication improves between the front and back of house. This way, walk-in customers have a better estimate on wait times and servers can track which tables have their food. You’re also modernizing the experience to meet today’s customer expectations, which is important in a tough market like this.
Contemporary Point of Sales also takes up less room in the restaurant itself, thereby letting you optimize your floor space with more tables. Given that social distance regulations are still in place, even in states that allow full capacity, why not make the most of what you’ve got?
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Reservations Made Easy
Instead of big, bulky devices, eatOS Point of Sale runs on tablets, via self-service hardware like Kiosks, and even on mobile devices with the help of QR codes. Good reservation software improves customer relationships and loyalty, and that drives more frequent visits. Repeat guests then spend more on average. Success begets success, and it all starts with a smarter POS.
eatOS offers an all-in-one cloud-based eco-system exclusively for restaurants. From Point of Sale to Contactless Ordering, Pay & Order at Table, Kitchen Display System, Customer Facing Display, Online Ordering APP / Website and Workforce Management there is everything to help a restaurant succeed no matter the size. Click Here to Schedule a demo to learn more about how your restaurant can make a smooth transition into the world of restaurant technology made simple.
