Quick service restaurants have plenty of customer-facing technologies to consider. From drive-thru technology to mobile apps and kiosks, there are plenty of digital tools available for front-of-house spaces. However, have you thought at all about your back-of-house technology? Just because your customers can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not important.
In fact, back-of-house technology is, in many ways, more important than front-of-house tech. After all, this behind-the-scenes QSR tech can help restaurants streamline operations, adapt to changing customer expectations, respond to COVID-19-related demands, and more.
Without quality back-of-house technology, QSR operators may find themselves falling behind. Let’s take a look at some of the more recent advancements quick service restaurants should be taking advantage of.
1. Streamline Operations
Maybe you’ve had problems before with inventory unexpectedly running low, or perhaps someone accidentally left the walk-in freezer door open overnight. No matter what, there are plenty of ways technology can make your quick-service restaurant run more smoothly.
With artificial intelligence, for example, you can easily monitor your inventory in real-time from multiple devices, reducing the risk of running out of something early. Technology can integrate your point-of-sale (POS) system with your inventory so it automatically adjusts the inventory based on what’s ordered.
Smart technology, like the Internet of Things, can help protect your products, too. For instance, with a smart freezer, there’s no need to worry about someone leaving the door open and the subsequent loss of product. If the door is open for a certain period of time, the smart freezer can send a notification alerting you or someone on your team that there’s a problem.
2. Adapt to Customer Expectations
As the world continues to become more and more “online,” customers expect to be able to handle more things from their phones. Yes, this means ordering, but it also expands beyond that.
Many people have gotten used to the convenience of paying with their smartphones. If your POS system hasn’t been upgraded recently, you might not be able to offer that service to your customers.
Similarly, customers may want their receipt texted or emailed to them, rather than printed at the counter. Upgrading your system is the best way to ensure you’re able to provide your customers with the experience they desire.
3. Keep up with Demands Caused by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has made long-lasting impacts in many parts of our lives. Even as we all work toward helping our communities re-open, it’s unlikely that we’ll return to the way things worked before. Rather, people have gotten used to some of the changes we’ve experienced, and they’d like to continue enjoying these conveniences.
For example, many customers like the idea of ordering from their mobile devices and being able to quickly stop and pick up their food, rather than needing to wait in the drive-thru line or go into the restaurant. Is your back-of-house system prepared to handle these mobile orders as well as in-store sales? If not, it might be time for an upgrade. Intelligent management tools can help your staff properly plan when to prepare mobile orders to ensure customer satisfaction.
There are plenty of other ways that back-of-house technology has evolved recently, but these are three of the biggest benefits of upgrading your QSR tech. Smart kitchen equipment, more streamlined inventory tools, and intelligent cloud-based systems are just the beginning. You could also implement better systems for payroll, accounting, and other business-related aspects of the restaurant, as well as things like kitchen robotics.
No matter where you want to start, chances are high that your back-of-house technology could use some upgrading. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call. We enable QSRs to deploy or repair their restaurant IT by providing field technicians anywhere on the globe.
